*Lena*
I slept in and found the palace unusually quiet when I finally dressed and walked down to the informal open kitchen and dining room area used primarily by the family. There was, of course, a commercial kitchen occupied by the cooks and servants of the royal palace, but it was easy enough for one of us to make a piece of toast or pour our own coffee and tea.
I wasn't alone as I padded into the kitchen. I looked over my shoulder at the three men seated at the far end of the dining room table, mugs of coffee and empty breakfast plates in front of them–my dad, my uncle Troy, and to my surprise, my grandfather Ethan.
I slid a plate from the dishrack as they eyed me, my father's gaze especially intense. Whatever murmuring conversation they'd been having had ceased entirely when I'd e
