The crackle of the fireplace was the only sound in the grand living room until Raidan's footsteps broke the silence. He lowered himself into the velvet chair.
"Did the Queen get any news regarding Flora?" he asked.
Mabel settled into the chair across from him as she slowly shook her head. "The last I heard from Casaio was that she was still under treatment. The healers are doing everything they can, but the situation is delicate."
A servant stepped forward with silent grace, bowing low before placing a tea tray on the table between them. With a small gesture from Mabel, the servant retreated, leaving the royal couple to their privacy. Mabel began the familiar ritual of preparing the tea.
"Both Gabriel and Amelie have new troubles in their way," Mabel murmured as she handed a cup of the green tea to the Alpha King.
Raidan took a slow breath, blowing softly over the surface of the tea before taking a sip. He set the cup back onto its saucer and met the Queen's gaze.
