Solitude would begin at Brightening tomorrow, after Comitas had a chance to make arrangements. Domi had no clue whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Instead, the two warred inside him. He welcomed escaping a Princeps's outrageous heap of duties. Boy, did he ever. Solitude had been kind of nice before for that reason. But no friends? No Radix? No Sidus? Eyes devour, he wanted to try something, and now his chance was being snatched away.

Beneath the jumble of relief and disappointment was dread. He half expected Electi to come down on him any second. Would they drag him back to the luxurious dungeon where he'd let Cercitis kill him three weeks ago? He didn't think he could handle going in there ever again. But the alternative was scarier. Would the Rex just execute him outright? Eternal Radiance, would there even be a public trial and execution, or would he just be assassinated in the quiet darkness of the onyx palace? Or worse, would Daedalus be killed?

The only thing that gave him hope was that Princeps Buccina hadn't said a word to him about what he knew full well she must know. If she meant to reveal him, there would be no need to go on faking ignorance like this, right? As Princeps Mindholder, she could send her voice into the mind of anyone on the planet in a heartbeat. It would have been child's play for her to blab everything she knew to the Rex and bring the full force of the law hammering down on Domi's head.

Yet it was almost noon and Domi was not just free, but about to enjoy his last appointment before Solitude would begin tomorrow. Buccina had even approved it in a curt answer to Fons's inquiry. No Electi rushed in to arrest him, no hooded assassins slipped in clutching spellblades. It was just him, Sidus, and now--walking into the tricliniaria in a sweep of pale gold and diamond white--Sidus's future wife.

Domi squirmed, resisting the urge to rise and greet the lower-ranking royal or, better yet, grovel at her feet and beg her forgiveness for catching Sidis's eye.

Felicitas Astralis was a regal sixteen-year-old girl and very beautiful, with cocoa skin, sultry eyes, and full lips that curved into a smile as she held a graceful hand over her crimson laurel. She dipped her head.

Domi smiled back, trying not to show his nervousness. This was just a get-to-know-you affair, not a confrontation about his budding affair with her future husband. This sort of thing was totally normal among Promethidae.

Eternal Radiance.

Sidus cleared his throat with an eye roll and Domi flushed. Right.

"May the Eyes pass over you today, Augustulus," he said. As something like tenth in line for the Throne of Regret, Felicitas would never wear the Rex's ruby crown, but she was still a Regis Heres.

"And you also, Basilicus." Her voice was husky for a girl her age and warm. So warm. He felt his cheeks heating and avoided looking at her plump lips. Those lips would one day be kissing Sidus if they weren't already, and he could not imagine why Sidus would want him, of all people, when the starholder could have her.

"Please be seated," he said, nodding to the triclinum dining couch. It felt weird to recline in the thing, but he kind of liked it. He was reminded of eating breakfast in bed back home, only this time he didn't have to worry about leaving crumbs that might draw rats.

"Thank you, Basilicus," the girl said, lowering herself with smooth grace and then sprawling atop her dining couch with the artistry of someone reclining for some fancy portrait.

Domi pointed at the delicacies spread across the table, all foods Hedera and Peritia claimed supported the nutritional needs of a growing Trellis-bearer but were probably tasty for others to eat too. Dark-chocolate covered walnuts were piled on a tiered serving platter above a plate of blueberries covered in candied lemon-spiced ground pumpkin seeds. On the level beneath it was a selection of tumeric deviled eggs interspersed with slivers of tender seared beef on diamond-studded skewers. "Please have a bite to eat."

She nodded, reaching for a walnut. "Don't mind if I do, Basilicus."

He shrugged, feeling awkward. The way Promethidae ate was weird. They had so much food, and of so many varieties, and yet ate everything in such tiny dishes. He had to admit it added up if you tried everything, but still. Why not just make a big bowl of barley gruel for everyone and not make the servants haul ten billion different things into the palace kitchens? They could flavor it with some of those walnuts or berries or whatever if they wanted to be fancy.

Felicitas nibbled her walnut and eyed him, smiling as his gaze met her own. "Basilicus, I know we have never met, but might I say something a mite scandalous?" Her smile turned wry. "If you are with Sidus, my guess is you won't be overly bothered by such."

Scandalous? What? "Of course, Augustulus," he agreed, wondering what he was getting himself into. "And please, call me Daedalus."

"I will if you will call me Felicitas. I was going to say, if it is not too forward of me, that I wish that you had a sister or two." She smiled at Sidus. "I can certainly see what drew your eye, you lucky boy. May I be so fortunate in my own search for a lover."

"No such luck yet?" Sidus asked, his voice teasing but sympathetic.

"It is difficult to find someone genuine." She inclined her head to Domi. "As you know, many are after me for my position, not out of true attraction. It is disheartening."

"I am sure some are truly attracted," Domi said shyly, hoping to reassure her. "You are very beautiful."

Sidus chuckled. "She's not interested, Daedalus."

His ears burned. "I-I wasn't--"

Felicitas laughed, her voice throaty. "You blush so adorably. But my thanks, Daedalus, that is sweet of you. Well, if you happen to find any girls or nonbinary kids who likewise think I'm attractive," she said with a wink, "and do not just see me as a ticket to a higher Compendium ranking, please send them my way."

He smiled back, feeling less nervous. And more confused. "So, I take it you do not like boys?" He glanced at Sidus. "And he only likes boys."

"And yet we are to be wed," the starholder boy said, nodding and reaching out to gently take Domi's hand. He cast a glance at the window, then brushed a finger over the younger boy's knuckles when the Trellis did not react. The gesture felt soothing, not exciting. "And we will each take a lover."

"Or two!" Felicitas said, low voice cheerful. "Why stop with one if a second lovely girl comes my way?"

Domi eyed them both, unsure whether they were messing with him. "You, um... Two?" he asked.

Sidus just shrugged and Domi shook his head. It was too much to wrap his mind around. "And, ah..." He broke off. It was probably rude to ask something like that, especially of someone he'd just met.

"How will we produce our one child my Father expects of all Promethidae?" Felicitas asked, one brow arching at him.

"Sorry."

"No, it's fine. Of course you want to know if I'm going to get a nice taste of--" She waved her hand grandly to indicate Sidus. "--all of that." She laughed as he felt his face heat. "Don't worry, you get him all to yourself that way."

"We plan to use a lifeholder," Sidus explained, squeezing Domi's fingers. A jealousy he didn't even know had been rearing its ugly head sank back out of sight. "It's easier to conceive that way these days, anyway."

Yeah, Promethidae were weird. But for once, Domi felt relieved they had their strange ways.

<>

Alone at last. Domi eyed the door the attendant had closed behind Felicitas, then smiled nervously at Sidus. The two of them had risen politely to their feet as she took her leave.

The younger boy glanced down at their hands, one finger still conjoined. Sidus had not released him after touching him that first time. The gentle contact had been comforting before, soothing Domi and the Trellis like a warm blanket. But now it made butterflies flutter in his belly.

Eternal Radiance, was he going to do this?

Sidus smiled down at him. "That went well," he said and guided Domi toward the mosaic on the wall with the lightest tug on the pinky fingers the two of them had hooked together. "Come here, look at this."

Domi followed after. "Look at what?"

Sidus nodded to the third panel on the wall, where tiny tiles and gemstones of silver, onyx, gold, and ruby painted a familiar scene. Only the worldholder dining with two starholders in the mosaic was a young woman.

"We're in good company," Sidus said, grinning at the scene of a pleasant convivium. The three glittering youths in the image were raising goblets of wine and laughing. "This isn't the first time your family and the Rex's family have shared this connection."

"So the weirdness has deep roots," Domi teased, glancing around the rest of the hall with new eyes. He'd been given a tour shortly after his arrival thirteen days ago, but there had been so much to take in that most of it went in one ear and out the other. He had no real memory of this small tricliniaria, which was decorated with what looked like several historical scenes of important convivium meals between Daedalus's ancestors and other people. Domi's ancestors too, weird though it felt to think it.

He didn't want to spend his time talking about history or art, though. Not when Sidus would be sent away from him during the Solitude.

Domi cleared his throat. "Well, I'm going to be locked up for who even knows how long..."

"Deprived of my tempting presence, yes," Sidus said, stunning brown eyes sparkling.

"Erm yeah. And I just... I wanted to--" Eyes devour, Daedalus had bedded a girl. Domi could handle at least this. "--well, kiss you?"

Sidus looked amused, but his own cheeks darkened. His eyes too, Domi saw, as the older boy leaned closer to him. "Are you asking me if you want to kiss me?" the starholder asked, so close Domi could feel the heat radiating off his body. "Because if it is just up to me to decide that for you, the answer is yes. Yes, you definitely want to kiss me."

Domi smiled, heart hammering in his chest and face afire. Sidus felt both too close and not close enough. He pressed his back against the wall and peered up at the other boy in a way he hoped looked more coy than shy. "I do, but only if you want it too."

Sidus reached one hand up, lightly cupping Domi's jaw. His fingers trailed gently over his cheek, and the younger boy shivered. "Oh, I do. But can you handle me?" he asked, not teasing for once as he flicked a glance at the window.

The Trellis was glowing a little oddly, tinged yellow-green instead of gold, but Domi kind of liked it. Was that the color of love? Or...

His heart fluttered as Sidus's thumb brushed his lower lip. He nodded wordlessly, and smiling, Sidus lowered his head and gently pressed their lips together.

It was nothing intense, just the softest brush of warm skin to warm skin. Yet the Trellis flashed golden and green fire in the heavens.

<>

Edera was avoiding Daedalus and he could not fathom why.

They had explored one another's bodies twice now, and he thought she had enjoyed such. He tried to be gentle and patient, but perhaps she had not been truthful with him when she assured him that she was well and he had not harmed her.

Was she frightened? Angry? No, she must not be angry with him, because he would know such in an instant. She was a passionate and expressive girl and would not fear to let him know if she was displeased.

Sighing, he dipped his head back to the books atop the desk in the small tablinum Cerasus had given him for his use. Two stacks of books sat piled high, one on the topic of rogue promenia and the ancient restoration towers and the other on resonating prometus and the Calamity of the Twins. So much reading still needed to be done before his self-assigned research for the eve was done, but he found it nigh impossible to concentrate.

Why was Edera avoiding him? He flipped a page, frowning at hypothesized schematics of one of the three lost fallen towers but not really seeing them. Had she tired of him? Found someone else? Domi had warned him that she--No, he would not believe such vile things without evidence.

Down the hall, he heard the Electi murmur a quiet greeting. Soft footsteps padded down the marble, slowed, and then scurried past his doorway in a flash of gold, white, and glowing emerald.

Eyes narrowing, he shut the schematics book with a flick of his fingers and then left his room.

He found Edera in her bedchamber, removing her paenula. She jumped as he leaned in the doorway, then avoided his eyes. "It's late, Domi."

Yes, so late she had gone out to a convivium with friends tonight without even inviting him. He had studying to do, but still. "Why are you avoiding me, Edera?" he asked bluntly.

She still would not look at him, instead keeping her head of pink hair dipped as she hurried to the other side of the room and threw her paenula in a heap for the servants.

"Edera," he said again, utterly baffled by her behavior. "Have I done something wrong?"

She shook her head, sighing and scurrying up to him. To his surprise, she drew him into the room with one arm and closed the door with the other.

"Edera, wha--"

"I'm pregnant," she said, releasing his elbow to cross her arms over her chest protectively.

Daedalus felt the breath catch in his throat and drew back. "You are... What?"

"You heard me," she snapped.

No, he could not have heard her correctly. They had only been intimate twice and were Promethidae. Most people required far longer than this to conceive a child.

But she was a lifeholder. She could sense the presence of a new life within her with ease.

A new life. "We have a child on the way?" he whispered and found himself grinning in wonder even as his mind whirled at the implications of how his future was about to change once more.

But there was no wonder in Edera's eyes, only fear. Her voice, when she spoke to him, was uncharacteristically quiet and shaky. "It's not a child, Domi. It's two." Her lip trembled. "The zygote split twenty minutes ago. They are identical twin girls."