Taming the Wild Beast of Alamina

Spring arrived slowly in Alamina.

The last snow disappeared from the northern gardens first, leaving damp earth beneath the pines and enough mud for Ducky to become a recurring household problem, while the ornamental trees around the Crown Prince Palace filled with pale blossoms that Theodore found considerably more interesting than anything his parents attempted to show him indoors.

By late spring, Theo had become mobile enough to be dangerous.

Not walking.

Thankfully.

He had, however, mastered crawling with alarming speed and discovered that furniture existed primarily to help him stand.

Dean learned this one morning when he looked away long enough to answer a message from the Ministry of Education and looked back to find his son upright against the coffee table, both small hands planted firmly on the edge and an expression of enormous satisfaction on his face.

"Theodore."

Theo turned.

His eyes were gold that morning, dark hair sticking up at the crown after his nap.

He grinned.

Then immediately sat down with enough force to make Dean wince.

Matthias caught him beneath the arms before his head could follow.

Theo squealed with laughter.

Dean stared at the older man.

"You’re encouraging him."

"I prevented an injury."

"You smiled."

Matthias lifted Theodore easily and settled him against one hip.

"I am allowed to enjoy my work."

Somewhere during the previous months, Matthias had stopped being an historical problem under medical supervision and become Theodore’s guardian.

Nobody had formally planned it that way.

At first, Matthias simply accompanied Arion whenever discussions concerning the forest required him at the palace. Then Theo began recognizing him and reaching for him whenever he appeared. Matthias, who had once commanded soldiers under Dominic and spent nearly a century keeping corrupted creatures from eating one another, proved unexpectedly competent with bottles, blankets, toys, and a child who considered personal space an unreasonable restriction.

Hunter had eventually suggested formalizing what was already happening.

Matthias accepted before Arion finished explaining the position.

Dean had made him undergo the same security reviews as everyone else.

Twice.

Now Matthias had palace credentials, a tailored dark uniform he wore only when necessary, and a permanent habit of appearing behind Theodore whenever the child attempted something stupid.

Theo adored him.

He also attempted to chew Matthias’s fingers whenever given the opportunity.

The reverence had faded too.

Or perhaps changed.

Matthias no longer looked at Theodore as an answer to ninety-nine years of suffering. He looked at him as a baby who had recently learned to throw pieces of fruit off his tray and then lean over the edge to see where they landed.

Dean trusted that considerably more.

Life around the forest had become quieter as well.

Arion had not restored another knight.

Victor had demanded months of observation from Elias and Matthias before approving further attempts, while the medical teams built protocols around two successful transformations that nobody truly understood.

Three knights had finally been selected.

One younger than Elias.

One infected for approximately twenty years.

And one elder Matthias believed had entered the forest several decades after Dominic’s death.

All three were scheduled for restoration the following month, one at a time, with several days between attempts.

Arion hated waiting.

Dean considered that healthy for him.

The ancient creature in the north remained asleep and, by mutual agreement, everyone continued allowing it to do exactly that.

For once, the world tolerated patience.

Nero did not.

His first message arrived during breakfast.

Dean was spreading mashed fruit across a small piece of soft bread while Theo sat in his high chair between him and Arion, more interested in trying to steal Arion’s spoon.

Arion’s tablet chimed.

He glanced down.

"No."

Dean looked up.

"What?"

"Nero."

"That explains nothing."

Arion turned the screen.

My birthday. Saha. You are coming.

Dean laughed.

Another message arrived immediately.

All three of you.

Then:

Especially Theodore.

Arion stared at the screen.

"I knew it."

Theo successfully stole his spoon.

Dean rescued it before it reached the floor.

"Nero has seen him twice."

"That is not my fault."

"It is partially your fault."

"I have duties."

"So does Nero."

"Exactly. Which is why he should understand."

Dean gave him a look.

Arion returned to his breakfast.

Nero had spent most of the winter trapped beneath an increasingly heavy Sahan schedule. Dax had apparently decided that having an intelligent adult son with administrative ability meant he should use him, which had dramatically reduced Nero’s opportunities to appear in Roslew whenever he became bored.

His only two visits since Theodore’s birth had been short.

He complained about both regularly.

Another message appeared.

I am the godfather. There are rights associated with this.

Dean leaned over to read it.

"There aren’t."

"I know."

I have prepared rooms.

Arion typed back.

That sounds like your problem.

The response came before he could put the tablet down.

Theo misses me.

Dean laughed so hard Theo began laughing too, despite having no idea why.

Arion looked between them.

"He does not."

Theo slapped both palms against the high-chair tray.

Matthias entered from the adjoining corridor just in time to hear Dean say, "Apparently your godfather believes you are suffering from his absence."

Theo recognized the word godfather no more than he understood international travel, but he recognized Matthias and immediately reached toward him.

Matthias approached and wiped a streak of fruit from the baby’s cheek with his thumb.

"Who is suffering?"

"Nero."

"That seems believable."

Arion showed him the invitation.

Matthias read it.

"You should go."

Arion looked betrayed.

"You are supposed to be on my side."

"I am Theodore’s guardian."

"Which still places you within my household."

Matthias handed the tablet back.

"The little prince should travel."

Dean smiled.

"You just want to see Saha."

"I have not seen it in more than a century."

"That too."

Theo grabbed a fistful of Matthias’s sleeve.

Matthias looked down at him.

"And his godfather has only seen him twice."

Arion stared at everyone around the table and apparently realized he had lost.

Dean leaned back in his chair.

"It would only be a few days."

"The restoration schedule begins three weeks later."

"Exactly. You will be back long before then."

Arion glanced toward Theo.

The baby had abandoned Matthias’s sleeve and was now attempting to pull himself upright using the man’s arm.

Matthias immediately steadied him.

Theo succeeded, bounced once on unsteady legs, and giggled proudly.

Arion’s resistance visibly weakened.

Dean knew the exact moment it disappeared.

"I’ll speak with Zyon."

Dean smiled.

Nero received the confirmation twelve minutes later.

His response contained no acknowledgement of Dean or Arion whatsoever.

Bring Theo.

Arion stared at the message.

"I hate him."

Dean took another piece of bread from Theo before it could be thrown.

"No, you don’t."

"I could start."

Matthias lifted Theodore away from the high chair before the child managed to climb out of it.

Theo settled happily against his chest.

Dean watched them and smiled.

Late spring had brought them an almost ordinary rhythm: a growing child, manageable work, carefully planned restorations, and an ancient horror in the forest that had politely remained asleep.

A birthday trip to Saha sounded remarkably simple by comparison.