The Sovereign Heir (Book 1)
Chapter 56 The Lodge

I feel Olivia approaching, “Your majesties, greetings from the council.”

“Thank you for preparing the lodge for us, Olivia.”

“Please follow me. The spites have expanded their oasis slightly since your last visit. It actually is a perfect blend of home and nature. Well, at least this time.”

We walk one hundred yards into a clearing leading to our home away from home. “What does she mean by that?” He asks.

“The sprites, at times, like to expand their living accommodations that tend to occasionally turn the lodge into a living jungle. Not to worry, we have come to an agreement not to take over our quarters and we won’t prune theirs.”

Nolan scrunches his face a little and shrugs. He had no idea what he would experience his first time using the bathroom here, I definitely need to warn him. Once we step on the veranda Olivia reports, “All requested items were procured. They await your instruction in the galley. I also took the liberty of assigning Logan and his wife to attend to your needs during your stay.” She then took her leave. The lodge is meticulously prepared.

Yana prances down the stairs, “Looks as if we are the first to arrive, going to mingle until dinner.” She shifts as soon as her paw touched the ground, taking flight. I wanted Yana to show Nolan around while I set up lunch and dinner, but better I do it than her leave things out setting my mate up for an instant fail.

“Babe, follow me, we are going to do a tour of the lodge and our room.” Nolan follows behind, palming my ass along the way. Swatting his hands away only encourages him more. Finally, opening the large double doors to our room brought most fairytales to life. Natural foliage complemented the alabaster walls, our bed anchored by its living roots to the floor. The bathroom has Nolan floored with its waterfall pool and the absence of walls. He ducts back in the room and went straight for the French doors adjacent to the bathroom, “How? There is clearly a wall out here but no walls in the bathroom. It looks just like an oasis.”

“That is because it technically is, sprites share space everywhere any of us live and don’t live. They can alter any space to accommodate them and us. Like symbiosis.” Nolan came back to the bathroom, placing his hand in the water. It is the perfect temperature. Astonishing.”

“You relax a bit, nap a little. Let me help prepare for tonight’s dinner. If you need me, come down to the galley.”

The two assistants had been with us for years, technically 30 years earth time. I could never bring myself to allow Diona or Logan to perform tasks we were clearly capable of. They took advantage of my absence in the kitchen and began filleting the chicken breasts soaking them in buttermilk. They completed all the prep work without me.

I greeted them, “Good morning.”

They bow as usual, “Your majesty.” I’ve tried since my first summer here to get them to call me by my name, but they still won’t do it. ”It is okay for you to call me Elaina, even Laina. You’ve known me since the beginning of my life.”

“Your majesty, we dare not.”

I let out a sigh at this added defeat, “As you wish.” My attention went to the two three tier cakes applying lemon curd between sections. With every one of my warriors present, I hope it will be enough; the men can be so greedy. Speeding up the process is in order, using my gifts to finish decorating the cakes and setting them in the display fridge. Lunch trays are completed and dinner prep also finished. Only thing left is for Logan and Diona to place everything in the oven late afternoon.

My team starts coming into the lodge as we set up lunch on the veranda. “Hey, hey, hey! I smell Elaina’s famous cooking. Please tell me your making your famous stuffed chicken breast!”

I smash her in a bear hug, “Michelle, finally the bride has arrived! Almost everyone is here. Just waiting on my brother, you know how he loves to be fashionably late. He was late even for his own birth. Dinner at 6 and your cakes are done.”

Michelle’s eyes beam with excitement, rubbing her hands together “I love when you cook, just as good as sex if not better!” Lennox clears his throat cocking an eyebrow at Michelle.

Lennox grunts with his throat, a little offended to being called second best to my cooking, “Say what now?”

“Nothing!”, we both say in unison, giggling.

“Everyone present and accounted for ladies. Bryant just showed up with Nicole in tow.”

Lennox narrows his eyes, “You know, don’t you?”

“I always had that feeling, but it wasn’t confirmed until a few weeks ago in a vision. They both turn eighteen in the same week. As you know the mate bond can be felt within the year of the eighteenth birthday most times. Just like the two of you.”

Bryant yanks me up from where I am standing and spun me around, like he hadn’t just seen me a few days ago. “Love seeing you back to being your old self. I assume you brought Nolan?”

“Duh, who else would I bring.” Just that moment I hear Nolan telling someone to “please leave” in a frantic voice. Bryant and I both look to the stairs. “Let me guess, you didn’t tell him the sprites like to assist with grooming?”

I slap my forehead, “Fuck! I forgot to tell him that part.”

I orb into the bathroom with Nolan cupping his junk and sprites hovering around him as he stood in the middle of the pool. “Alright little ones, leave the prince alone. He doesn’t want anyone washing him but me.” They look so disappointed. I still didn’t get their fixation of helping others bathe or anything to do with personal hygiene. I gave up fighting them over it at 12. “I’ll be taking a bath shortly, so not to worry. Please give us a few minutes of privacy, allowing Nolan to finish up.” They flew back behind to the foliage and trees. Nolan blew out a breath, “What in the fuck, they just popped up and tried to wash me, even my nuts!”