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their
    responsibility to look after him. They took their duties to
    him seriously. Since he'd saved them when they were
    kittens, they never let a day go by when one of them didn't
    stay by his side.
    Tor wrapped his hand around Dillon's arm and
    allowed the other man to help him rise.
    "Leaving so soon?" Lord Mell's voice was rich with
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    satisfaction, as if by Tor leaving he'd given up all rights to
    the king.
    "Yes. I must make a phone call." Tor was careful to
    keep all emotion out of his voice. It wouldn't do to make
    the man think he was getting an edge on him. Lord Mell
    struck him as the type of person who would exploit
    anything.
    "And what phone call is so important it tears you
    away from your future consort?"
    "Want me to kill him?" Baroy's voice whispered.
    Tor smiled, knowing that the sleazy man would
    think it was for him. "That would be personal business.
    Good evening."

    * * * *
    Naron watched Tor leave with his entourage. The
    group that followed him got larger the longer he stayed.
    "How many people does he have with him?"
    Gallywyn asked, coming to stand beside Naron.
    "I'm not sure." He grinned. "I don't know if he even
    knows."
    Naron was startled when his page marched into the
    room. Sparrow's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes flashed
    with rage. "He did it. That pilferer convinced the chef to go
    back with him."
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    Naron started laughing and couldn't stop. He wasn't
    upset about his chef. He had no intention of Tor leaving his
    kingdom so there was little worry that he'd lose his prized
    chef. He had to give Tor credit. He got what he wanted.
    Naron just hoped the man wanted him.
    "What is the next test?" Lord Cant asked. Lord Cant
    never said much, and he wasn't as aggressive as Lord Mell
    or as beautiful as Lord Gallywyn and completely lacked the
    duke's magnetism. He was just what he appeared to be, a
    mild-mannered gentleman who was there because his father
    had sent him. If he wasn't there under duress, they could've
    been friends.
    "Minerals. I will ask you to identify different types
    of stones. It is a key component as my spouse needs to
    know the different elements that are traded as
    commodities."
    A smile spread across Lord Mell's face. "I don't
    think that will be very challenging for those of us who grew
    up here. We'll have the edge over the pretty duke."
    Naron had to remind himself that it would hurt his
    reputation if he punched out one of the consort contenders,
    but inside, he made a vow that even if Tor didn't work out
    for whatever reason, he would never choose Lord Mell.
    There was slyness in the man's eyes he didn't trust.
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    * * * *
    Tor let Dillon take him back to his room. It was late
    and time for his phone call to his children.
    "Alexandra is on first," Pietro said, placing the
    holographic projector on the table so Tor's image would
    transmit clearly if he sat on the bed.
    "Good evening, Papa." Alexandra's bright voice
    soothed Tor's jangled nerves. He didn't even know he was
    tense until the sound of his daughter released it from his
    shoulders and back.
    He loved his children.
    "Good evening, poppet. How was your day?"
    "I had a vision," Alexandra said. Tor listened for
    any sign of anger or fear but didn't hear any. His little girl
    was a powerful seer, and sometimes her visions were
    terrifying for someone her age. She went to the seer temple
    once a week for help and discussion with the head seer, but
    Tor refused to allow her to be put there permanently. He
    wanted his little girl to have a childhood before she took on
    professional seer duties. If Tor had his way, her days would
    be filled with candy, sunshine, and ponies. Unfortunately,
    the gods and goddesses had other ideas and broke up those
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    bright childhood memories with images of the future. Not
    all of them were happy ones.
    Alexandra's mother, Livia, supported Tor's
    decisions, and together they tried to