Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“When do you start?” Salem asked.
“Next fall. Which is rather soon, really. Tori’s already making this whole list of things to get done. For all that he hesitated about this idea at first, he’s gung-ho now. Anyway, I won’t keep you. Come in.”
Salem looked a little nervous at the idea of meeting the king and consort, but he gamely pulled on a professional smile and followed Gregori in. Gregori didn’t expect the nerves to last. King Alric and Consort Cameron were very personable, charming men. They weren’t stuffy on formalities, either. Salem’s nerves wouldn’t last five seconds.
Baldewin ushered them in, stopping just inside the doorway to announce, “Gregori and Doctor Valerii, sire.”
Call Gregori besotted, but he got this little happy zing whenever he heard Salem called Valerii.
King Alric rose to greet them, scooping up his daughter in his left hand as he moved. Wait, wasn’t that the same arm injured in the war? My god, had Sora fixed him to the point he didn’t think anything of carting a baby around with his bad arm? Wow.
The king looked quite dashing in a dark red velvet suit, his hair slicked back with mousse. His little girl was dressed to match in a frilly red velvet dress with golden ribbons twined about her head in high contrast to her rich, dark hair. You could see the influence of Cameron’s DNA in the shape of her eyes, but she was very much Alric’s child in looks. A truly beautiful little girl.
Consort Cameron rose with them, coming forward with his hand outstretched and a smile stretched from ear to ear. He was in a dark red suit as well—although not velvet—coordinating with his family, and the color looked very good on him.
“Gregori. Thank you for coming in early. I promise we’ll have a better talk after this, I just wanted you to meet my daughter first. Her bedtime is not to be messed with. She gets super grumpy past eight thirty. Doctor Valerii, I’m Cameron. I’m delighted to meet you.”
Salem shook hands with him, his stiffness thawing already. “And I, you.”
King Alric also shook hands with him, a gentle smile on his face. “You are very welcome, Doctor Valerii. I hope you understand why we wanted to meet you in person.”
“Of course,” Salem assured him. “Sora explained the situation to me. I’m happy to be your pediatrician, truly, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope you won’t have to call on me.”
King Alric’s expression turned rueful. “So do I. But I know better than to hope for the best and not plan for the worst. In any case, this is our daughter, Zara.”
“Princess Zara, a pleasure.”
At fourteen months, she didn’t talk much yet, but she seemed to like Salem for some reason. She stretched out both hands to him in a clear bid to be held. Salem took her without pause, settling her in his arms and looking at her with just as much curiosity.
The two kings had been nervous about having so many children with so few doctors on hand. Salem fit the bill nicely, as he could now treat the uncommon ailments a child could suffer. Sora would be able to handle the run-of-the-mill illnesses without a problem, but he’d admitted that Salem’s experience with pediatric surgery put him above Sora’s skills in pediatrics. Which was why Amaru had to take over teaching Salem at a certain point. Right now, Salem was on call for both clans.
Zara looked Salem over, as if trying to figure out where this new man had come from and if she could twist him around her little finger. Salem let her study him for a full minute before pulling a face, which got her giggling.
“Oh good, she likes you.” Cameron put a hand over his heart while blowing out a relieved breath. “This child is picky with people. There’s maybe a half dozen who she allows to pick her up. I think we’re in stranger danger phase.”
“Probably,” Salem agreed. “She’s at the right age for it. Don’t worry, it won’t last, it never does. Sora did a diagnostic of her yesterday and shared the results with me, so I have a fully updated chart on her. Rest assured, we’re keeping a close eye on her.”
First-time parents. Gregori didn’t blame them for being cautious.
Another door into the room opened and Gunter stuck his head in. “It’s time.”
“That’s our cue.” Salem handed Zara back to King Alric, who took her easily.
Gregori and Salem couldn’t leave through the same door Gunter had just used, as it led into the ballroom. Gregori led Salem back out a different way, looped down the hallway and around to the main doors, and then entered through there. It was perfect timing, as King Alric, Cameron, and Zara were stepping out onto the raised dais at the front of the ballroom.