Sairis's POV
"Athena was very close with the Locke family," the king said. "She grew up alongside Gavin Locke. Their families had always expected them to end up together at some point."
Sairis frowned. He had not known that. He had known that his father visited the palace regularly for official matters and that whenever he did, he would leave Sairis with Athena.
He had known that they were friends, close friends. But he had not known that their families had once imagined a future between them. It was funny trying to imagine Athena as his own mother and not Loreen's.
The king let out a short and dry chuckle. "In the early days, I was jealous of them," he said. "More than I should have been. I would find reasons to be wherever Athena was whenever Gavin came to visit. I could not help it."
Sairis looked at him. "She was already your wife by then," he said. "And Gavin was married too."
