{"The face of a man who had sipped life's vinegar."}
"A mate," I uttered the words, and how my tongue rolled over them left a bitter taste in my mouth. My nostrils flared as Freyr's voice pushed through our mind link, scolding me to calm down, Fennel was already beginning to suspect something was amiss.
Forcing my emotions to the back of my mind, I nodded and spoke up. "That would be great. When Freya's wolf awakens, she has the right to choose her mate."
The room erupted in cheers. Freyr grinned like a fool while General Tiger laughed, prompting Flora, Spark, and Wave to follow suit. The tension that had hung thick in the air eased, and I chose to sit down before I gave myself away, crossing one leg over the other.
Flora stood and served our drinks, the hall alive with merriment. All eyes were on Freyr, who smiled politely, though I could tell he was wary of Fennel and the triplets.