After all the drama, it's time for business.

I need to remind Ivor what our mission here actually is. Being angry about his unhappy mating is his personal business; work should not suffer because of that. And now, with the King-Mother's breath on my neck, I have no desire to hang around the women.

The rest of the meal proceeds in silence, everyone processing the events of the last hour in private.

I sigh deeply; Ralph will not take this well. He urged me to keep the atmosphere stress-free, to protect his pregnant mate from all things upsetting her. I have to do everything I can to correct the conditions...