The room was silent except for the crackling of the fire and the light snoring of one of the sleeping children. Ilona, Mason, Jamie, Nick, Anja, and Sam Thatch all stared at Ian as if he had grown an extra limb. The second oldest Black, didn't meet their gazes. Beside him, Isaac looked as if he wanted to melt into his seat.
"I-I don't... I don't understand," Anja stammered, looking at her son. "Your father, he... he's not a real King..."
"He's the King of Pirates," Mason said quietly, trying to give his friend whatever support he could offer, even if it was just answering questions for him. "Everyone recognizes Luke as the King of Pirates... even my brother, an actual King."
"But... But I still don't understand," Ilona spoke, "The King wanted Mason to marry his daughter. What does he want from you?"
