19Queen Nyomi’s arranged dinners were always formal. They reminded Sugar of how royals were always depicted in movies. All pomp and fluff and presentations and pretenses. No wonder Axel stayed away from here. She didn’t blame him.
She thought of Rodu, a former Egyptian slave, having to get used to these things because he loved the female who ruled here. It must have been daunting for Axel’s father to face down all these royals. She wondered if he envied his son for not having to participate.
The line of dinner attendees finally thinned enough to let her see the people across the room. Sugar finger-waved to Rodu from behind the huge Lyran whose job it was to announce her to the rest of the crowd. Rodu bowed his head and then smirked at her when he raised his gaze again. Sugar winked at hi
