That her own mother had surely noticed her daughters…obscurity was hardly a surprise to the golden-coated male as he sat before her and yet, while he was hardly careless enough to voice it he remained decidedly sure that her Mother surely played a part in Nevermore’s own social obscurities. The Alphess of Asteraia was hardly known for her…social conformity, even less so her mate and Nevermore’s own father. Neither was assisting the girl in reaching her full potential as a glorious future Queen of Asteraia. She needed guidance and assurance and to learn to speak correctly. It was perfect. No one would ever suspect the daughter of Tobias and his mate to be so intelligent, so clever, so born to lead and yet with Rhett as her mate they could conquer anything! It was brains and ruthlessness all in one- what could go wrong? Nevermore was exceptional, perhaps more than either of her parents truly realised, she simply needed a little more assistance in life to fully reach that potential. She could be great, they both could. Tick Tock had left a legacy, why not continue it?

The sudden question of the female however so caught him off guard, those green eyes turned towards the Alphess now. Rhett was hardly a nervous creature, indeed he was decidedly bold by design and yet with that boldness came a certain sense of care, a wariness, an ability to so know when to choose his words with care. Perhaps he had not desired to follow Pan into politics yet that hardly meant the boy lacked the flare for it all the same. No child of Pan and Niviaq had ever yet been born that lacked an almost overt intelligence. For a few minutes yet however the golden child seems to consider his choices all the same, his words carefully spoken and yet suddenly and abruptly honest.

“I didn’t want to be an advisor because I didn’t want to spend my life in Spirane being known only as the Son of Pan. I knew who Nevermore was when I met her and I see no need to lie- by making her my mate one day I would rise higher than I ever could without her. It is what it is but I think too- I can help her. I think between us we could build your pack even more.”

No one was honest enough these days so why shouldn’t he be? What good would come of telling the Alphess words that meant nothing? Words she would see through? The female before him speaks again, his own features frowning ever so slightly at this implication that he might desire to steal the throne from beneath Nevermore, a snort of sorts passing his own lips- bold perhaps in the wake of an Alphess and Rhett is nothing if not forward in all he does. Clever, cunning, but not foolish.

“Why would I steal her throne and thrust this pack into political unrest? If I wanted to steal it I would simply challenge her to battle, I wouldn’t spend my days and nights in her company, I wouldn’t have become her friend and I wouldn’t have, well, let myself care about her. I don’t think it’s very astute judgement to want to make someone your mate only to then try and fight them. Fighting isn’t my thing anyway. I could do it of course but that’s really more Never’s skill I’m sure. I don’t know that I have a right to anything, no one has a right, but I have a hope you might let me stay. I can be a good mate for her one day, I can, I am skilled in politics. I have what she lacks in that area and she has what I lack in others. Between us I think we’d be…well…..good for want of a better word. I like her.”