Svala was meant to meet Tatiana but instead she found herself in the company of her handmaiden. She smiled at the younger girl, “it’s nice to see you again, Saria. I hope your travels with Tatiana have been well and that she hasn’t gotten you into too much trouble.” She chuckled knowing that Tatia had been known to be daring and adventurous to the point of danger at times. 

“Did you enjoy the tournament?” Her brows pulled together knowing at least the tournament had been fun and hoping not to drudge up any of the ceremony brawl that had broke out. “I think my children definitely enjoyed watching the competitors. I’m sure Adrik’s parents had a time keeping Skadi from joining the competitions.”

She had seen an argument breaking and pushed her way through the crowd as discreetly as possible. She placed a hand on the sub’s shoulder and gave a warm smile, but her eyes cut through the other quickly. This was not the place or time to start a fight. “Come on, let’s get you two away from each other for a bit. Maybe the rest of the party.” She nodded, “you’re Zazie, right?” Svala turned them back towards the way she had come, “I’ve seen you around some. I’m Svala. Probably best you stay away from that one just for the event. After you can do what you want with them.”

​Svala was in her office, her hands in her hair and her elbows resting on her desk, propping her head up even though it still hung low. There was so much more going through her mind after the tournament, the brawl and now their lost daughter, Katia that was no longer lost.

She had always had her problems with guilt of her mothering. Fearing her children hating her, fearing that if they ever did find Katia she would hate them. Mostly Svala wondered if she had done right by her children. Maybe if she would have remained retired it would have been better for them. She was constantly reassured by her mate that she was wrong to think that and loved by all her children, she couldn’t shake the feeling. 

Maybe she had followed in her mother’s footsteps after all and dragged her children down the path she wanted for herself.

It didn’t help that the Night Trial still haunted her. Her nights still at times sleepless and when she did sleep, she was restless. She felt him staring and the quiet shut of the door and sighed. “You caught me.” 

A tired smile looking up at him and a light catching in her dull, tired eyes. “There is too much to consider right now.” She said pulling her gaze away from him and shuffling her plans that were sprawled across the desk. “I just... I needed a moment.”

Svala saw Leo across the way and waved him over, she was nursing a beer when he finally got there and she smiled, “you noticed anything odd about tonight? I hope not last thing we need is something to go down at Luca and Raphael’s big event.” She said rolling her eyes gently before shaking her head. “I haven’t seen too much build up of anything terrible though. Hopefully you haven’t either.” 

Svala rarely went to the stables but she found herself there today, looking over the horses and smiling. She had loved them when she was a kid and had one at one time but it was short lived. She ran her hand down the nose of a thoroughbred with blaze down his nose and smiled. “This one’s a beauty.” She said to the woman that was caring from him. “He seems to like you too.”

Svala was enjoying the party about as much as she could. Her eyes always peeled on any discourse that could be happening. It was her job after all, but right now she was concerned about the woman sitting alone. She had met Emmaline before and they had small talk occasionally when they saw each other. She hadn’t known much about her though, but she knew she probably needed someone right now. “Hey, you okay?” 

Her brow raising before she pointed to the spot next to Emmaline, “that seat taken? It’d be nice to take a break and you look like you could use a friend right now.” A warm smile spread across her face before she took the seat and sighed, “you know, these events never are my favorite thing. It means I gotta be more on guard than usual sometimes.” She nodded looking out over the party and watching people frolick into the maze and out of it.

Svala had been worried about everyone but hadn’t seen her son in the crowd. It worried her more but she had a job to do. Once everyone she was near was safe she sat down and ran her hand over her face. She noticed Blake and waved him over, “you seen Cameron?” Her brows raising gently with concern. Elbows resting on her knees as she gathered her breath and tried to stay calm. “I saw him earlier in the night but..” she shook her head, “not since this thing started.” She said pointing to the building on fire and the thoughts went through her mind as she stared at the blaze. She pushed up to standing, feeling slightly light headed from all the stress, “I gotta find him. Will you help me?”

Svala was sure that there would come a time when she had to face the fact that she had caused some destruction during the fire. It was all for a good reason though and she was sure at least Raphael and his assistant, Camille would understand that. Luca was a different story. She took exhaled deeply, looking at the clock and shaking her head knowing this was either going to be pleasant or not so much. 

“So what’s the verdict?” She said her brow lifting as she caught sight of Camille, “how close am I to losing my job now?” It wasn’t like she wanted to her priority was taking care of guest and submissives and she was good at it, and always willing to stick her neck out to do, “or is Raph going to control his playboy’s temper again so I can stick around?”