The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 971: Ronnie’s First Time...

"Well, that is a relief, at least he won’t tell Valerica. I guess I am off the hook. Should I get us some drinks mother?" Katie said, prompting Serena to glare at her.

"Did you not listen to a single word he just said? Did you not take any of the wisdom he just gave you into that empty head of yours? All you care about is that he won’t tell Valerica?" Serena asked, flummoxed.

Katie scoffed. "Are you serious? He might be a Sentinel, but he is still younger than me, why would I take life advice from him? I am a grown woman, I won’t change how I am because some stupid fallen Archon got lucky and became a-"

*SMACK!*

The sound of the smack caught the attention of the nearby nobles. Katie was now holding her face, mortified by the attention. "Mother? What have I done wrong? *Gasp!* Some of my teeth have become loose!"

Serena took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Walk away, right now."

"I don’t understand? Why did you hit me so hard? You know I don’t use that gross meditation stuff, that really hurt me mother! I did nothing wrong and-"

"Katie. I am going to count to ten. If you are still in front of me, prattling on in your delirium when I open my eyes. I am going to do more than just slap you. Get out of my sight, you have disgraced our name too many times today."

"What have I done wrong? Nothing! I tried to apologise and he didn’t-"

"One."

The sound of heels clattering away made Serena let out a long breath. ’How utterly humiliating.’ She couldn’t help thinking.

She was so excited to show off her children to Apollo, but all of them had acted completely unacceptable today.

’Have they always been like this? Have I just never noticed?’ She thought to herself. They were all so... Spoilt.

Serena looked across the room, finding Apollo was not tricky. He was by the bar with his arm wrapped around a man she didn’t recognise. ’I hope he doesn’t think less of me after all that...’

Just as she was about to walk over, her sword began to vibrate in its sheathe. Reaching a few inches inside the sheathe with her finger, she pulled out the source of vibration, a communication crystal and exited to the balcony to answer it.

"Hello, dear... Yes, I saw the speech... Yes, I agree that he is very handsome... You are just now entering orbit?... Ok, I will meet you at the landing zone... Ok, love you too. See you shortly. Bye bye."

Serena put the communication away and found it within her to smile. Hopefully with this, she could get back into Apollo’s good books. If not? Well, she will figure something else out. But as she began making her way back down through the palace, one thing became clear to her.

Her children were in desperate need of an authoritative and powerful father figure to put them in their place.

...

"Ronnie you worked in a bar for years, how have you never once had a cocktail?" I asked, bewildered.

Ronnie looked at the drink in front of him and cringed at the strong smell. "Mother likes to keep me alert. Only the bar staff like Maddy and Mandie actively drink as well as mother. Anyone to help influence other clients to join the club. I didn’t really interact with other people outside of the staff so there was no need."

Hearing that, I smirked and picked up the glass in front of me and encouraged Ronnie to do the same. "Well, I will be honoured to share in your first time trying one. I think you will really like the flavours."

Ronnie smiled and picked up the pink coloured drink. "What is this drink called again? I want to remember all the details."

"This is a cosmopolitan. Now, cheers!" I exclaimed in delight, before dinking our very flimsy glasses together and downing the whole thing.

’Yummy!’ I couldn’t help thinking, looking at the now empty glass.

I then turned to Ronnie and my eyes went wide as he also downed the drink.

"Woah! Ronnie, for the first time you shouldn’t have downed it." I said, but Ronnie turned to me and smiled jubilantly.

"Wow, that was really tasty. Can we *Hic!* Can we have another? *Hic*"

I couldn’t do anything but blink.

The man was drunk already. His head wouldn’t stay in place and he kept opening his eyes wide.

"Apollo *Hic* The room is spinning. I’m tired. I’m going to *Hic* close my eyes for a- zzz!"

’Well... I didn’t expect that.’ I thought before just smiling at Ronnie. He was a good kid.

"Come on lad, let’s get you somewhere you can sleep this off." I said, picking him up in a princess carry. I allowed him to nestle up against me. If any male cultist deserved some pampering from me, it was Ronnie.

Walking across the hall, I made my way to Sigismund, or rather I used Sigismund as a beacon to find Jocasta. Sigismund was talking to a general or something with his back to me. So was Jocasta until I tapped her on the back.

"Keep your hands to-" Jocasta swirled around with a hostile tone before realising it was me. Oh *Squawk* Apollo what, what happened to my pupil?"

"He had one drink. One I promise and he fell asleep within seconds, I kid you not."

"What did you give him?" Jocasta asked, concerned. He was out like a light.

" A cosmopolitan."

"Oh, I see, so he is just a light - Did you say a cosmopolitan?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, we both had one. It was very tasty."

"I see... *Binaric squark*" She said and I couldn’t be certain, but her beep boop noises sounded like she was laughing. She then stopped and began wrapping her mechanical tendrils around Ronnie.

"I’ll take him to his guest room. You continue to enjoy yourself."

I saw no reason to refuse and let Jocasta take him. It was quite the amusing sight watching him get carried away like a sack of potatoes.

With Poor Ronnie off in dreamland I now realised I was alone again. I took a quick glance at Sigismund, he was still talking with someone and I decided to walk away before I was noticed.

The man was alright, but he was from my hive standpoint, my greatest current foe. I didn’t really want to spend more time with him than I actually needed to.

Making my way back to the bar as a focal point, I began to look around. Valerica was gone. probably trying to get me a real drink. Serena was also gone and so was her daughter.

I hadn’t seen Hecate and Circe since we landed earlier, they seemingly skipped the whole media blitz. ’Lucky bastards.’

My Praetorians were also missing and so was Hailey. She said Gabrielle would be here today and I owed that woman a big big hug as both an apology and a thank you for what she did for me.

’Plus her hugs feel amazing. So win-win.’

"Sir? Would you like another drink?" The bartender suddenly interrupted my train of thought.

"Sure, why not. This stuff won’t get me drunk anyway. I’ll have a- Ooh~! a watermelon margarita? That sounds amazing. I’ll have that please!" I exclaimed looking at the cocktail list behind the bartender."

"Of course... Sir." The bartender said and I nodded and turned around. The moment I did, I realised a man was standing right behind me, looking up at me.

A man I recognised from earlier.

"Sentinel Lambdason. My name is Ryan Hyllus, Serena Hyllus’ Grandson." He said, extending his hand out to me to shake.

I just looked at him for a moment and the man coughed in embarrassment. "I would like to take this moment, with no one else around to personally apologise to you for both my and my aunt’s behaviour earlier. It was totally unacceptable. I should have said something about her behaviour, but we are a matriarchal family. The women hold more power.

Nevertheless. I feel terrible about what she said and my lack of action and I assure you this isn’t some tactic of mine to get into your good graces. This is me being genuine with you man to man. As it is the least you deserve. If I may be so bold, could we perhaps wipe the slate clean and start from the beginning?"

I looked at Ryan for a few moments once more, he looked very uncomfortable standing and looking up at me, but he was sincere.

Reaching my hand out, I smiled. "Nice to meet you Ryan, I’m Apollo. There is no need for titles between family members."

Ryan proceeded to let out a massive sigh of relief before taking my hand and shaking it vigorously.

"Thank you Apollo. I appreciate it. Now I won’t take up any more of your time, this may be an important event to you and congratulations on being assigned your important role, but I am also networking for the family business. I hope you have a good night. Take care."

Ryan then gave me a bow before walking away. His actions impressed me and I would be telling Valerica about the good impression, though one thing did cross my mind, making me chuckle as I thought it.

’He was a bit too rational. Is he actually a Hyllus?’