He was completely mine. It's another thirty minutes of being introduced to people that I don't bother to remember the names of before Ryder leads me over to the main area of the ball room where couples are being spun around. I'm reluctant to allow him to pull me over there but once we get to the centre all the watchful eyes seem to disappear as I'm pressed against him and his hand is pressed against my back. I'd had three dance lessons with Ryder for the wedding, with Allie being the one to teach us. She had always tried to create a small distance between us but Ryder had always eyed her and once she turned he'd pull me back in so I was pressed completely against him like I am now. "Do you have to do this a lot?" I ask him as I let him lead me through the few easy steps that I knew. "Not like this no." He grabs one of my hands that I had wrapped around his neck to hold it at our side. "This is usually just a chance for everyone to gather and to get the chance to start treaty's and form allies. We'll have one later but it won't be for a while." Without warning Ryder drops his hand from my back and spins me with his other. A laugh leaves my mouth when I fall back against his chest and he chuckles down at me quickly dipping his head so he can press a kiss to my lips before anyone can take notice of it. Our conversation is light as he happily spins me through three more songs. We had gained the attention of everyone around us. Most of them had romantic looks on their faces but I could see that some younger women that were standing off to the side in groups were glaring at me. I could tell that they wanted Ryder and I was glad to know that I was the one he had a tight and possessive hold on. "Ryder," When Cole interrupts Ryder sighs in frustration but when a small laugh leaves my mouth his features soften. "I've been trying to contact you but you've blocked me out. Elizabeth wishes to speak with you." Cole suddenly seems tenser now as he stands behind Ryder with his hands locked behind his back. Ryder turns to him and the way that they look at each other I can tell that they are communicating through their mind link. "Come on, you need to meet her." His hand wraps back around my waist. The walk to where the queen was felt long and time seemed to be moving in slow motion. From where we were I could see her easily. Her dark brown hair was pulled up similarly to mine but she had strands that feel down the back of her neck to cover the exposed skin of her shoulder blades in her glinting gold dress. I had grown up hearing about her. She was only in her early thirties but the way that she held herself even from across a room someone would know she's powerful. I was like her now. I had an entire country in the palm of my hands and it was up to Ryder and me to make sure we kept it safe. She smiles when we get closer and her eyes move down Ryder in a lustful way before they move over to me. I can't quite figure out what the look she gives me means but it quickly disappears as she smiles at me and leans in for a hug. I seem shocked when her arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into her. "It's so nice to meet you," she says in a soft voice as she pulls back away from me. "When Ryder told me a couple of weeks ago that he wasn't coming because he had finally met his 'mate' I didn't think I'd see him again for a while. I'm glad you came though it's lovely to see that someone born here will take the throne of such a powerful country." She says the word mate in such a quiet voice I doubt anyone that had werewolf senses within a meters radius would have heard her. "It's nice to meet you as well." It's the only words I can think to say to her but she doesn't seem to be annoyed with the little sentence. Elizabeth turns to the two people at her side. The couple looks to be in their late forties, the man with grey streaks through the sides of his head and sharp features is more concentrated on Ryder where the women with her dead straight brown hair watches me softly a smiling pulling up at her lips. Ryder seems to know the man as he reaches out to shake his hand. This man's grip is stronger than the last and doesn't flinch at all but Ryder seems to be gentle this time. "Charlotte, this is Acton and Brylee Darlington they are the lords and ladies of the British council, they are very high up workers in the united kingdom's government and anything that happens between Elizabeth is transferred through Acton." "It's a pleasure to meet you Charlotte. We've heard so much about you." Acton leans forward much like Elizabeth but Acton presses a small kiss to my cheek and my heart speeds up at the gesture. When Acton pulls back he looks at his wife in question. All she does is lean forward and rub my arm gently. "You look a bit overwhelmed sweetheart and you're comfortable in Ryder's arms there so I'll leave him to it." Smiling gently back at her I lean further into Ryder. "Are we going to talk about this deal?" Ryder begins his voice more serious. "Yes, I have a room organised," Her eyes flick back over to me again before she continues. "All of us."