Chapter 66 The Fitting

Chapter 66 The Fitting
Chapter 66: The Fitting

The grand dressing room of the Oakhaven estate was a battlefield of tulle, lace, and midnight velvet. Three maids scurried around Neria like frantic birds, pulling strings, adjusting pins, and whispering about the scandalous rumors flowing from the royal court.

"Is it true, My Lady?" Mina asked, her fingers trembling as she smoothed the heavy velvet skirt over Neria's hips. "The King himself signed the decree? Your safety is officially granted by the crown?"

"It is true, Mina," Neria sighed, staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror. "The King signed it, Sebastian sealed it, and I am officially the most untouchable fugitive in the history of this kingdom. Though I had to sacrifice my peace of mind to get it."

"And the little creature?" another maid whispered, adjusting the off-the-shoulder neckline. "The purple lizard? They say it is down in the palace pits with the great drakes."

"Pip is currently being babysat by three green dragons who look thoroughly confused by his existence," Neria muttered, wincing as Mina gave a sharp pull to the lower corset laces. "He is safe. I just hope he doesn't teach the adult drakes how to burp smoke bubbles. Now, please, loosen the midsection slightly. I plan on eating my weight in royal roasted pheasant tonight."

The heavy oak doors of the dressing room swung open without a knock.

The maids instantly froze, dropping to their knees in a flurry of white aprons. Sebastian stood in the doorway, his midnight velvet doublet perfectly matching Neria's dress, his silver hair catching the candle light. He looked terrifyingly handsome, his blue eyes instantly locking onto Neria's reflection.

"Leave us," Sebastian commanded, sounding with absolute authority.

"But, Your Highness, the corset is not—" Mina started, but a single dark glare from the Prince cut her off.

"I said, leave," Sebastian repeated louder this time. "I will finish the adjustments myself."

The maids scrambled out of the room like mice escaping a cat, clicking the door shut behind them. 

Neria remained perfectly still, her hands resting on the edge of the dressing table, her green eyes watching him through the glass. 

She didn’t say a word. This was part of the deal. His protection meant his proximity, and she was an expert at playing the cards she was dealt.

Sebastian walked up behind her…He didn’t immediately touch her. Instead, he just stared at her exposed back, where the low cut of the corset revealed the elegant curve of her spine and the pale, unscarred skin of her shoulders.

"You look breathtaking, Neria," Sebastian murmured, changing his tone into that gravelly register that made her pulse spike.

"I look like a woman who is about to be suffocated by her own wardrobe, dear prince," Neria replied, seemingly confident but her eyes betrayed her rising heat. "Are you going to tighten the laces or just stand there admiring your own color coordination?"

"I am admiring the viper I allowed into my palace…”

He reached out, his long, elegant fingers catching the thick silk laces at the small of her back.

The prince didn't pull them tight immediately. Instead, his knuckles brushed against her bare skin, sending a violent shiver straight down her spine. 

Neria let out a soft, shaky breath, her fingers tightened on the edge of the marble table.

"You said you accept my condition," his hands moved slowly up the laces, his touch light but possessive. "You said you belong to me completely."

"I said what I needed to say to keep my head on my shoulders, Prince," Neria purred, tilting her head back slightly as she watched him slide closer in the mirror.

"Then let us see if your body is as honest as your tongue," the crown prince murmured.

He abandoned the laces completely. His right hand slid around to her front, his palm flat against her waist, pulling her back firmly until her hips were pressed flush against his thighs. 

Neria let out a sharp gasp, the heat of his body instantly melting the chill of the dressing room. 

Before she could speak, his left hand rose, his long fingers wrapping gently but firmly around the front of her throat, his thumb resting right over her pounding pulse.

"Sebastian," she breathed in a raspy sigh.

"Shh," he hushed against her ear.

He leaned down, his lips connected to the sensitive skin just beneath her earlobe. 

Neria closed her eyes, a soft groan escaped her lips as she allowed herself to lean back into his chest. 

She enjoyed this. The sheer, dangerous thrill of his touch was intoxicating, a chaotic contrast to the cold deaths she had suffered.

Sebastian's mouth moved down her neck, his kisses hot, heavy, and deeply possessive. 

The prince bit gently at the junction where her shoulder met her neck, making her gasp and arch her back into his embrace. 

The prince’s hand on her waist tightened, his fingers dug into the velvet of her dress as if he were trying to leave permanent marks on her skin.

"You are a terrible influence on my survival instincts," Neria’s hands reached back to grip his silver hair, pulling him closer.

"Your survival instincts are exactly what brought you to my arms, my toy," Sebastian murmured against her skin, his lips traced a path back up to her jawline. "You knew I wouldn't kill you if you tasted like this."

"I knew you were a sociopath who liked a challenge," Neria countered, her green eyes opened to meet his dark, burning gaze in the mirror.

"Are we going to the banquet, or do you plan on keeping me trapped in my dressing room all night?"

Sebastian chuckled and turned her around in his arms, his hand moved from her neck to cup her cheek, his thumb traced her lower lip.

"The banquet can wait for five minutes," Sebastian’s eyes darkened with an undeniable hunger.

"The King wants to see the woman who tamed the primordial beast. But I only want to see the woman who thinks she can outrun me."

"I don't think I can outrun you, Sebastian," Neria smiled, her fingers slid down his velvet lapels. "I know I can. But right now, I prefer the view from here."

Sebastian didn't answer with words and just leaned down and captured her mouth in a deep, bruising kiss that completely ruined her perfect red lip rouge. 

Neria wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down, completely yielding to the heat of the moment as the palace bells began to toll in the distance, signaling the start of the final act.