Chapter 20

Alona came into my room. “Daxx is having a meltdown.” She stopped and grinned at me.

I nodded, then checked my lipstick. “I know I got the text.” I paused to look at her in the gown. “You look amazing. I’m jealous, your hair just curls and looks fabulous all pulled up.”

She laughed, “Fighting every step of the way. I just threaten to shave it off if it doesn’t sit pretty at the end.”

I inhaled sharply and put the lipstick into the little clutch Mitz had given me. “I still can’t believe the family of that guard told them not to postpone this.”

“They’re a proud culture, and they revere the royal family.” Alona came over and checked her hair in the mirror again.

Crissy raced in and spun around. “I can’t believe how I look.”

I smiled at her. “I didn’t recognize you with your hair done up like that, or wouldn’t have if you hadn’t run in and bounced like that.”

She smiled. “I’m so excited. I’ve never—even with all I see, have seen me doing this.”

I blew out a nervous breath, “I understand that.”

Bethany came in, she looked like she was gliding as the skirts of her gown floated with her. “Did Daxx message anyone else?”

Everyone nodded.

She laughed, “Running into an army of men wielding weapons doesn’t scare her but…”

“This is serious heart-stopping terror.” Daxx finished as she walked in fidgeting with the sash across her shoulder.

I stopped and gaped at her.

“What?” She asked her eyes wide. “I told them my hair looked ridiculous.”

I shook my head, “No it looks wonderful. You just-just…”

“Look like a queen right now.” Bethany finished for me.

“Yeah.” I nodded.

Daxx snorted, “Yeah until we…”

“Gods.”

We turned to see Chase standing in the doorway.

He looked at all of us. “I was looking for these five women that kick ass, have any of you seen them?”

Alona laughed and walked toward him. “I’m torn now, I don’t know if you look sexier in your leathers or that tux.”

He straightened and adjusted the sash he wore. “I look good all the time, my beloved.” He gave her a lecherous look. “You on the other hand—” he motioned to her gown. “I have many plans for that gorgeous piece of cloth later on.”

Alona chuckled. “If you can find the way out, you’re welcome to.”

“Does anyone know where…”

Troy stopped a foot in the door and stared at Daxx.

“Close your mouth brother, you’ll drool on my shoes.” Chase told him.

Daxx actually blushed and then walked toward her mate. “It’s not too much?”

He shook his head quickly.

“As you can see, ladies, we may look alike, but I got all the charm.” Chase drawled.

Troy turned and scowled at him, and then smiled at Daxx. He went over and walked around her, then stopped to stand behind her.

Chase came into the room; Alona turned and showed her bow on the back of the gown.

“Oh,” he went over and wiggled it, “does it come off, I have plans for that later.”

Daxx turned to Troy, “not a word.”

He shook his head, “no it just leads thoughts elsewhere, not in bad way.”

Daxx gave him a heated look.

Leone came in adjusting his cuffs, then looked up and stopped. “Fuck me.” He whispered.

Chase turned to Troy. “I take it back, at least you said that inside your head.”

Leone gave him a bored look, then went over to Bethany. He held out his hand and she took it, he spun her in a slow circle. “You look amazing.” He whispered and leaned down and kissed her bare shoulder softly.

“Okay, he’s trainable.” Chase admitted.

“Speaking of charm,” Alona lifted the hem of her skirt and wiggled her booted foot, “I absolutely adore these, my charming mate.”

Chase grinned. “Are they comfortable? I insisted they be comfortable, so I could dance with you for every song.” He looked to me. “There will be dancing, right?”

I smirked, “Like you’ve never seen before.”

Crissy giggled.

We turned to see Victor standing in the door. His eyes glued on her.

“I feel like Cinderella.” She told him.

He shook his head slowly as he walked toward her. “Cinderella doesn’t stand a chance beside you, my heart.” He lifted her hand and kissed it, lingering for a moment.

“Quinton is bitching again, that…” Arius stopped in the doorway and stood there, his eyes looking nowhere but at me.

“Is bitching?” Chase inquired.

Arius blinked and looked at him. “That he has to go.” He walked to me slowly.

Leone huffed out a breath, “he got out of how many formal events?”

“Too many.” Arius said, still looking at me. He stopped and then glanced to the dresser beside me. Coming over, he picked up my chain and pendant.

“I was just going to put it on when everyone started wandering in.” I said quietly.

He stepped behind me and put it on, then leaned down and kissed the side of my neck gently.

“Arius,” Troy said in a firm tone, “are we going to have to take turns watching you?”

I turned and looked up to see his eyes were red.

He shrugged, “I seem to recall two kings whose eyes changed in front of all of Alterealm when the Huntress was walking toward them at the last ball.”

Leone snorted. “Oh man—that was something to see.”

Chase cleared his throat. “We won’t bring up the lot of you keeping us from dancing with Daxx then.”

Alona turned to look at Victor, “oh, I’d like to hear that story sometime.”

Victor smirked, then glanced to Arius.

“I will be fine. As long as no one tries to come between Paisley and I—” he shrugged, “it’s under control.”

“Noted.” Troy said, then held out his hand to Daxx. “We’re running behind, so unless you want Mitz to storm in here, we must go.”

She nodded. “What is this announcement thing she was talking about?”

Troy glanced briefly at Chase as they walked out. “It’s a formal tradition. As we walk through to the platform, they will announce us.”

We filed out as couples and followed them.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

Chase chuckled. “Presenting, our Night King, Troy and The Huntress Queen, Damariss.”

Daxx stopped walking.

Chase and Alona almost walked into her.

She shook her head. “No.”

Troy shrugged, “I’m afraid so, even I can’t change that.”

“Seriously? What good is it being a king then?”

Leone looked at Arius, “at least she found out before she stopped the procession.”

Arius smirked. “I say we run down the carpet, so they have to say it so fast no one can understand it.”

Leone shrugged, “at least yours sounds like a title. The Enforcer, Prince Leone and Princess Bethany sounds like I’m her bodyguard.”

Bethany smiled. “You guard my body, very well.”

He smiled down at her. “Yes, I do.”

I glanced up at Arius.

His eyes searched my face, “yes when we start walking they will say, The Warden of Justice, Prince Arius and Princess Paisley.”

I cringed. “I sound like a doll.”

“Oh, no. No that is fine.” Alona gave me a wide-eyed look, “Try this on for size, the Day King, Chase and the Queen of Light, Alona. I sound like a troll doll.”

I turned and looked at Victor and Crissy.

She grinned up at him then looked at me. “The Justice, Prince Victor and Seer of Truth, Princess Cristy.”

I shook my head, “If I were you two,” I looked at Chase and Troy, “Kings, the first order of business would be to get some reasonable handles for your folk. Those are just…” I shuddered. “Horrible.”

“I’m wearing my leathers next year and glaring at people.” Arius said with a smirk.

“Can we?” Daxx looked excited.

Troy shook his head. “It would break Mitz’s heart—speaking of which, we are even more tardy now.”

Daxx sighed loudly. “Fine.”

“You should have gone for points, brother, told her we refused to wear the crowns this year.” Chase said.

Troy glanced over his shoulder and glared at his twin. “I was saving that for a time when I needed it.”