Fistbump?
I rub my eyes, but no, I definitely just saw Octavia, stuffy, rigid—okay maybe I’m being hard on her, but only because Red banged the pompous out of her—fistbump another person.
If my jaw wasn’t already on the floor because of the hot, deviant princess, it would be from this display of utter normalcy.
Octavia, normal?Who would’ve thought?
The realisation hits me that Octavia actually has friends now.I give Gabriel the side eye, and he gives me a knowing look.Glad it’s not just me.
Scarlett opens her arms.“Welcome, come in.Your Majesty, I believe you met earlier, but this is Octavia Beaumont.”
The queen braces herself, like she’s forgotten that I literally protected her daughter this evening.
“Queen Calandra, I assure you, we are all fed and are decidedly old, you shouldn’t fear us.If there were going to be an incident, it would have been after the bodyguard’s unfortunate… ah… Well, we are here with open hearts and minds hoping to solidify our recent talks,” Octavia says and then steps through the doorway.She bristles as she walks, as do both Xavier and Gabriel.I step inside and realise why they all shivered.
A strange sort of pressure washes over my body, almost like the door is tickling me.It rushes from my head, into my mouth and dances around my fangs.I let out a giggle as it drops from my fangs down under my arms and around my body.A sweet, fresh scent fills the air like cinnamon and static and the hint of fresh mint.“Bizarre,” I breathe.
Scarlett smiles.“The palace is just saying hello.Dahlia, if I remember?”
“The house is sentient?”
She shrugs.“Not exactly.But it definitely has personality.Nice to see you again.”She holds out her hand and I take it, my eyes falling back to the deviant princess behind her.
Scarlett follows my gaze and introduces us.“I assume you met earlier this evening, but for the sake of formalities… This is Her Majesty, Queen Calandra.The princesses, Their Royal Highnesses, Morrigan and Penelope.”
My eyes stick on Penelope, and the realisation that she’s a princess.I mean, Iknewit when Octavia gave us the rundown on the way here.I knew it in the bar this evening.But hearing someone else say it.Realising I’ve mentally undressed a princess,kisseda princess… now Iknowit.
The foyer we’re stood in is grand as fuck.All pillars and sweeping staircases, twinkling chandeliers that must weigh a fucking tonne with the amount of crystal hanging from them.Serene statues and gawdy artwork line the walls.The floor is a mosaic of chequered tiles peppered with the odd intricately designed one.
Scarlett drags my attention back to her as she cycles through each of us.Gabriel deigns to nod at the royal party, and Xavier executes a charming bow just as a cluster of guards come charging down the foyer to surround the queen and her family.
Mother of Blood, are we not over this?They invited us here, for fuck’s sake.The guards stare at us, but the queen shakes her head.
One of the guards steps forward.“Palace has been triple checked, the carriages weren’t followed.The perimeter is clear.You’re safe.”
A tall woman with a face like a knife pushes past the group, opens her mouth to speak to the queen and then stalls as she takes in our presence.
“Oh.You’re here,” the woman says.
“Daria, please.They are our honoured guests.Especially after Dahlia rushed Penelope to safety,” Queen Calandra says.
So she does remember my heroic efforts.
About time.
Though she looks about as pleased that we’re here and that I rescued her daughter as Daria does.Which is to say, not at all.
Honestly, I think I must have had an aneurysm in the bar.Why did I bother getting involved?
My eyes slide to Penelope’s legs.Right.That’s exactly why I got involved.Because my brain spends ninety-eight percent of its life in my pussy.
I shift on the spot, wishing I could adjust my boxers.Daria’s face tightens, but she gives the queen a nod.Not everyone is going to welcome us here instantly, but just as Octavia has sworn us to our best behaviour, it seems like the queen has done the same with her people.This is, after all, an opportunity to open trade lines and loosen city boundaries.It will benefit the trade and economy in both our cities, as Octavia has belaboured on about for endless hours.
Queen Calandra gestures at Daria.“Please send an investigation party back to the restaurant.”
“Already on its way.”
The queen purses her lips.“Good.I’d like you to personally visit Marcus’s family, and please let them know I will invite them to the palace once the wedding is over.”
