The line I drew was Justice. She was a princess in her own right, and they were her parents. If they spoke to her with anything less than the respect she deserved, that was where we'd have an issue.
I really hoped it didn't come to that.
"I'm sorry," she murmured as we followed them into the large, airy, white-with-multiple-ruby-accents house.
I shot her a slow smile. "Don’t even worry about it. If their annoyance is directed at me, I have plenty thick skin. As long as they're good to you, I can keep the peace."
Unlike her words, mine were not whispered, and judging by the stiffening of her mother's shoulders, she'd heard me loud and clear. It was my first and only warning.
Justice snorted out some laughter, covering it with a terrible attempt at a cough. Her hand slipped over her mouth to stifle it further, and as she turned, mirth in her eyes, the last of the light filtering through stained-glass windows, washed across her radiant skin.
Her deliciously soft skin. Kissing her was beyond my imagination, and I’d imagined it a lot. I could still taste her lips against mine, and if her parents weren’t here with us…
A distraction in the form of loud conversation was welcomed as we entered a large ballroom. It had been decorated in lavish red curtains, huge ruby chandeliers, and an array of other ruby-toned candelabras around the perimeter. There was a dark, almost Gothic feel to it, but it was perfectly suited to display the raw beauty of their jewels.
The most beautiful jewel of all, though, was the princess who drew all attention when she stepped into view. A moment's pause from those who watched her closely, and then applause broke out, genuine smiles crossing the faces I could see.
I fell back a little, giving her this moment that she so richly deserved.
Or at least I attempted to. Justice reached out before we were too far apart, grasping my hand and pulling me to stand beside her. Some of the applause died off as shock replaced the smiles on their faces. This was clearly the upper society here in ruby land, wearing visible power and wealth. Their reaction felt a little overdramatic, but I didn't push the issue, allowing it to play out however they wanted it to. So far no one was being overtly rude.
"Come, Justice," Deloria said, holding her hand out, a pointed look at where my hand was still joined to her daughter's. "It's time to address your people. They’ve been waiting."
Justice hesitated, and I could feel through the tendrils of our bond that she was nervous and unsure of how to handle this responsibility.
"Just be yourself," I said softly, using my free hand to brush back a few strands of ruby hair that had escaped. "You're more than worthy."
She shot me a smile, her natural confidence returning. Nodding, a fortifying gesture, she released her hold on me and stepped through the crowd. They'd left a small path, and I liked that respectful gesture.
Jepati spoke first, smiling out to his people, his dark features tilted at a strong, proud angle. "Thank you all for being here to celebrate the return of our child. Justice is everything we hoped, dreamed, and prayed for, and the years we lost with her is my greatest regret in my very long life."
He looked weary, some of the pride falling, and I noticed the way Justice reacted with concern, one hand on his arm as she comforted him, making it very clear how much she loved her father.
Jepati continued on, and just as clear was how much he adored Justice. Did he truly know her, though, the real Justice deep down at her core, the one that loved country music, even the awful beats with more twang than words?
Did he know that she had to be reminded to eat, but when she did she loved spicy Cajun food, red apples, hard raspberry flavored candy, red skittles, and spicy corn chips with huge chunks of salsa? Red had been her theme long before the ruby lands.
Did he know that she trusted so rarely but if you made it past her barriers, she threw her whole heart into you? And she would fight for those she loved, more than anyone ever had before? She'd been fighting to save people in my pack for a long time now.
Did he know about her past? The past that littered scars across her body and soul?
Because if he didn't know that shit about her, it was not okay just to be proud of the beautiful face and perfect words she spoke. Even if she was pretty amazing at that as well.
"Public speaking is not something I've ever had much opportunity to do in my life," she said, her voice a little strained. "My previous life, before I embraced the jeweled lands, was not one that bears any resemblance to the time I've spent here. I'm beyond grateful to have this opportunity." She flashed her smile, and I wished that there was about a few hundred fewer people in the room. "Thank you to my parents for welcoming me with such open arms. Thank you to my friends and family who journeyed to be with me, supporting my bonding with the jewels. I'm still not sure that I'm worthy to be your princess, but I can promise that I will always do the very best job I can to honor and respect you and your traditions."
Her eyes clashed with mine, and I forced myself not to move toward her. Fuck, she drew me in like nothing in the world ever had.
22
Justice Winter
The speech was almost done, and I didn’t even have the words to say how happy I was about that. If someone had told me that being a princess required public speaking, I'd have declined the role immediately. It did feel like a task I’d get better at with time, at least, so I’d just keep doing my best not to say anything stupid.
The end of my speech was a list of supes to thank. My parents especially, their shiny eyes locked on me as they smiled proudly. I’d not let them down today and that was a huge weight off my shoulders.
“I have one person left to thank,” I said when I was down to my last line. Finding his eyes in the crowd, I had to stop myself from leaping across this small dais and chasing him down. Whatever was happening between us, it was beyond anything I’d ever expected. These true mate bonds did not fuck around.
"Jacob Compass literally changed my life." All eyes turned toward the tall, enigmatic, hot-as-hell fey standing by himself. He didn't show a single sign of being uncomfortable that hundreds of jeweled fey were staring at him, or that some of those stares were less than friendly. He just watched me. With an intensity that people wrote love songs about. It made me feel so … much. My stomach swirled at the memory of our kiss.
