“Please send some nourishment for us toMeine Prinzessin’sroom and tell my parents we are here in case they need us.”
“Right away, my prince.”
Aww. My gaze went to Hannes when he called me his princess, and he smiled at me, pulling me with him again.
We rushed up the stairs to my room, finding our mates there, waiting. A legit smile stretched Dante’s lips when he saw my bond tattoo complete, and André pulled me into his arms for a passionate kiss.
“Our tattoos glowed when you claimed each other,” André confessed as he let me go.
“They did?” Hannes glanced at me shocked.
Dante nodded. “It took a while before they dimmed, and we felt a rush of power coursing through us.” Curling an arm around my waist, he pressed me against his chest, kissing my lips too.
“Not that I’m complaining,” I breathed, pulling away from him a bit dazed by their attention. “But why the extra love?”
“We are celebratingyou.” Dante glanced at Hannes when I frowned. “You didn’t tell her?”
Hannes shook his head. “That’s for her to discover.”
Dante’s gaze became reverent while he led me by the waist to the large mirror beside my bed.
The moment my gaze settled on it, a new emotion swelled in my chest. A set of soft, blueish-silver eyes glanced back at me, enticing a smile of my own because thanks to Natalia and Starlight, I finally saw myself for who I truly was.
A multifaceted woman—strong, funny, innocent, sensual, proud, resilient, delicate, and determined all at once… just like Hannes said.
For the first time in my life, I felt complete. I was finally the highest version of myself, the one I was always meant to be.
Turning around, I glanced at each and every one of them. “Thank you for being there for me through it all. I love you…”
“We love you too,” Hannes assured for all of them, beaming.
“Do you want me to bring back the blue and purple strands?” Dante’s hand lifted to my hair with the offering, his magic easily taking away the red.
“No.” My head shook as I glanced in the mirror again, finally appreciating the woman before me. “I love my silver hair. It’s a testament to my unique origins, to the part of my father and mother I carry within.” Focusing on them again, I smiled, a tear leaving my eyes. “I don’t need to be anything other than who I am… Though the red was kind of badass.”
“You are badass,” André offered, kissing the tear off my cheek before interlacing our fingers.
“About yesterday…” I sighed. “I know you don’t want me to risk my life, but if you were brought into my life not just to love me, but to protect me, then do just that. Protect me while I fight, because nothing is going to stop me from rescuing my mom. Not even you.”
The guys nodded in unison, determination already shining in their gazes.
“We are sorry we were so blinded by wanting to protect you, we couldn’t see anything else,” André’s gaze dimmed with his words, and he glanced at our mates.
“We will do better,” Dante promised, taking my hand. “We are here for you and for Anastasia.”
“Good. I don’t want to have to spank you all.”
They chuckled at that, and Dante’s hands lifted before me, shadows swirling over his palms until a bundle of leather lay in them.
“Dariah’s gift,” I gasped, seeing a gentle white haze sway over it with my touch before it receded. The same haze that had covered my entire room before I fully controlled my fire.
“It’s ready for you to wear.” Dante’s brows wrinkled. “Well, it will be after you first put it on.”
Curious, I took off my robe and slipped myself into the pants and top with the corset on top, immediately feeling disappointed. It didn’t fit me. At all. I mean, I should have seen that coming, but I was so excited when Dariah gave the fight suit to me.
I was much taller than our Vampir Mother, and definitely not as curvaceous. No one was. Her tiny waist and voluptuous hips were enviable.
Then the shadows swirled over my body without Dante’s guidance. The sleeves stretched to reach my wrists, the leather tightened around my smaller hips while the legs elongated, and the waist adapted to my softer curves.
