Because the truly magical thing about Avondale was the way it made her feel, the waytheymade her feel. It was new and terrifying and wonderful and real, and Destiny didn’t want toreturn to a life where she had to pretend. She wanted to be her true, messy self with the gorgeous, charming, maddening men who made her feel seen in a way no one outside of her closest friends ever had.
Her feelings only grew throughout the day as she interacted more with the people of Avondale and, especially, Pack Stepanov. It seemed that they’d somehow been seated together for all of the day’s events. The gingerbread houses were cleared from the dining hall, and the visiting families were treated to an elaborate spread of holiday foods. Destiny had been seated with the royal family, positioned between Prince Alexander and Greyson, who spent the meal introducing her to regional delicacies and making her laugh as they shared memories of their past Christmases together.
After the luncheon, Destiny sat amongst the royal family as a choir of Avondalian citizens sang a series of Christmas tunes, including many she’d never heard before that seemed specific to the region. Though the music was beautiful, she spent much of the concert whispering with Greyson and Hunter, who continued the colorful commentary and reminiscing they’d started during the luncheon. It was so easy to laugh along, to ask probing questions, and discover how their memories compared to the men they were now. Despite the brevity of their time together, Destiny couldn’t help but feel like she knew these men. There was a sense of familiarity and trust and rightness to their interactions that simply felt natural.
Soon enough, it was time for the Christmas tree contest. Destiny watched Avondale drift past as she and the royal family were chauffeured to the site. She tried to imagine what five acres of fully decorated Christmas trees might look like, but she was in no way prepared for what she saw.
“Holy smokes, that’s a lot of trees!” Sasha exclaimed as their convoy came to a stop. “The royal family seriously has to judge all of these tonight? How could they possibly choose?”
Mina, who’d ridden with Destiny’s team, looked up from her ever-present tablet and laughed at Sasha’s wide-eyed astonishment. “Technically, they’ve already decided. Our team reviews photos of all the trees, before selecting a significantly smaller portfolio for the family to judge. Tonight isn’t really about the contest. It’s about spending time with the community.”
Outside, people laughed and talked loudly, children chased one another through the trees, and vendors sold souvenirs and holiday treats. Avondale’s citizens looked idyllic in the glow of what had to be hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. The trees seemed to go on forever, miles and miles of shiny bits and bobbles, twinkling lights, and quite a few ingeniously artistic creations Destiny couldn’t wait to see up close.
“This is incredible,” she breathed, her breath fogging the car window.
“Told you,” Sasha boasted, nudging Destiny with her elbow. “I knew we didn’t want to miss this.”
Destiny rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the smile growing on her face. The Christmas spirit was apparently contagious, because she was already feeling all warm and fuzzy and they hadn’t even left the SUV. Suddenly, this didn’t seem like a photo op or just another engagement on her endless itinerary. This was peace and joy and fun. This was what she wanted her life to feel like.
Destiny reached out and squeezed Sasha’s hand. “I don’t know why I ever doubted you. I’m glad we stayed.”
“Me too.” Sasha beamed, her smile every bit as dazzling as the Christmas lights. She squeezed Destiny’s hand, bouncing in her seat. She grabbed Mina with her other hand, earning a throatychuckle from the royal assistant, who finally put down her tablet and gazed out of the windows with them. “Let’s go! There’s so much to see, and I want to see it all. This is so awesome!”
“It’s a security nightmare,” Damon grumbled from where he sat staring morosely out of his own window. He held up his hands defensively when all three women’s heads snapped toward him. “I know, I know. The monarchy’s security has this covered. We’ve discussed it in depth. Everyone is going tohave fun.”
Destiny couldn’t help but laugh at her bodyguard’s grumpy tone. He’d been affronted when they suggested he could stay behind and take a break and had begrudgingly settled for coming along to enjoy the festivities in an off-duty capacity. He didn’t seem at all enthused, but the compromise allowed him to keep an eye on Destiny for his own peace of mind.
“Didn’t you say it was nice to see me relaxed? Now it’s your turn.” Destiny teased. “How can you look at this and not feel happy?”
Sasha snorted. “He’s probably just calculating the ratio of possible threats to security personnel.”
“I have those numbers for you,” Mina said, picking up her tablet and turning the screen toward Damon.
Sasha laughed again and snatched the tablet away. “You’re so efficient, Mina Bean. He’s seen the numbers. And if I can spot all the security, I know he sees them. They’re everywhere.”
Mina flushed prettily at the nickname, her eyes sparkling. Destiny smiled. Sasha had such an easy time making friends. Probably because she’d never met a stranger in her life. Her golden retriever energy could be irritating, but at the moment it was endearing.
Destiny spotted security guards on horseback, on snowmobiles, and moving along the edges of the crowd on foot.“Sasha’s right, Damon. You can relax and let your hair down for one night.”
Damon’s scowl deepened. “Very funny.”
“You know what I mean.” Destiny smiled wryly at him. Her security guard was completely bald. “Please at least try to have a good time.”
A member of the security team joined them a few minutes later, and they stepped out into the frigid evening air. Destiny shivered, pulling her coat more tightly around her. She could see heaters placed strategically among the trees, with people gathered around the rings of warmth.
“Don’t worry, the sleighs are heated,” Mina assured her. “They’re quite cozy.”
“We’ll keep her warm,” said a velvety voice from behind them, making Destiny shiver for an entirely different reason.
She turned to see Greyson grinning at her, his packmates approaching from the luxury SUV they’d arrived in. The rest of the royal family was emerging from a third vehicle, looking like something out of a fairytale with their crowns and fur-lined cloaks. The buzz of the crowd grew louder, but the sound was welcoming rather than aggressive. No one surged forward to take pictures or even tried to approach. The people of Avondale seemed accustomed to their monarchs, regarding them with a familiarity that made it clear to Destiny that the royal family didn’t stay aloof in their tower. Prince Alexander and his family cared about their citizens, and they showed it, and their people obviously loved them for it.
“This is going to be amazing!” Sasha declared, bouncing on her toes. “Oh my god, are those the sleighs?I am going to die of adorableness, but I can die happy now. I have officially achieved my dream of living in a Christmas romcom.”
Everyone laughed, following Sasha’s excited gaze to the approaching sleighs. Destiny had to admit that they werestraight out of a romantic comedy. Two beautiful horses pulled each ornately carved wooden sleigh. As they drew nearer, Destiny could see they were expertly hand painted, with plush booth seating and inconspicuous heaters built beneath the benches.
Prince Alexander stepped to her side, offering her his arm with an impish grin. “If this is a romantic comedy, I’m obviously the leading man. Allow me to escort you to our chariot.”
Destiny rolled her eyes and ignored his arm, crossing hers over her chest. “Your modesty knows no bounds, Princeling. I don’t need an escort to the sleigh that is currently stopping four feet in front of us.”
