“You look enchanting, Princess Leya.” Mihr smiled. “Now, I will do your hair.”
Smirking, Hana picked up two thick, black scrunchies and hooked them on her own ears.
“Hana, stop,” she grumbled, biting back her laughter before poor Mihr thought they’d lost their minds.
The girl efficiently worked Leya’s hair into a low, loose bun with bits of curly wisps framing her face. “I thought simple would work better with your beautiful outfit.”
“Thank you—”
“Wait, I got you something.” Hana opened a small gray box. “I’ll do this, Mihr.”
She handed Leya delicate crystal teardrop earrings set in platinum. As she put them on, Hana hooked a matching chain along the center parting of her hair, ending with an inch-long teardrop set with the same sparkling crystal.
“There.” Hana stepped back. “Shoes, make-up, and you’re good to go.”
Her nerves in a tangle again, Leya completed her dressing.
Kohl eyeliner and lip-gloss applied, she reached out to Aerén through their mate bond.Where are you?
Living room. Shall I come to you?
Her nerves settled, hearing his low, quiet voice, one that could make her squirm. Ugh! Not going there with that line of thinking.
Soft laughter echoed in her mind, and she groaned. Of course, he could pick up on her thoughts—
Believe me, I would rather lock ourselves up in our room for a week, but this needs to be done.
I know. I’m almost ready.
Okay.His husky tone stroked her mind.Don’t be nervous. They will love you as much as I do.
She hoped so. But it was okay, as long as he did.
Moments later, Leya entered the living room.
Aerén turned from staring out the window.
And the other people in there faded.
Her breath caught. Yes, he wore his usual black, but the long, high-collared coat fell to his highly polished boots. Pewter embroidery, resembling a collage of leaves, swirled on its collar and down the front to cover his chest. With his hair tied back in that half ponytail he favored, he looked every inch the prince he was.
And he was hers.
She smiled.
He didn’t.
Instead, he prowled over, his gaze trailing from her hair jewelry to her face, down herlehengato her heels. “If I had not met you before, then seen you now, I would have claimed you as mine on the spot, my beautiful mate.”
Then I would peel off each layer of fabric with my teeth alone.His voice was low, dark, and mesmerizing.And lick you from the jewel dipping to your brow, all the way down to your pretty toes.
Heat flooded her face.
“It’s the outfit,” she blurted, waving a hand, her fingers catching the edges of her longdupatta, trying desperately not to blush.
His eyes twinkled as he, too, carefully fingered the long scarf draped over her shoulder. “You need to get more of these outfits.”
She rolled her eyes. “Then I wouldn’t get anything done, nor wouldyou,for that matter.”
