“Thank you, Brian.” Lucie looked back at his colossal dragon. “Do you want me to open a portal for you to go back?”
“No, I prefer to stretch my wings.” He looked at Lucie and Aedan and nodded his head. “This is where I leave you then. But I’ll be seeing you soon.” Brian flapped his wings, creating gusts of dust around him as he lifted off into the sky.
“Well let’s get you two situated. I’ll have our rooms joined together while we’re here. We actually have a suite that’ll work out well.” Jasper grabbed Lucie’s bag. “You are a double princess while you’re here, Lucie.” He talked as he led them into the castle. The guards bowed their heads respectfully and stood aside. “You’re not just the werewolves’ princess but the vampires’ princess. The whole point of the welcoming party is to welcome our new princess and future queen.”
She felt Aedan shift closer to her, protective. He hadn’t been here that much, and there was still a lack of trust when it came to his sweet sister. Jasper noticed this and smiled. “She is more special to us than you understand, Aedan. She is very safe here.”
“Lucie.” A cool, crisp voice rang out as a figure stepped out from behind a column. It was Ryan … the real Ryan who was pretending to be Derrick while Derrick was pretending to be Ryan. The one she had to pretend was her fiancé. He walked up to her with open arms, waiting expectantly for them to put on the public show for others.
She slowly obliged and internally cringed when his lips touched her forehead.
“I trust you had pleasant travels?”
Lucie nodded, and he smiled down at her.
“I’m aware of everything that’s been going on. While you’re here, you’ll stay with me,” Ryan said matter-of-factly.
Lucie’s eyes widened and she took a small step backward, looking at Jasper.
“Um … I was going to stay with my brother and?—”
“No, Lucie. As my fiancée, you’re expected to and should be staying with me.” Ryan glanced around the room briefly. “My chambers are the safest, and as my fiancée, you shouldn’t be sharing a room with anyone but me.”
“My prince …” Jasper said with a smile that would have looked normal to anyone at a distance. But up close, there was malice behind his smile and his piercing gaze. “I hardly think it is appropriate for her to stay in your room … with just you. I know of some who will not think it proper. Might even be a deadly decision …” He dropped his tone and fixed his dagger eyes on Ryan.
Derrick will kill you if you lie next to his fiancée,Jasper growled in his head.
She’s safer with me. My orders are to keep her safe. She can have a bed to herself. But no one would ever be able to come near her in my room.
Like they could in mine?!
Why would my fiancée share a room with you? Don’t you think this would cause unwanted rumors? No, she’s staying with me.
Derrick is not going to like this.Jasper scowled and grit his teeth. He outranked this man and was tempted to give him an order.
Jasper, we’ll talk later. As you know, there are eyes and ears everywhere.Ryan cleared his throat. “My fiancée will be staying with me. Guards … see to it that her bag is brought to my room.”
Lucie watched, mortified, as a man came and grabbed her bag from Jasper. She knew this guy just from when she met with him as her fake fiancé that wanted nothing to do with her, but she wasn’t close to him. They were barely cordial with each other, and now she was supposed to sleep in his room. She looked over at Jasper, who gave her a reassuring smile, though she could see he was struggling with this as well. She needed to fix this … publicly.
“I have an idea,” Lucie said, beaming with childlike excitement. She wanted for those around to be able to hear her. “Let’s have a slumber party tonight. A way for the four of us to really get to know each other. It’ll be so much fun. We can swap stories and maybe roast marshmallows. I’d like for you and Aedan to become closer.” Lucie bit her lip and smiled. She watched as Jasper’s shoulders relaxed and Ryan’s lips curled upward.
“Whatever you want, my princess.” Ryan’s reply was polite and strangely warm. Much warmer than he’d been with her before. “Okay, let’s all head to my room and get situated. Afterward, we’ll join my parents for dinner.”
“Sounds great. I’m starving.” Aedan chuckled, stepping closer to Lucie. He needed to act as friendly as possible here. He wasn’t just Lucie’s brother but the future King of theWerewolves, and as such, he needed to do his best to portray them in a positive light. It would help other vampires relax.
Jasper smiled at Lucie, giving her a small nod. Thank goodness she was clever. This would get them all into Derrick’s room, which was well protected and, of course, soundproof. Then he could really talk to Ryan. No matter how trusted Ryan was, Derrick would probably gut him for sleeping in the same room as his mate. Ryan had to know this, so he must have a very good reason for insisting on it. He could even see how relieved he looked at Lucie’s loud proposition. She didn’t realize it, but she probably saved him too.
They walked down the halls and past the guards through two restricted areas before they finally reached Derrick’s room.
“After you, my dear,” Ryan said calmly, allowing for Lucie to step inside the room.
Once they were all inside and the door had closed, Jasper turned to Ryan. “Okay … what’s this all about?”
CHAPTER 37
Ryan plopped down on a chair and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. “Maaaan … I can’t wait to be me again.” He chuckled and relaxed into the cushions.
Lucie had NEVER seen him act like this before. It would be interesting to see what the real Ryan was actually like.
