Butwe were starting with at least one dress since I didn’t have any ready. It might seem silly when a gown was a gown, butit wasn’t so much princess vs queen gowns, but I’d never picked any. My parents had chosen all my clothes.
Oddly enough, I wanted it all gone and not to trust them anymore.
Weird, right?
I’d been pushing this back and back because of the money issue and yes, it annoyed me that the media was constantly focused on my fucking clothes. It seemed valid.
Now that it could potentially be another income source?
I was in.
Especially after I flipped through some of the suit sketches. I didn’t know couturecouldhave business suits with such flare. Now I really was annoyed with my mother. There was no reason at all she couldn’t have worn this and pushed females forward instead of the demure bullshit of skirts and gowns a “good” woman should wear.
“Onyx is texting that he’s flying out again,” Myriam muttered after glancing at my phone.
I gasped and gave her a horrified look. “I completely—I’ll be right back.”
“Sagan, wait!” Maple called after me, but I was already out of the door.
I was a horrible person. It had been over aweeksince he’d flown in worried about me and I’d not even talked to him. He’d gone back and forth once to Protesia andstillI hadn’t made time for him with everything going on. All the meetings and crazy and now meals with prospects… Not even a text or call.
“Onyx,” I called as I reached the main foyer and he was walking with his suitcase staring at his phone. I ignored everyone else and just needed to—something. I wasn’t sure, but I would be crushed if I’d been treated the way I’d treated him.
Beyond crushed. I was a complete jackass.
He turned and that was the moment I realized why they’d tried to stop me. What I was wearing had been held together with pins and I lost my straps, reacting instantly to hold the front to myself, but feeling air on my entire back.
He moved just as fast and the button-up shirt he’d been wearing open over a t-shirt was over my shoulders and wrapped around me.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I’m so sorry.” I searched for my phone but rolled my eyes. “Myriam has my phone. I took pictures and never sent them. I totally—”
“Baby girl, breathe,” he whispered under his breath as he pulled me closer… Mostly to cover me. “And what were you—were you in a fitting?”
I nodded. “Myriam read your text to me and I—I’m so sorry. It’s all…” I trailed off when someone cleared their throat and another coughed.
Guards. It was a few of the guards and I realized why when just aboutallof the prospects were gathered with them.
Oh fuck. Just…Oh fuck!
“Avert your eyes,” Onyx snarled before hurrying to lift me up. He frowned when I whimpered. “What? What did I do wrong?”
“Pins,” I squeaked. “The dress was full of pins. Now in my skin.”
“Oh fuck,” he growled and froze. “I don’t know what is better—to walk with you or set you back down.”
I didn’t know either.
“Let’s start with hiding the queen,” Belinda said. “I’ve cloaked you both. I suggest moving your one arm to under her knees instead of where it is. That’s pushing against the pins.” She gave me a frustrated look. “Really? The one time you let your mask slip, it’s—”
“Yes, thank you,” I grumbled. I ducked my head against Onyx like that would help somehow and he carried me back to where I’d been.
They were mostly waiting for me in the hallway with arangeof expressions. I couldn’t even hide my embarrassment as he gently set me on my feet and I assumed Belinda uncloaked us.
“Well, good thing a red dress will look good with your coloring,” Maple drawled. I frowned and glanced at her. “There’s blood on the material, Sagan. All over. He probably shoved every pin into you.”
“It’s not his fault I’m an idiot,” I grumbled, flinching when the first pin was pulled out.
“I can’t hurt the queen,” one of Andra’s helpers muttered.
