Chapter 15
Leon watches me with dark eyes as he dresses. I drop the robe before him and slowly slide the gown up my thighs and ample hips, turning my back towards him so he can lace it up for me, his greedy fingers running down my spine. Once I am secure, he leans down, kissing both shoulders.
Without ever saying the words, every one of his kisses and touches makes me feel loved and treasured. I’m greedy for the sensation. Unsure how I will go without it when he leaves.
Hiliyah’s dress is spectacular. The fabric is the same rich emerald as Leon’s eyes.
Its plunging neckline reaches halfway down my stomach and leaves my full breasts open.
The top and hemline are covered in delicate silk leaves embellished with small green gems that sparkle when I move, and the long, tight, sheer sleeves end in emerald-encrusted cuffs.
The rest of the gown flows freely below my waist and has deep slits that show each side of my legs, reaching up to my hips.
I step away from Leon and twirl, the dress flowing around me, the decorative gems glittering with the movement.
The shirt Hiliyah made for him is perfectly cut to his body, and with an even darker corset vest over it, I have never seen anyone look so handsome.
It takes my breath away. Joy spreads in my chest as I envision tonight: celebrating Nueena, representing my court, and dancing in his arms ’til dawn.
Besides his rounded ears he appears like an Ellovian ready to attend the festivities.
I do not miss the two daggers at his side, the sheaths matching his black attire, nearly hiding it from unsuspecting eyes.
He slips the pointed gold ear cuffs over his rounded tips before closing the distance between us, graceful and determined, as if he cannot bear to be more than a touch away from me.
“You look radiant, Izadella.” We share a wide smile as he takes all of me in.
“You are truly beautiful. I look forward to denying all other potential dance partners who think they have a chance with you. Tavien even said I could borrow a sword to ensure everyone knows you’re mine.
” He places a hand over his heart. “And in my colors tonight, too.”
“Your colors?” I raise one eyebrow at him.
“Oh, did you think I didn’t notice that the fabric was the exact color of my eyes? No point in lying to me, my dear,” he teases me.
I wish to deny it if only to wipe the smug smirk off his face, but my heated cheeks and shy smile betray me. “Well, you do have lovely eyes,” I say, rolling mine.
He steps even closer, leaving no space between us. “Thank you for this honor.”
“I’m warning you now, healer, I am a poor dancer.”
He nods, understanding. “My only wish for tonight is to hold you close. Currently dancing is only the way I’m accomplishing it, as we are cursed to be interrupted.” He winks at me.
A truly embarrassing giggle falls from my lips. “You say that now, but you may need to use those healing skills on yourself before the night is over.” I look down at his shoes. “Those poor things.”
He laughs but it fades quickly when he asks, “You’re not wearing any jewelry tonight?” His eyes follow my hand as I rub over my collarbone, hating how bare it is.
“I do not think so. I had my heart set on a very special necklace I designed but—” My throat tightens, soul still raw from the loss of my jewelsmith magic. It is too painful to speak of.
Much to my confusion, Leon picks up a square, yellow velvet box that I hadn’t noticed, off my bed. He carefully opens it.
Tears blur my vision at the sight of my emerald necklace before me.
A large teardrop-cut emerald sits nestled on a cushion, surrounded by small diamonds. Small leaf-shaped emeralds on each side of the diamonds go down slowly, getting bigger ’til they meet in the middle, with the largest of them hanging between the rows of the leaf emeralds.
I gape at him. How could he possibly have known about this necklace?
“Tavien wished for some history of the other kingdoms and offered to trade me for the scrolls, and I saw your original sketch back at your cottage and the loose jewels on your desk. I sketched out a drawing of it from memory. Hiliyah and Tavien helped bring it to life. I wanted to give you something to remember me by, and I hope in a few hundred years you can look back on it with happy memories and know how much you meant to me.” He whispers the last part as he removes the necklace. “May I?”
I nod and run my fingers over the gems, speechless at the gift he delicately places around my neck. He clasps the chain and moves both of us in front of the bedroom mirror.
The sight of us takes my breath away, and I watch my reflection as tears roll down my flushed cheeks. Leon moves behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me close. “Beautiful. You look positively regal, my little gem. Like a queen. My queen.”
We do look like royalty, like rulers of a far-off realm where mortals and fae can be as one, free of madness and untouched by time.
“Leon?”
“Yes, Strawberries.”
“Just for tonight, can we forget about the future? Can we pretend everything will be all right?”
“Of course. Tonight, we are nothing but two dancers on the floor.”
My voice breaks. “Thank you.”
His lips press into my cheek, pulling me even closer, just two star-crossed lovers on the sparkling ballroom floor, unburdened all night with whatever tomorrow brings. I close my eyes for a moment, absorbing his endless devotion.
Someone clears their throat, and my eyes fly open again.
Nueena appears behind him in our reflection, smiling softly at our intimate embrace. “Apologies for interrupting yet again, but the court guardians are here for the procession, so we must leave.”
Nueena is breathtaking.
Dressed in the gown Hiliyah designed, she shines as bright as the sun.
Her luxurious lilac gown is made of iridescent fabric and drops off the shoulders. Diamonds descend from her waist like falling stars amid silk flowers, gold adornments, and sheer drapery that gracefully descends down before flowing back up into panels that hang behind her.
Haloing her head are more of the silk flowers with the crown I made her—twenty-three points of various sizes coming out like the sun, crystals dangling from each tip.
I step away from Leon and take Nueena’s hands in mine.
When we were dewlings, we hid in Nyvenah's extensive closet and wore her gowns that were far too large for us, and pretended we were at Nueena’s coronation ball.
We’d spin in circles and envision dancing to music in the arms of imaginary dance partners, parading around her parents’ chambers, tripping over fabric.
I would pick my favorite of Nyvenah’s vast crown collection, dramatically bowing, and presenting it to Nueena before placing it on her head.
Nyvenah came back to her closet and found us fast asleep after hours of dancing, half of the contents of her wardrobe on the floor, one of her treasured crowns falling haphazardly over Nueena’s curls.
Nueena has been dreaming of this night for so long.
We both lean forward, our foreheads pressed together, her hand tightly held in mine. No words are expressed. We do not need them as the excitement radiates off us.
Together we walk to the door, where Tavien stands. He pulls me into a tight hug, lifting me off the ground as I laugh. “Del, you look gorgeous!” He puts me down and turns to Leon. “You really will be needing that sword.”
I playfully nudge my shoulder into his arm, thankful for my friends.
“Thank you for the necklace,” I say to him, rubbing the stones that decorate my neck.
He points to Leon. “That was all him. He gave me the stones and provided the sketch.”
“Who made it?” I ask.
“Lazalai.”
Lazalai, Keeper of the Gem Court and my dear friend. Guilt churns low in my belly that I’ve kept such a secret from her. “I will need to thank her.”
Tavien addresses all of us. “We have twice the guard count on duty tonight. They have been made aware of an elevated threat against the royal family, Della included. Tonight is a celebration but, Del, please be on guard. We still have a traitor in our midst.”
I nod. “I will.”
We all leave together. Outside the main doors to our wing is Nueena’s family and their guard. Nyvenah has chosen the dress she can dance in and is now arm in arm with Alachite, who wears a formal jacket of the same color.
Nueena’s little sisters, Vaylin and Kaylena, are dressed in different shades of purple to represent the Ellovian High Court. Both help their sister by carrying the train of her long dress.
Six guards stand with a flag of each court in golden armor, their faces hidden.
Lillian stands in front of all of them and, for the first time in the many years I’ve known her, she is wearing a gown.
The purple silk is so dark it appears almost black, with tight sleeves like mine; the rest is flowing.
Her dress also has high slits, revealing three golden daggers strapped to her thigh.
A long matching hair pin holds back the tight bun resting on the top of her head and is no doubt a weapon of its own.
A glowing yellow Zemra stone hangs around her neck.
They did it!
Soulbonded!
My chest swells with unending pride and elation for her. We make eye contact, and she rolls her eyes at my obvious excitement, but there is a smile on her dark lips, too.
I want to hug them both and shout with joy, but that must wait.
Nyvenah and Alachite lead the way, their dewlings trailing behind. Tavien’s hand is low on Nueena’s back as they make their way down the hall to the celebration of Nueena’s coronation. Leon and I wait for them to pass us to join the end, the clash of thunder in the distance.
“Ready? I ask him.
We stare at each other as he closes his hand around mine, brings my knuckles to his lips, and whispers against my skin, “For a night with you in my arms? I’ve been eternally ready.”
I have no words to express the burst of hope and excitement that erupts in my soul, but it’s on his face, too, and maybe we do not need them.