Chapter 55
A Few Weeks Later
I laugh as I push the door to my room open.
Rauk follows, unsurprisingly. It doesn’t escape my notice that I laugh so much easier and more often than I used to.
I know that has everything to do with the man behind me.
“We’ll see,” I tell him. “Okay, so where’s this dress I’m supposed to wear for tonight? ”
“Close your eyes, and I’ll get it. Elowen said she hung it up in the bathroom.” I close my eyes and wait for him to grab it. Tonight is the official introduction of Rauk’s mate to the entire kingdom. I’ve been dreading it for days; now, I’m just ready to get it over with. “Okay. Open your eyes.”
I open my eyes and take in the dress on the bed. It’s soft white and long sleeved and absolutely see through. “What? Absolutely no way!”
Rauk glances down at the bed and smirks.
“As much as I’d love to see that, that’s not the dress.
” He nods at the dress I didn’t see hanging from the open wardrobe door.
I take in the shimmering dress in shock.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny jewels sewn into the black dress that catch the light and spill color all over the room.
“The underlayer is coarse from the jewels; hence the undergarment,” he says nodding at the bed.
“How much is that dress worth?” I ask, feeling sick.
He shrugs. “Let’s just say that we love our jewels here in the Dragon Kingdom.”
“I don’t know, Rauk.”
“Hey,” he tugs my hand, pulling me into his arms. I go willingly.
This man has definitely broken down my touching inhibitions in the past few weeks.
I used to not be able to handle touch; now I crave it.
Well, his touch; I’m still not crazy about touch from anybody else.
“Tonight is simply a celebration. I’ve had you all to myself for these past few weeks, and now the rest of the kingdom wants to meet you. ”
Even though that’s not exactly true, I get what he’s saying.
We’ve sort of lived in our own little bubble for the past few weeks.
We’ve spent hours together making up for lost time, talking about anything and everything.
During those weeks, Thorne’s been here several times; and I finally got to meet his mate, Trinia.
She’s amazing. Right after I finally met her, I reamed Rauk out for not letting me meet her earlier.
Well, I also reamed him out for all the people he turned away.
He explained that he knew it would take time for me to get used to being here, and he didn’t want Trinia and some of the others to overwhelm me.
He wanted me to get used to everything and everybody in my own time.
I couldn’t help but appreciate the thought, even if I didn’t exactly like being hidden away here. But that’s all in the past now.
Trinia’s pretty great; I think she and I will become good friends.
Shane and Reneta have been here several times as well, as well as a few others here and there.
But I get what he’s saying: I've hidden behind these walls for too long. It’s time to put on my big girl pants and get to know people.
“You’re sure I don’t have to say anything, right?
” I ask for at least the fourth time today.
He tugs on my hand. “Nope. People just want to meet you. Don’t forget; I’ll be by your side the entire time.”
“The entire time?” I ask with narrowed eyes.
His dark gaze meets mine. “The entire time. If it gets to be too much—”
“Just squeeze your hand three times; I know.”
That’s the sign we both decided on. “Trinia is coming over in the next hour or so,” he tells me.
“Why so early? It’s not until tonight, right?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know; that’s just what she said.” I eye him warily, and he lifts his hands, smirking. “Hey, I’m just the messenger. I’ve got to go check in with Elowen. Come with me?”
I follow him as we head to the kitchen. Elowen is up to her eyeballs in cooking and baking for tonight.
Rauk tried to tell her to just let others take care of it tonight, but she insisted.
I take in all the men and women helping her and stick to the back wall, so I don’t get in her way.
Rauk weaves through all the people and speaks to her for a moment.
When he gets back to my side, he snags my hand, pulling me out of the kitchen.
“Hey, can we go for a ride?” I ask. One of the things we’ve done a lot of over the past few weeks is fly together; it’s seriously become my favorite thing in the world to do.
It’s been partly to just spend time together; the other part has been to keep an eye on the Southmerians and the Northerners.
There have been a few more skirmishes, but for the most part, they’ve both stayed away.
Rauk’s pretty sure we won’t have to worry about them ever attacking again, now that they’ve seen our dragons.
“Don’t even think about it,” a new voice snaps.
I turn to face Trinia, Thorne’s mate, as my hope deflates. “Trinia, what are you doing here so early?”
She cocks an eyebrow. “Early? Girl, we’re barely going to have enough time to pull off what we need to before tonight. I was trying to get here earlier, but I had too many things to get done before tonight. Now, let’s go.”
I face Rauk, and he’s already smirking. “Not a word,” I threaten.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I start to pull away and follow Trinia, who’s making a beeline for my room; but he tugs me close, wrapping his arms around me.
“Don’t change her too much,” he calls out to Trinia.
“I like her just the way she is.” He says those last words while he stares down at me.
I smirk and try to pull away, but he only pulls me closer.
His lips touch mine, and I sigh against his lips. He kisses me again, pulling me closer.
“Let’s go!” Trinia yells from a few feet away.
Rauk groans, but I push him back. “Duty calls.”
He sighs. “Come see me when you’re ready.” He squeezes my hand one more time and starts towards the hallway that leads to Auri’s room.
“Tell her as soon as I’m ready, I’ll help her,” I call out after him. He nods and disappears into the hallway, and I follow Trinia, not looking forward to this next part. “Are you really sure it’s going to take this long? Shouldn't I just—”
“Yep. Go take a bath.”
“I already had one last night.”
She levels a look at me. “Okay. I’ll take one now.”
“Catch.”
I catch the glass bottle out of the air and read the label. “You want me to smell like a flower?”
She doesn’t even bother to look at me. “Yep. Go.”
“I bet you didn’t go through this much when you and Thorne got together,” I say to her back.
“You’re right. We jumped in bed first, and then we took a bath together.” I scrunch up my nose, and she laughs. “You’re the one that brought it up.”
“I really wish I hadn’t.”
“Stop stalling, Harper. Go take a bath.”
That’s about how my entire day goes. Trinia barks orders, and I obey...eventually. By the time she finally finishes, I’m starting to get worried I’m going to miss the event all together. “Stop fidgeting,” she says for at least the hundredth time today. I hold myself still as she paints my lips.
“I need to help Auri.”
“Rauk will make sure she’s got help for tonight; don’t worry about it,” she assures me.
Still, I won’t not worry until I see she’s actually dressed and ready for tonight.
She’s got a star roll tonight; we’ve been preparing weeks for it.
I’m not going to let her miss her big night.
Nerves run through me, and I bounce my leg nervously again.
“Harper,” Trinia warns. I try to be still; I really do.
Finally, she steps back. “Okay.” I stand up immediately, and she takes a step back. “What are you doing?”
“I’m obviously going to find a mirror.”
“Nope.”
I stare at her. “What do you mean nope?”
“You don’t get to look in a mirror, at least not yet.”
I stare at her. “You’ve lost your mind.”
She grins. “No, I haven’t. I want Rauk to see you first.”
“Why can’t I see first?”
“Because I want him to describe what you look like first before you look in a mirror.”
I stare at her and blow out a frustrated breath. “Fine.” I stride over to the door and yank it open.
“No!” she nearly shrieks at me.
I whirl around. “What is wrong with you?”
She laughs. “I’ll get Rauk; you stay here.”
“Why can’t I get him?”
She shakes her head. “Because if any other male gets an eye full of you before he does, he may literally take off their head. And I’m really not exaggerating.”
“You are so full of it. Fine,” I wave her off.
“Go get the psychotic king.” Her laugh stays with me, even after she leaves.
As much as I want to look in a mirror, I don’t.
I pace while I wait, feeling so uncomfortable.
I’ve never worn something like this before.
While the neckline isn’t plunging, it’s definitely different than anything I’ve ever worn before.
Speaking of things I’m not used to, I move and my leg slips through the lengthy slit in this dress.
Added to all this is the fact that I’m not really sure what she did to my hair, but I know it’s way more than the single braid I usually do.
Suddenly, the door opens behind me. I feel his presence, but I don’t turn around. I’m suddenly terrified.
“Well, if the front view is even half as good as the back view, I am a huge fan,” he says in a low voice behind me, making me laugh.
I turn around, and his smile drops completely.
His eyes run the length of me, starting at the top of my head and running all the way to my feet before they travel back up my body again.
Then he does it again. His eyes finally meet mine.
I’ve seen a lot of looks from Rauk, a lot of dark looks.
But the look he’s giving me now? I’ve never seen anything like this look.
“If we didn’t have a crowd of people waiting out there,” he says in such a delicious low rasp.
He makes me feel something that I’ve never felt before I met him—beautiful.
I walk towards him slowly, making sure to work the slit to my advantage.
By the time I get to him, he’s literally breathing hard.
I slide my hands up and over his shoulders and run my fingers through the back of his hair in that way I know he loves.
“Harper,” he growls at me. He starts to lift his arms, but I dance away from him.
“No touching. These jewels are like weapons.”
He starts towards me. “I don’t care if you have blades all over you; I’m touching you.”
I laugh and let him catch me. This time, I don’t stop him as he pulls me close. I stare up into those dark eyes and cock my head to the side. “I think you like this dress.”
“The dress is gorgeous, but it’s the person in the dress that makes me lose my mind.” He lowers his head to mine, and I breathe out, waiting for his lips to touch mine.
“No kissing!” Trinia yells, appearing literally out of nowhere, scaring me to death.
“What in the world?” I ask, glaring at her. Rauk wraps an arm back around my waist and pulls me close.
“Rauk, don’t you dare,” she warns.
In true Rauk fashion, he pays her absolutely no heed.
His lips touch mine, and I forget she’s even in the room.
I forget my name for a little bit, and when he pulls away, I’m pretty sure he’s forgotten his own as well.
I stare up at him as those three words I haven’t spoken yet bounce around in my head.
He’s told me he loves me multiple times now, but I haven’t yet.
Every time I start, something holds me back.
Looking up at him now, I almost do. But Trinia is really a mood killer.
I step away and take a breath. “Does Auri need help?”
He smiles softly. “No, she’s ready to go. Reneta helped her get ready.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Reneta? Is Auri wearing all black and armor?”
He smirks. “No, she looks beautiful.”
“I can’t wait to see her.”
He looks at me with indecision. “Are you sure you have to go out there?” I shake my head. “You are way too beautiful, and there are too many men out there.”
“Well, then I guess you’d better not leave my side.”
“I’m not planning on it,” he all but growls at me. He opens the door and steps out into the hallway and puts his hand out to me. I reach out and take his hand. His large hand closes around mine, and his thumb runs soft circles over the back of my hand, his trademark move.
We stop at the end of the hallway, and he looks down at me.
“You ready for this?” Nerves assail me, and I glance out into the large room that’s filled with people—some I know, some I don’t.
And then my eyes land on a pregnant Kinsley, leaning against Kaldar.
She sees me across the room, and her entire face lights up.
She turns and grabs somebody, and I watch Farrah turn towards me in surprise.
She grins and waves. From the side view, I can see her tiny baby bump.
“Beautiful!” Kinsley mouths, and I can read her lips from here.
I look up at Rauk, who’s been watching the exchange with a smile on his face. “You didn’t tell me they were coming.”
“I wasn’t sure they’d be able to with both of them being pregnant, but they wanted to. They didn’t want to miss this.”
I stare up at him as emotion fills my throat. “Rauk, I—” Words fail me, and his face softens.
“I love you,” he says simply. He runs his fingers over my cheek and leans forward, kissing me lightly. Cheering sounds all around us, and I realize we’re no longer hiding. I pull back, and he smiles down at me. He starts to face the crowd, but I put a hand on his arm, stopping him.
I take a breath and tell him what’s been brewing in my heart for weeks. “I love you.”
The smile that fills his face is unlike any other I’ve ever seen.
He grins and shakes his head. “Later,” he promises in a husky voice next to my ear, and a full-body shudder runs through me.
He takes my hand in his again, squeezes it and turns to the waiting audience.
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Dragon Kingdom and our visiting friends from the Wolf Kingdom and the Jaguar Kingdom, I present Harper to you. My Queen.”
I’m not sure there’s ever been a more perfect night.
And when Auri pulls off the impossible and stands next to us to greet our visitors for a few minutes, the tears in Rauk’s eyes make all the hours of physical labor we’ve spent together in secret so worth it.
When Kinsley and Farrah finally make it to us, we group hug.
“Who would have thought, huh?” Kinsley asks.
“Three happy endings,” Farrah says smiling.
I meet Rauk’s eyes over the top of their heads and smile. “Who would have thought?” There’s not a dry eye among us, including mine.