“Okay,” she replied with an endearing gaze. By the time I reached the bathroom door, she had opened the drink and taken a big bite of her sandwich.
I stood still as a marble pillar while Anwen scanned me up and down, her lips puckered in what I feared was discontent. She had spent the better part of an hour choosing our clothing for dinner and picked a stunning black dress for herself which stopped just below the knee. She paired the garment that she called a ‘cocktail dress’ with metallic high heels which made her calves tense and look sexy as hell.
As for me, she picked one of the black suits and three different shirts, which I had to try on first so she can decide about styling my hair.
I did not comment or object, if putting her attention in clothing helped her keep the nervousness in place until dinner, I would be happy to oblige, so I did everything she told me to. I also tried on several pairs of shoes which surprisingly fit me perfectly.
“Is it going to be hot in there?” Anwen asked, scratching her ear, careful not to touch the curls she had placed perfectly on that side of her face.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, but she did not seem satisfied with my answer, taking a few more seconds to scan me, her attention mostly on my upper body.
“This shirt makes you look too muscly, but the other one highlights your eyes too much.”
I honestly did not care what I wore, but it clearly meant a lot to her. After a couple more seconds she reached a decision. “No, go for all black,” my mate pointed at a fourth shirt she had laid on the bed, ‘in case of emergency. “It will piss off Rhylan and disguise your arms,” she nodded in confirmation.
“Disguise my arms?” I repeated, confused.
“Yup,” Anwen replied, turning to the mirror to check on the long lines she had drawn on her eyelids for a fourth time.
“Why would I need to disguise my arms?”
“So your muscles don’t show too much,” Anwen replied like it was the most obvious thing.
“And why do I need to disguise my muscles?” I came from behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, pressing her back on my chest, her ass fitting perfectly into my midsection. “You used to love them if I remember correctly.” I placed a kiss on her neck.
“And I do,” she giggled, the sound releasing tension from my body, “a lot. But it may come across as a threat. Plus, you said something about the queen might have a thing for you?” she turned to me with a frown.
“That never came to be, I was too offensive and got sent back to the cell,” I pointed out. I had told her fragments of what happened to me since we’d last seen each other, mostly about the royal family, who were beings we had to deal with again and kept most of the hard memories away, not wanting to cause her more harm.
“And it never will, nobody is getting their hands on my man,” she turned in my arms and placed her lips on mine possessively.
“Fahrenor,” I groaned a warning. “Yourmancan barely contain himself with you in that dress, don't make it more difficult,” I pleaded. She smiled, obviously pleased with herself, then ordered me to change. I stole another kiss and released her from my arms to do as commanded.
At seven o’clock sharp a knock on the door announced the time for dinner and Anwen hurried to open.
“My, my, what a deliciously looking sprout,” I heard Rhylan’s voice from behind the door, and blood boiled in my veins. I did not doubt Anwen’s love for a second, but if Fear Gorta attempted something with my mate, we would have an exceedingly big problem.
“Rhylan,” she replied, her tone even and uncaring.
“How are you finding your rooms?” his dark voice vibrated through the walls, taking over the surroundings.
“A bit creepy,” Anwen replied to my delight, as I made my way to the door.
“Rhylan,” I stepped behind Anwen and announced my presence.
“Prince,” he grumbled at the sight of me. “A word of advice for future,” he said, shifting his gaze from Anwen to me so slowly, timed to finish his next phrase as he locked his gaze with mine. “Next time you fuck her in the shower, cover her mouth or something. Some of us are trying to catch our beauty sleep.”
I felt Anwen tense but I adopted Rhylan’s tone and replied with the same cold cadence. “Noted,” then turned my attention to her and said, “Shall we go to dinner, my love?'' extending my arm for her to grab.
Rhylan’s eyes narrowed with distaste but seeing how his words did not have the desired effect, he moved aside in the corridor to make room for us to exit. Anwen stepped first, holding my hand the whole time and I followed right behind, sealing the door shut.
We stepped behind the old fae through the narrow corridors, both Anwen and I taking in as many details as we could until we reached a set of plated doors, smaller than the main entrance in the throne room.
Two soldiers on each side pulled them open for us to enter, with Rhylan only a few steps ahead, not renouncing the cloak over his black tunic. Anwen and I pressed our steps, entering together through the set of doors that closed behind us as soon as we reached the room. Not the throne room, I realised, this was a smaller version of the massive dining table overlooking the court which the king had first invited me to sit at.
Only six chairs and sets of plates had been arranged at the table, along with a grand feast of meats, fruit, cheeses, and every garnish imaginable.
“My guests will arrive shortly, please take a seat,” Rhylan announced and situated himself head of the table, without waiting for either of us to approach.
