“Who’s that?” Rikyava glanced at her, lifting an eyebrow as she ate.
“Fury.” Layla smiled softly, texting a quick reply before setting the phone down. “He says hello to everyone. He’s still in Seattle today, helping Leni’s Sirens assess damage at the underwater portions of Luke’s hospital. He says he’ll join us tomorrow at Chambord for Rhennic’s Kingship ceremony. And then travel with us all to Wahdi Atlamenta.”
“Good.” Reginald smiled softly as he ate. “Thank you for the update, Layla.”
“By the way, Adrian.” Rikyava spoke up next. “Luke says the hospital sends their thanks. Apparently that fund you set up for them wasverynice, and they’re going to name a whole wing after you once the place is re-built. Kudos, billionaire.”
“What good is money if I can’t help the people I love? Now that I don’t have to battle Hunter with my funds, I can use them on projects I truly care about. So I am.” Adrian spoke back, taking Layla’s hand as he glanced to her. Layla squeezed his hand, smiling at him – glad Adrian and Luke were finally on respectful terms at last.
“Additionally, Adrian, the fund you and Dusk set up for the Paris Hotel’s rebuild should be more than enough to finish all the repairs and create a few new additions here.” Reginald lifted his glass in a classy salute to Adrian now. “Though I’ll be damned if we’re naming a wing after either of you.”
“Love you, too, Aldo.” Adrian chuckled, not perturbed in the slightest at Reginald’s barb. Turning to Rikyava, his next statement was sober. “How is Luke doing, by the way?”
“Passable.” Rikyava heaved a frustrated sigh now as she rolled her eyes. “He’s still weak and having trembling-fits from that blast Hunter gave him when he was already exhausted, but it’s nothing Heathren says won’t go away eventually. But the Ephilohim still have a cadre pumping etheric energy into him round-the-clock. Luke will probably need two more weeks under their care, even though the Ephilohim flooded a lot of Hunter’sfinal strikeout to the ether through their wings. But Luke won’t stay in bed; he’s been checking in with the hospital and Fury endlessly via video conference. I swear, that man can’t even let himself recuperate without being responsible for everyone, all the time.”
“That’s Luke.” Layla smiled as she added her own eyeball roll to Rikyava’s. “He’s a workaholic to the max. Better get used to the fact that he can’t relax.”
“Oh, believe me.” Rikyava spoke back with a ribald wink. “I can get him to relax. I just have to be there to do it.”
As an amused laugh was shared all around the table now, Reginald suddenly pinned Layla with his sharply alert gaze. “Forgive me for turning this casual lunch into a bit of planning, but there is some other Hotel business we should discuss sooner than later. Layla, since Dusk and Adrian are now too busy with their Lineage Kingships to take on much of a role in the Red Letter Hotel, I was wondering if you would consider taking on a far more active position with the Board. With your unique skills as a strong Royal Dragon Bind, I believe you’d be perfectly suited for a role that has not been used in some time – the Royal Hotel Ambassador.”
“Royal Hotel Ambassador? What’s that?” Layla asked as she cocked her head, setting her wineglass down.
“Essentially, it is a person who visits Twilight Lineage Courts and solidifies relationships with local ruling clans and the Red Letter Hotels nearby.” Reginald explained as he watched her with a steady gaze. “As an independent organization, the Hotel’s relationship is often strained with clans who ancestrally claim the lands our Hotels occupy. Under the Crimson Circle’s odious rule for Hunter these past millennia, many of those relationships have become egregious. The Hotel would welcome someone with formidable peacekeeping and negotiation skills – and who is now powerfully notorious – to fill this role. What do you think?”
“Wow. Aldo, I…” Layla blinked, shaking her head. “Rhennic, Adrian, and Dusk are all going to be Dragon Kings, and I’m technically going to be all their Queen-Consort soon—”
“Which holds power but only light duties, technically.” Dusk spoke back to Layla now with a teasing but astute smile. Reaching out, he clasped her hand upon the table, his diamond-sapphire eyes serious as he spoke from his heart. “Layla, you and I both know that trying to play Queen for all of us all the time is going to drive you insane. As the years go by, you should have something that’s yours in the world. A job that only you can do.”
“You are the perfect person for this Hotel ambassador position, Layla.” Adrian spoke also; as if he, Reginald, Dusk, and the others had all discussed this already without her knowing. Smoothing his hand over hers, Adrian’s Mediterranean-blue eyes were luminous as he beamed at her with a smile on his perfect lips. “Dusk’s right – you need something in this world that’s yours. A legacy only you can grow and leave behind for the next generation. Your Royal Dragon Bind skills are needed in the world; and not just sitting pretty beside your Dragon Kings. Take the job. And I’ll make sure it comes with ample compensation from Reginald and the Board.”
Blinking around at her friends and Bound mates, Layla felt how much they supported her in this. As she digested the idea, her heart suddenly glowed; her drakaina rising with an eager flush all through her veins at the prospect of having something that was entirely hers to create, nurture, and grow. She was excited at the thought of not sitting idle on a throne but having a real ambassadorial position in the world. As her heart filled with golden warmth, Layla realized it fulfilled everything she had ever wanted going into foreign relations back when she thought she was human. An independent organization that was rooted in peace, love, and equality, the Red Letter Hotel was not too far off from the United Nations she had once hoped to join.
And in many ways was far better – as Layla felt that beautiful glow spill all through the Bind.
Squeezing Adrian’s hand and beaming at Dusk, Layla turned back to Reginald. “That sounds amazing, Reginald, and I’m happy to do it. Royal Hotel Ambassador, here I come.”
“Excellent.” Reginald beamed back, his sea-grey eyes on fire with pleasure at her acceptance of the position. Raising his glass as he glanced around them all, Reginald lifted his voice in a toast. “To Layla Price, the Golden Dragon Bind and the Red Letter Hotel’s new Royal Hotel Ambassador. And to a new era of peace – for all of us. Cheers.”
Lifting glasses to Reginald’s toast, they drank back.
And the afternoon continued, blithe as they discussed peaceful matters at last.
CHAPTER 28 – HOPE
Rhennic’s Storm Dragon Kingship ceremony had been an event for the ages. Strolling with him now as they meandered through scorched fields on the Château de Chambord grounds, Layla felt so much joy in her heart, despite the ruination of the Château’s fields. Glancing back the way they had come, Layla saw the Château itself standing proud against the settling evening, beautiful displays of storm clouds, swaths of lighting, and rainbows for the celebrations still creating an incredible tapestry against the deep blue sky and the lightning-white of the palace. Smiling, she turned back towards the fields, cuddling closer to Rhennic.
As they finally got a moment alone.
“That’s some party raging back there.” Layla commented as booms of thunder and roars of delight echoed from Storm Dragons celebrating at the Château and the Coliseum where Rhennic had been crowned by his Elders. Walking close beside Layla with her escorted on his arm, Rhennic wore a deep storm-purple jerkin detailed with golden thread, his old-fashioned garb, black breeches, and black tall boots both impressively royal and also strangely fitting for his massively elegant Viking-French stature. Smiling down at her, Rhennic’s lavender eyes were bright as a flash of joyful lightning passed through them.
“They can party all they want. The only party I need is right here.” He spoke sexily as he put his arm around her now, curling her close to his side as they walked. Layla’s cascading silk evening gown from Amalia was storm-purple tonight with flickers of lighting blossoming through the fabric to show her support for Rhennic, though as a Desert Dragon she had not been allowed to stand at his side during the ceremony. Walking quietly in her royal gold jewelry and low heeled silk slippers, Layla cuddled close to Rhennic’s side as he held her.
“Do you think the Storm Dragons will accept you as King, after everything that happened with Hunter?” She asked, curious to know what the political situation still was with Rhennic’s Lineage.
“Well, they did crown me King, and I’ve certainly proven my ability to the Elders.” Rhennic spoke thoughtfully now as he gazed long out over the evening fields. “After the Elders found out it was predominantly my planning that had given us an edge over Hunter’s forces during the battle, they asked me to do a second showing of my magic. Thanks to Adrian’s control over all our powers in the Bind now, I was able to use only Storm Dragon magic in the ring this time. It’s calmed the Elder’s fears – though there are still plenty of Royals in the clans that don’t like it I’m part of the Bind. Or what it brought to our people.”
Rhennic nodded to the scorched fields and orchards, not a single thing still living as they meandered rows of blackened earth. Storm Dragon gardeners had been industrious in the past week – all the barren fields were now plowed under, making the best use of that char for future growing seasons. But as Layla followed Rhennic’s gaze to the acres and acres of orchards, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sorrow. Hunter had mostly spared the Château in his attack, but he had devastated the heart of the Storm Dragon’s home.
