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“You’ve not heard?” Ebony looked surprised.
Min shook her head. She’d never followed the news much—at least, not until she was in it constantly.
“I guess it was hushed up, but you know, if you’re a gossip like me you find out everything. Remind me to tell you the story another time. For now, suffice it to say, the Kominsky family are keeping a very low profile. Humans are still buying Kominsky gowns and cutting out the labels, but honestly, it’s best not to risk it.”
“Absolutely,” Min said firmly. “Nothing must go wrong before the contract signing tomorrow.” She smoothed her hands down the fitted silk of her dress.
“You look bea-uti-ful,” said Ebony. “Time to go slay your dragon, hon.” She smirked as she left the room. “See you down there.”
After she’d left, Min stood staring at her reflection in the mirror, rearranging the diamond and ruby necklace that Cressida had given her to wear. It was more glitzy than anything she’d owned before, but one of the simplest creations Cressida possessed.
Without the barrier of her glasses, her eyes shone back at her steadily. A sweeping uplift with eyeliner made them seductive and sophisticated, and her lipstick complemented the deep red of her dress.
Minerva Westwind.
Confident. Beautiful. And ready to stand by her dragon.
To undo all of Colonel Westwind’s wrongs.
A moment later there was a knock on the door and there was Ethan.
He looked devastatingly handsome in his tux and dress suit.
The green and gold of his skin stood out against the stark black and white of his outfit.
His eyes skimmed down her body, and the admiration in his piercing blue gaze was unmistakable.
She saw his chest rise on a sharp inhalation. “You’re not wearing your glasses.”
“Nope. Strict instructions from Ebony.”
“You look… amazing,” he murmured. “With or without them.”
She took a deep breath. “You don’t look so bad yourself, if I may say so, Mr Blade.”
“You may, Miss Westwind.” And still he stared into her eyes.
His eyelids flipped sharply across his eyes, then he held out his arm. “May I accompany you to the grand ballroom, my love?”
“You may.”
At the double doors into the ballroom, he bent his head and whispered in her ear, “Ready?”
“I’m ready.” She beamed up at him, her heart so full of love it drowned out her nerves.
“Then let’s do this thing.” The staff threw open the double doors to the Blade grand ballroom and in they walked.
It seemed to Min like a thousand eyes homed in on them. Suddenly, she felt a little dizzy. Without her glasses as a barrier, she felt exposed. As if sensing this, Ethan’s tail tightened around her waist, steadying her.
A peal of applause erupted as they entered, and Min realized some folks were standing, smiles beaming at them from every direction.
Ethan led her through the packed tables of monsters and a few humans. As they got closer to the stage, she saw Cressida seated, smiling and wiping away a tear. Beau sat next to her, looking very spruced in his own tux. Grinning, he winked at her, and her heart filled with a rush of love. Yes, she loved this dragon family.
It was her family now.
Her anxiety started to ease.
But then she glanced at an adjacent table to see a group who were not applauding, not smiling even. Gray men in gray suits. Human men. One face stood out among them, and her heart jolted.
