I get ready in a different room, and when I return to the bedroom, Ronan is waiting for me wearing a dashing suit that makes him look like a fairy-tale prince. The butterflies awaken in my stomach even though my heart is heavy. He scans me from the tips of my toes, traveling up the length of my body slowly.When our gazes connect again, it feels like all the air has gone out of the room.
My breathing is erratic as he stands up from the couch and walks over. I take that opportunity to appreciate the view of his wide shoulders, which fill his tailored jacket as if it was made for him.
“You look stunning, Cher.” He stops in front of me and runs his fingers over my collarbone, giving me goose bumps.
My dress is a strapless dream made of tulle and embroidered flowers in a soft blue. The lady-in-waiting who helped me dress also braided my hair on top and left the rest loose in soft curls. I know I look pretty, but it’s the appreciation I read in Ronan’s eyes that makes me feel like the hottest woman on earth.
“You don’t look bad either.”
His lips turn up right before he kisses me softly, making my toes curl in my sandals. In an instant, he turns me into flames, but sadly, there isn’t time for another round of lovemaking. The king and queen await.
He pulls back too quickly, leaving me wanting more. “We should go,” he says in a thick voice.
“Yeah.” I keep my eyes glued to his lips.
Ronan clears his throat and steps back. “I’m keen to find out the purpose of this luncheon.”
His tone is serious now, and it sobers me too. “Same. But Ronan…” I pause, not wanting to say what’s on my mind out loud for fear of being overheard by the ladies-in-waiting in the children’s room. It’s probably a silly fear, because I can’t hear them.
He seems to understand what I want to say, though. “I know. If nothing changes by tonight, we’ll have to go look for Karl and Manu on our own. We can’t wait.”
I glance at the door connecting our room to the children’s. “I’d have asked to leave already if it weren’t for Ollie and Rio.We can’t take them with us on a rescue mission. It’ll be too dangerous.”
“This is weighing on me as well, my love.” He caresses my cheek. “But let’s not lose hope. Maybe King Ruel will come today.”
I nod, even though being optimistic was never my forte.
The luncheon is held in a grand ballroom with floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceiling, and courtiers wearing their finest mingle about the room, talking animatedly as if they hadn’t witnessed the most awful death last night.
King Koran and Queen Endaya are sitting on their thrones on a dais, receiving the guests who approach them to pay their respects. Ronan and I wait until the herald announces us. After we bow, the queen asks, “How are you settling in?”
Her words sound an alarm in my head. “Settling in” means we aren’t leaving anytime soon.
“We thank you for the hospitality, Your Majesty,” Ronan replies before I can blurt out our plans. Right now, diplomacy is our best course of action.
“Yes, thank you for providing everything we might need,” I add.
Let her believe we aren’t planning on taking off as soon as we can.
“Of course, my dear.” She nods.
From the corner of my eye, I spot Castiel coming our way. He’s wearing a dark purple suit with silver embroidery details and a cape that adds a flare of drama to his ensemble. He alsowears the silver crown, as I suppose he does to every official royal event.
“Father. Mother. May I steal Ronan and Cheryl for a moment?”
“Naturally, my son,” the king replies.
Castiel leads us out of the grand ballroom and into a beautiful garden with wisteria-like trees and multicolored flowers similar to the ones we encountered upon our arrival. There are several statues of lynxes spread about.
“I’m sorry to whisk you away from the luncheon, but I just received an urgent message, and I don’t want my parents to know yet.”
His expression indicates that the content of the message is very serious.
“Who sent it?” I ask.
“It was signed by Dukie Mularkey.”
“That’s the little boy who helped us at Featherlight Village. He took us to his mother.”
