AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sadi and Damian approached them, adding to the whispering murmurs.
“You look like you belong here, dove,” Damian said, regarding her with a feline grin. His arm around Sadi’s waist.
Faye smiled at him as she glanced over the crowd. The women dressed in gowns like hers, sheer, skintight, and revealing. Damian and Sadi’s attire didn’t hold to the formal dress. Damian wore low slung black leather pants with his boots. The deep purple trench he wore accented with a black scarf looped around his neck, resting against his bare chest.
Sadi wore an embroidered corset over a white low-cut shirt with billowing sleeves that barely covered her high breasts. Her black skirt was ruffled, cut nearly indecent in the front, angling to be longer in the back before falling into a small train. Her thigh high belted boots covering her exposed legs.
The Familiar pair strolled into the building in front of her and Rune.
He made eye contact with one of the guards and motioned to Vashien and Sparrow, and said, “Please escort my guests to my seating.”
A look of confusion covered the man’s features for a moment before he bowed his head, and said, “Of course, Shadow Prince.”
Faye’s breath caught as they crossed the threshold. The whites and golds continued into the gutted interior. The building was a massive hall, one room that stretched on for what she guessed would be a twenty-minute walk.
Overhead were grand, glittering chandeliers in matching rows. The arching ceilings stretched into a wide swath of intricate stained glass that made up the center of the roof. Light streamed through it lighting a walkway along the white marble floor through the center of the hall.
She walked with Rune down a few stairs to the lower level leading to the white marble floor, doing her best to ignore the dark-bloods surrounding her.
Faye glanced across the space. Rows of seating lined either side of the hall. They rose higher as it moved further back. Above the ground seating along each wall were carved pillars that separated what looked like three floors of box seats. The guests Faye spotted in these upper floors sat with glasses and other refreshments, having the entire box to themselves. Unlike the shoulder-to-shoulder ground seating.
The important dark-bloods, she mused as she stepped forward with Rune. Women in the crowd continued to examine her, looking her up and down before stopping on her bare index finger. Their eyes widened as they quickly turned back to their partners. Faye squeezed Rune’s arm as she noticed other people staring and whispering to each other.
Names Faye didn’t recognize were called and a pair of women began walking down the stained-glass path.
“Do I look okay?” Faye asked as they moved closer to the walkway.
Rune met her gaze, his look softening as he smiled at her. “You are stunning.”
“Then why are they glaring at me?” Faye plastered on her fake smile and glanced out at the crowd.
“The Familiar princess, Sadist Benevolence and Damian De Lor Meire." A brilliant light engulfed Damian, and reformed larger. Faye swore she heard her sister squeal in delight as she struggled to hide her shock at the massive black tiger with red stripes that now occupied the space beside Sadi.
In a sweeping move she tossed her ruffled skirt over Damian’s back and sat, crossing her legs. Faye could only stare as Damian prowled down the stained-glass path.
Rune’s hand settled over hers as they took another step forward.
The guard who announced the names inclined his head at her, and asked, “Your name, Lady?”
Faye glanced at Rune, and he gave her a gentle nod. Faye turned back answering, “Faye Alexander.”
“The Shadow Prince, Rune Sacarlay, and Lady Faye Alexander.”
Faye followed Rune’s easy pace. An easy pressure brushed her mind, and Faye relaxed, letting him in.They stare because a woman has never accompanied me.
She kept her head forward.Ever? She asked in her mind, hoping Rune would hear her.
Small things I safeguarded to offer my queen. Things I now surrender to you.
Faye’s heart tightened. He was choosing her, in front of all the realms. She wanted to hug him, but it was impossible here. She tilted her head to watch the colored hues light his features as they walked. He was so beautiful and held himself alone for so long. Faye tightened her hold on the inside of his arm.
This could work. She could fit into his world, and he would help with hers. She could be happy, have a family.
Faye glanced up at him again, finally able to admit to herself she was falling for this man.
They followed behind Sadi and Faye watched the rhythmic sway of Damian’s tail as they walked. A pair of smaller thrones at the end of the walkway came into view. Stairs rose behind them to the king and queen of Artithia, Jha’ant and Sabadoc. The bride and groom sat in smaller versions of the elaborate thrones, dressed in flowing white and gold robes.
Rune stopped at the end of the stained-glass path and inclined his head. “We offer our blessing.”
