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Chapter45
Arden
Sometimes the guys had their chefs make big, fancy meals for all of us, and they were always incredible. Just the idea of those nights made me hungry.
But I didn’t have an appetite tonight. Maybe all the guys’ warnings were warranted. I was more than capable of handling it—I’d been an outsider for most of my life—but being able to handle it andlikingit were two very different things. Throw in the fact that I was meeting with my mate’s family?
I was stressed. Beyond stressed.
I took a deep breath and let it out through my nose. I had this under control. Right? I’d dealt with hellish shifts at the coffee shop regularly, and a bunch of wealthy fae were a lot less intimidating than caffeine-starved fae who were more than happy to yell in my face for not giving them enough cinnamon on their latte foam.
I was glad to be on a break from Muddy Mugs for these events, but the schedule of constant parties and ceremonies was going to be grueling. I would need a vacation from my vacation. Maybe it was time to quit the coffee shop.
A knock on the door of Jagger and my quarters made me jump, and I rushed over to open it.
“Hello, miss,” one of the aides, Goodwin, who regularly helped Jagger and me, said. “I have several outfits for you to choose from for this evening.”
“Oh, more clothes?” I had more clothes than I’d ever had in my life, and they kept coming. I was never going to get used to this.
“Yes. These have been made for you. Cocktail dresses, since the event is formal. Plus, shoes and jewelry.” Goodwin pulled a rack of clothes into view.
“Okay, thank you.” I stepped back to let him in.
He pushed through the door, followed by two other aides with their arms weighed down with boxes. They dropped everything off and left me to pick something out. The fae the guys had sent to do my hair and makeup had already made me up with neutral colors, so any of the dresses would have worked.
I rifled through the rack of dresses. All of them were beautiful, impeccably made. I was grateful to have them, but I’d never changed outfits so many times in one day in my life. And this was just the beginning. An aide had also given me a schedule of events, and it was just a string of parties and events at the temple. I understood that this was a huge deal, but how much could we celebrate?
I stripped down to my underwear and rifled through my options. All of them were perfect, so I grabbed the one that felt softest—a black dress that skimmed my body, hitting the floor. Jagger came in as I picked through the selection of jewelry.
“You know, I’m starting to think that this entire festival is worth it just to see you like this,” he said, leaning against the doorframe and looking me up and down.
The air around us warmed, like his lust refused to be contained. Heat pooled between my thighs. He wore suits regularly, but the one he was in now was different—a deep red that gave him an even more dangerous air than usual. I loved it.
“Likewise,” I finally said. I turned my back to him. “Can you help me with this necklace?”
He helped me clasp my necklace, putting his arms around my middle and pressing my back to his front. His lips ghosted along the side of my neck, the warmth of his breath making me weak. But instead of kissing or biting me there, he just stayed there. His arousal was still flowing through our bond—though honestly, it always was when he was with me. The feelings he wasn’t going to speak out loud were there, too—trepidation and mental fatigue.
I leaned my head against him and sighed.
“We should get going, shouldn’t we?” I asked.
He turned me around and finally kissed me, long and deep. I melted into his arms, clutching his lapels. I didn’t want to let him go, but I broke the kiss, eventually. We walked hand-in-hand toward the central palace’s formal dining rooms, flanked by more enforcers than ever. They’d increased my security, but not to the point of being overbearing. I was grateful for it.
We rounded the corner, and I spotted Lex right away. His entire face brightened when he saw me, his brown eyes warm. He extended his hand toward me, and I took it, letting him pull me into a hug. It was warm and comforting, but the urge to kiss him overpowered it.
“You look incredible,” he said in my ear before letting me go.
“Thank you. So do you.” Our enforcers never said a word about what was going on between all of us, but having them witness this made my cheeks warm.
“Flint isn’t with you?” Lex asked Jagger.
“No. We’ll meet him there.” Jagger took my hand as he started down the long hallway again.
I wanted to hold both of their hands, but the sounds of the party were within earshot, and a few fae were going in and out of the door to the outside at the far end of the hall. A few guests stopped and bowed their heads as Flint came in from outside. I had no idea where he’d come from, but seeing him walk in, his strong form emphasized by the cut of his suit, momentarily cleared my brain of thoughts.
He stopped just inside the door, his eyes on me. For a moment, I saw it—that same craving for me that Lex had been open about just moments ago. But he hid it away just as quickly as it had come. My heart dipped. He wanted me, sure, but would he ever want me so much that he’d get over his desire to have me all to himself?
“You look lovely, Arden,” he said, his voice even. I thanked him and swallowed the small lump in my throat.
