by Susan Harris
“Why that dress?”
I was graced with a dazzling smile. “It reminded me of one your mother once wore to a charity event, and she wore it because she felt that if the occasion called for it, she could still fight in the dress. And the green in it will compliment, not clash with, your hair. My son will be speechless when he sees you.”
I considered Katerina’s words, felt myself smile, knowing that’s exactly how my mother would view a dress, and the weight of Katerina’s words sunk it. I was not powerless. I would not let what happened to me define me. Maxim would not win.
Nodding my head, I took the dress from Rose and held it against me. “Will it fit?”
“It will fit,” both women said in unison, and I rolled my eyes.
Katerina picked out a pair of black heels that looked dangerously high, and when I pointed out there was no way I could fight in those, Katerina said they were made to slip off easily so I would be just a breath away from being able to fight.
“I do hope, though, that you have no need of weapons.”
I did, too. I wanted this to go smoothly. I would die of embarrassment if I went to romance the crown prince and something went wrong. Everyone would find out, and I’d not be able to step foot outside my door again.
“Oh, these will work.”
I go to where Katerina is perusing though hair accessories. Rose had opened a locked drawer, and now Katerina was showing me a pair of gold chopsticks that looked like they could do some serious damage.
“Those are custom made with sharpened ends,” Rose explained as Katerina hummed her approval and added them to the growing pile.
I listened as they discussed hairstyles and makeup, feeling a little overwhelmed by the time I handed my card over to Rose to pay. Before we left the store, Rose asked me to come see her afterward and tell her how the evening went.
“I need to know if you were able to unnerve the calm prince,” she said.
“I get on his nerves a lot, if that counts.”
Rose’s laughter followed me out the door, and then I was in the car with Katerina again and heading home. She was quiet but seemed pleased with herself as we drove back to the compound. She told me she had called in a favor and gotten us a private box for where we were going tomorrow night. I thanked her but said I wanted to pay for it, and she simply nodded her head.
“Can you help me get ready?” I asked.
Katerina beamed. “Of course I will. I will come to you after breakfast, and I’ll make sure Nico is busy.”
I thanked her again, and we fell into silence on the remainder of the drive back. It was only as the car slid to a stop outside the main door that I spoke.
“I think I owe you an apology.”
“What could you need to apologize to me for?” Katerina asked.
Fiddling with my hands, I chewed on my bottom lip. “I know why you tried so hard with me, but I think I only now understand why I pushed you away. I blamed you for not being my mother, and that was unfair of me. If I hurt you, then I’m sorry.”
Taking my hands again, Katerina squeezed them. “You were a child who lost her parents. You have nothing to be sorry for. I am thrilled that you went out of your comfort zone to ask me to help you with this. I do hope we can be friends.”
I offered her a smile. “Friends. I can do that.”
I lingered in the foyer after Katerina and I went our separate ways, confirming our arrangements for tomorrow night. Then I darted upstairs and hung up the dress, put the shoes aside, and went in search of Nickolai.
I found him in his office and, after knocking on the door, was asked to come in. I hadn’t expected to see Lucas’s grinning face on the pull-down screen in front of me when I entered. Lucas was the leader of the American vampires, despite his father still having the title of President. We had met last year, and while I liked the other vampire, the fact that he was intelligent and driven meant he was a dangerous foe to have.
“Ryan Callan, it is good to see you.”
“Hey Lucas. Didn’t mean to interrupt. I can leave if you guys have super important, boss-kinda things to discuss.”
Lucas laughed. “Is that what they think we are doing, Nickolai?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what we are doing, Lucas. But we’re finished with all the bossy stuff now, so Ryan can stay.”
I smacked Nickolai at the back of the head and lifted my gaze to Lucas. “That offer to relocate to America is still open, right?”
Shaking his head as he chuckled, Lucas grinned. “I believe, should I say yes, it would be the first act of war waged between our people. Instead, I will be very diplomatic and say we would welcome you both on American soil whenever you might get the urge to travel.”
Nickolai reached for the mouse as I waved at Lucas and Nickolai said goodbye, leaving us alone in the room.
“How was shopping with my mother?” he asked as he tidied away some papers.
“Uneventful. We’ve decided to be friends.”
Nickolai quirked a brow. “Is that right?”
“Yup.”
Taking my hand, Nickolai lifted it to his lips. “Thank you for making an effort with her. I know she can be a little… much.”
“You’re welcome, but I think I was always intimated by the fact that your mom was always sunshine and flowers. I thought we didn’t have anything in common. But we actually do.”
Nickolai smiled with his eyes. “And what have you in common?”
I shrugged as I headed for the door. “Well, we both think you’re okay to have around. I mean, your mom doesn’t appreciate the Adam Rickett good looks, but hey, nobody’s perfect.”
Nickolai let loose a burst of laughter as I opened the door to see Katerina standing there. She winked at me as I stepped aside to let her enter the room.
She kissed her son on the cheek and then said, “I’ve decided that Ryan should get used to accompanying us to galas and other human events. Once you ascend, she and Edison will have to learn to blend in with the humans. Ryan can help Edison with that as well.”
“I agree,” Nickolai remarked.
“Ryan will do as security tomorrow evening; however, when you return to college, I think Edison should go with you. I understand he and Ryan are already training as a unit, so this will benefit the entire guard.”
Nickolai inclined his head to his mother. “I already spoke to Jack a few days ago, and we came to the same conclusion. Jack will divide his time between home and the college campus. Having Edison with us will mean Jack can spend more time with Atticus.”
Katerina turned to me so Nickolai couldn’t see the glint of mischief in her eyes. “The gala starts at eight sharp, Ryan. We leave at a little after seven. Nickolai has an early evening call at five, and then he will have to dress. As our guard, you can wear whatever you like; however, I’m not sure jeans and a T-shirt are part of the dress code.”
“I’m sure I can rustle something up.”
With that, Katerina swept from the room as Nickolai watched me with intelligent eyes. “Why do I feel like you two are up to something?”
“Because you’re paranoid?”
“I’ll figure it out, you know.”
“Oh, by Eve,” I exclaimed, looking at my nonexistent watch. “Is that the time? I have a training session with Edison. I’ll see you later.”
“Ryan,” Nickolai growled.
Goose bumps pebbled my flesh, but I left Nickolai growling, whistling to myself as I walked down the hall and away from the prince. I grinned, knowing he had no idea what I was planning and it would bug the hell out of him until he realized that not only had I asked his mother to help me, but I was doing this for him.
Nickolai had asked me to take a chance with him. To take the risk and see where we might end up. So I, Ryan Callan, who dove into danger without a thought, was going to take a chance at happiness and see if it stuck. When Katerina told me that Maxim had no power over me, it sunk in that Dresden’s version of happiness did not have to define wha
t I wanted in life.
I would create my own destiny, and if destiny didn’t like it, she could bite me.
20
Nickolai had barely slipped out the door when I leapt from the bed at four that afternoon and headed for the shower. I scrubbed myself clean, washed my hair and then wrapped myself in a fluffy towel to wait for Katerina to arrive. My knee bounced in nervous anxiety, my mind wondering if I had done the right thing…
Was I opening a can of worms for myself?
There was a gentle knock on the door before Katerina popped her head in with a smile. I’d had another feeding late last night and the bruises on my skin were now almost gone so I was grateful for the fact that the dress covered a large portion of my skin by the way Katerina was studying me.
“The theater was incredibly grateful for your donation, Ryan. They are only too delighted to have you and Nickolai at the special event this evening.”
“Thank you for arranging it.”
“Of course. Now, let’s get you ready.”
I spent the next forty minutes having my hair dried and pinned into an elegant updo that ended with strands of my ice-blonde hair with lime green at the ends curled down the side of my face. My eyes were painted with some sort of smoky eyeshadow, mascara tinting my lashes and a bright red lip finishing the look. Katerina looked like she was in her element as she declared that I looked absolutely stunning.
Katerina busied herself as I pulled on a pair of black lace briefs and a matching bra. Then, the hard part came. I took the dress out from the wardrobe, unzipped it, and carefully put it on. The fabric clung to my curves, and as I stared in the mirror, I ran my hands down the material, not knowing this person staring back at me.
“May I?”
Katerina’s soft tone broke through my thoughts as I glanced behind me in the mirror to see Nickolai’s mother pointing to the zipper. Bobbing my head, I inhaled a breath as Katerina zipped up the dress and then motioned for me to turn around. I did so, tension tightly wound inside me.
A sly smile crept over her lips. “If my son has the ability to speak when he sees you, then I raised a damn fool.”
I burst out laughing, the tension easing a little as Katerina motioned for me to sit again. Taking the chopstick blades out, she very carefully put them into the bundle of hair on top of my head. Then, the queen got on her knees and slipped my feet into the heels. For a moment, I wanted to tell her to get up, that no queen should kneel before her subject; but I kept my mouth closed, realizing that she was not a queen in this moment—she was simply a friend.
A sheen of wetness clouded her eyes as she took in my final appearance, and then she held her finger to her lips and called Nickolai on his phone.
“Nico, I’m afraid I’m feeling a little under the weather this evening, so you will need to go to the event by yourself.”
“Are you alright? If you are unwell, I can stay home. I can cancel.” There was a hint of relief in his tone, as if Nickolai would rather walk over hot coals than attend a stuffy gala and make small talk.
Katerina smiled into the phone as if she thought the same thing. “Not at all. You’re dressed now, and Edison is all set to drive you and Ryan to the event. You must get used to going to such events without me, Nico.”
“You’re still young, mother. I don’t suppose that I could bribe you to stay queen for maybe another ten years, could I?”
Katerina laughed as if this was an old joke between mother and son, and I ducked my head as my nerves started to crescendo and I wanted to be sick. Katerina ended the call and took one look at me, then reached out and wrapped her arms around me.
“Thank you for doing this for him. He takes care of everyone else; it makes a mother smile to see someone looking after him. Have a wonderful night, my dear. You deserve it.”
Katerina gathered up her things and made to leave when I called her name.
“I’m grateful for all the help. For making this happen. I want you to know that. I could never have managed this without you.”
Katerina winked, then told me the lobby should be clear on her orders, and Edison was to play chauffer for us in the royal car. I went to thank her again, but she was gone. I stood alone in my room.
Well, almost.
“Okay, so do I need to have the birds and the bees talk with you, or are we good?”
Rolling my eyes, I turned to face Krista. “It’s a date, that’s all.”
“Then what’s with the lacey underwear?”
I groaned even as I failed to hide my smile. “Are all ghosts perverts, or are you special?”
“Oh, honey, I’m special. And I wasn’t perving. It was a general observation. Now, your prince looks good enough to bite. Go and have fun for once in your life!”
And with that, my ghostly friend vanished. For a full ten minutes, I considered not going. This was not something I could stab with my sai and make go away. I was staking a claim, and soon enough, the entire court would know. But for tonight, I just wanted it to be me and Nicky.
Summoning as much courage as I could, I grabbed my small clutch and left my room, heading down the stairs with one hand on the railing because I wasn’t entirely confident that I could make it down the stairs without falling flat on my face. I paused at the top of the second-floor landing, drinking in the sight of Nickolai.
Dressed head to toe in a black tuxedo and a little black dickie bow that gave a girl all kinds of thoughts, Nickolai’s blond hair was also brushed back, but it still managed to look unkempt. He wasn’t clean shaven, either. No, Nickolai had a faint line of scruff caressing his mouth and jawline that made me want to brush my knuckles against it. There was no denying that Nickolai was gorgeous. Krista had been right; he did look good enough to bite.
Edison spotted me first, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He ran his gaze over me and then grinned slowly and raised his brows, as if he realized what was going on. However, Edison was not the vampire I wanted to elicit a reaction from.
Nickolai slowly turned those cerulean blues of his in my direction, and my breath caught in my throat. His eyes widened in surprise at first, his jaw almost hitting the ground, and then he blinked, a slow, seductive smile curving up his lips. He watched me like a lion watched a gazelle before pouncing. In those eyes I saw heat, lust, pride, and maybe a little confusion.
A little part of me felt empowered by it. A little part of me wanted to bolt back up the stairs. Instead, I put on my big girl pants and descended the stairs, keeping my face neutral.
“Am I suitably dressed?” I asked.
Nickolai looked like he was having a hard time forming sounds, so Edison chuckled and said, “I think our liege is thinking about you less suitably dressed right now, Callan. You clean up good.”
Lifting my eyes to the ceiling, I turned to Nickolai, who was still looking at me like I was dessert and held my arm out for him. “Shall we, Nickolai? I’d hate for us to be late.”
“You’re not dressed like a guard.”
“I’m not going as your guard tonight, Nicky, I’m going as your plus one. Unless you want me to go back and change?”
That snapped Nickolai out of his trance, and it took everything I had to hold in the excitement that was threatening to make me a little giddy. We exited the house, Nickolai held my door open, and I slid in. I had a brief moment to take a deep breath to steady my nerves as Edison set the privacy screen in place, and then Nickolai got in beside me.
His body was coiled tightly, like he was reining in control, and that was not how I wanted the night to go. I set my palm on his thigh, and his head snapped in my direction.
“Relax,” I ordered softly. “This will be a waste of a lot of effort if you don’t enjoy yourself.”
“How do you mean?”
I ignored the husky tone of his words and tapped my fingers on his thigh while Edison drove us out of the compound and on our way. “I mean, I worked really hard to plan this little surprise for you. I even went shopping with your mother and a
m wearing a pretty dress and makeup. If you’re gonna be a ball of tension all night, then we might as well turn around and I’ll spend the evening telling the queen she did, indeed, raise a damn fool.”
My words were light, teasing, and Nickolai relaxed into the seat and placed his hand over mine. “Does this have something to do with what you and my mom were plotting?”
“Maybe.”
I watched as Nickolai ran his eyes over me again, and then something clicked in his little male brain as a smug smile crept on to his lips. “You wore this dress for me?”
“Do you like it?” I asked casually, avoiding his question with one of my own. I was desperate to hide the fact that I was a little terrified that this would not go as perfectly as I’d planned it in my head.
A growl rumbled in his chest as he nodded his head. “You look fucking gorgeous. Anyone who says otherwise needs their eyes checked. But no other male should be looking at you; you got all dressed up and wore this dress for me. Only me. By Eve, I want to kiss you so bad.”
What’s stopping you?
The words were on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed them down because the night was still young, and we had much more to enjoy. When the car ground to a halt, Nickolai tore his gaze from mine and glanced outside. Confusion filled his face as he pressed the intercom and asked Edison if he had come to the right place.
“Yes, my liege. Queen Katerina advised me of the change of plans and said, should you have any questions, to please ask Guard Callan.”
My friend didn’t even try to mask the amusement in his tone, and I rolled my eyes.
Nickolai sat back in his seat and tilted his head to look at me. We lingered in the carpark of the theater for a few minutes, and then, realizing there might not be a get-out clause after this, I took the time to explain things.
“There was never a gala, Nicky. Your mom helped me get you all tarted up—you look very handsome, by the way—so I could surprise you. This is a date. You and I are going to spend the evening in each other’s company. Just like our cinema date was all about me, this is all about you.”
