Page 60 of Her Royal Blood

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” I said as I poured Aria and I a glass of wine. “You know when we’re done with all of this my family will reward you handsomely for all you’ve done for Onyx Rah and Aria and I.” I offered as my white flag of surrender, as the Brevatas truly had taken advantage of her hospitality.

“Good,” is all she said, with a big beaming smile.

Lara had sent out troops with urgent messages letting our families know that we were convening in Angeline Falls for the wedding. I knew that it would be hard for Bindi and Jarvis to leave their posts with Polonius marching on Navarrah City. Lara said that Jarvis regretfully had to stay behind. My father would be able to attend as would Janaya and my mother, but travel in such hostile conditions was dangerous.

“May I ask that we use your airship to transport my family from Navarrah City? I fear them driving through Polonius’ ranks to get here won’t be very safe.” I hated asking Lara for more, but we really needed her help right now.

“Perhaps we could get the ship from Onyx Rah?” Aria offered as an alternative. “The one Lara already gifted us. That is if we can pry it away from the Crypt Claw guarding it.” Aria huffed and old wounds of her recent defeat and betrayal are evident in her expression.

“The airship has already been sent. I expect your family to be here shortly, Lex. As for getting Hawk here, that is going tobe a little more tricky. He’s gone rogue in Brahman’s Peak you said, so finding him might be harder, but my people are good. We’ll have to just wait and see if he comes. As for the Bindi and Derringer, they are essential to the fight, so I'll have them flown in and taken back out as soon as the ceremony is over.”

“You’ve thought of everything.” It felt good to finally be able to relax for a moment.

“I’m good at what I do,” Lara took a drink of the wine. “And if you keep this stuff coming, I’ll be even better.”

“Of course.” I laughed as did she and Aria.

Since our wedding was a hasty affair we expected our guests to arrive later that afternoon with only one day's notice. We wanted a simple and quick ceremony just to bring together those we loved the most for a short period of time to celebrate our wedding vows and then we’d have to go back to the fight. I went with Aria to our room as we showered and dressed and got prepared for the evening.

“This hardly feels real,” Aria said, looking beautiful in a regal blue gown with silver roses embroidered on stems dancing up from the hem of her skirt.

Queen Nadine had sent Aria, Halo, and Lara, some dresses, knowing that this wedding was being performed in haste because of necessity.

“The Queen is so good to us Lex, she’s gracious and generous. I hope to be just like her one day.” Aria regarded herself in the mirror and smiled. “I hardly recognize myself,” she laughed. “I’m so used to being covered in dirt and wearing inconspicuous clothes.”

“Well this is how a queen dresses, especially one that is about to be a bride.” I stood up and kissed her neck and looked at the two of us in the mirror.

I was also sent clothing, a proper suit with dress pants, a linen shirt with a stiff collar and a long jacket with the same embroidery as is on Aria’s dress.

“We look like quite a pair, the two of us,” Aria’s face glowed with love.

“The Queen of Onyx Rah and her king,” I kissed her neck again.

“One day, Lex, one day.”

Suddenly there was a knock at our door and out of instinct I jumped and got ready to shift, though it was forbidden.

“You’re Majesties,” the person at the door said. “I am here to inform you that your guests will be arriving soon.”

Aria was right, it didn’t feel real. I walked over to the door and opened it to find a servant bowing before me.

“The queen wanted you to know that your guests are entering our airspace.” He remained bowing.

“Thank you,” I said to the servant and he gave me a curt nod of his head and left.

“Shall we?” I offered Aria my arm and she took it, the most beautiful woman in my world.

We made our way downstairs to the main dining hall where appetizers and drinks had been set up. There are several servants in attendance all wearing matching uniforms and Halo and Lara looked as beautiful and regal as I have ever seen them. Cheyenne has had his hair trimmed and a shave and he looked dapper in a sky blue suit.

“Ladies,” I nodded to Halo and Lara. “You both are radiant,” I said, feeling regal and powerful. I was about to become a husband and a king.

My whole outlook on the world was shifting rapidly. Lara and Halo smiled at me as I approached my brother.

“And aren’t you dashing.” Aria opened her arms to my brother and offered a big hug.

“You are getting married,” Cheyenne said with a glow of pride twinkling in his eye. “For real this time,” he laughed, though it wasn’t funny, Cheyenne had worked hard to make this marriage possible.

He’d fought by our side valiantly and taken on risky missions on his own so that this day would come with both Aria and I alive to see it.

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