Page 63 of Her Royal Blood

“Well, I’m honored to be here.” Dimitri was tall, stately and gracious, a very different kind of man than the one I made of him. “Despite the dire circumstances.”

Lex’s poor parents were staring as if they expected Dimitri to come over and make a gesture of greeting. The Dimitri theyknew was one of my creations, and they expected him to greet them as he’d dined at their table and was trained as one of their Royal Guards. Since they were the king and queen they would expect a prince of a foreign nation to approach them first as per diplomatic protocol.

“Hi,” I approached Dimitri. “I’m Queen Aria of Onyx Rah, I’m marrying Prince Lex.” I gave him a smile of pride which he returned with one that warmed my heart. “I want to confess something to you.”

This made the prince raise an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“You may get strange looks from Lex’s family and for those I must apologize. I’ll try to keep this short, but before becoming a mage and Queen of Onyx Rah as a lost descendant of Midnight Moon Pack royalty, I wanted to join the Navarrah City Royal Guards. I snuck into our royal mage’s workshop and stole a disguising spell after finding an invitation for you to join the new recruits. I stole the invitation and impersonated you, since Solbrook never sent any of their princes. I’m embarrassed to confess this, but I hope you understand. I really wanted to be a warrior.” I smiled at him and awaited the anger he may have unleashed on me.

“Apparently so,” he laughed, which lightened my heart.

“Well, so I made you look a whole lot different than you do. You were of small stature, younger, by about ten years and um, well, you’re a ruthless badass if that gives you any consolation. I mean, you kill to kill.” I offered him a small grin and shrugged my shoulders.

“I sound fascinating. I can only hope to be as ruthless one day, but I’m not bad with a blade. I much appreciate the reputation, I’m sure that will outlast the description of my small stature I hope.” His smile was gracious and kind and I already loved him. “I’d love to go head to head one day with the woman who impersonated me.”

“That can be arranged and you can always say that you disguised yourself so that you didn’t intimate people.” I looked up at him, noting the great difference in our size and height.

“That’s perfect. And now I believe you said you’re a mage?” He was like a big brother, a mage brother I never had.

“Yes. I unlocked my mage in the Genesis pit,” I said offhandedly.

“Oh you are a badass,” he laughed as we took our seats.

“I just wanted what was best for my people, so thank you for coming to fight with us. I know your kingdom never sends its princes but you came.” I hoped he understood our gratitude.

“My troops are on their way to Navarrah City as we speak and we will join you in Onyx Rah as soon as the Crypt Claw are defeated. Polonius is a risk to all of Volaire, not just Tobran and we would do well to join forces and ally with one another. Especially now that Onyx Rah has been restored. Our kingdoms were once close. I am a mage and I will help you in any way you need with your powers. I know learning to be a mage is a challenge at any age, but usually our training starts in our teen years. , I’m at your service should you need me.” I loved him already. “Now, I must make my acquaintance with your parents and Queen Nadine. If you will excuse me.”

With that Prince Dimitri left us to go and introduce himself to Lex's parents. I gave Lex a baffled stare and asked the question that was burning my brain.

“How did you get Prince Dimitri here?” I scanned his expression, desperate for an answer.

“While I was on Vitoria Island there were prisoners there from Solbrook that were being sent back to the kingdom. I believe Polonius planned on pretending to ally with Prince Dimitri and his family then betray them as he had all of us. Anyway he’s here with us now and things feel infinitely more hopeful.”

As soon as Prince Dimitri made his introductions, he was seated and the dessert course was served.

“I am greatly honored by your presence here, Prince Dimitri, and I’m hopeful that when we return to Navarrah City in two days time we will see Polonius’ troops defeated swiftly,” King Helix announced as his hopeful conversation lightened an already celebratory mood.

“This is my hope as well,” Prince Dimitri bowed to the King. “I cannot be away from my people for long, seeing that I am Solbrook’s only mage, but I can stay until we see Polonius’ threat ended. Such malice will not be tolerated.” Prince Dimitri spoke like a true warrior and sovereign.

While the kings and princes spoke of war and strategy, I listened with great interest. My role in this fight was to make sure that my people were safe which meant securing our Royal forces after the conflict in Navarrah City had ended. I needed to strategize with Halo, Bindi and Lex in order to protect Onyx Rah. So I focused my attention more on the future versus the battle they planned on the shores of Navarrah City.

While I listened to them talk, I watched Janaya as her eyes roved over Hawk’s hulking body. Hawk was not the kind of man that Janaya usually was drawn to. She had spent most of her life courting princes and diplomats, as her mother had wanted her to marry. She even went on a tour of the different kingdoms meeting eligible bachelors none of which were noteworthy enough to discuss with me.

Here sitting around the dinner table however, Janaya was showing great interest in Hawk. Her smile was light and flirty and Hawk could hardly dismiss the sparkle in her eyes. At first it looked as if he were confused by her attention, but as the night grew later he started to enjoy the warmth in her stare. He even segued the conversation of war at times to include her and ask her opinion.

“I know little of military strategy,” she said with her eyes veiled. “But as a diplomat, I say that giving the prisoners who were recruited to the Crypt Claw a chance to strike an alliance with the united kingdoms of Voltaire, might be a more tolerated consequence of defeat, versus slitting their throats.” She punctuated her observation with a lovely smile, which Hawk returned.

“I agree wholeheartedly, Your Majesty.” He cocked his head to her as if to implore more of her interest.

Their flirtations warmed my heart. Hawk, for what I knew of him, was a good man and would be more than good to her. I looked over to Lex to find him giving me a similar kind of look. The pride and joy in his eyes was hard to miss. I reached out and stroked my thumb over his knuckles giving him reassurance. He was doing well to hold the Allied Forces together and keep them focused on our one singular goal. Polonius had proved himself to be a liar and now it was our duty as united kingdoms to end his reign and more importantly his life.

My eyes then moved to Bindi and Derringer. Another unexpected pairing that I discovered during our pre-wedding dinner. Bindi and Derringer had a more refined love. It was evident in the way they looked at one another and spoke in sync with each other that they were in love and had been for a very long time. Bindi, however, was still offering strategies to best annihilate the largest number of people. She was happiest when in fight mode but it was evident that Derringer was able to put aside his military mind to enjoy a drink and a nice meal. With a broad and warm smile, he put his arm on Bindi's back and started stroking to calm her enthusiasm.

“I’m excited to get out on the battlefield with you, Bindi, as I know no fiercer warrior than yourself, but,” Derringer glanced at Lex and I. “We are at a wedding dinner for dear friends. Perhaps our descriptions of decapitation and disemboweling canbe saved for the war room?” He said this with a loving and enchanting smile, which melted Bindi.

“Have I gone beast mode?” she asks, sweetly chuckling at her own enthusiasm.

This question brought laughter and mirth to the room. Not a single soldier there wasn't enjoying the conversation about gutting, bloodying, and finding the quickest way to kill, but Derringer did have a point: this was a wedding celebration.

---