Page 64 of Her Royal Blood

“Perhaps a little, but your suggestions are vital to our victory, I’m sure all of them are appreciated.” The hand that was on Bindi’s back raised up to her cheek with a gentle stroke and I realized that the room was full of lovers.

This raised the stakes for us as we were not just fighting for kingdoms but for our friends, our families and our future.

“So this leaves us with only the question of Sire Vanoire,” Cheyenne interjected having been silent and observatory throughout the conversation, allowing Dimitri and the other royals to hash out strategies. “How will we safeguard our troops from the mage?”

Amadeus who had also been listening and quietly eating his food finally raised his head to address the assembled crowd.

“Leave that traitorous mage to me,” he said with a quiet command. “I’ll not stand by and watch him ruin my daughter’s life and threaten her kingdom. He will pay for his trespasses against us.”

There was a general cheering and affirmation of Amadeus’ stance as everyone continued to eat the roasted lamb and rosemary potatoes.

“Should you need our help,” Bastien added. “I have no problem supporting you as long as I am able to act without violence. I must uphold the laws of her kingdom.” A quick glance at Queen Nadine confirmed that.

“I have no problem being violent,” Prince Dimitri laughed as he wiped juice from the hen served at dinner from his face. “I’ll have your back at all times.

“As will I,” Halo added, with a broad smile.

“My brother is a mage,” Lara added. “I’m the only one who didn’t get the magic genes, but I know he will also help. We need to restore our kingdoms to peace and at this point, it will take all of us to do it.”

I looked at Lara with a surprised expression, I had never seen her take up a stance against anyone. It seemed to me that Laura was always in the fight for herself to garner whatever she and her people could amass from any situation. But in this case she offered up her support, not just in housing Lex and I or protecting her sister but to join the fight for the greater good.

The rest of the evening was spent drinking wine, nibbling at the fresh berries served for dessert, and showing our camaraderie and alliance with one another. As soon as the evening had drawn to a close, Queen Nadine excused herself as did Prince Dimitri and Lex’s parents. The attendees started to thin out as people offered their congratulations and bid their good nights. Bastien however stood and looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eye and Nan did the same.

“We have, my dear, one last thing to strategize,” Bastien said, looking at me.

The rest hesitated for a moment, wondering if they needed to be a part of the conversation.

“What is that?” I asked, and Lex looked on, also curious.

“We have the matter of a wedding dress to conjure,” his smile was wide and infectious and there were more chuckles and laughs before everyone retreated for the evening.

Lex kissed me and took my hand. “This is one thing I’m not allowed to do with you, but from tomorrow forward, thatchanges. You and I will be a team for the rest of our lives.” With that he kissed me softly on the lips and left with the rest of them.

“I’m all yours,” I looked at Nan and Bastien and a warm feeling of joy washed over me.

While I knew the feeling would likely be fleeting I basked in the moment. I was just about to design my wedding dress, the only one I would ever wear. We left the dining room and walked into a workshop. I didn't believe that it was Bastien's main workshop but there were sketches and designs on a table as well as tinctures, magical potions, and a shelf of books.

“Now I have been working with some ideas,” Bastien confessed, “based on what Lex’s mother wore to her wedding. You see there needs to be a reference to family as per tradition in Angeline Falls.”

This fact hit me harder than I thought it would. I looked at Nan and she gave me a placating smile. I felt the moment between us. I was sure Nan would have wanted to stand with Bastien or Amadeus to conjure her own daughter's wedding gown. The fact that my mother died a servant giving birth to me without the love and respect that she deserved broke my heart. Having never had the opportunity to meet her hurt deeply. I was standing before my grandmother conjuring a gown to wear in the image of one Lex's mother wore but absent was the influence of my own mother.

“These designs are beautiful,” I said, and they were, the gowns already sketched were images of celestial beauty with light feather trains, and billowing gossamer fabric all enhanced with jewels and flowers, but none spoke to me, none of those lovely gowns were mine. “And they are all references to the gown Queen Delia wore?” I asked, out of respect.

“Yes. Here,” Bastien pulled out a yellow piece of parchment with a charcoal drawing of a younger Queen Delia.

Her radiant beauty was evident in the sketch, which was a testament to the artist’s ability to capture her image. The dress was a flowing gown that floated in the air around her and was encrusted in diamonds woven with petals made to look like butterfly wings. The dress was as magnificent as any gown the queen had ever worn. It absolutely highlighted her beauty and the joy of her wedding day. Seeing Lex's mother depicted in her wedding gown brought that similar joy to me. I hadn't really stopped to consider the fact that within one day I was finally going to marry Lex. I'd never allowed myself the freedom to give over to joy but there I was on the precipice of it.

“Your mother adored butterflies,” Nan said, looking at Queen Delia’s wedding gown. “And roses.” She offered me a warm smile.

I looked at Nan and ventured to ask. “If my mother would have designed a gown, what do you think she’d have wanted it to look like?”

“If Lady India hadn’t kept Amadeus and your mother apart with her threats of death and incarceration, I’m sure she would have had butterflies on her wedding gown.” Nan offers me a smile. “Purple ones as that was her favorite color.”

“And Delia’s was green,” Bastien’s face lights up.

“Perhaps green and purple butterflies made of rose petals to honor our mothers, but I’m not like them. I was raised to fight, to scrap for every little thing. I’d want a sword by my side.” I wasn’t sure if they’d let me have it because both Bastien and Nan’s faces morphed into a look of horror, but Bastien’s eased.

“You did jump into the lava pit to find your mage and fought for your people. I suggest that we use a sword, one finely engraved with swirls of roses that you can wear across your back and flames on your dress. The butterflies can fly around them.” Bastien started to sketch his vision for my dress. “I will imbue the sword with magic. When on the offensive it will slice throughanything, and when on the defensive it will repel any blade that touches it.”

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