Page 187 of Night's Fall
He wrapped both arms around me and pulled me to it.
“First, you captivated a realm with your bravery,” he said. “Thenyou set it alive with your compassion.Andyou’ve done it again with your beast’s beauty.”
“You’re not helping me not to cry,”Iwarned.
“How’s this?Yourvid won’t have any costumes if you don’t get your ass in gear.”
“That’s better,”Imumbled.
“Drink your coffee.I’llget your tablet.Workin bed whileImake breakfast.I’llbring it up.”
I was seriously down with this plan, and becauseIwas,Ireached beyond him to my coffee cup. “Youcould also stop being so awesome, it’s giving me a complex.”
He pressed his lips to my temple before he said, “Youweren’t called the ‘Beast.’”
He got out of bed.
I took a much-needed sip of coffee and asked his departing back. “Isthat really bothering you,drahko?”Whenhe turned to me,Iadded, “BecauseIthink he’s handsome.Scaryas farg.Buthandsome.”
“He’s hideous and terrifying.Becausehe needs to be.CretinslikeArnaudwouldn’t quake in their boots if he wasn’t.”Oneside of his lips went up. “I’mteasing, darling.Iam gladly theBeastto yourBeauty.Weare a fairytale after all.”
Dropping that world-rocking nugget, he strolled out.
I am so totally and completely and limitlessly and enormously and endlessly falling in love with you,Ithought.
My beast sighed.
Comet jumped up on the bed and sharedAlekseididn’t give him enough breakfast.
I set my coffee aside, reached, snatched him to my chest, shoved my face into his soft fur and decided it was goodIlived a life with no dreams.
Because when they came true anyway, it sure was something.
Chapter29
Values
“Oh my gods!It’sstunning!Thebutterfly detail islie-yeef!”PrincessAleeceexclaimed. “Look,Mom.Isn’tit perfect?”
She passed myPalmtoQueenCalisa.
I took a sip of tea.
QueenCalisahad invited her daughter to our get together, whichIthought was cool sinceIwanted to get to know her better, and she was so down to earth, it helped with my nerves at hanging with a queen.
We were in another room on the second level of thePalace.Thisone was decorated in salmon, butter yellow, and bone.Itwas feminine and refined.
We sat on sofas opposite each other and perpendicular to a fireplace edged in gold-veined, ivory marble.Thelayout of a traditional tea, complete with finger sandwiches, biscuits and little cakes, was on the table between us.
I’d since learned thatIdidn’t have to formally curtsy in times like these (Alekseitold me whatTimothee’smention of “dropping a formal” meant, and further explainedMadamGarwahprobably didn’t mention it because, “She’snot family, love.Idoubt she knows the inner workings of the things we do that are unseen by the public.”).
I still needed to curtsy.Butjust a bob.
ThisI’ddone whenI’darrived, and weirdly, it seemed natural.
QueenCalisasquinted at myPalmin a wayIwondered if she needed her eyes lased.
“It is quite stunning,” she murmured, then offered myPalmto me.
