Page 51 of The Silent Mountain
I do as he asked, and with Aza’s help, slip into the dress. The fabric warms me—clearly a good pick. My relationship with Kilah has always been rocky, but recently we understand each other so much better. She truly had me and my taste in mind when choosing this dress. The upper bodice is tight and made of velvet, revealing just enough cleavage for my dragon mate to care. The skirt is flowy, and when I move slightly a slit is revealed that leads up to my upper thighs.
“This looks amazing on you!” Tynan exclaims.
“He is right.” Aza nods. “It is the perfect color for you. It’s not too flashy and pompous, but it still manages to make you look very alluring.”
I turn in front of the mirror, studying my back. I am not too keen on dresses, but this one is amazing. Kilah is right. I just need to find my own style, and I will enjoy wearing them. I just hope Favian will like it too.
sixteen
The Ceremony
*ALANA*
Fortunately,theremainderofthe day passes by without further attacks or weird incidents, meaning we can all prepare for the ceremony. Stefan and Ludwig were mostly responsible for the organization, and they truly outdid themselves. The castle is always an eye-catcher, but now they brought out all the expensive decorations that Favian had stored in the basement; the entire family heirloom.
I always thought it would be a cliché that the dragons were rich and loved their gemstones and gold, but it’s not. They are very wealthy, they just don’t show it off. I am beyond relieved that Kilah sent me this beautiful dress, or I would have felt completely out of place.
Aza helps me with my hair, curling it up until I have luscious locks falling over my shoulders. “Your hair is longer now,” she says.
“I didn’t have any time to cut it,” I admit. “I kind of like it this way. Maybe I will get sick of it in a couple of months and cut it short again. I asked Favian which one he likes better.”
“And what did he say?” Aza asks while starting to do her own hair.
“He said he likes both.”
Aza smiles. “Then he is a keeper.”
She is wearing a high ponytail. With her thick, long hair, it looks stunning on her. She loves accessories and knows how to use them, putting small pearls into her hair, which makes it look like there are snow crystals in it. She is truly a queen through and through. “Alana?” She pulls me out of my thoughts. “Is something wrong?”
“I apologize, I was just…” I hesitate. “You are so much like a queen, Aza. And I just realized, as Favian’s mate, I will need to become his queen too. I don’t really fit the title.”
“Of course you fit it,” she says promptly. “You are just a different type of queen. You will be a warrior queen, and to be honest, that is exactly what the dragons need now.”
“Yesterday I talked about Ita,” I hear myself say all of a sudden. “And it didn’t hurt. Not like it did before.”
Aza looks at me thoughtfully. “But that’s good, isn’t it?”
“Am I not betraying her?” I mutter.
My sister-in-law takes my hands, squeezing them gently. “I didn’t know Ita for a long time, not as long as you did,” she says. “And I can’t even imagine what you went through. You lost your best friend and the woman you loved. But I am convinced Ita would have wanted for her princess and friend to be happy, and honestly, Alana,” she pauses. “I don’t want to be insensitive, but I don’t think…“ she breaks off, but I understand what she wants to say.
“She would have never accepted me as her chosen mate,” I conclude. “Especially when I would have met Favian.”
Aza nods. “She was very sincere and dutiful. Of course, we can’t say for certain. She might have accepted you as her mate.”
“The fact that I was a princess was always between us,” I sigh. “You are not wrong, Aza.”
“Alana, don’t make Ita your excuse for not giving Favian a chance,” she says. “Ita doesn’t deserve that. Neither does Favian.”
I look up at her words, eyeing her in surprise. My first instinct is to defend myself, but once I look into Aza’s eyes, meeting her intelligent and calm visage I know I can’t retort anything to her words that wouldn’t be a lie. In a way, I am running away, both from the mate bond and Favian, but also from my memories of Ita. She has been my excuse not to get serious with Favian ever since I met him.
All of this gives me a major headache.
“So, what’s with the drama between Shayan and Ty?” I ask to distract from my own complicated thoughts. “Aside from him being jealous of Shayan’s ex.”
Aza sighs. “Don’t ask me. Apparently, Tynan thinks he needs to man it up and become manly enough for Shayan. Endellion told him it’s not a competition, but you know Tynan better than I do.”
“Yes, he is too stubborn for his own good. I mean, the icy general let him mark him. This should mean something.”
