Page 37 of Asking Fur Trouble

“Now go,” he ordered, reluctantly putting space between them. “Get ready. I want to see Kynon’s face when we walk in and steal his spotlight.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Bess felt the lingering heat of Charov’s kiss as she hurried down the corridor toward her suite. Her lips tingled, and the memory of his firm mouth against hers sent shivers racing across her skin. She touched her fingers to her lips, stunned at the shift in him. For two weeks, he’d been distant, buried in grief and royal responsibilities, but that kiss... that was something else entirely.

When she entered her suite, Emesyn was already bustling about, gowns spread across the bed in a rainbow of jewel tones.

“My lady! The king has informed us you’ll be attending the Nuele ball tonight.” Emesyn’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve pulled our finest options.”

Bess approached the bed, running her fingers over fabrics so luxurious, they seemed to glide like water beneath her touch. “I’ve never worn anything like these before.”

“This emerald would match your eyes beautifully.” Emesyn held up a gown with a plunging neckline that would showcase curves Bess usually kept carefully hidden.

Bess hesitated. On Earth, she’d worn sensible clothes, practical for long days at a desk. The thought of stepping into something so boldly sensual made her heart race.

“He called me his future queen,” she murmured, almost to herself.

Emesyn smiled knowingly. “Because that’s who you are becoming. Now, shall we make you look the part?”

As Emesyn helped her dress, Bess couldn’t stop thinking about Charov’s words. He wanted to show her a good time. He wanted them to walk in together and command attention. For years, she’d lived in the background, arranging others’ lives while neglecting her own. Now Charov was pulling her into the spotlight – and surprisingly, she wanted to step into it.

“I’ve been hiding,” Bess realized aloud as Emesyn fastened the back of the gown. “Not just here, but for years.”

“Hiding what, my lady?”

Bess turned to examine herself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman who looked back. The emerald gown hugged her every curve and exposed her ample cleavage, and the color made her eyes blaze like gemstones.

“This part of me. The part that wants more than paperwork and practicality.” She smoothed her hands down the silken fabric. “The part that wants to be seen and live life to the fullest.”

“And now you will be.” Emesyn stepped back, admiring her handiwork. “The king won’t be able to take his eyes off you tonight.”

A sharp knock at the door startled them both, and Charov’s deep voice came from the other side. “Are you ready to make an entrance, future queen?”

Bess opened the door and watched his expression transform from impatience to undisguised hunger as his blue eyes swept over her.

“By all the stars,” he breathed, his voice rough. “I knew you were beautiful, but this...” He circled her slowly and possessively. “Every man there will surely envy me tonight.”

“Even Kynon?” Bess remarked, surprising herself with her boldness.

Charov smiled wide, offering his arm. “Especially Kynon.”

As they walked toward the royal transport, Bess felt a new kind of confidence flowing through her veins. She had spent the past week organizing Charov’s kingdom using her expertise, and tonight, she would stand beside him as his equal.

“Thank you,” she said suddenly.

“For what?”

“For seeing me. The real me.”

Charov stopped walking and turned to face her fully, his expression intense. “I think we’re both finally seeing each other clearly. And I certainly like what I see.”

The transport soon purred along the curved roads of Nova Aurora’s capital district, lights from the elegant buildings dancing across the vehicle’s tinted windows. Bess smoothed her hands over the emerald fabric covering her thighs, still getting used to the sensation of being dressed like royalty. She glanced at Charov beside her, his powerful frame looking both regal and dangerous in his formal attire. The black suit emphasized the breadth of his shoulders, and the subtle gold embroidery marking him as the Mavac Territory king caught the light whenever he moved.

Emesyn’s earlier words in her suite echoed in Bess’s mind: “The kingdom needs stability. A mated king and queen would ensure that.”

Bess bit her lower lip. Charov had called her his future queen, yet he hadn’t mentioned any timeline for their official union. Was he having second thoughts? Or was he simply overwhelmed with royal duties?

“You’re thinking so loudly I can practically hear it,” Charov said, his deep voice breaking through her thoughts. He reached over and grabbed her hand. “What’s going on behind those beautiful green eyes?”

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