Page 295 of Night's Fall
We watched as the guests filtered out to the platforms erected through the gardens at the front of thePalace, untilKingFillionmoved to the balustrade, placed a small mic-unit to his throat, and commanded, “Itis time to show our faces to theNightGod!Unmask!”
Gratefully,Ilifted my hands to the bow of the purple satin ribbon at the back of my head above my elaborate chignon that sat at the nape, butAlekseimurmured, “Allowme.”
With a smile,Iallowed him.
My mask loosened, my face rejoiced, he took it and handed it to me before he took his off.
“Don’t you dare throw that,”Iwarned as, per tradition, the rest of the congregation in the gardens—as was their wont as the richest of the rich, and the elitest of the elite—threw their ridiculously expensive, painstakingly crafted masks into the air with abandoned glee.
Aleksei’s head tipped to the side and a sexy smirk hit his face as he deduced whyIwanted him to keep his mask safe.
And then the boom of the first fireworks exploded above our heads, lighting my mate’s glorious face in a burst of color.
He snaked a hand around my waist, pulled me to his side, and we looked up.
Drones were amazing.Truly.
But nothing beat a big ole vintage fireworks display.
We ooed and aahed at not only the spectacular show in the air, but the one that was for guests only that happened closer to the ground.
It was unreal.
I loved it.
I loved standing atAleksei’sside watching it.
I forgot about my shoes, my dress, and just how taxing the evening was.AboutCormacandGayle,Tanyn,CatandBash.Errol.Arnaud.
I was rooted in that brilliant moment, marveling about how a life of living had turned into an extravaganza of fireworks and ballgowns and balconies crammed with royalty, standing close to the maleIadored.
No,Iwasn’t a huge fan of crowds, attention or small talk.
But this evening taught me something.
AtAleksei’sside,Icould face anything, and eventually, it would be worth it, because he’d given me something beautiful.
These were my happy thoughts whenIfeltAlekseitense beside me.
I turned to him, seeing the fireworks lighting his face, his frame, and all around us.
AndInoticed how alert he was.
Really alert.
Hyperalert.
And his eyes were cast down to the garden.
He released me and moved closer to the balustrade whenIheard the first scream pierce the sound of the detonations in the sky.
On the heels of that scream, like a wave, the confusion washed over us, then the tsunami of fear asIwatchedAlekseitear off his tuxedo jacket while flipping off his shoes.
He turned to me, his eyes glowing purple, and thundered, “Inside!” before the studs of his shirt went flying as he pulled it off.
He didn’t bother with his trousers before he put his hands to the balustrade, leaped over it, and the slap of his dragon wings extending hit me like a physical thing.
His dragon soared over the rushing, frenzied beings rushing frantically toward thePalace.
