Page 161 of The Book Reader
Mekhi comes over and stands in front of us both.
“What’s this?” he starts picking imaginary stuff out of the air in front of our faces. “Some kind of bad juju,” he pouts, “why are you looking like someone stole your favorite pair of shoes?” He questions with a raised eyebrow. I laugh, and Lucy giggles.
“No, we don’t,” Luce protests.
“Just talking, Mekhi,” I add.
“Fine, I know it’s about a man; no other being can make us sexy beasts scowl like this.” He waves his hand again, then sits on the barstool next to us. “When are you leaving us again, Hitch?” He asks me to reach out and take my hand.
“Right after we finish here, I need to get ready for my coronation,” pride thick in my voice.
“Do you get to wear a crown?” Lucy asks me curiously.
“Oh, can I have it after Hitch? I would look banging in one,” he grins
I laugh at them both and shake my head. “No crown, I do have a little headband to wear and some official robes.” A sad smile touches my lips for a second before I push that feeling back. I asked Gaelan if they could come to the ceremony. Still,it’s not allowed, and it’s also not very safe. Two humans in the dream realm could bring unwanted attention. Both Gaelan and I would rather not have to kill anyone on one of our special days.
“Will you take photos so we can see you?” Lucy says, sounding hopeful, 'I wrap one arm around her waist and then another around Mekhi, and hug them both to me.'
“I will, no laughing though, the robes are a little over the top”
“Moreover, the top than my iridescent pink leopard print jumpsuit?” Mekhi says with humor, and both Lucy and I burst out laughing.
“Nothing can match that,” she says
“Agreed, that is a league of its own,” I join in.
Mekhi puts down his drink. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on either of you,” he winks, then holds his hands out to us both. “Now let’s dance until our legs feel like they are going to drop off and we show all these people what sexy really looks like.”
Lucy kisses his cheek, then makes her way over to Justin. She pulls his hands, leading him to the dance floor, and they start to dance.
Mekhi wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. “I love you, Hitch.”
I look up at him and smile. “I love you more.”
“Now don’t go forgetting about me, with that dream man of yours,” he pouts.
I kiss his cheek. “Never, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Mekhi kisses me, then leads me to the dance floor, and we start to dance as he says, the night away.
Chapter 59
ARIANNA
The door to the throne room in the castle opens, and everyone’s eyes turn to me; nerves start to take off in my stomach like a cage full of butterflies trying to escape at once. Part of me wants to run out of the room and back to our bedroom.
But then I remember what this will mean to not only Gaelan, but to all the villagers who have welcomed me back and reminded me that even darkness has its lighter sides.
I pull in a shaky breath and take my first steps down the aisle toward where Gaelan is waiting for me, he is dressed in a long dark blue tunic with a dragon and roses symbol on the front with silver trim, I am in a matching dress with a long train and feathers coming out of the back making it look like I have wings, on my head is a sliver and diamond head band that also has feathers coming out of it.
I would have refused to wear this, but Maggi, a little old lady in the village, made it for me. It took her months, so I felt bad telling her no.
Walking, I smile at each person I pass, each of them congratulating me and offering their best wishes. It warms myheart that they are all so happy that I am about to become their lady, someone to rule next to Lord Gaelan Illis.
Getting to the end I see Leah and Mark both of them smile at me before bowing with their heads lowered, Leah has asked Gaelan if she could be my personal body guard instead of his, he agreed reluctantly as she has worked with him for many centuries, he didn’t want to train anyone new, it then turns out he didn’t have to because Terk stepped forward and requested the position.
I look over at Gaelan, a big smile on my face when I see him taking in my outfit, and his eyes start to flash. “Do you like it?” I whisper. This is the first time he has seen it; he had to attend to a few official matters before this as part of the ceremony, and I wasn’t involved in those.
