Page 82 of Depraved Royals

“I never realized before,” Dani says, smiling, “but after we met was when the darker colors began to dominate. When all my work was destroyed, the new pieces were darker than ever, but they brightened over time. See?”

I look around the room. She’s right. Her works from a few weeks ago are deep jewel shades of purples and indigos, but the more recent ones have more and more light creeping in. Some have pieces of mirror sprinkled across the canvas, making it seem like the light is moving through the darkness, conquering it.

Dani touches my arm. “It’s all about us. The whole exhibition is about you and me. But don’t tell anybody. Half the fun is making shit up when art journalists interview me.”

“What will you tell them instead?” I say, kissing her forehead.

“Maybe I’ll make up some nonsense about the irrepressible march of time and the turning of the planet bringing the nights and days. I don’t know. I’ll do it on the night.”

“Speaking of which, when are you hoping to hold the exhibition?”

Dani shrugs. “After the baby is born. There’s no hurry, and I want to give it my full attention. And more importantly, have a drink. I’m not laying on tons of free alcohol and sipping a goddamn apple juice all night.”

Pippa’s voice. “Byeeee!” she yells. “I’ll let you know how it goes. Try to behave!”

“Bye, Pip!” Dani shouts back.

The front door slams.

“I have no intention of behaving,” I say, rubbing my fingertip over Dani’s lower lip. “What would get you going right now,milaya?”

Dani bites my finger, and I laugh.

“What I want,” she says, leaning close to my ear, “is a Quattro Formaggio with olives and pineapple.”

I frown. “I’m not ordering that, Dani. People will think I’m a complete deviant.”

“You’d better be joking. You wanna face my hormonal wrath?” She raises her fists to me. “I tagged you once, Antonov. Don’t think I won’t do it again.”

“Terrifying,” I say, heading for the stairs. “I’ll go. But you’ll pay for having the nerve to give me orders.”

Dani grins.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time!” she laughs.

Epilogue

Dani

Christmas Eve…

“Dani, you’re late! You’ll have to run for it, or you’ll never make it on time!”

Mel is yelling at me from the hallway. She’s trying to appease an irritable Brutus, who has been waiting outside in Papa’s limo, engine running, for twenty minutes.

I slide up the zipper at the side of my dress and slip my tiara into place.

“Ready!”

Mama is behind me, gathering the flowers. She gasps as I turn around, her hand over her mouth.

“Oh, my Dani. You look beautiful.” She fans herself with her hand. “I can’t cry. I’ve no time to re-do my makeup.”

Mama picks up my bouquet. “I’ll take these to your father. He wants to be the one to hold them for you. And he needs something to keep his hands busy because he’s been knocking back shots for the last hour.”

I groan. Papa is a competent drunk, but I can’t rule out the possibility of him falling on his ass while walking me down the aisle.

“Isn’t he supposed to be taking it easy?”

---