I was starting to realize that large-scale formal events may not be for me.
It was beautiful, all of it, and I enjoyed spending time with my family, but several hours in I was starting to feel tired, and I had an overwhelming urge to just curl up with my mates and watch a movie. Despite only having been away from home for a short amount of time, a sense of homesickness worked its way through me, convincing me that we needed to leave sooner rather than later. I didn’t share any of that, though, because everyone seemed in good spirits, including my mom and dads. Even my brothers seemed in a better mood, and I wasn’t positive about what had changed except that maybe the alcohol was flowing a bit more freely.
Then again, people believed they had a reason to celebrate. I couldn’t help but smile at that. When my mom had announced who I was, I wasn’t positive what reaction I had expected, but surprise and cheers were a welcome alternative to the others I had considered.
Though there were a few looks from some of the flights that I didn’t fully understand. They weren’t hostile, but they weren’t friendly either, and in a sea of celebration they were very noticeable. If anything, it just made me a bit cautious when it came to who I found myself alone with during this party. I would admit to staying attached to my mates’ sides, not that they would want anything else. It was hard to remember because of the warm reception and my parents’ importance in the realm that not only was this a foreign land, but filled with a culture I’d never been exposed to.
I knew people assumed that I was staying, and my mother’s phrasing didn’t really put that into question, but I was glad we would be leaving soon. The idea of being a princess seemed far more appealing than the actual reality of it.
Or maybe I had just gone through so much in a short amount of time that I was growing tired. Even now, on the dance floor, I had my head against Croy’s chest. My feet were bare against the cool marble, and as we turned around the dance floor, he made sure to move slow enough that my feet never showed. I knew I could probably get away with not wearing shoes, but I had a feeling it may be looked down upon in such a formal setting. I also wasn’t going to wear heels when my feet felt like they were on fire.
I was finding heels were amazing in short bursts of time.
My mates were currently sitting and talking to my fathers and brothers about the plan for dealing with Pastor Malcolm’s coven, from the little I had gathered while briefly listening to them. I could feel a lessening of tension between the two groups, and my mates and I were thankful for it. I would have even claimed it was because of my mom, but she was dancing with Pele nearby, seemingly happy and relaxed. I didn’t think my mates and my family were that different, but I believed Marco’s words that they were dangerous. I just didn’t think they posed a threat to my mates, and I had no doubt that all of them could handle themselves. After all, I had seen their dragons, and while I didn’t know a lot about dragons, they seemed particularly vicious.
I could feel eyes on us as Croy pressed a kiss to the top of my head and I let out a soft hum, his wolf rumbling right under his chest. I let my head fall back as I offered him a sleepy smile, wishing he could pick me up and whisk me off to bed. It was all I wanted right now. I mean, I was also completely okay with the concept of repeating what happened earlier in the closet… but more than anything, I wanted to feel his arms around me. How was it possible that in such a short amount of time my life had changed so much? How would it feel going back, knowing that all of this was here waiting for me? There were so many questions plaguing my internal thoughts and leaving me with a sense of exhaustion. A bone-deep tiredness.
“Sugar, you look like you’re thinking yourself to death,” Croy observed, his thumb running over my bottom lip. I didn’t bother hiding the heat in my gaze as I pressed into him and offered him a small smile.
“Not death,” I teased. “Although, I am thinking. A lot has happened in the past day. Honestly, I could use a nap… or several.”
“I think that’s just sleeping,” he said, flashing a sexy, amused smile.
“Are you interested in sleeping together? I mean, only if you are tired.” I smiled back, not realizing how it would come out of my mouth but loving his reaction and in turn not regretting it.
Croy let out a low rumble. “Oh, I don’t think that’s in question, Maya.”
Sliding my hand up his chest, his eyes flashed down to the ring on my finger, his gaze filling with heat and contemplation. His voice was softer as he spoke. “I was wondering when Marco was going to give that to you.”
My brows went up. “You knew about the ring?” Well, that answered that question in part, because if Croy knew then the rest of them probably knew as well. It also explained the knowing look Henry had offered Marco when we had first gotten back. My eyes darted over to the table, finding Sai watching me with Atlas, both of them seeming engaged in a private conversation. Was that why they were in such a better mood? Did me wearing the ring make them happy like it had with Marco?
“I did.” He smiled. “Considering we only picked it up in Los Angeles before coming here, I’m not very impressed with Marco’s patience level. Not that I could blame him, but that was barely a day.”
My smile grew. “I absolutely love it… I just am a tiny bit confused still.”
His brow arched. “About what?”
I leaned in closer to him, knowing that he would answer me honestly. “I mean, I know it’s a sign of our bond… but is it an engagement ring?”
There. That was easy.
Croy’s eyes warmed. “Is that what you want it to be? I know that the concept of being engaged is popular on Earth. I’m not sure how it is for the Dreki realm, but I view it that way. Then again, marrying my mate has always been my plan.”
“You want to marry me?” I squeaked as his eyes filled with amusement.
“I may have been alive for over two centuries, sugar, but I still consider traditions like that important,” he admitted softly, his voice filled with a slight vulnerability. “If that is something that you would want one day.”
I blushed. “Is it even possible to marry all of you?”
He chuckled. “I think we can make that happen, Maya.”
“I would like that.” I pressed my cheek against his chest. I wasn’t positive why I felt so shy over the concept of marriage. We were mates. We had talked about the mating heat and having children, yet the way he talked about marriage was different. I could hear how important it was to him, and the ring, because of that, felt that much more significant. I nibbled my lip, staring at it happily as I let out a small, sleepy sigh.
“Are we almost ready to head out? I’m exhausted, and so is she.” I must have closed my eyes, because when I opened them, I was in Croy’s arms. My arms were wrapped around his neck and he had me in a princess hold. I blinked, looking around and realizing that we were off to the side of the ballroom. The party was in full swing, but I let out a yawn that had all of it disappearing for a second.
“I am,” Atlas agreed. I wiggled, Croy putting me down as I looked around, realizing my mom and dads were gone.
“They left a few minutes ago. We are meeting them tomorrow,” Henry explained softly as I flexed my wrists and rolled my shoulders, feeling sleepy as I nodded. My brothers seemed deep in conversation, and as I continued to look around the room, I realized there was one person missing who I planned on saying goodbye to.