The ball gown was stunning on the dress form with its yards of white silk and the palest pink tulle, but when Brea finally got a chance to see herself in it, she thought she looked more like a marshmallow Peep.
“The triplets spent hours sewing beaded rosebuds all along the bodice and the hem. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I take it you are not pleased with the weight of the gown?” Griff escorted her down the grand staircase, gripping her carefully so she wouldn’t fall in her ridiculous heels.
“Ya think?”
“Maybe this will help.” Warmth from his hand running along her arm spread through her body, and his green eyes shimmered violet for a moment.
“Oh,” Brea almost toppled over as the massive weight of the dress lifted and she felt as light as air.
“It seems someone forgot to do that for you.”
“And you let me walk down ten flights of stairs before you decided to help me out with that little trick?”
“I find your complaining amusing this evening. And it wasn’t ten flights of stairs. It was two.”
She studied his ‘costume.’ A trim cut white suit with a white fur hat shaped like a wolf’s head.
“You seem to be missing a tail.”
“There’s only so far I’m willing to go for a costume party.”
”That’s what I said, so why can’t I opt for the easy suit and hat costume?”
“I grew up as the queen’s ward, but I’m not deemed part of her family. You are. And most of the people here would give anything to be in your shoes tonight.”
Brea took the last few steps at his side. “It’s hard for me to think of myself as anything other than plain old Brea Robinson.”
“There is nothing plain or old about you, Brea.” Griff laid his free hand on top of hers still clutching his arm. “Ready for a night you’ll never forget?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Brea followed him to the rear of the palace, frowning as she realized she hadn’t come down from the queen’s quarters since she arrived, and she hadn’t even visited this part of the palace yet. “Where are we going?”
“To the park just across the queen’s gardens. It’s magical at Beltaine. You’re going to love it.” Griff pulled her through the massive rear doors of the palace and Brea gasped at the wonderland before her. Sweeping lawns with pathways and fountains, and every kind of flower she could imagine—in full bloom at night!
“It’s beautiful.” She breathed.
Brea and Griff followed a line of nobles along the pathways leading to the festivities at the center of the park beyond the high brick walls.
“You will enter with the queen.” He whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin. “This way.” He tugged Brea away from the crowd, skirting the garden walls to a separate gate just for the queen’s use.
“Can you stay with me?” She clutched her dress to keep the hem from dragging across the wet grass.
“I will be right behind you and the queen.” He squeezed her hand. “I know this is all overwhelming for you, but the people will love you if their queen does. And it’s pretty clear Regan already adores you.”
“She thinks my clumsy behavior is a riot.” Brea laughed. “But I think she’s kind of amazing,” she admitted. “And so kind. I don’t know what I expected, but she’s just so delightfully… perfect.” Brea couldn’t imagine how her aunt could ever have anything resembling an enemy. But there was beef between her and the Eldur queen. Brea might be the Gelsi queen’s niece, but she already knew she had no desire to get into fae politics.
“Oh my darlings, you look beautiful.” Queen Regan beckoned them to join her at the east gate. “Look at us, we’re just a pair of delicate roses tonight.”
Where Brea’s dress was all white with pale pinks, adorned with dozens of white roses in perfect bloom, Regan’s was blood red, covered in red rose petals from the hem of her gown to her bodice, where it flared into a stiff high collar the shape of a rose. With her white blond hair piled on top of her head, she looked just like a fairytale queen.
“You look so beautiful, Aunt Regan.” Brea responded to Regan’s air kisses with her own. She was getting used to her aunt’s larger than life personality.
“Come with me, dear, I want to introduce you to all the nobles of my realm. I hope you’ve rested because tonight is going to be… oh what do the human kids call it these days? I do love their marvelous expressions.”
“Epic?” Brea supplied.
“No, tonight’s going to be amaz… no that’s not it either.”
“Amazeballs?” Brea grinned. For the past few days, Regan had Brea teaching her all the slang from the human world. They always ended up laughing hysterically by the end of their afternoon tea.
“That’s it. Tonight is going to be amazeballs, just you wait. Your Auntie Regan has stopped at nothing to make your first Festival of Beltaine a night to remember.”
“Thank you, Aunt Regan, I can’t wait.” And to Brea’s surprise, it was true. She felt more relaxed with her aunt now and with Griff right behind her, she thought she just might get through this party unscathed.
Brea fell in step with her aunt as they strolled through the gates; the queen never hurried anywhere she went. Brea could hear the gasp and roar of the crowd, but it had no effect on Regan.
“The Festival of Beltaine is all about expressing love and putting peaceful thoughts out into the world for the coming season,” Regan began, lifting her hand to wave at the crowd. “It’s no secret that relationships between the fae courts have seen better days. I’ve invited delegates from both Iskalt and Eldur to celebrate with us tonight with the hope it will foster more positive communication among the leaders of our world. You will help me charm them, won’t you, dear?”
“Oh, Aunt Regan, I seriously doubt you need my help charming anyone, but I will give it my best.”
“You flatter me, dear. Come sit with your auntie while we watch the festivities.“ Regan made her way to the raised dais where a throne waited for her. A miniature version of that throne sat to the right of the queen’s chair and just slightly back. Regan made herself comfortable and gestured for Brea to take her seat beside the queen.
Brea felt like a piece of fine jewelry on display. The crowd had grown quiet at the queen’s entrance, waiting for her permission for the merriment to continue.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present my niece, daughter of my late brother, Brandon, Breanna Louise O’Rourke. You may call her Lady Brea.”
“But, that’s not my name,” Brea tried to say, but the queen didn’t seem to hear her. She felt Griff standing behind her and wished he could sit at her side.
When he leaned in to explain, his presence calmed her, and she could breathe again.
“Relax. It’s just a formality. She hasn’t taken your name away. She’s just given you a proper title—giving you her last name, no less. This is a good thing, Brea.”
“Thank you, Aunt Regan,” she managed to murmur, smiling shyly for the crowd.
“Please continue the festivities,” the queen said with a wave of her red-gloved hand.