But the style of the dress was simple because the gown’s fabric was jaw dropping. It was a pinkish-peach color, but the embroidery on the chest, waist, and mermaid skirt was beautiful, golden sun patterns. And when I say the details were gold, I don’t mean yellow, I mean they were gold. Like the precious metal, gold. It must have been enchanted, because the gold portions of the dress seemed to glow like a rising sun, and it really brought out the sun-streaked platinum of my blond hair.
Take the dress and match it with the diamond earrings and gold, diamond heart necklace Celestina had dressed me in, and I honestly felt like a Disney princess. (Which was way more fun that I was willing to admit.)
I didn’t have my trusty book/rock stuffed clutch tonight, but that was because Celestina had showed me a small, unnoticeable slit in my dress designed to give me access to a thigh holster. She had wanted me to take a handgun, but I hadn’t received enough gun training from Josh to make me comfortable wearing one on my thigh, so a dagger it was!
“You look beautiful.” I jumped a little and turned around, but I had recognized the voice, so I was already smiling by the time I saw Killian.
Chapter Eighteen
Hazel
“Thanks,” I said. “And thanks for buying the dress. Again.”
Killian smirked playfully. “Of course. I can’t have any supernaturals calling me a cheapskate date.” He was fiddling with his cufflinks—as all handsome men seem prone to do once stuffed in a tux.
I determinedly bustled up to him and fixed them for him so I wouldn’t have to witness his moody-model pose anymore. “Tonight we have to smile and play nice.”
“I know,” Killian said.
“I know you know. I’m reminding myself,” I said.
“If you just focus on how handsome I am you’ll be so distracted tonight you won’t think of anything else,” Killian offered.
I patted him on the chest. “I could torch your tuxedo coat.” My wizard mark burned as I wove flickering blue flames through my fingers.
Killian’s smirk deepened. “You want to see me without a shirt? Oh my, Hazel, you’ll turn this moment into a scandalous liaison.”
I rolled my eyes. “When I learned about vampires, nobody ever bothered to tell me how vain you all are.”
“Would you rather I use the term salacious?”
“I’d rather you be humbled,” I stressed.
“Where would the fun be in that?” Killian prowled closer, sliding into my personal space. “Then I couldn’t make you blush—which, along with the rising sun and the peace of night, makes my life complete.” The slant of his eyebrows fought for a moment, revealing that he was barely keeping from laughing at the horrible line.
I burst out into super unattractive, snorting, laughter. “You got that from Rupert’s reports on all those romcom movies, didn’t you?”
“I might have, yes.”
I wrinkled my nose as I tried to stop laughing—I couldn’t cry from laughing, or I’d smear my makeup! “If you really wanted to get me to swoon you could just stand there and smolder.”
“Are you implying you love me for my looks and not my ‘great personality’?” Killian’s voice was dead serious, but his onyx eyes had the faintest red glow to them, so I knew he was having fun. “And they say it’s men who value outward appearances!”
I almost started snorting all over again, but the doorbell rang, and I froze.
Drake Hall couldn’t have a normal, cheerful doorbell—certainly not. It had to have this deep, chiming tone that sounded like a church bell that you could hear from nearly any room in the mansion.
“It sounds like the first guests are here.” I almost wiped my sweaty palms on my dress, but stopped myself at the last minute. “Are you ready to go greet them?”
“No.” Killian raised both of his eyebrows at me. “That’s what I have a First Knight for!”
“You can’t possibly make Celestina receive all the guests at your party,” I said.
“I’m the Eminence,” he said. “Who is going to tell me I can’t? Besides I’m very busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Admiring you.”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at him. “There you go, much better.”
His grin turned a touch debonair. “Does that mean your butt will finally be available for viewing now?”
I sighed deeply. “I’m going down to greet your guests.”
“Fine.” Killian shrugged. “Just make sure you position yourself right there.” He pointed to a red dragon painted across the marble tile of the front foyer. The dragon just so happened to be placed so my back would face him if he stayed up here gawking.
The first guests entered through the door, Celestina gliding forward to meet them.
I recognized Elite Bellus and his wife, the Adept of House Bellus.
“Okay,” I agreed.
Killian blinked in surprise. “You’re finally giving up?”
“Not at all,” I assured him. “Because you’ll be there with me.”
Killian raised an eyebrow. “And how do you propose to accomplish that?”
“Like this.” I leaned over the stair banister and shouted, “Elite Bellus, Adept Bellus, we’re so glad you could make it!”
The wizard couple looked up to the second floor where we stood.
“Well played,” Killian growled.
I smugly smiled. “Thank you!”
“Adept Medeis, how good it is to see you again!” Elite Bellus called back to me.
I patted Killian’s forearm. “Come on. Let’s get going.”
“If you insist.” He grabbed my hot, sweaty hand, his fingers instantly cooling mine when they intertwined.
Together, we went down to the main floor with big smiles, ready to greet guests and enter the political ring.
The party proceeded smoothly—better than what I had imagined anyway.
Since the guest list had suddenly expanded, a caterer was called in to help relieve the kitchen staff, and the food was phenomenal—particularly since they had a werewolf, fae, and vampire on staff, assuring the food tasted as exquisite as it looked and smelled.
Celestina had hired a stringed quartet to play in the Drake Hall ballroom. One of the parlors had been converted into a game room—and no, I don’t mean for gambling or anything. When I sashayed through there earlier in the night I saw a few fae playing checkers, some vampires engaged in a rousing round of old maid, and a huddle of werewolves and wizards playing Clue.
The gardens were open—Celestina had ordered a number of propane patio stand heaters so the fae and werewolves could stand outside and admire the gardens and green spaces in comfort. I saw a few wizards escape out there as well, probably driven out by the heat.
I also had the great pleasure of being near a group of werewolves when they heard a few of the Drake dogs bark happily, and it was hysterical.
I was still snickering to myself as I picked my way around the outside edge of the mansion, waving to the patrolling Drake vampires.
Yeah, I was one of the wizards who had been driven out to the gardens by the high temperatures inside. Rather than immediately venture back in, I was looping around, intending to re-enter at the front doors and give myself a chance to cool off in the crisp, bordering on freezing, night air.