208

My family was seated next to me on the raised platform where the Royal Family also sat. Maya sat on my right next to her father and Ryder sat on my left with Nova next to him and Milo next to her. Abby sat on the other side of the long table next to Nicu.

“A toast to the engagement between Duke Grey and Princess Maya!” Cheers rang from the room as every Marquess, Earl, Viscount and Baron were in attendance with their families. Generals and Ministers were sent an invite as well.

I was currently the only Duke in the banquet hall since you had to be a part of the Royal Family to be a Duke. The Earls and so on had gotten their titles because of their loyalty to the crown which made me wonder what dirty deeds they were guilty of.

After the feast, the dance floor was opened by the King and Queen followed by Nicu and Abigail and then me and Maya. Ryder and Nova joined us shortly and after that everyone else could dance. Milo had been quiet throughout the banquet but I’d go up to the roof with him later on when the Palace was asleep.

Milo pulled Abby to the dancefloor and strutted his stuff. He had always been a natural when it came to dancing and he could memorize the moves after watching a couple dance once. He was a natural when it came to a lot of stuff.

I glanced over at Nicu and I saw jealousy in his eyes. I had to grin at that and I was sure that Milo had noticed it too, hence why he pulled Abby closer than he would have at any other time. Ryder’s hand landed on my shoulder and I turned my head.

“I’ve just about had enough of all this bullshit. Would it be rude to leave?”

“Just have Nova faint and carry her out.” Ryder chuckled at that as Nova narrowed her eyes at me.

“You don’t think I can do it?” She walked off the platform as Ryder and I looked at her.

She turned her head once and winked at Ryder before she seemed to stumble and her eyelids fluttered closed. Milo was next to her just before her head hit the floor and Ryder swore under his breath as I tried to hide my smile.

“I’ve got her, thanks Milo.” Ryder scooped Nova up in his arms and I stood up from my seat as he walked out.

“She’s been feeling out of sorts since yesterday.”

“Please do tell me if your father finds the need for the Royal Healer.”

“Thank you, King Florin, I’m sure she just needs rest.”

I wished I could faint and leave the damn banquet. I didn’t have the stomach for all the false flattery and conniving looks that passed between high ranking officials. I probably got my distaste of it from Ryder although from what he’d told me in the past, my mother hadn’t been shy with her words either.

I didn’t react when Maya’s hand slid up my thigh or when she leaned in closer. “I won’t be allowed to see you tonight, from sunset actually until we face each other tomorrow when the priest marries us in the Palace Chapel.”

“I need to check up on Nova too.” I didn’t even turn my head to look at her.

The severity of my situation was gradually hitting me, making it clear just how stuck I really was and how blind I’d been. I’d never love her, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how many children she gave me, she’d never be who I really wanted.

“Okay, dream of me.” She left a lingering kiss on my cheek before she was whisked away by her mother.

Milo sat down next to me and placed his hand on my other thigh, laughing as I swatted his hand away. “I’ll be taking my leave as well before I find my head on the chopping block.”

He gave the King a small bow of his head and left the banquet hall. I looked toward King Florin and he nodded his head at my unasked question. I bowed my head at him and also left the hall, pulling off my tie as people continued to dance and drink.

I could hear Nova was just fine as I passed their suite and smiled to myself as I opened the door to our suite. Milo lay on the sofa with the television sound very low. He glanced at me as I closed the door and took the sash and jacket off.

“I’m sorry I laughed at you this morning.” Milo sat up straight and I sat down next to him.

“It’s okay. I probably would’ve laughed at you too.”

“What’s Abby’s bonded half like?”

“Dorin? He’s a good man, Milo. Why do you ask?”

“Where is he in all this?”

“Sorin keeps him busy. We can’t have him slip up and look at Abby in a certain way. It’ll ensure his death if he’s caught.”

“When are you planning on doing all this?”

“Why the curiosity all of a sudden?”

“I’m not sure how long I can stay here.” Milo looked away suddenly and I stared at him with a frown.

“Milo, what the hell is going on?”

“Nothing … I’m just feeling out of place here with all you dragons lurking about.”

“Let’s get out of here for a few hours.” Milo turned and gave me a smile.

“Can I eat first?”

I unbuttoned my shirt and pulled the sleeve up as he bit into my wrist and drank. It had been three days since he last fed. I felt claustrophobic in the big palace and I understood what he meant. I could feel it too, too many dragons around us.

I hadn’t grown up with a lair but instead with a mixture of all the species that lived in Hartwell. There was no Sire or Alpha or Master there and Ryder had taken over the town, business wise, but nobody interfered and we lived in relative peace there.

I missed my home and everything there, a certain someone too. Milo wiped his mouth and I watched the two puncture holes close on my wrist. “What did you have in mind oh mighty Duke?”

“Piss off, Milo. I’m getting myself a birthday present.”

“Our birthday isn’t until December.” As if I needed reminding when our birthday was.

“So? I feel like I need to get this done.”

Milo and I left the palace, in the Bugatti again and sped down the streets heading to Bucharest. His window was open and the sun was just setting. The wind on my face felt freeing and Milo smiled as he looked over at me.

“Strip joint, club or bar fight?” Milo listed the possible places I’d possibly be going to. I laughed as he looked at me.

“None of the above. I already memorized our route, we’re going to see a tattoo artist.”

“You’re getting a tattoo for your birthday?”

“We can go to a bar afterwards.” Milo beamed at that one.

The rest of the drive was in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. It was one of the things I loved about Milo. We could go hours without speaking yet still be in the same room. We weren’t just brothers or twins, we were best friends too.

I parked the Bugatti near the rounded corner of the tattoo shop and Milo turned to look at me. “This isn’t dodgy at all.”

I smiled as I looked around. “He’s the best.”

“Yeah, Wynter, the graffiti on the walls says it all.”

We climbed out of the car and walked towards the entrance. The shop had one customer behind a curtain and an older man stood up from his workstation and looked at us. I let Echo push forward and my eyes flashed yellow.

His eyes flashed yellow in return and he bowed his head slightly. “You’ll want the special treatment.”

Because of our healing we needed to use special ink for the tattoos to remain on our skin. For dragonkin they mixed Dragon’s Lily with the ink so the healing doesn’t kick in and for vampires they mixed Angel’s Trumpet.

“He’s a vampire, do you have special ink for him?”

The old man sized Milo up and then looked back at me. “Vampires and Dragonkin don’t usually mingle, but yes I have some in stock.”

“We’re special like that.” Milo grinned and chose a seat near the bed where I’d sat down.

“What kind of art do you want?” He didn’t make any introductions so I didn’t feel the need to introduce us either. I pulled a sheet from my jacket pocket and handed it to him. I’d already designed it myself but if he was as good as I thought he was then he’d redraw it.

“It’s in cuneiform, two names and a black baccara rose with thorns on the stem.”

“It’s interesting, mind if I make a redraw for you?” I smiled at the old man and nodded.

Milo had also stood up and looked at the rough drawing I had made. “That looks like a three year old drew it.” He grinned as he said that but I didn’t take offence, drawing wasn’t one of my talents.

I nicknamed the old man Jerry in my mind and then I saw his name taped to his equipment tray. It read Petr. He went to the front of the store and left us in the back, I assumed to redraw my tattoo idea. Milo looked at the photos on the walls of other designs he’d done.

Milo turned to look intently at me. “Are you going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?” I knew he meant the idea behind my tattoo but I wasn’t going to give in so quickly. It held special meaning to me, everything on my skin did.

“Don’t play dumb, Wynter. What’s with the new tattoo?”

“Just something personal to go over my heart.”

Petr returned and handed me a sheet of drawing paper. I looked at the improved version of my tattoo and smiled. It was exactly what I’d had in mind. The rose was spectacular and the names seemed three-dimensional.

“It’s perfect. Let’s do it.”

I took off my shirt and Petr studied my sleeves for quite some time and made some adjustments to the sketch. He nodded his head, happy with what he saw and cleaned the area where he’d start to work on. I relaxed and closed my eyes as he started inking my chest.

Milo had gone back to the front and I heard him discuss the special ink with the man that had finished up with his client. The guy had no idea what Milo was talking about and Petr shook his head as he put the gun down.

“Your friend can’t tell the difference between us and humans?”

“Milo’s an asshole, he’s just being himself out there.”

Petr grabbed something from a shelf and I heard him mutter something in Romanian that I didn’t catch as he headed out to the front. He was back within five minutes and I heard the whirr of the rotary gun as the artist started working on Milo.

Almost an hour later Petr was done and I looked down at the tattoo now displayed on my chest. I handed my card to Petr and stood in front of the mirror as my finger grazed over the first name. I’d be healed by the time we reached the main road.

“It looks good.” I turned towards Petr as he handed the card back to me and I typed in the pin.

“You do great work. Thank you.” Petr only nodded his head at the compliment and I pulled my shirt and jacket back on.

I left Petr in the back just as Milo pulled his shirt on as well and paid the artist for his tattoo. He grinned and lifted his shirt and over his chest was one man, three fairies and four dragons with his parents name cradling them on either side.

“It’s magnificent Milo.” He nodded his head and I could sense his sadness as he pulled his shirt down and picked up his jacket.

“Your turn.” I lifted my shirt at his request and he looked at the artwork. I lowered my shirt as we walked out of the shop and reached the car.

“Are you going to explain it to me?”

“The rose is both beautiful and strong, a protector of kind with its thorns. The two names are Alexis and Megan on either side. Alexis means protector and Megan means mighty. It’s a personal tattoo.”

“That’s more than just personal. I like it.” Milo looked contemplative for a minute.

“Yeah and the wording is in Sumerian.” He nodded his head at my explanation and then grinned at me.

“I take it the Sumerian is so that Maya can’t read the names.”

“Don’t look at me like that, Milo. We both know this marriage isn’t because I love her, it’s a duty.”

“You’re breaking my heart. I wouldn’t be able to do what you’re doing.”

I didn’t answer Milo because what did I say to that. I was breaking all my own rules too. I had never planned on getting married so young or becoming a father so early in my life. But like Ryder said, at least I didn’t have to bond with her.