Chapter 109

Sasha
She pulled back the makeshift curtain for the changing room in the dining hall. She hung Lily’s garment bag inside. Lily excitedly walked towards her with an overprotective Lukas flanking her. Sasha let Lily pass her, before she pushed her hand into Lukas’ chest, stopping him.
“She will be fine, brother. We are only getting her in her dress. Keep it up and I will tell you to get out.”
“Sasha-”
“I’m okay, Lukas, I promise,” Lily told him sweetly.
He glared at Sasha for a moment before snatching his garment bag off the rack and going to the men’s dressing area. Sasha pulled the curtain closed and nodded at Lily.
“Strip.”
Lily quickly undressed while Sasha unzipped her bag. She laid the gown gently on the bag, smoothing the few wrinkles out. She reached inside and tossed Lily the strapless bra.
“Put it on, Lily, just like we showed you.”
Sasha pulled the shoe box out and opened it, setting the beautiful suede sapphire encrusted shoes under the gown.
“Ok, it’s on.”
Sasha tossed her the nylons before turning back around. She knelt at her feet and helped her guide the nylons up, so she didn’t get runs in them. She carefully pulled the gown off the hanger and took it over to her as Kalani peeked her head around the curtain.
“Are you ready for me?”
“Yes.”
Kalani came in and knelt in front of Lily. She reached up to help ease the gown over her head, gently guiding it to the floor. Sasha handed Kalani the heels and steadied Lily as she put them on. They let her go and she immediately wobbled, before falling into Sasha. She tried to sink to the floor as she started sobbing.
“I can’t walk in these. This stupid leg won’t let me,” Lily cried.
Kalani lifted her feet one at a time and dug the dagger she pulled from her waistband into the crease to pop the heels off.
“How’s that, honey?,” she asked.
Lily slowly moved around the small area, before nodding. “Better, thank you.”
Sasha put her hands on Lily’s shoulders and turned her towards the mirror. She smoothed the immediate frown lines on her face.
“Look at you, Lily. You look like a princess.”
Lily looked away from her reflection. “If you say so.”
Sasha kissed her cheek. “I do. Now, let’s get you over to hair and make up.”
Sasha walked her out of the changing area and began to guide her to the tables that had been set up across the room. A clatter from behind them made Lily jump and spin. Sasha grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. Lukas was staring at her while Aiden held him in place with his hand on his shoulder. He pulled away to walk over to them. He took Lily’s hand and twirled her around, studying the way the one shoulder navy blue gown with gold and silver interlocking waves hemming it draped perfectly over her body.
“Lily,” he whispered. “You look so lovely.”
She blushed and Sasha gently pulled her away from him. “Leave her alone. Let her get finished,” Sasha ordered, letting her aura gently surround him with warning.
He backed away, keeping his eyes on her. Sasha led her to the table where Sherri stood next to the hired make up artist.
“More natural. She’s too young for heavy makeup.”
The woman nodded and began to organize the makeup pallets she was going to use. Casey walked over, grinning in her almost matching navy gown with the shoulder on the opposite side of Lily’s. She sat at the table next to Lily.
“This is so exciting. It’s almost like we’re princesses.”
Sasha laughed. “That’s because you are.”
She linked her arm with Kalani’s and led her back to where two servants stood waiting to help them get dressed. Sasha quickly stripped down to her underclothes which thankfully was exactly what she needed for her gown. The older woman knelt at her feet, holding the gown open for Sasha to step inside.
The woman brought it up before adjusting it around her breasts. The infinity symbol deep lavender strapless dress with plunging back hugged her curves, creating a slightly chubby hourglass figure. The woman adjusted the gown over her hips so the slit wouldn’t shift and show off every part of her that should stay hidden. The woman tied the matching shoes around her ankles. She stepped out and Kalani eyed her before nodding her approval.
“You truly look like a queen, Aja.”
Sasha ran her eyes over the similar dress on Kalani, the only difference being that her back wasn’t low. She smiled at her sister.
“After this, let’s never wear another dress.”
She laughed as they headed towards the other set of tables that Sasha was sure Aiden had purposely put closer to the men’s side. She felt someone seeking to open a link with and she let them as she sat down.
‘Queen Sasha, you asked to be informed when Slonsky showed up. He just arrived.’
She tensed and Kalani immediately reached for her to push peace into her.
“He’s here,” Sasha whispered.
Lukas put his hand on Sasha’s other shoulder when Kalani’s true feelings of sadness crept through the emotional comfort she was attempting.
‘Send him to the dining hall on the second floor, please,’ Sasha told the servant who had linked.
She stood up and started moving to the door. It opened and Slonsky walked in with their father by his side. Sasha quickly gathered her skirts in her hand and began to head towards them, her heart pounding.
“Dad, you’re back,” she greeted him as she tried to situate herself between the two men.
“DADDY!,” came a happy scream from across the room.
Lily and Casey both came dashing towards the door. Lukas grabbed Lily while Gregory and Aiden tried to stop Casey. She darted around them and threw herself at Slonsky. He caught her around the waist while his other hand came up to grip the back of her neck. He sank to the ground with her in his arms, apologizing profusely.
“Oh, baby. I am sorry. I missed you.”
She clung to him. “Sasha said there were rogue attacks where you were. I was so worried.”
He rocked her back and forth. “There were no rogue attacks, Case. That was to be the reason she was asked to tell you to explain my death.”
Sasha’s eyes widened. “Did you change your mind?”
He nodded. “Sterling made me realize how important you guys were and how much you still needed me.”
Sasha looked at her father. “So, you’re friends now?”
Her father put his hand on Slonsky’s shoulder, squeezing it. “We’re not exactly friends, but we did work out a lot of frustrations.”
Sasha’s mouth dropped open when the slightest scent change came from Slonsky, hinting at arousal. She met her father’s eyes.
“Please, tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.”
He shrugged. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”
Sasha gagged while Lukas laughed. She turned to glare at him.
“You knew about this?”
He shook his head. “Not about this exactly. I knew our father’s taste was a little more than most thought.”
Casey looked up at the trio’s father. “Are you going to kill me?”
Her question hung in the air and her father knelt next to Slonsky. “No, Casey, I promise you, you are as safe with me as you are with him.”
She searched his face for a moment before wrapping her arm around his neck. “Lily said you’re really nice. I didn’t believe her.”
Her father hugged her. “I love Lily like a daughter. To me, she already is one. I would hope that one day, you could look at me like another father figure.”
Casey glanced up at Slonsky. “So, does this mean I get to stay around everybody? I would really like to have a family.”
Sasha gently pulled her to her feet. “Yes, sweetie. We will all be one big happy family now.”
Slonsky got up and took Sasha in his arms. He kissed her cheek.
“Thank you for everything, Sasha. I can’t ever thank you, but just know that I will always see you as my daughter.”
She touched his cheek. “I’m glad I don’t have to kill you, Papa Slonsky.”
He laughed and Sasha felt the ease of it. She had never felt peace like this from him or seen the true smile on her father’s face in person. Whatever they did together- gag- was good for both of them. Slonsky’s smile turned into a frown.
“After the ceremony, can I have a few hours of your time? You, your mate and Kalani?”
Sasha eyed him curiously. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s just one more memory I would like to show you.”
Kalani came over to hug him. “Okay, but I think we should take Dad, too.”
Slonsky nodded in agreement. “That’s fine. This one isn’t about him though.”
“What’s it about?”
Slonsky looked past the girls to meet Aiden’s eyes. “It’s about you and him.”