Chapter 43 - The Crowning

Luci had only been pregnant for a couple of weeks but was already getting a bump. She rubbed it while waiting for Bexley to bring her dress for the crowning. She was anxious to know if they were having a boy or a girl and what species they would be.

The crowning ceremony was happening this evening, and Luci was nervous. She felt ready to be queen and take on the duties, but she was worried about those who still didn't want her as queen. She didn't want her child or her mate to be affected by their hatred.

Xavier had been right, when he'd told her that the majority of the kingdom was okay with her being a vampire. However, she knew from experience that one person was all it took to cause a lot of destruction. She heard a knock on the door as she was lost in thought. Before Luci could answer, Bexley stuck her head into the room.

"Are you ready to see your dress?" Bexley asked her excitedly.

"Yes, I can't wait." Luci smiled as Bexley, Alessandra, and Janie entered the room. Bexley was carrying a large dress bag and laid it on the bed with a flourish. When she unzipped it and took the dress out, Luci gasped.

The dress was gold, and it shimmered like it was covered in diamonds. Threaded throughout the dress were tiny emerald and ruby gems. Luci ran her hand over it, and as extravagant as it looked, the material was actually very lightweight.

"Bexley, it's beautiful." Luci whispered.

"You have to try it on to make sure no adjustments are needed." Luci removed her clothes, and the other women helped her put the dress on, carefully so they didn't damage the thin fabric.

Luci looked in the mirror and stared at herself. She felt like a queen in the jewel-covered floor-length garment. It was off the shoulder but had sleeves that reached her elbows. Luci spun around and heard the small gems tinkle as she moved.

Bexley handed her a pair of gold-colored heels with the same green and red gems decorating them. Luci loved how the dress flowed around her, and the light seemed to dance off the shiny gold thread.

"Wow, you're stunning." Alessandra looked at her daughter proudly. She looked like royalty in that dress.

"Thanks, mom. I love it, Bexley. You really outdid yourself." Luci hugged her as Bexley beamed at her creation.

"All you're missing is the crown." Janie smiled at her friend as she looked at her in awe. Luci had never looked more beautiful; on top of it all, she was glowing.

"You guys are the best, and I'm glad you're here with me." Luci hugged her mother and best friend.

"Hey, what am I, chopped liver?" Bexley asked with her hands on her hips.

"Of course not. You're my sister." Luci hugged Bexley.

Bexley decided no adjustments were needed and helped Luci remove the dress. There were a couple of hours until the crowning, and they had a lot to do to get ready. Xavier and Luci weren't going to see each other until they walked to the throne room.

Bexley had Luci take a long hot bath with soothing oils in the water. When she was done, the three women took their time doing Luci's hair in an elaborate twist with long curls framing her face. They made sure there was plenty of room left for the crown to sit properly on her head.

Once her hair was done, Janie did her makeup. She gave Luci smokey eyes, making her brown eyes look ever darker.

It was then time for her to put the dress on. It took all three women to help avoid messing up Luci's hair or makeup. The other women quickly put on their own dresses and had just finished when there was a knock on the door. A woman Luci recognized as one of Reina's assistants smiled when she stuck her head inside the door.

"Ladies, it's time to go. The king and queen are ready for the crowning."

Alessandra, Janie, and Bexley went ahead to the throne room. Luci and Xavier would be walking together. She took a deep breath and left the room to meet her mate.

Xavier was nervously waiting for Luci at the top of the stairs. They had stayed apart until the ceremony so the others could pamper her. He was all for his mate being spoiled, but even just the couple of hours they were apart, he missed her like crazy.

He watched Alessandra, Janie, and Bexley go down the steps, and Xavier prepared himself for Luci. He waited anxiously, and when he saw her walk out, he felt like falling to his knees. She looked like a queen.

Luci saw Xavier standing near the steps, waiting for her in his royal attire, and she had never thought he had looked more handsome. She walked up to him with a smile.

"Hello, my handsome king." She wanted to kiss him but didn't want to put lipstick on his face.

"Luci, you're breathtaking." She blushed slightly and looked down at her dress.

"Your sister did a fabulous job on the dress."

"No, it's not the dress; it's you. You look like you're glowing, and the way you carry yourself, you look more like a royal than anyone else in my family." Luci blushed again under Xavier's stare.

"You don't look so bad yourself. Are you ready to get this over with? I'm ready to be alone with you, and that can't happen until we're done." Luci linked her arm with his as they started walking down the stairs.

When they arrived at the throne room, they waited at the doors until they were announced. Once they heard their names and the door opened, they walked in.

The room was completely filled, and everyone bowed to them as they walked down the aisle. King Malik and Queen Reina waited for the couple at the front of the room. Once they made it to the thrones, Luci and Xavier bowed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we come here today to transfer the crowns to Xavier and Lucinda. Reina and I have been training them for some time, and we feel they're ready to accept their new roles." Malik motioned for Xavier to step up in front of him. Xavier bowed one last time to his father as Mailk took the crown off his own head.

"Xavier, do you agree to accept this crown and all the responsibilities that come with it? Do you agree to protect every person in this kingdom as if they're an extension of your family? Do you agree to rule this kingdom fairly and justly?"

"I do." Xavier said, and Malik placed the crown on Xavier's head before bowing to his son. It was then Reina's turn to crown Luci.

"Lucinda, do you agree to accept this crown and all the responsibilities that come with it? Do you agree to protect every person in this kingdom as if they're an extension of your family? Do you agree to rule this kingdom fairly and justly?"

"I do." Luci said as she bowed to Reina and felt her putting the crown on her head. Reina bowed to Luci when she stood up.

"I present King Xavier and Queen Lucinda." Malik said loudly.

The room erupted into clapping and cheering as Xavier and Luci made their way to the thrones and sat down. Luci had never felt anything more powerful than the love she felt from those in the room. She finally felt accepted and knew they would make the kingdom proud as king and queen.