Chapter One
My head was dizzy as I stared into the mirror in the corner of the bedroom that formerly belonged to my parents. For most of the past twelve years of my life, this right here was my worst nightmare. Even though I didn’t favor one parent over the other, it almost made it worse having both of them stare back at me from my own reflection.
Distant memories and laughter filled my head. The last time I stood right here was just a few nights before they died. My uncle had orchestrated a plan to kill my parents and me. However, I escaped death that night, at the tender age of six, with my father and mother’s personal security guards. For the past twelve years, they both had raised me and became my family.
“Are you okay?” Mason’s deep voice tore me out of the memory.
“No, but I will be.” I glanced at the elegant black dress that I wore for my presentation to the supernatural world as their queen. My blue eyes were the exact same shade as my father’s, and my vibrant dark red hair a gift from my mother. “The last time I was here, I was so upset. I hated wearing dresses.”
“So not much has changed?” My mate chuckled as he walked up behind me. His handsome face reflected right next to mine.
“Nope.” A laugh did manage to escape me, and I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or afraid. Some of the pain was beginning to heal with Mason and his sister, Ella, by my side, but I worried that might mean I’d lose memories of my parents now that I was finding happiness.
“Don’t worry.” He leaned down and tenderly kissed my neck right where the faint scar of his bite marks were from completing our bond. “I’ll be getting you out of it as soon as this thing is over.”
“Promises, promises.” I turned toward him and took a deep breath of his earthy scent.
His hair was still short, and his emerald eyes glowed. He was a couple of inches taller than my five-foot-ten frame, and somehow his designer black suit emphasized all his muscles in the sexiest way possible. “You clean up nice.”
“Only for you.” He leaned down, capturing my lips between his teeth.
A moan left me, and I curled my arms around his neck.
“Oh my God!” Ella’s voice was raised for dramatics. “The past week, every time I walk in here you guys are kissing or moaning.”
Mason pulled back and huffed. “It’s our bedroom. What the hell do you expect?”
“You knew I’d come in here before the dinner party.” She entered the room, proving her lack of boundaries.
He turned toward her and arched an eyebrow. “If you come in after the party, be ready to see my naked ass.”
“Seriously?” It was true, but not something I wanted to share with her. You probably encouraged her to do just that.
True. He grimaced as he glanced at me.
“You look beautiful.” Ella sashayed over to me in her skin-tight red dress. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her hazel eyes popped with her dark eyeshadow.
“So do you.” I wrapped my arms around her.
“Watch the hair.” She snorted as she carefully hugged me back. “Oh, you decided to wear it down too?”
“Mom always wore her hair up.” Since the car crash, I’d done everything I could to not cry when I looked in the mirror.
“Got it.” Ella frowned and glanced at her brother. “You look weird. Like you might even be able to pass as a gentleman.”
“Don’t worry.” Mason smirked. “I’m still not a gentleman to anyone except Elena.”
“Won’t you have to change now?” She tilted her head and pursed her lips.
“Nope, he sure doesn’t.” That had been one of my dad’s strengths. He wanted everyone to be who they were, politics be damned. It caused him to have many loyal followers and the same number of enemies.
“Well, good.” Ella looked at me and raised a hand to block Mason from seeing her lips. “Because that would be awkward when he couldn’t do it.”
“You know I can still hear you?” Mason shook his head, and his brow furrowed. “What was even the point of that?”
“Dramatics.” Ella turned toward him. “You should know I won’t say anything about you behind your back. I wanted to make sure you heard what I said while still trying to be discreet and polite.”
Oh dear. When these two got going there was no telling when it would end. “As fun as this is, King Adelmo and his wife are downstairs waiting.”
A knock at the door interrupted me. “Come in.”
Kassie and Mona walked into the room. They both were wearing suits as were the rest of the guards that were working that night. That way they could run in a fight if needed and not worry about a dress or something of that nature obstructing their movements.
Other than that, they didn’t look anything alike. Kassie’s short dark hair stopped just shy of her shoulders, and she had an intimidating presence, unlike Mona. Though her amber eyes always glowed when she was angry.
Mona’s long blonde hair was twisted into a bun, and her chocolate brown eyes were warm. She came off as sweet and caring, but at the first sign of any threat, she could be just as intimidating as Kassie.
“King Adelmo is downstairs and growing impatient,” Kassie growled the words.
“Didn’t they just get here a few minutes ago?” Right before Ella came in, I had been taking one last look before heading down.
“Yes, but apparently they are not supposed to be the ones waiting.” Mona rolled her eyes. “Maybe you should take longer.”
I just had my official coronation last week; the worst thing I could do was start off on the wrong foot with Europe. “No, let’s go ahead and get this over with.”
“You're telling me.” Mason pulled at his tie. “I feel as if I’m choking in this stupid thing.”
“To be honest, it is his first time ever wearing one, so he has some breaking in to do.” Ella snorted and shook her head.
“Really?” That surprised me. “You didn’t go to prom or something?” Even for shifters, prom was a big deal. Hell, we were half-human after all.
His nose wrinkled in disgust. “Oh, hell no.” He shook his head. “Whoever you took would want to put labels on it. Besides, I never wanted to be tied down until I met you.”
He was being sincere, but I had to give him a hard time. “You’re going for cheesy?”
“What?” His forehead lined, and he narrowed his eyes. “No. I meant that.”
“I never thought I’d see the day when my brother, the all-elusive bad boy Mason, would get whipped.” Ella placed her hand on her heart for extra emphasis.
“I haven’t been whipped.” He looked over at me and winked. “Yet.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Kassie waved her hand in the direction of the door. “I don’t want to hear anything kinky related to Elena. I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that and move on.”
“In all fairness, I agree with her.” Mona placed her arm around my waist and smiled. “Now, let’s go see this impatient king.”
“You do realize I’m still not happy with you two.” I looped my arm into Mason’s as we headed toward the door. “Both of you are my family. It’s ridiculous for you to be part of the security team. The two of you raised me.”