Standing before a mirror, freshly clean from a bath and wearing nothing but a thin shift and a pair of underwear, Nemyria held two dresses before her, debating between the two.
Tiberius had picked out seven dresses for her, all of which she liked. These two, however, she especially enjoyed.
One was a light blue that went down just below her ass, with a translucent skirt that fell halfway down her calves. The other was a white and pastel teal that wouldn't hug her curves and would go down to her knees, the bottom portion fluffy, like a summer dress.
She loved them both, but the summer dress just seemed a little... Childish. The other was awfully short, and would reveal any bra she wore.
"What do you think?" Nemyria asked, looking to Tiberius.
Gavrynn let out a waring growl, and Nemyria straightened her head, allowing him to continue braiding the hair that fell in front of her face.
"You know, you could have waited to braid her hair," Tiberius said.
"Yeah, whatever," Gavrynn mumbled, tying off the first braid with a white ribbon, then moving to the second.
"Toby," Nemyria said.
"Personally, I think the blue fits with your coloration better," Tiberius said.
"Agreed," she said, and set the white dress on the vanity beside her.
"You don't think it's too short?" Tiberius asked.
She shrugged. "You'd like it."
"Indeed I would," he replied, "If you're okay with it, then we'll go with it."
Nemyria nodded, then waited for Gavrynn to finish tying off her braid. He used a blue ribbon for this one, then replaced the white ribbon with a blue one.
Backing away from her, Gavrynn admired his work. Satiafied, he nodded.
"You enjoy doing hair?" Nemyria asked, lifting a brow.
"Odd, I know," Tiberius said, "Alas, I am thankful for my brother's hobby, or else my hair would be a mess."
Nemyria snorted. "You do his hair?"
"Pick his outfits sometimes, too," Gavrynn replied.
She chuckled, then waved him off. Gavrynn retreated to the corner and turned to face the wall. Nemyria stripped off the shift, then wiggled herself into the dress. Flattening it out and slipping her tail through the slit on the back, she admired herself in the mirror.
It was a little large around the chest, but as she regained the weight she'd lost while on the streets, her breasts would grow into it.
"Well. Aren't you beautiful," Tiberius said, a hand sliding to her back, and the diamond cut out there.
He pressed a kiss to her cheek, and she smiled.
"Why, thank you," she replied.
"Do you like it?" Tiberius inquired.
"I do," she replied.
"Good," he said, and called to Gavrynn, "You can turn around now."
The male did so, but stayed where he stood, waiting for orders.
"Now that we've picked your wardrobe, when would you like to go and show it off?" Tiberius asked.
She lifted a curious brow.
"I have to introduce you to the kingdom at some point. When would you like to be introduced as my betrothed?"
Ah. Well.
"I suppose it doesn't matter," she replied, but asked, "How would you do it, I might ask?"
"Well, I'd have my messengers send word to the other cities and towns announcing that I now have my betrothed, then set a date to formally introduce you. We'd have some extravagant celebration, one where you'd get to go into the city and meet a few people. I'd take you up to the balcany, and make that formal introduction. Afterwards, we'd have a nice ball, where I'd introduce you to my nobles."
"Well. That's quite a lot to do," Nemyria said.
"Could you handle it, that many people?" Tiberius asked.
She nodded. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he murmured, "Good."
"How long would it take you to get this all ready?" she asked.
"Oh, about a fortnight," he replied.
"Only two weeks?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Generally, people from other cities don't bother to stop by for my parties," he said.
"I wonder why," Gavrynn mumbled.
Tiberius rolled his eyes.
"Well, I'm willing to be introduced whenever you're ready to introduce me," she said.
"Two weeks, then," he said.
"Two weeks," she confirmed.
"Would you like to wear this, or go to a tailor and get something else?" Tiberius asked.
"This is fine," she replied.
Nodding, he looked her over. Poking her chest, he said, "These are a little small for the dress."
"I'm a little small for the dress," she said, "Oh, give it a few weeks. I'll plump up well enough if you keep feeding me."
"Of course," he said, his hands finding her hips, turning her toward him.
He laid his forehead against hers. Humming, she raised a brow.
"How close am I to earning a kiss?" he asked.
"Fairly close," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Maybe another day of breakfast in bed, and you'll get a kiss. You know, if you don't piss me off again."
"I'll do my best, love," he said.
She smiled, and she offered him a nuzzle. Backing away a bit, she asked, "So. About lunch."
Lunch. The whole reason she was wearing something more than a white shirt and pants. A nice, proper meal in the dining hall, where she'd be sitting in on her first meeting.
"Yes, my lovely Nemyria?" Tiberius asked.
"Will Cloven and Lila be there?" Nemyria asked.
"Grown fond of them, have you?" he inquired, raising a brow.
"I find that my interaction with them yesterday was incomplete," she replied.
He chuckled. "They did run off, didn't they?"
Raising a brow, she asked, "So?"
"They'll be there," he said.
She nodded, and she tightened her arms around his neck, hopping into his arms. Catching her, his arms under her thighs, he lifted a brow.
"Carry me?" she asked.
Chuckling, he nodded, and he carried her to the dining hall.
*
Nemyria shared the head of the table with Tiberius. He held her hand above the table in plain view of the others, clearly claiming her as his. Gavrynn stood a few feet away, a hand on the pommel of his sword his eyes vigilant.
It made Nemyria wonder if the man ever ate. Or drank. Or did anything other than stand guard.
Across the table, a noble discussed his report on a nation and a queen Nemyria knew all too well.
"Queen Mavaria hasn't been heard from in a few weeks. She's made no announcements and hasn't left her castle. Honestly, it's worrisome," the male said.
"A few weeks, huh?" Tiberius said, racking his brain for the last time something like this happened, "Did she do anything last time?"
"Not to us, but to the Lycans, yes," another vampire, a female, replied.
"Ah. That's reassuring," Tiberius said.
Nemyria frowned. "It's only been a few weeks, and you're that worried about her? Why?"
"Because, Nemyria, the woman is quite volatile, and we have no idea if she's planning anything," Cloven replied.
"Don't you have spies?" Nemyria asked, looking to Tiberius.
"Of course we do. We'd be fools not to have someone watching her," he snorted, and looked to another male.
"All they've reported is that the queen's been pissed and drunk out of her mind for a month," he replied, his voice gruff.
A flicker of concern sparked in Nemyria's eyes, a flicker none of them caught.
"Well, if she makes a move, send word. My father may hate family, but he won't let you bastards die," Cloven said.
"Of course, in case she makes a move before you leave," Tiberius pointed out.
"I doubt she'd do that," Nemyria said.
Tiberius lifted a brow, and Nemyria explained.
"Drunk and pissed, to me, sounds like she's grieving, not planning something. If she meant to plan something, she probably wouldn't be drunk out of her mind. How's her city reacting," she said.
"The people of her city don't seem to like her very much right now. Complaining about how she doesn't have an heir and is drinking herself into a hole," the gruff voice said.
"Then she's probably mad at them, and drinking because she can't have a child," Nemyria said.
Tiberius blinked. "Since when has she been infertile?"
Nemyria looked to her betrothed, frowning. "It's just a guess. My parents used to tell me stories about her, and after hearing that, I think they may be true."
"The story about her being cursed?" Cloven asked, snorting, "That's just a children's tale."
"Maybe," Nemyria said, "But I believe it."
"I'll keep that in mind," Tiberius said, but added, "I'll keep an eye on her anyway. Anything happens, and I'll let you know."
"Don't expect anything," Nemyria mumbled.
Tiberius kissed her cheek. "It's just a precaution, love. I'm not dismissing what you said."
Shrugging, she turned to her food. He sighed, and did the same.
"So," one of the nobles asked, "How's the whole Draven situation going?"
Cloven paused. He returned to his food, and all he offered was, "I'll be returning home after my father sends for me."
"That's all?" one of them asked, "That's all you-"
"Do not pressure my cousin into answering anything he does not want to," Tiberius almost snarled, cutting the man off.
The snarl woke the baby in Lila's arms, who began to cry. The woman quickly got up, leaving with her crying child. Tiberius glared at the man that had spoken, who yelped, shrinking down in his seat.
After Lila escaped the room, the door easing shut behind her, Nemyria asked, "How did the king even find out about Nat in the first place?"
The room wenr silent, the nobles awaiting the answer eagerly.
Coven sighed, and began picking at his food with his claws.
Then he spoke. "About two weeks ago, my wife went into labor. Labor, if you didn't know, means screaming and crying. My instincts went haywire, and I ran to her. My father found out I was the man who'd gotten her pregnant, and he tried to execute my wife and newborn child. Draven, damn him, offered to be executed in their place. Nat, damn her even more, intervened, announced her pregnancy to the entire universe, and dragged Draven right off the executioner's block. He was injured on the way out, and I'm honestly not sure he's going to make it."
That deep-seated sadness returned, and he stopped messing with his food.
"Oh," Nemyria whispered, "I'm sorry."
"I know," Cloven said, but added, forcing hope into his voice, "But I know how to fix things now, thanks to you."
She would have offered him a smile, had the sadness not refused to leave his eyes.
"Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go check on my wife," Cloven said.
Nemyria nodded, and Tiberius said, "Goodbye, cuz."
He forced a smile to his lips and left, abandoning his lunch. The rest of the meal passed with nothing but small talk before Nemyria slunk off to bed.
Laying on her bed, feeling awfully exhausted, more emotionally than physically, she watched Tiberius as he gently undid her braids.
"What's wrong, love?" he asked, setting the first ribbon on the nightstand, then combing his fingers through her hair.
"People are getting killed simply for falling in love," she said, "I think that's horrible."
"I know," Tiberius mumbled, "I wish it didn't have to be like that. I truly wish it didn't."
"Then why won't you change your system?" Nemyria asked.
"I'm not sure I can," he replied, "I don't know where the original documents are."
She paused. Tiberius moved on to her second braid.
"They sealed the documents away when this kigdom began. I know not where my parents hid them," Tiberius said.
"Then how do you plan on finding them?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I sent a few people to look for them as soon as you asked me to change them. We'll see what happens and if they manage to find them."
She paused. Blinking, she asked, "Truly?"
"Of course. I told you I would do whatever you asked of me," he said.
A smile slid onto her lips, and he grinned. Leaning down to press his brow to hers, he mumbled, "Is there anything you would like from me?"
"Give Gavrynn a day off," she replied.
Gavrynn, who stood in the corner of the room, stilled. Tiberius held her gaze, then said, "You know that means you have to stay with me for all of tomorrow, yes?"
"I know," she replied, "You promised me you'd take me riding."
He chuckled. "That I did. We'll go riding tomorrow, then."
A smile spread over her lips, and his grin widened.
"Gavvy, you can go. Be back the day after tomorrow," Tiberius said.
The man nodded, and left for the door. Almost tripping over his own feet, the man scrambled from the room. His brother chuckled, shaking his head as he returned his attention to his mate.
She held his gaze, smiling softly, and she cupped the hand that lay on her cheek. Tiberius leaned in and pressed a gentle, but quick, kiss to her lips.
"Goodnight," Tiberius whispered as he drew away.
"Goodnight," she barely breathed, a bit surprised by the kiss.
"I'll see you when you wake, my love," he murmured.
Her shock dissipated, and she nodded. Pressing a kiss to her brow, he drew away. She snuggled into her blankets and quickly fell asleep.
*
Crimson, pissed and exhausted after going through a day of dealing with stupid, ignorant trainees, stomped into her room. Slamming her door, she almost ripped off her armor, tossing it into a heap beside the door.
"Stripping already? You haven't even said hello," a familliar, wonderful, loving but annoying voice said.
Lifting her eyes, she found Gavrynn in her bed, shirtless and with a book in hand. Pausing, joy welling up within her, she stared at him.
"You're really here?" she asked.
"The bastard finally came to bed," Gavrynn replied.
She fumbled to lock the door, then dove for him, almost crying tears of joy as she met his lips in a joyous kiss. He kissed her back without hesitation, wrapping her up in his arms.
"I missed you," he whispered, drawing away from her, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you, too, you stupid prick," she replied.
Chuckling, he pecked her lips. One of his thumbs brushing over her cheek, he said, "I get tomorrow off. Will you be able to stick around, or do you have those trainees to deal with?"
"Unfortunately, the trainees," she replied.
"Well, then sleeping can wait until tomorrow," Gavrynn said, a bit of a smirk sliding onto his lips.
"I'm not opposed to that," she replied.
That smirk grew, and she laughed as he dragged her beneath the covers.