I looked at my reflection in the mirror and tried not to cringe. I looked like a cupcake.
A hot, gothic cupcake that wanted to murder the other cupcakes, but definitely a cupcake.
Hell, I didn't even know where to start when it came to describing this dress, seeing as I don't ever remember wearing something so elaborate in all the years I have walked this earth.
Yeah, dresses and formal events were really not my thing.
But I digress. I was told that the ballgown had a black beaded sweetheart neckline with a large red bow around my waist that trailed down to the floor. It came with gloves, red and black ones that went up to my bicep.
The beading continued throughout the skirt in what looked like star-shaped patterns, and there were even some delicate silver chains that had red beads on them.
I was told that it was the height of fashion, but I much preferred my leggings and sweaters to this monstrosity.
"You are absolutely stunning," whispered Greyson as he came up behind me. I looked at him through the mirror and raised an eyebrow. Stephanie had been working for hours on my hair and makeup, and while nice… this wasn't me.
"Don't get used to it," I muttered as he gently placed his hand over the intricate choker that adorned my neck. He tilted my head back until it was resting on his chest. I was sure that I was ruining my hair, but I really didn't care.
Being in his arms like this was all I cared about right now.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, inside and out," he growled into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "It doesn't matter what you are wearing, a fucking ball gown or leggings and a sweater; you are still the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."
The stress I was feeling inside evaporated like a puff of smoke as I let his words sink in.
Balls were not a gypsy thing. When the individual Houses were first created, we lived in tents in a forest, going into the woods every day to find food. Viktor might be a bit more used to this scene, being a Duke and all, but I wasn't.
I felt like a fake, like a wolf hiding amongst the sheep, waiting for someone to spot me.
"Don't you fucking touch her hair and makeup," screeched Stephanie as soon as she entered my bedroom. The Gypsy Ball was being held in my mansion outside of New York, but the upstairs was to be kept locked at all times.
I remember the argument that Nicholas, Greyson, and Sasha had over the security risks associated with opening my home to the monster 'public'.
But I currently had a wolf, a Van Helsing, a Skin Walker, a Demon, an Angel, and two 'humans' living in here, so I didn't think that many people would be willing to take the chance and start shit.
I also took out Vlad a few days ago, which meant that the vamps were hiding somewhere licking their wounds.
Fuck.
I slumped back into Greyson's chest as I took a moment to really think about everything that had happened in less than a year.
I accepted my monster and then killed her.
Mother's goons kidnapped and tortured me.
Kidnapped by wolves.
I killed Mother.
I fell in… I became friends with Viktor and then realized that I had five mates.
I found my brother, who had been dead for 200 years.
Killed the Head of House Vampyre.
Accepted my role as Head of House Tesalor and Head of House Gypsy.
I discovered that angels and demons were real.
And now I am going to my first ball in over 200 years.
"Did it just hit?" asked Greyson as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in closer, ignoring Stephanie's huff.
"Yeah," I grunted. "Normally, I just ignore everything that happens to me until I am captured by Mother and tortured for a few days. Then I just bleed out my stress, and then I am fine in a few days. But without Mother, there is no more hanging around in abandoned warehouses to get my head on straight."
"You accomplished a lot, and your life has changed again and again. It is understandable if you aren't able to really process it all yet. Just know that if you need us, we are here for you," he continued, whispering in my ear.
I nodded my head. Yeah. Maybe I would put yet another pin in it until I was better able to deal with it. If that ever happened.
"Now, let's get Cinderella to her ball," chuckled Greyson, straightening up and adjusting his uniform. Oh hell, his uniform. The stuff of dreams.
The uniform was a midnight blue pants and jacket with gold stripes down the pant legs and a gold band around the cuffs. He was wearing a white shirt underneath with a dark blue/black tie.
"Do you know why women like a man in uniform?" he asked as he took in my look of shock and awe.
I shook my head as I looked at the metals on his chest… his muscular chest…
"It means he has a job," he snickered before placing his hand on my back and pushing me toward the door.
Grabbing his hat from my desk beside the door, he quickly put it on, never taking his other hand off my back. "Relax, this is simply a party. The only thing you need to be worried about is dull conversation and if someone has had too much to drink and decides to fuck in the closet or something."
I looked up at him, his height meant that he was towering over me. I loved the feeling. It made me feel that much smaller and more delicate.
"Don't fool yourself," I groaned. I forgot to give him and Levi a heads up about what to expect. There was going to be a representative from every House, plus their entourage.
If I was lucking, the most exciting thing to happen would be catching someone fucking in the closet.
I wasn't even going to think about what the worst thing to happen could be.
"We are going into battle. It just might look a bit different than the ones you are used to. But everyone here is a weapon in and of themselves."