Nolan kept hold of my hand as we passed from the car to the front of the building. A moving wall of Gamma warriors surrounded us on every side as we walked, helpfully blocking my view of the crowd and the cameras.
And then we were there. Nolan pulled me along, coming to a stop right behind the podium, and I had to look right out at the biggest sea of people I had ever seen in my life. The reporters were all shouting out questions already. The crowd of civilians thundered with deafening applause when they saw us. My stately husband, unfazed by all of this, nodded seriously to the crowd in acknowledgement. After a few more seconds, he held up an open palm to the crowd, and the world began to quiet down under his command. “There have been many news reports already about the events of the past two days,” Nolan began. “I am here today first and foremost to officially confirm some facts about these events, and to formally announce that my halI couldn’t believe it when I looked at my watch and saw that Nolan and I had been speaking to the crowd for almost three hours.The adrenaline of standing in front of that huge live audience, with the entire world watching on TV or livestream too, was a new level of exhilaration.Back in the limo after it was all over, Nolan gave me a critical look with a curious little half smile. “So?” he asked. “What did you think? Easier than you expected?”“That was surreal,” I said. “I don’t think easy is the right word. But it was sure exciting. I hope I did okay.”He grinned. I loved to see Nolan smile brightly like that. “You did great.”I scrunched my face up, doubtful. “Really? I wasn’t rambling?” Nolan shook his head. “You were perfect. They appreciate your candor, I can tell. I imagine it’s a refreshing change of pace after listening to boring politicians like me all the time.”I had to laugh. “You, my dear, are the last pe
The three of us escaped quietly to my studio.“Oh, my goodness,” Cindy breathed as we walked in. I did a lap around the room, turning all the lights on. “This place is incredible.”“Isn’t it? Oh, Yena, I missed this place! We had a lot of fun times in here.”“Sit down,” I told my guests. “Wherever’s comfortable.”I grabbed a notebook and pen from my desk then met them over at the couches in the fitting area.“So what’s up Yena?” Lucy asked, dying with curiosity. “What’s this thing you wanted to talk to us about?”“Well, I need both of your help with something,” I started. “But I wanted to actually ask Cindy a couple questions first.”“Sure,” Cindy said. “Fire away.”Rafaela’s head appeared, popping through the doorway. I guess she had seen the studio door open. I waved her over.“My apologies for interrupting your party here, Miss Yena, but I wonder if I could bring any refreshments over for you and you
NOLANThe prince’s footsteps echoed down the stone chamber as he descended the stairs of the underground prison where his brother was being held.Nolan made his way down, down, down three flights of stairs, passing through caged security checkpoints at every floor. Each one was attended by at least two prison guards who shuffled Nolan in through one door, locked it behind him, then unlocked the second door to let him out the other side.Down he went, finally, down one more flight of spiral stairs. And there at the bottom landing, Nolan looked down a long corridor and saw Adan for the first time since their fight on the mountain.He was leaning against the back wall of his cell with his arms crossed over his chest.“You come here to gloat?” Adan called out. His deep, familiar voice carried, bouncing off the stone walls and vibrating into the cold, damp air.“Not really my style.” Nolan slipped his hands into his pockets and slowed
YENA Lucy watched her reflection carefully in the trifold mirror while moving around the layers of the skirt I was fitting on her. “I don’t remember how I had it,” she said. “Was it like this?” “Yes. That’s perfect.” I hurried over and knelt beside the pedestal, pinning the fabric into place at the most flattering angle over Lucy’s hip. “So Cindy couldn’t make it today, huh?” “Yeah, she was too busy.” I finished pinning the skirt into place and took a couple steps back to look at it from a distance again. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy to get her away from the orphanage. She said she’ll try again tomorrow.” “I had fun with her last night. She’s super nice.” “Yeah, I’m glad Nolan invited her to the dinner party. That was a fun surprise.” “He is super sweet, too, Yena.” Lucy met my eyes in the mirror. “It was really nice to finally get to hang out with the two of you together. I can’t believe I thought…” She darted her eyes away as her voice trailed off. “You thought what? I’m don
“I do have some good news to share, though.” I threw a glance in Lucy’s direction.She responded with a big, excited smile.Nolan was intrigued.Suddenly I was nervous. He and I hadn’t yet talked about anything related to my career since I’d come back.“I don’t know if you heard about the little business I started on social media a few weeks ago?” I squinted at Nolan. I wasn’t sure if he’d been following what I was up to while we were apart.He nodded.“I didn’t have any expectations for that little enterprise,” I went on, “but it’s really taken off. I actually already went ahead and filed for a business license. And I made Lucy a job offer.”“Oh. Wow.” Nolan looked back and forth between me and Lucy a few times. I saw the wheels turning in his head. He had a lot of questions. “And Lucy? Did you accept Yena’s job offer?”“I did!” She leaned forward, grinning. “Oh, I’m so excited! We’re going to have so much fun.
“This has been quite the experience already, Yena.” Cindy was looking in the trifold mirror, watching in amazement as Lucy and I adjusted her dress and pinned it into place. “I’m nervous for tomorrow though. I can’t believe I let you talk me into doing this.”Lucy smiled. “Oh, it’s going to be so fun. Just wait.”“Yeah, you’ll be great!” I took a step back to look at our work, and made eye contact with Cindy. “I’ve seen you command a room many times at the orphanage. You’re a total boss.”“Those are kids, though. They only listen to half of what you say. I’ve never stood up in front of a crowd of adults before – ever. And especially not with the focus on my clothes and body.”“Well,” Lucy said, admiring Cindy’s reflection. “You’ve probably never worn something this awesome before. Yena’s clothes are like magic. Zip yourself in and up goes the confidence.”I had to laugh at this. “That would make a good ad slogan.”“You’re joking,
I needed many, many cups of coffee while I got ready in the wee hours of the morning. Nolan had woken me up at two a.m.“Why are we doing this at the crack of dawn?” I asked, slipping into a pair of heels.“Time difference,” he answered. “There will of course be werewolves watching this live as well, but it’s primarily for the humans. Sunrise here is primetime for their evening news programs.”“Okay. Well, as long as you promise I don’t need to say anything this time, I am ready to go.” I was dressed, made up, had my hair done. It was just my brain that was still unprepared.“You do not.” Nolan paused and narrowed his eyes, thinking. “But if you don’t want to do this, you know you don’t have to…”“Of course I do.” I took his hand and led him out of the room. “I’m your princess. That’s what I’m here for.” I smiled, stood on my toes and circled his neck with my arms.Nolan didn’t get nervous about media appearances. But for some re
NOLANLuna had been standing near the bar when she caught her son’s eye. She sauntered over to him with two flutes of champagne in hand, looking smug. She handed one glass to Nolan when she reached him.“I take it you had something to do with this?” he asked.Luna arched an eyebrow and shrugged slightly, as if to say, “Guilty.”She raised her glass and Nolan followed suit. “Your wife is very creative,” she said. “She did most of this on her own. She wanted to surprise you.”Nolan tapped his glass lightly against hers. “Mission accomplished.”“To Yena,” Luna said, and they sipped their drinks in unison.“Where is she, by the way?”“Backstage.” Luna used her glass to point in that direction. “You’ll see her soon.”The prince wiped his mouth with his hand, trying to conceal from his mother the excited smile that was trying to force its way out. His parents had trained him to not express emotions in public.