1. Back with a bang

(Vera Rhys)

Pulling down a soft blue dress fit for Royalty and smoothing it down my body, I stared at myself in the mirror, my violet eyes glinting in appreciation as I stared at the gown and the gold necklace I had just stolen yesterday. 

I had always loved beautiful things. No, not just love. I had an unhealthy addiction to beautiful, shiny things, and no, I'm not ashamed to admit that. As far as I was concerned, when you liked something, you didn’t have to be shy or apologetic about it.

At the end of the day, you were the only one who was responsible for your own happiness. My happiness was exactly here in this little cottage that had been dying for years now, but still standing, with my merry band of six people. I was unofficially the queen here and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I quickly shot a text to my boss, Alonso. I had a day job too, in the most perfect place in my little world. The Gery’s Gallerie. And it also helped satiate my obsession with beautiful things. 

I brushed my short black hair behind my ears and smirked. Oh, they wouldn’t know what hit them, I thought, with a wicked glint in my eyes.

But thinking about what I was going to do and where I was going also brought another memory to my mind. Again. It was not like I had ever forgotten him. I couldn’t get that stupid kiss out of my head even though five years had passed and even when I had tried a million times to erase that face from my mind.

The prince. Mateo Storm. Shy and flustered and unassuming. Oh, and a f*cking ghost, who still haunted me to this day, that sometimes I went as far as stalking him in the royal newsletters and Draconian Herald. 

Up until the point his lips met mine, he was kind of obscure. Nothing about him was distinguishing. He was predictable, and a safe bet. He was the most boring seventeen-year-old I had ever met in my exciting life.

And Mateo, totally not my type, not at all. He was shy for a Royal, so unlike his wild brother, Prince Blaine Storm, and that was why I chose him as my target. He was an easy mark, and my con needed an easy mark at that time.

I had watched Mateo for a while to make sure he was who I thought he was, and didn’t have any unwanted surprises.

"Stalked him.” My dragon, Nova, corrected me. I rolled my eyes.

"Technicality, Nova,” I said to her as I painted my lips... the same bold red color I had painted them for the first and the only time I ever went to the dragon ball.

"And boy, you have no idea about the surprise he had...” Nova was enjoying this shit.

Nothing about Prince Mateo excited me until my freaking lips met his. And boy, was I surprised. I almost forgot why I was there and I wanted to stay right there and kiss him until we both fainted from the kiss.

Oh, it was tempting to the point of madness. The unassuming prince turned into someone who could distract the great Vera Rhys from her target. Even with the Eye of Sabius clutched in my hand, I took a long, long time to finish that kiss. I could have handcuffed him the moment we started kissing, but hell, I didn’t want to stop kissing.

His lips were soft and gentle, but it wasn’t the way he kissed. It was what his kisses did to my stomach. There were wild dream birds singing inside my stomach and no, that wasn’t my first kiss. I had kissed many before him, and had kissed many after him, but nothing came close. Mateo would forever be the frog that turned into a prince when I kissed him!

And that was five years ago. This was going to be the second time I was going to Dragon Ball, and my job now... it would put a shame to what I did that night five years ago. I winked cheekily in the mirror.

“Are you sure you want to go there? What if the prince recognized you? Also… this man we talked? What do we know about him? What if he is a bad guy? What if he cheated us out of money and then-”

“Oh, it has been five years, and I have changed a lot, a lot,” I said as I appreciated my look in the mirror. “Also, I won’t be going anywhere near the prince this time. And stop worrying about this guy. I will deal with it once I actually have a solid plan. There isn’t even a plan yet.”

“You still remember the prince, so what if he remembers you too, Vera? I mean... you are you and you are unforgettable. This is dangerous. We are- we could do without the crown,” Ezra said with a frown. 

“We both know we can't, Ezra. After this one time, I feel like we could stop, completely stop if we want,” I said with a shrug. “Don’t you worry. I am untouchable. Once I do this, we can easily live off of this payout for years. We can finally send Lili and Hayden to a private school in Zeyro. I don’t want this life for them,” I said with a sigh. 

Of course, I liked this life; I liked the thrill, the adrenaline, but Lili and Hayden were only seven and nine respectively and they deserved to try something else first.

If they wanted to come back, we would still be here.

“God, you have always been fearless, but I am- I am scared for you. I understand that you want what is best for Lili and Hayden, and that is why there is no one like you in this world, but... I want what is best for you, Vee,” he said as he pulled me flush against his marvelously carved body. Running and climbing on things to get into places you were not supposed to be was one way to get a toned body. I sighed as I gripped his ass in my hands and squeezed, making him moan. His hands went up and down my back.

“If you are done dry humping, it is time, Vera,” Faye, my best friend, said with a frown on her face. I could see she was still not fully assured. 

“I am not done yet, but for now, I think I will take a sabbatical,” I winked at Ezra. I pressed a finger against his brows. “Don’t worry, Ez. I will be back.”

He had a hesitant look on his face as he let me go. I pressed a quick kiss to his lips before walking out with Faye.

“Here is a mask for you, my lady,” Owen handed me a black mask, with silver and blue trimmings. It was beautiful.

“Thanks, bro. I hope it wasn’t difficult to lift,” I winked and he frowned a little. “Oh, what?” I teased him. I knew it, of course. 

“I didn’t lift it. I paid for it,” he said with a shrug. He paid for it. He always did. My brother was the complete opposite of me. At nineteen, he would put any morally upright person to shame. Among the thieves, he was the only one with honor, but we loved him anyway. We had to.

This was family. And he was my only family by blood.

“You know him,” Bianca sighed as she snuggled closer to him, looking lovingly up at him. Bianca was his mate and they found each other when they both turned eighteen, during a heist. Bianca was the complete opposite of Owen, but she made him happy, and she complimented him.

“Of course, I know him,” I said, ruffling his hair, and he slapped his hand away. I pouted. “Okay, then, it is time for an adventure.”

Owen’s face fell. 

“Be careful, Vee,” he said as he hugged me. “Promise you will get the hell away from there if anything goes sideways!” he looked at me. His eyes, the color of soft morning skies, were so troubled. “Or better yet, let’s stop this stupidity right now!” 

“No. No one is stopping anything,” I said as I smiled at him. “And don’t worry, Owen. For now, I am only going to case the joint, Owen. I have two days. The real fun would be on the third day. So you don’t have to worry about anything going sideways, at least not today,” I said with a smile. I was very confident that this night would go exactly as I planned it.

After reassuring everyone, including little Lili and Hayden, I was off to Dragon Ball.

The royal crown awaits!

***

The castle looked as majestic as it had once been. There were slight modifications here and there, like the newly painted walls, the small patch of garden at the side, the extra guards... The whole place was decked with beautiful twinkling lights. Trees were jeweled with strings of laces and lanterns.

The night was magical. Unfortunately, I wasn’t here to enjoy the ball. I was here for only one thing.

Dragon Ball was for everyone. For the first two nights. The third night would be exclusive only to a chosen few. It was the third night the real fun would begin.

Now, I had two jobs. Case the castle, because in five years, it would have changed a lot. Also, five years ago, I had someone to chauffeur me to exactly where I wanted to go.

Two. Fishing.

"If he catches you tonight, you are dead meat, Vera,” Nova said with a deep sigh. ”Do not f*cking get caught.”

“When have I ever gotten caught?” I said with an arrogant smirk.

"Your arrogance is going to be your downfall...”

I shrugged, ignoring the dragon.

I walked towards the entrance, and the number of guards in the entrance had tripled. Five years ago, there weren’t these many guards.

"Five years ago, they didn’t get robbed,” Nova said. ”These guards are for keeping the likes of you outside. Well, good luck to them. You are already here.”

She knew me. Oh, yes.

I walked towards them and showed them a charming smile. Even with the mask on, no one could resist my charming smile or my innocent demeanor.

“It is a chilly day,” I said with an angelic smile, and the guards looked at me with a nod. I knew what they would see when they looked at me. This harmless girl with beguiling eyes.

Listen to me folks. Looks are deceiving.

“Oh, yes, miss,” one of the guards said to me with a bow. “Go right in.”

“Of course. Thank you. It is such a shame you guys have to be here.”

“Oh, don’t worry miss, when this is over, we have a ball just for us who have to work tonight. It isn’t as big, but it is fun, and the queen and the king, the two princes and the princess, will all be there.”

They didn’t sound like a snobby bunch. I mean, not many cared about the paid workers, but it looked like the Storms did. Good for them.

I walked inside the softly lit walkway to finally reach the castle hallway. It was filled with people eating and talking over each other. There were so many guards in there, too.

"You must have really done a number on their trust,” Nova harrumphed.

"They needed the lesson. I think I have helped them honestly. I mean, the prince was naive, and he needed a full dose of reality check.”

“You are such a snobby bītch, Vera.”

“And you love me... Now, let’s do what we have come here to do.”

I scanned the crowd. I was going fishing now.

I remembered the details I had memorized. Having a brain that never forgets anything, well, it was a blessing indeed, except when it came to that one kiss I would rather forget.

" Let’s see the first fish,” I said to Nova as I walked towards the bar and ordered myself a Fae Frost Mead. The beautiful, glittery pink cocktail was from Elyria, the Fae realm and this shit was costly and when they offered it to you for free, you had better guzzle it down like your life depended on it.

"Kalen Blue. Son of Erick Blue, the Queen’s brother. The Prince’s cousin. And not bad to look at. Not at all.”

“Let’s find him then...”

After five minutes of searching for him, I finally found him. I was good at finding things...

I “accidentally” bumped into him.

“Oh, I am so sorry, I think I am already drunk,” I smiled flirtatiously as Kalen gave me a smile.

“It is okay. I remain unbroken” he said as he ran his fingers through his bright red hair.

“And you are?” I took a sip of my Fae Frost Mead, batting my eyes. “I am Vee.”

Well. Just to be safe.

“Hi, Vee. I am Kalen and-”

“And you stay the f*ck away from him.” A voice growled out and I knew that voice very well.

He gripped my wrist in his broad palm, sending ripples of shock through my body.

Before I could understand what was happening, he dragged me away from the party and pushed me inside a secluded room.

My heart thundered, but I maintained my calm facade. The adrenaline rush... it was quite dizzying.

When my head cleared, though, the prince was glaring at me with fierce eyes and my dragon was moaning.

"Hello there Mateo. Nice to see you again,” Nova smacked her lips together as I scanned his hard, tempting body. This wasn’t the gangly seventeen-year-old, shy prince I once kissed. This was a f*cking man, and he was not at all pleased with me.

His growl was proof enough. But the problem was... when he growled, I wanted to strip naked and submit myself to him.

And let me tell you, I wasn’t the submitting type.

"Mate!”

I am in deep, fūcking boatload of trouble.

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