Trinity, Two Days Later, The Royal Reception

This was a zoo, and I was the most popular attraction. When my cousin, Radella, had said she’d hastily arranged a reception for my arrival, I hadn’t expected this. Perhaps a small dinner, maybe even a drinks and hor d’oeuvres event with dignitaries and political people. But this…

Leo had tried to tell me what to expect—that everyone wanted to celebrate with me, be with me, see me… but I still hadn’t understood. I did now. Hundreds of people milled about a grand ballroom. One wall was completely open to the outside, which was good because it would have been stifling otherwise. I just had no idea how they’d gotten rid of one whole wall of the room. Alerans of all ages were dancing, drinking and eating. Coalition uniforms mixed with Aleran guard attire as well as formal garb for those not in service. Everyone had pulled out their finest from the backs of their closets and were partying like it hadn’t been done in a while.

Perhaps it hadn’t, since my mother had been gone for almost thirty years. She’d married my father a year before she fled to Earth, and I had to assume there had been some kind of ascension ceremony.

Out of everything she’d shared, of everything we’d planned, she’d never told me about that, so I asked Leo, who was practically glued to my side. “Yes, she had an ascension ceremony when your grandmother passed on and she became queen.”

He looked so handsome in his Aleran guard finest—all black with a Batman utility belt full of weapons and… stuff—and even more so now that everyone knew he was all mine. All that big, broad male belonged to me.

“Thank you for helping me explain to cousin Radella that I didn’t want to claim the throne. I can’t believe she argued with us for so long.”

I wasn’t queen. My mother’s spire was still lit, which meant she was alive. Somewhere. That she was still the queen. Therefore, an ascension ceremony would be disrespectful and wrong.

But Radella and her husband saw things differently. They said Alera had been without a rightful ruler for too long. That further delay would destabilize the great houses.

I had to disagree. And, I later admitted to Leo, I needed the great houses to be running scared. One of them had kidnapped my mother. I was sure of it. And fat, contented bears didn’t leave their dens. I needed them to be worried. Scared about what I might do next. Afraid I would take what was theirs.

“I think your cousin wanted a reason to have a party,” Leo commented, as he looked out over the crowd. We were standing on a raised area that circled the entire central dancing floor. Music from a small orchestra guided revelers through the steps of—what I assumed—were Aleran dances. It reminded me of Scottish reels and even a little like square dancing, although without the caller.

“I’m not too excited about her since she was obviously the one who sent the Royal Consort to my bed,” I grumbled. Most Aleran women would find her gesture thoughtful… seeing to my every need, but me? No way. I spared a glanced at Leo. I didn’t even feel him stiffen beside me at the mention of the Royal Consort, but I had a feeling that was because everyone knew—and could clearly see—that we were mates. No more naked men in my bed except Leo. “But I have to give her credit. She’d make an amazing wedding planner on Earth.”

Leo turned my face so I looked at him, and I almost got lost in his dark eyes, forgot there was an entire ballroom full of people watching us. “You are not upset that this isn’t a wedding reception?”

I swallowed, thought of my family. Shook my head. “I accept you as my mate. I do, Leo. But I can’t have a wedding or celebrate with my mother… somewhere. And my sisters. Faith and Destiny can’t come out of hiding, and risk what they’re doing just to be my bridesmaids. They’re safe because they’re anonymous. And my dad should be here. Well, my step-dad, but he raised me as his own. I don’t want a wedding without my family there. I would rather wait.”

“This formal ceremony or wedding, as you call it, makes no difference to me. You are mine. A ritual of this sort or even grander reception won’t change what’s between us,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. “All of Alera knows you are mine. I am content to wait until you are ready.”

He kissed me. And just that fast, I was lost. No one else mattered. No one but Leo. We were alone in the middle of a crowded ballroom—

A roar broke out across the room and we broke apart to look. Everyone was clapping and cheering our kiss. I couldn’t help but smile, and I felt my cheeks heat. Caught lusting after Leo by half of Mytikas.

Leo wrapped an arm around me. “No going back now,” he murmured as he pressed his lips to my cheek with a satisfied, very male, grin.

I felt like Cinderella at the ball. I already had my Prince Charming—and everyone knew it—but there was no pumpkin hour and I wasn’t in disguise. I was in a frou-frou, pale blue dress and my hair was pulled up in a fancy complicated twist. I looked like some Disney princess at a southern beauty pageant.

The Alerans who had waited faithfully for their queen’s return seemed to be happy. Thrilled, even, that while Queen Celene wasn’t here, her daughter was. I gave them hope, a happiness that had been missing. The cousins who frowned, or worried what my appearance meant to their status, I ignored. For now.

Smiling, I waved to everyone and was just glad Leo was at my side instead of across the room pretending to be just a guard.

“You are mine, Trinity.” His gruff voice was a blast of heat in my ear. “We must dance.”

I wasn’t sure if we must dance, but I wasn’t going to stop him from holding me in his arms. Even with his size, he led me around the dance floor with a grace that only came from practice. He moved slowly, the dress I wore even more elaborate than the one I’d first appeared in on the palace steps after transporting from Battleship Karter. Definitely Cinderella.

“You are mine, Leo. Forever.” I smiled up at him because I could and laid my cheek to his chest, holding him close. I had no doubts. Not about his love for me. Not when this strange gift I’d been given made his love shine around him like a halo. So easy to see. The ability had grown stronger the last two days. The energy around people so bright and easy to read, it felt like cheating.

The dancing couples who swirled and moved past us laughed and nodded to us. Cheerful and happy. Others though, I could see the envious, mud-colored auras of several men and women around the edges of the dancing area. Either they didn’t have enough to drink or were just party poopers. I ignored them, closed my eyes, and breathed Leo into my lungs. He smelled familiar and warm. So perfect. Sexy. I could stay here all night.

But that was not the plan. First, Leo and I would make a complete circuit, then, one by one, we would be required to dance with other guests. “I must hand you off to others now. While I wish to keep you in my arms all night, it would be rude and ill-formed of you to neglect your subjects.”

Leo sounded grim, like he was going to hand me off to the Royal Consort, not Aleran citizens who wanted their turn to dance with the princess.

“I wish I had an ion blaster strapped to my thigh,” I told him. “Destiny’s mad self-defense ideas would work great with a dress this… poufy.”

I glanced down at the big skirt of my blue dress. I could hide a football team beneath it and no one would notice. A small ion pistol in a thigh holster would be nothing.

I was sure each and every guest would want to question me about my mother, the other women who had entered the citadel, the light of the spires, how I’d found Leo and all about our mating. They’d ask—but I wouldn’t answer. I had no idea where my mother was. I had no intention of telling them where to find my dad, back on Earth. My sisters were anonymous, and I intended to keep it that way. And Leo? Well, Leo was mine. All mine. They saw us kiss. That was more than enough.

There was no divorce on Alera. It didn’t exist. Leo, Radella, and even Danoth, had told me that if two people decided they no longer wanted to be together, they simply set up separate bedrooms—or, if they were wealthy, wings of the house—and went about their lives. But their children—those born of their union—inherited everything together. There was no his, hers and ours here. The society was very formal but had gone on this way for centuries. Bastard children inherited nothing unless there were no heirs born of the marriage. From what I’d been told, most of the children born out of wedlock volunteered to join the Interstellar Fleet, either as a warrior, or as a bride.

Aliens. They were so advanced in some ways, and so behind the times in others. Maybe, once I was queen, I’d change some things…

“An ion pistol? Not happening, mate,” Leo replied. “This is our only dance. I’m going as slowly as I can, but all too soon I will be forced to give you up. Whatever you are thinking about or plotting, it can wait.” His hand tightened on my hip, his strength tempting me to melt into him and let my brain turn to mush. I loved what he did when he made my mind shut off; it always involved very naughty things. But I couldn’t let that happen. No, I had to have a clear head now. Focused.

Leo and I would be in bed together tonight when this was all done, but we couldn’t have a honeymoon, or be selfish and think of nothing but ourselves, of having sex for days on end. Not until my mother had been found and my sisters were safe. Then, I’d take Leo to bed and not let him put clothes on for a week. We’d have that honeymoon. A real honeymoon where I didn’t have to wonder after my mother, worry about my dad on Earth, imagine what Faith and Destiny had gotten into. Not this tangled mess of politics and assassin hunting.

“I wish my mother were here.” Mother. She should be here. My sisters. My dad should be pestering Leo with a thousand questions, getting ready to walk me down the aisle, not hiding from some stupid Top-Secret alien hunters back on Earth.

“I am sorry, love. I know this situation is not ideal, but I am not sorry that I claim you as my own. You are mine, and I want every male, every consort and warrior on every planet to know that.”

I thought of the Royal Consort. He knew and I was sure he was spreading the word… if he’d gotten his balls untangled from his tonsils.

“I love you, Leo.” I wanted to marry him—the human way. Maybe it was silly, but I wanted an ivory dress made of the softest silk, embroidered with a waterfall of delicate pink and lilac roses on the skirt and sleeves. Like the one I’d imagined when Faith, Destiny and I played pretend wedding when we were little.

I wanted Leo, but he was already mine. I was in love with him. I trusted him. I couldn’t imagine my life without him. But this royal reception? This party for the nobles? My introduction to society? This was a show. This was me luring a killer into making his move. Thus, why I’d wanted a thigh holster and ion pistol. Oh well.

“Let’s go then. Get this show over with. I know he’s here. He has to be here. The sooner we find him, we’ll be one step closer to finding my mother.”

Leo scowled and forced my body a few inches from his, lifted his hand from my hip to tip up my chin. “This dance is real. We are real. This is not for show. Not for the assassin or your cousins, most of whom are probably plotting ways to kill you. This is for us. Me and you. They watch us like we are performers on a stage, but this is real. You are in my arms. Your taste is on my lips. I claim you in front of everyone here, in front of the world. I’m not letting you go.”

“I look like a big blue blob of cotton candy.” The dress really was huge. A bit much, to be honest. But damn. I had to admit. Black on black on my man? Oh, a guy in uniform made my ovaries jump for joy. Everything about him made my heart race. And as ridiculous as I looked, he was the opposite. Muscles. Mystery. Sexy lips. Hard shoulders. Hard… other places.

“What is cotton candy? If it is beautiful, then I will agree with you.”

I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Not with the sincere expression in his eyes. He loved me. He saw past my title, my bloodline, the masses of people around us, the ridiculously fluffy dress… and saw me. Truly thought I was beautiful. I could see the truth of his words in the light that surrounded him, that strange light I’d been seeing since I’d connected my life force to the citadel.

I kissed him, full tongue. No, I ravished him. Claimed him. Right there, in front of everyone. Royal decorum be damned. I was an Earth girl, and I didn’t really care if the uptight nobles approved or not. I was the princess here, and if I wanted my mate’s tongue down my throat, then that was what I was going to get.

Leo didn’t resist. In fact, when I finally came back to myself, we’d stopped moving completely and stood on the threshold of the place where we’d begun our dance. We stood still, looking at one another as silence stretched in the room before breaking into a roar of applause. Again. I tried to love him with my eyes. His lips were pink. Bright pink. Smile growing wider, I forgot all about our audience and lifted my thumb to his lips to wipe off the remnants of my lipstick.

“You’ve had her long enough, young man. As father of the groom, I claim the next dance with the lovely princess.” The voice was deep, kind, and sounded very much like Leo’s.

Turning away from me, Leo bowed to the older man and pulled me the last few steps to stand before him.

“Father, may I present my mate, Trinity Jones Herakles, Princess of Alera.” He turned to me. “Trinity, this is my father, Captain Travin Turaya, former leader of the Royal Guard and lifelong defender of Mytikas and your mother’s rightful place on the throne.”

Leo took my hand and placed it in his father’s wizened grip as if I were made of glass and would break. Leo wrapped his arm around my waist and I beamed at the older gentleman, truly honored to meet him. “It’s an honor, sir.”

“The honor is mine.” It was obvious he and Leo were related. Same dark hair, although his father’s was mixed with some gray. Same wide jaw, dark eyes. They even had the same soldier’s bearing. “I have waited, faithfully, many long years for Queen Celene’s return.”

His words were kind, but the reminder that my mother was out there somewhere still stung. But his aura—as I’d started to think of the strange color and light I could now see around people—was full of sincerity, and healthy doses of both love and pride for his son. I liked him immediately.

“Yes, we all are,” I replied.

“She will be found, Princess,” he vowed. “In the meantime, you have Leo to keep you safe. And I will offer my personal assurance that he and I have spoken about your safety. I have hand-selected every guard here tonight. Every guard in the palace.”

I was surprised by his vehemence, but impressed with his allegiance. Leo looked to his father and they shared one of those silent conversations. It finished with a nod from Leo’s dad.

I cleared my throat. “Thank you,” I replied. “Shall we dance?” I held out my hand.

His smile deepened the lines on his face and, as he pulled me into the dance, I had a flash of what my future with Leo would be. Thirty years from now, Leo would look just like him. Fit. Strong. Still good-looking.

I was very glad Leo had a good example to follow, as I’d begun to be plagued with thoughts of having children. I suspected it was part of the Ardor, but I had to admit that wasn’t all it was. It was Leo. I wanted to give him everything. I wanted to love him and make babies with him and make him blissfully happy. I was greedy. I wanted the dream. Husband. House. A few perfect kids. I’d take a palace, didn’t need a white picket fence.

I wondered if I could get a Golden Retriever or a Staffordshire Terrier out here. One with a big black spot around its eye, and big, dopey paws. I was being ridiculous, not even knowing Leo just a short time ago.

“I’ve never seen my son this happy. Thank you, Your Highness.”

No. That was not how I was going to roll. “Call me Trinity, or daughter, or kiddo, honey. Whatever you would call your own daughter, please. I love your son. He is an unexpected gift.”

The older man teared up and I felt bad for a moment, until he pulled me into a tight hug. “Goddess bless you, child. He loves you. I can see it in him. You are the gift.”

His hold lasted only a moment, but I felt the hard line of some kind of weapon under his tunic. He was Leo’s family, and his aura was good. I didn’t know how he’d gotten the weapon past the other royal guards, but Leo said his father used to be their captain. They probably hadn’t even searched him. I knew Leo was armed as well. So I let it go.

He was family.

He cleared his throat and stood tall, whirling me around the room at record speed. Leo was a few steps behind us, dancing with Radella. A line had formed along both sides of the dance floor, one of women who wanted to dance with Leo. And one for me. While this was a reception celebrating the princess’s arrival, Leo was part of the insanity. He would never be a prince, but as my mate, it seemed he was desired as well. As long as the women kept their clothes on, then I was good.

My line was three times as long. My feet were going to fall off by the time I danced around the room with all of them.

Travin led me across a silver line on the dance floor I hadn’t noticed before. A gong sounded and Danoth took my hand. Around and around I went. Cousins. Soldiers. Nobles. Clerics. So, I danced with all of them. Leo’s cousins. Mine. Tradition stated that neither Leo nor I could refuse a dance with anyone who wished to claim one of us and take us around the room. Dance. Make small talk. Try not to shudder at a few of them. Dance. Dance. Dance. One at a time in a procession.