Oh. My. God.

Vibrator panties. Damon had gotten me vibrator panties.

I almost couldn’t believe it, but then, the man who’d stolen my heart was also every bit as dirty-minded as it would take to get someone something like this. I felt my breath catch, a naughty thrill teasing through me at the feel of the them against my body.

Of course I was wearing them, after all.

The panties were inlaid with two smooth, golden, bulbous pieces of metal that fit snug against my clit and my ass. It was by far the naughtiest thing I’d ever worn, and that thought had me floating as I twirled my way out of my quarters and down the hall to Anya’s.

I only knew they were vibrating because of the hilarious little drawing on the directions inside the box, but how they actually turned on, I wasn’t quite sure. In any case, they certainly made walking much more fun.

“Wow, you look fantastic.”

Anya turned, the tight black cocktail dress fitting her perfectly. Her chestnut hair was done up in a plain if not elegant bun, and her makeup was looking awesome, without being overly done.

“Damn,” I whistled. “Where are you off to?”

“Oh,” she blushed, shrugging and waving me off. “Just this thing.”

I raised a brow. “You’re going to need to be more specific than that when you’re dressed like that.”

She blushed even deeper, which wasn’t something I was used to seeing on my friend.

My brows suddenly perked up. “Wait, is this that club thing you went to before?” I fronted. “Hey how is it that I haven’t grilled you on that yet?”

“Maybe because you’ve been wrapped up in your own little secrets?”

This time it was my turn to blush.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Anya rolled her eyes, smiling. “Oh, okay. So you haven’t been in this dreamy floaty mood all week? Adele White, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’d gotten laid.”

I swallowed quickly and shook my head. “Oh, no, of course not.”

I mean, it wasn’t technically a lie.

“What’s his name?”

I swallowed again, trying to will the heat from my face.

Anya grinned. “I knew it.”

“It’s— it’s nothing.” I shook my head, frowning.

“So who’s the prince?”

“No prince.”

“Oh?”

“No, I mean, it’s not a guy at all. You’re making things up.”

“No I’m not.”

I blushed.

“And you’re a bad liar.”

“It’s not even worth talking about,” I said with a sigh, my shoulders slumping. “It can’t be.”

“Says who?”

“Everyone”

“Not a royal, I take it?”

I shook my head.

“And is this just for fun or…”

“More than that,” I whispered.

“Wow.”

I frowned. “What?”

“You got hooked, huh?”

I nodded glumly.

“Look,” Anya stepped towards me and gave me a hug. “You look great, so just go to this ball, mail it in, and we’ll figure it out when you get home.”

I pouted. “You promise?”

“Hey, what are servants for?”

I grinned.

* * *

“You look lovely, my dear.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”

He beamed at me, nodding slowly. “They tell you it goes fast, but how did you grow up so quickly?”

I rolled my eyes. “Dad, stop.”

He laughed. “Well, you certainly look ready for the ball this evening. Doesn’t she, Mallory?”

Mallory just gave me one of her token frosty smiles before going back to whatever was so important on her phone.

“I’ve got the helicopter ready to take you over the border to Avlion whenever you want to leave.”

“Thanks, I—”

The door to the throne room boomed opened.

“You wanted to see me, sir—”

Damon froze, his face paling as he stood like a statue three steps into my father’s the throne room.

“Ah, Captain Hunt!” My dad gave one of his famous beaming smiles as he beckoned Damon forward. “Yes, yes, please come in.”

Damon’s jaw twitched as his eyes darted quickly to me.

“Do you know my daughter, the Princess Adele?”

Damon turned to face me fully, and I could feel myself shiver under that dark gaze of his.

“Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” he said stiffly, but with just enough purr to his voice that I heard it.

“Uh, same,” I said quickly.

“Sire, I can come back later when—”

“Nonsense. I just wanted to see how your report was going on front.”

Damon nodded stiffly and for the first time, I caught a real look at the military man behind the wildly sexy man I’d fallen for.

“I’ve just finished and submitted a copy to your offices, sire. They’re caving, in short. Your idea of a peace accord in exchange for more representation in parliament seems to be agreeable to even the most hardened of the secessionists.

My dad smiled quietly.

“Oh my plan, was it?”

He raised a brow at Damon, who merely looked straight ahead, all formal military man.

“Yes, sire.”

Dad shook his head. “I seem to remember that being your idea, Captain. And a damned good one at that.”

Damon smiled a small, quick smile. “Thank you, sire.”

His eyes darted to mine once more, and just the quickest flicker of fire there in his eyes was enough to get me shivering with want for him.

“I’ll leave you to your family then.”

“Excellent work, Captain.”

Damon bowed formally once more, before turning and striding from the room. My dad whistled and shook his head.

“Hell of a soldier, that man.”

“Oh, is he?”

“Absolutely unrelenting in getting what he wants.”

I tried to swallow the heat from my face.

Damon had told me about him being a Captain in the Royal Guard, of course, and of the ongoing campaign he’d been on in the hills fighting the separatists. But seeing him like that, in full uniform, and in full “soldier” mode had been something new.

Not to mention insanely sexy.

“He’s a brute is what he is,” Mallory said with a wave of her hand. “Total savage.”

My father sighed. “Now, my dear, it’s his job, after all.”

I frowned. “A savage?”

“Oh, it’s nothing you need to worry yourself with, my—”

“He’s a killing machine is what he is,” Mallory spat, a sour look on his face. “Honestly, Lorne, the man terrifies me.”

A knot formed in my stomach.

“Killing machine?”

Damon had told me a lot about himself over the last few days. I knew about his painful divorce, his desire to help and make the world a better place by enlisting in the Royal Guard. And of course I new he was in an active campaign, and I’d considered the idea that he’d shot at people. But killing machine?

My dad frowned at Mallory before turning back to me. “Our dear Captain Hunt just has a bit of a reputation is all.”

I chill went through me. “What sort of reputation?”

“He holds the Berne Royal Guard record for most fatalities in an active campaign.”

My stomach dropped.

The kind, loving, fiercely passionate man who’d shown me so much in so little amount of time couldn’t be this man they were talking about. He had to be an evil twin, or an alien body double, or something to make this not true.

I was still shaking my head and trying to process it, when Mallory cleared her throat.

“Adele, honey,”

I hated when she called me that.

“You’re eighteen now.”

“Mallory—” my father started.

“No, Lorne, she has to hear this.”

My stepmother turned back to me, her look almost gleeful.

“It’s high time you were married.”

I frowned. “I’ll get there, I just haven’t found—”

“No, you’ll get there tonight.”

I blinked. “Tonight?”

“At your uncle’s ball. You’ll find a suitor, the arrangements will be made, and that’s the end of it.”

“What?” My jaw dropped as I whirled on my father. “Dad! You can’t just—”

“I’m, uh, I’m afraid I must agree with my Queen on this one, honey,” he said softly. “In fact, I decree it. You will find a suitor this evening.”

“Dad!”

“Your Highness,” Mallory snapped. “And he’s made his decree.”

“No you’ve made a decree for him!” I hurled back.

“Adele!” My father stood quickly, fury rolling around him. “Do as Mal— do as I say.”

The world spun, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Tonight. I had to find a suitor tonight, and the only thing I wanted had just walked out of this very throne room.

“You’re a strong young lady, Adele,” Dad said quietly. “But it’s time to marry. You’ll find a nice prince—”

“I don’t want a nice prince.”

“I can find you a not nice one if you prefer,” Mallory snapped.

My dad shook his head at his wife before turning back to me. “You’ll find the right one tonight, my dear. I’m sure of it. And if you don’t—”

“If you don’t I’ll find one for you,” Mallory said wickedly. She shook her head at me.

“Come hell or high water, Adele, you will be married by week’s end.”