Chapter Six

I was woken a few hours later to the sensation of a warm body holding mine from behind, fingers tracing softly along my shoulder and back, small soft kisses being placed on the skin. I shivered and hummed at the sensation, hearing a sensual chuckle behind me that rubbed against my skin like fur and I knew without looking it was Blaze. His voice and laughter always laced with a touch of sensual magic.

“What are you doing in my bed Blaze?” I asked, my eyes still closed as I snuggled into my bed more.

“Well I came to wake you for dinner of course.” he teased, again his voice a purr against my skin.

“Typically to wake someone, you don’t climb into bed with them.” I chuckled as I stretched before turning to face Blaze, my eyes roaming over his bare chest.

“Well, that way sounds positively boring.” He huffed as he ran his hand over my face with a soft smile. “Shall we get ready for dinner with dear old dad?” He asked with a mischievous smile and climbed out of bed, pulling me to my feet and entering my closet as I sat back on my bed and grabbed my brush, running it through my hair and grimacing at the amount of tangles. I should really stop going to bed with wet hair.

“So what is he like?” I asked as I fought with a particularly stubborn knot.

“Dad? Hmm...well, he’s stern and fairly stoic. But that’s just him when around his subjects. When he’s around family he’s surprisingly attentive and calm. He’s fair and never showed one brother more attention than others. He’s sweet and kind to all our mothers, his favourite or perhaps main is the better word, is Magnus’s mother. She is a kind woman. Very astute and shrewd. We could never get anything past her.” he explained as I kept brushing my hair, finally triumphant as he walked out of the closet with a dress. 

It was gold silk with an emerald green sheer overlay that was designed to look like scales, long sleeves that tapered over the tops of my hands in a v shape and had a full open back and a full skirt that was floor length. It was beautiful. I put aside my brush and ran my fingers over the material with a smile as I took it from him and went into the bathroom to change. I slipped it on and was able to zip it, smoothing my hands over it and looking in the mirror. 

On the hanger, it was a little shapeless, on my body however it was not. It hugged my hips and waist, accentuated my chest and gave me an amazing defined figure without looking stiff or fake. It was magic in cloth form, it had to be. It was even more flattering on my shape than my rose gold dress from the summit. I don’t know how, it just was. 

“So what do you think?” I asked as I stepped out of the bathroom and looked up, looking in surprise as all the brothers were now in my room along with Aiden. He flashed me a wide grin and gave me a thumbs up which caused me to laugh softly.

“You look stunning Darling,” Magnus said as he came further into the room. He was in dark grey dress pants, shoes and a deep purple dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up. He looked good in a dressy but relaxed way. “Would you like something done with your hair?”

“Sure. It would probably be best seeing as this has the feel of a formal affair. I’m meeting the King after all.” I chuckled nervously and fiddled with my fingers as I sat at my vanity, chewing my bottom lip as Magnus stood behind me and started to do my hair.

“You look beautiful, dear one.”  Cadmus spoke as he walked to me and knelt in front of me, holding out small but beautiful gold and emerald earrings. They were a small emerald stone set into a gold flower. I recognized it as the night-blooming flower that I had seen in my dream of this place. They were beautiful and took them from him with a soft and happy smile. I immediately put them on and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze in thanks.

“These are beautiful Cadmus, thank you. I love them.” I blushed as I felt the urge to kiss him hit me, my face feeling hot as I looked at him through my lashes. “How do they look?”

“Perfect. I’m pleased you like them.” He stood up and I noticed he was in black dress pants, shoes and an emerald green dress shirt with gold cufflinks and buttons. It was strange to see them dressed up when I was so used to them wearing pants and nothing else. They all looked so good. Brodryn was in all black, the only bit of colour to break up all the black was his belt that had a silver buckle. Aiden was in a dark blue suit, his blazer sleeves rolled up and the shirt buttons were undone a bit, giving him an overall relaxed look. Blaze was in dark red dress pants with a grey dress shirt, his sleeves rolled up. They all looked very handsome indeed.

“Does this mean I have to wear shoes?” I asked as I looked at the heels in Blaze’s hand with distaste. He laughed and knelt in front of me, putting them on me and doing them up before standing and pulling me to my feet. Once standing, Cadmus took my arm and we all left my room and headed to the dining room.

“You can take them off once we’re in the room if you need to, dear one.” Cadmus offered with a smile as we walked.

“No, I'll leave them on. Give the illusion I’m a proper lady.” I said with a teasing smile, holding onto his arm with both of my hands and stepping closer to me, my cheeks flushing at his fond and happy smile. I threw a glare at Aiden as he snorted in amusement and grinned at me impishly. I rolled my eyes and followed them all into a large and beautiful dining room.

Deja was already seated at the table with 4 other very beautiful women. I gave them a look over and blushed as each one was gazing at me with intensity and gauging everything about me. It was a little unnerving. I gave each one a polite smile before going to Deja and giving her a quick hug and letting her lead me to a spot at the table. I tucked into my seat with Cadmus’s help while Aiden helped his mother. Cadmus sat beside me while the brothers all picked their seats. 

“Mother, this is Kara. Kara, I'd like you to meet my mother, Adina.” Cadmus said with a smile as he motioned to a very beautiful woman with long blonde ringlets and bright green eyes. She looked at me for a moment before nodding and flashing a polite smile.

“It is nice to finally meet you, Kara. My son has been talking about you nonstop since you accepted his proposal. I hope this will be a good partnership for the both of you.” She spoke smoothly, her inflection and tone giving little away. I wasn’t sure if she approved of me or hated me.

“Thank you, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you as well.” I smiled politely and fiddled with my dress, nervous energy crawling all over my skin. I felt a warm and soothing hand engulf mine and looked up at Cadmus to see him looking at me with concern. I laced my fingers with his and leaned into his arm, grateful for the steady comfort he provided.

I was introduced next to Blaze’s mother, a fiery redhead with warm brown eyes, the colour of fall leaves. She was loud and boisterous and just as mischievous as Blaze, her name was Rossa, she explained it meant Red and that her father thought he was funny when choosing her name. She was fun and made me feel welcome whereas Cadmus’s mother did not. Brodryn’s mother was a raven-haired beauty. She reminded me of Snow White, hair as black as night, skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. She was soft-spoken and kind, asking how I liked my ring and my earrings since she was the island's best jeweller. Her name was Lumi and she told me it meant snow, she also seemed very pleased when I said the name was perfect seeing as she reminded me of Snow White. Magnus’s mother was polite and watchful. She watched my interactions with the brothers and seemed to analyze each one. Her eyes were a violet colour and they looked stunning with her auburn hair. They were all so beautiful and made me feel vastly inferior.

“Well now let's stop assessing my dear niece. She doesn’t need to be scrutinized by you two anymore, Adina and Nicolette. Lumi and Rossa, thank you for making her feel welcome.” Deja scolded the two women before smiling at Rossa and Lumi, who flashed me warm smiles.

“Yeah ladies, Kara is nice and kind. She belongs here just as much as any of us do.” Aiden said smoothly as he shrugged and took a big sip of his drink, draining his glass. I smiled at him and looked at Cadmus who was looking at his mother with a small frown before looking down at me with a warm smile as he brought up his hand to cup my cheek. I smiled softly, my cheeks pink as I leaned into his touch happily.

“Well now, who is this beauty who seems to have captured my son’s attentions?”