Ria:
I woke up happy, but a little sore this morning. Ash and Drago were the ones to bare witness to morning calisthenics with the girls. Then my stomach demands to be fed.
So I walk to the bedroom and get my clothes, take a shower and get dressed for the day. I make a breakfast out of fresh fruit and a smoothie. Now, we are talking about what to do today.
Then the hotel phone starts ringing. At first it startles the hell out of me because it's been awhile without a ringing phone.
Drago shares a glance with the guys and I wonder if they're being called for a mission.
After a moment Drago calls Ash over and says something, then he hangs up. Then he goes into his room and closes the door.
It's obvious that the guys are trying to distract me, but it's not working well. We are all alert the moment Drago comes into the living room.
He asks to talk to the guys for a moment, then they all have a pow-wow in the bedroom. They're not gone all that long but I'm curious what's up.
"I'm sorry but we have to cut our trip short. We have to head home immediately as something has come up."
I look at him, "is everyone okay?"
He smiles, "yes love, everyone is fine, there's just some urgent business that's come up."
I nodd and get up to go pack. It becomes apparent that we need more luggage for the things we bought. Ash calls the concierge and just has some delivered. That was wild.
Then, before I know it, we're picked up by a limousine and deposited at the plane. A short plane ride and we are back in Romania. Then a car ride and back at the castle.
I am exhausted by the time we get home so crash for a nap, determined to find out what's going on once I wake up.
It actually ends up being the next morning at breakfast before everything is revealed. We are sitting at the table and the guys are giving each other these looks, and I'm going to start screaming soon if they don't tell me what the hell is going on.
"The reason we had to come home yesterday was because we are going to be receiving visits from 3 other dragon royal families today.
I am surprised, but Natalia looks like she's going to loose her shit.
"Why are they coming," she asked all of them.
"Well the context is actually establishing peace between the families." Drago tells her.
Why does it feel like he worded that very carefully. I don't really know anything, and I'm honestly not sure what to think, or how to feel.
Drago suddenly grabs my hand and I jump slightly because I wasn't paying attention.
"Baby, this will be a good thing I promise." I just nod.
The house goes nuts. Victor is running around directing staff and people who came from town to help.
Apparently the 2nd floor is full of guest rooms. So they are all made ready for the incoming people. Then Mary hires a few extra kitchen staff, and places orders with all of the local restaurants. The formal dinning room with it's enormous table is opened up, and formal parlors are aired out.
I didn't even know what the hell a parlor was let alone a formal one. Yeish, this is all making my head spin.
I'm glad when I discover there's a sun patio room, sort of like the solarium I love to spend time in, but this has a more informal round dinning table, like what's outside for use during warm weather. This room is half glass walls and ceiling so it's like outdoor eating for cold ass weather, which it currently is.
We are eating and talking when the guys suddenly go completely still. I sense someone behind me, but don't turn. I do quietly slip my steak knife into my lap, but then just wait.
"Well what do we have here. Santoro said you were beautiful, but I am finally glad to see you for myself my Hermosa Mujer."
I felt him bend over me and sniff my hair. Then he leaned over placed one hand on the table and reached the other out to touch me.
I moved instantly and slammed my steak knife into the table right between his fingers.
"Don't touch me un hombre grosero."
I specifically used Spanish so they would be aware I spoke the language. I also maintained eye contact being sure to convey my anger with my look.
He stood up and laughed. He looked at his hand, which didn't have a scratch. He didn't know that the bracelet would keep me from being able to hurt him, and I preferred it that way.
He looked at Drago and all amusement dropped from his face, "where do you want us?"
Drago got up and led them away. Then Cole piped up, "he's still an asshole I see." I had to chuckle at that.
I hid out for the rest of the afternoon in my room. I didn't really want to run into anymore assholes particularly, so I avoided everyone.
I was currently getting ready for dinner. Cinder had come to tell me that it was dressed up but not formal. So nice dress, but not a gown.
I knew exactly what I was going to wear. With all of the decisions made in Paris, I had decided to embrace some changes. This included my wardrobe.
The baby shopping day, as I think of it, was the day I also found something for me. I had bought a few maternity items different places as we traveled, but that day I bought something special.
It was the one day I had actually done something just Natalia and I. I had found an incredible maternity formal t-length dress in emerald green. It had gems and gold forming an empire waistband, and fluttery butterfly sleeves.
I had decided on a whim to buy it, but I also decided to keep it a surprise. Natalia actually helped me accomplish that. She had gone to the hotel alone that day, and she took the dress with her. She has also been keeping it in her closet, since I share mine with the guys.
So earlier I had asked her to bring it to my room. Now, I was determined to wear something besides black, fix myself up, and wear jewelery the guys had given me, one piece particularly, the wedding set they had given me that'd belonged to their mother.
So as I stood looking at myself in one of the hidden mirrors of my bathroom I hoped they would like my efforts. My makeup was very light, as I had hardly ever worn it. My hair was down in the back, but I had done intricate braids in the front woven together. I was wearing emerald earrings and a necklace the guys had given me. I also had on the wedding ring set.
The engagement ring was a large oval faceted sapphire surrounded by 3 large round diamonds on each side, the band was gold. Then the wedding band was actually gold with carved leaves and flowers.
Just then Cole comes into the closet, and he's dressed in a custom black 3 piece suit. He looks very handsome. He sees me and freezes.
"You are so beautiful Ria." He whispers as he comes up to me.
He takes my face in his hands and leans down to kiss me softly. I gladly kiss him back, but step back slightly before we can deepen it. He smiles mischievously at me.
"Nope, you don't get to mess me up before dinner."
He laughs, "so does that mean I get to mess you up after dinner?"
I smile a little shyly, "I guess that depends on how dinner goes."
He chuckles and holds his elbow out in an old fashioned gesture, and he leads me to the fancy formal dinning room. He sits me at the head of the table on the right of Drago, and sits in the chair next to me.
There's already a group of three men I don't recognize seated about three seats down on the other side. They are all tall looking, but they are sitting. They all have various shades of nearly white blond hair and blue eyes. Two are rather pale and one is tanned like he spends a lot of time outdoors. If I had to guess these would be the Diamani group from South Africa or the Patel group from New Zeland.
There's another group at the other end of the table. They are more boys next door looking. They are pale with various shades of brown hair, one a light brown or dirty blondish color. Two have brown eyes and one has blue eyes. They are all muscled but not hugely, more just average joe at the gym kind of body.
Drago, Ash, and Cinder aren't at the table yet, and there's another empty group of three chairs on the other side of Cole. My guess is those are for the asshole from this afternoon and his compadres. He was Spanish which means the Escarras from Argentina. They were the clan threatening war over me. Thinking about that I remind myself I can't hurt them, but I wonder what I could do.
"Do I want to know what you're thinking about with that devious look on your face?" Cole whispers in my ear.
I smile up at him, "No." Was what I left it as.
Just then a group of people enter the room. Our missing Escarras and my boys are all here. I'm surprised not to see Natalia.
"Where's Natalia?" Cole grinds his teeth as I ask.
"Since she's technically not a Royal Dragon it was decided to not include her in tonight's dinner."
I frown at that but don't say anything else. I will ask Drago about it later. There may be more I need to know about all of this shit.
Soon the room is decended upon by people with large serving trays. I don't recognize any of them, but I knew Mary had brought in help.
I am not paying especially close attention to most of the conversation. I am introduced to everyone, and the pale blondes are the Diamani family from South Africa, and the other is the Landry family from Canada.
Suddenly something that Nicholas Diamani says slaps me upside the head.
"So, we are all in agreement. Each family will receive one girl at 18."
I jump in, "Excuse me, can you repeat that please."
He looks at me puzzled, "I am referring to the agreement between our families. Each receives a girl at age 18."
I must have still looked shocked, and I was, I wasn't computing what he was referencing. It couldn't possibility mean what I thought it did.
Anthony Escarra jumped in, looking at me calculatedly, "He is referring to the agreement all 4 families reached this afternoon. That, in exchange for peace and increased cooperation, we will each recieve, one of the daughters that currently reside in your womb, upon her 18th birthday."