Chapter 180

I needed many, many cups of coffee while I got ready in the wee hours of the morning. Nolan had woken me up at two a.m.

“Why are we doing this at the crack of dawn?” I asked, slipping into a pair of heels.

“Time difference,” he answered. “There will of course be werewolves watching this live as well, but it’s primarily for the humans. Sunrise here is primetime for their evening news programs.”

“Okay. Well, as long as you promise I don’t need to say anything this time, I am ready to go.” I was dressed, made up, had my hair done. It was just my brain that was still unprepared.

“You do not.” Nolan paused and narrowed his eyes, thinking. “But if you don’t want to do this, you know you don’t have to…”

“Of course I do.” I took his hand and led him out of the room. “I’m your princess. That’s what I’m here for.” I smiled, stood on my toes and circled his neck with my arms.

Nolan didn’t get nervous about media appearances. But for some reason he gave me a puzzled look.

“If I kiss you, will I get your lipstick all over me?” he asked.

“If you kiss my lips, maybe yes. Depends how gentle you are about it.”

He opted to plant a few kisses on my neck instead, lingering to breathe in my scent while I enjoyed his. Then we walked, hand in hand, to the front of the palace, where we were filming.

Nolan and I stood near the front doors of the palace with film crews gathered on the steps below, their cameras and eyes all pointed right at us from the second we entered their view.

It was a similar setup to the big thing at Parliament, but scaled way down. There were probably a little over a hundred people gathered around us, and they were all professionals, busy performing their own roles in this affair. None of the clamoring energy of that massive crowd that had been watching the last time.

Nolan gave his speech. He sounded calm and practiced as always. He was mostly just assuring the public for the nth time that yes, Adan really has been captured and is in custody.

Even though the court had released some photos of Adan in his prison jumpsuit, shackled in chains while being transported to prison, there were still rumors that he was either already back on the loose, or was going to find a way to escape.

“My brother is no longer a threat to either of our worlds,” Nolan said confidently. “The insurrection has been subdued. The werewolf world is safe from this menace, and so, too, is the human world.”

One thing that felt strange was the way the press event ended. There was no applause this time, since there was no civilian audience. It was just the CLICK-CLICK-CLICK of dozens of gigantic cameras and Nolan suddenly squeezing my hand and giving me a “follow me” look that let me know it was time to make our exit.

NOLAN

The hours passed quickly as the prince continued work in his office after the live broadcast was complete. His team had a lot to do to prepare for the rest of the media tour, but Nolan had promised Yena they really would have dinner together tonight, and he could not bail on her two nights in a row.

He hurried from his office to their dining room, reading his watch and cursing under his breath. He didn’t like to think of Yena waiting on him.

But when he entered their dining room, he found… the table was empty. It did not look like anyone would be dining here tonight. And there was no Yena.

But there was something in the center of the long, empty dining table, a card with Nolan’s name on the front, propped up and facing the door.

“Head to the bedroom for a surprise,” the card read in Yena’s pretty handwriting.

He tried not to get too excited as he made the short journey there.

The surprise was more surprising than Nolan had expected.

It was not Yena waiting in bed for him. That was disappointing.

Instead, there was a tuxedo hanging from a small portable clothing rack, along with another note. This one explained that he needed to change and then meet her down in one of the ballrooms at the front of the palace.

Nolan found himself muttering, “What in the world…” while he started stripping.

He took a quick, hot shower. Almost started getting dressed, but then decided to delay just long enough to shave his face as well. If he was supposed to be wearing a tux, he was supposed to be looking polished. It was seven-o’clock; his five-o’clock shadow was verging into a short beard already.

Finally he dressed, fidgeted with his bowtie for a minute longer than he really had patience for, and was on his way.

The sounds of a huge crowd hit Nolan’s ears before he turned a corner and saw what was happening.

Hundreds of noble werewolves were flooding the palace lobby on their way into the ballroom. A big event was underway. The attendees were all dressed in elegant eveningwear.

Signage near the ballroom entrance finally offered Nolan an explanation.

This was a charity fundraiser hosted by Princess Yena. A fashion show and auction, the proceeds from which would go toward renovations for the werewolf orphanage.

The crowd parted when they sighted Nolan, allowing him to move forward into the ballroom unobstructed.

The lighting throughout the majority of the ballroom was dim and ambient, contrasting against bright fluorescent spotlights in shades of green, purple and pink that were moving in patterns across a stage and runway. A bar flanked the other side of the room. Nobles in gowns and tuxedos were filing excitedly into hundreds of chairs arranged facing the stage.

Nolan spun around, looking for Yena.

She was nowhere to be found.

He did spy his mother, though.

YENA

Cindy’s eyes grew round as she listened to the sounds of the growing crowd on the other side of the stage curtain.

“How are you two so calm?” she asked in a thin voice.

Lucy and I both broke out into laughter, which surprised Cindy.

“I am not calm,” I said. “Honestly. I am all nerves right now.”

Lucy made a noise I can’t quite describe in words. It was a kind of wildly excited squeal. “I was crazy nervous the first time I did a show with Yena, too. But it was so freaking fun, Cindy. Once we get out onto the stage, you’ll forget all about the nerves. Something else takes over.”

“I half agree with that,” I added. “My nerves don’t really go away. I think Lucy’s a more natural performer than I am. No, I don’t think I’ll ever get over the stage fright. But you just make a choice to have faith in yourself and that’ll push you through it.”

“You have stage fright?” Cindy squinted at me. “No. I don’t believe it. You always seem so confident.”

“I’m glad it looks that way,” I told her. “I try my best. Just focus on what we’re doing here, okay? Like we talked about yesterday.”

“Right,” she said. “Doing this for the orphanage.”

“Right. And the girls are going to be so thrilled to see you up there. You’re their role model! They get to watch you overcome your fears, that’ll be so inspiring to them.”

“Ugh, okay that’s making me nervous again,” she said, trying to hold still while Lucy finished touching up her makeup.

The auctioneer’s voice came over the speakers, announcing we had five minutes until the start of the show.

“Listen,” I told her, “the anticipation is the worst part. Once we get out there, this thing is going to go by so fast, you won’t believe it. If I can fake confidence convincingly, so can you.”

Cindy was trying really hard to believe me. Lucy was done; I swiveled the chair so Cindy was facing me fully.

Seeing her full, finished hair and makeup now for the first time, I actually had to pause my other thought. “Sheesh, Cindy. You look like a supermodel. Honestly.”

She blushed, darting her eyes to the mirror. Cindy did fully understand that she looked stunning, I could tell.

She was going to be fine.