Chapter eight

Chapter eight

It is the day of the festival and I am absolutely terrified.

I'm beginning to regret my decision; I should have thought this through. I mean how could I even trust that anything good would come out of this. This is where I draw the line; this is madness.

"You look absolutely gorgeous. Like a sexy goddess whose rightful place is by her king," Sarah exclaims, placing the back of her palm on her forehead and the other on her chest.

I overlook her dramatic display, too busy blushing at the outfit that this little devil coaxed me into wearing.

Allowing her to pick my outfit for the night was a most horrible idea. She kept saying that what I wore last time was too old fashioned; It covered too much she said.

Well this one covers nothing. "Sarah, i might as well be naked." I grit out, eyes glued to the image of the person in the mirror that is certainly not me.

This delicate thing she calls a dress is made entirely of elastic black mesh. The only covering is to my nipples and vagina. The length of it is just below my bum, the hem is a flowery pattern and that is the only thing I like about this atrocity.

"Oh don't be dramatic, sis," She giggles and the urge to slap her brain into place is quite tempting.

"That is coming from someone who has an actual award for her unnecessary enthusiasm for petty things. I am not wearing this. Help me take it off." I would have done it myself but I don't want to damage the dress; she might want to wear it.

"Okay firstly, that is called being optimistic, it's not my fault if you're a freaking realist or more like a pessimist."

"I am not…." I try to retort but she cuts me off.

"That is not what is important right now. Have you actually looked at yourself, like actually looked at yourself?" Her expression is as serious as ever and I would have taken her seriously if I didn't know her.

"Yes, little sister, I actually use my eyes to see and they are open, are they not?" I ask, my tone dripping with enough sarcasm to flood the city as I stare at the mirror in distaste.

She sighs dejectedly, shoulders slump in disappointment and I can see a pout forming. "Can you at least look at it from his own perspective?" She tries again, her voice cracking as if she might cry if I refuse one more time.

I decide to give it a try and my mind starts to conjure up the last image of him. I remember the look he sent my way after the dance and what I had been putting on wasn't even mildly seductive.

This gown hugs my every curve and accentuates my small waist and the wide curve of my hips. I'm not wearing any underwear as per her request so my plump bum is on display behind the see through material. The dark color stands out on my skin and my thighs are in the open.

The image in my mind's eye changes and another appears where he is in a robe that leaves his torso on display and some silk pants, his dilated pupils with fire in them, a fire I am almost consumed by and he looks ready to ravish me.

A knock on the door snaps me out of my daydream and I make a show of straightening out the front of the dress to gain some composure.

"It's almost time, May." Richard calls from the other side of the door and once I hear his receding footsteps, I take a deep breath and say a silent prayer.

"Alright, I'll wear it."

Immediately, her face brightens up like a Christmas tree and she joins her hands together and starts to do a little wiggle with her hips. She always does that when she's extremely happy about something.

"But on one condition."

She freezes and pouts, from experience, I know she's charging up to throw a tantrum.

"It has to come with a jacket." I need to be comfortable if I'm going to seduce him. Actually, with the way this dress was made, I might not need to do anything.

Her expression does a one eighty and she grins. "Of course it does. I know you even more than you know yourself." She walks to the bed and picks up the bag she brought this in and pulls out a long jacket of the same material, just not as see through.

"This will cover you until the reveal and oh my goodness, he's going to eat you up," She wiggles her brows and I try to fight it but my face starts to burn.

"Oh be quiet," I mumble as I snatch it from her. The jacket is a perfect fit, just like the dress and I begin to wonder how long she has been planning this. "Pass me that," I point towards the bed and she brings me the royal robe given to all who were to contest for the king's bed. As ludicrous as that sounds, thousands of Lycans compete for a spot every single time and I am one of them. How low I have fallen.

"Why are you so interested in this?" I ask because she seems particularly invested in this than usual. The robe is a forest green with a hood to cover our faces, matching perfectly with my eyes and it's a bit snug. All competitors were given one.

"It's just that you've been trying really hard to get with him and I thought that if one of us had a chance at love then we should take it. At least one of us would get the one our heart yearns for."

Her words bring me to a screeching halt, leaving me speechless and in disbelief; a dull ache in my chest at how they were right yet oh so wrong.

I turn to her and lift a hand to her cheek, bringing her close. "Any man would be a fool to not see what a priceless gem you are." I smile warmly as her cheeks start to turn a bright pink.

She hugs me and I give her a tight squeeze.

Another knock pulls us apart and she turns away from me to hide her moist eyes but I hear her sniff. I pick up a black mask with forest markings on it from the nightstand.

Deep breaths, deep breaths, deep breaths. I chant as I cross the room and pull open the door. A castle guard is on the other side and as soon as he lays eyes on me, he turns and starts walking away.

I pull the hood over my head, put on the mask and follow behind him. Deep breaths

We follow a partially hidden route through the hotel and it's very quiet, most probably because everyone should be at the ceremonial grounds. After a few indiscernible turns, we step into a hallway I have never seen before. I've explored this whole building before as a teenager and this is the first time I'm seeing this.

The walls are lined with pictures of the king and I can't help but feel like he's watching me with those knowing eyes and smirks so like my little sister's; filled with mischief.

"Welcome back, empress," the guard says without looking back.

"I can't exactly say I'm glad to be back but you get the gist." I reply with a smile, causing him to chuckle.

"As blunt as ever," He says and I can hear the smile in his voice.

Jacob was the guard assigned to me the last time I was here and I'm glad he's here. A familiar face can help with my frayed nerves.

I had talked his ears off because the silence had been been deafening and my nerves were all over the place. He had tried to shut me up so many times but I couldn't. I guess my insolence had endeared me to him in some way. He had said I was headstrong and had a sense of authority about me, like an empress.

We walk in silence to the end of the hall where a just one door stood ominously.

"You didn't talk my ears off. Should I be worried or relieved?" He says as he stops by the door and turns to face me.

I give him the best smile I could manage, "Wish me luck." and with that I open the door and walk through it.