Lottery King 2, page 7
Love bloomed brighter in my chest as I watched my lover and future queen work, and I felt more sure than ever that I’d made an excellent choice for my first wife.
The love mingled with a strong sense of disbelief at the fact that I had not only a full staff in my employ, but a staff that was loyal and hard-working. They never failed to meet my needs, even often before I knew what my needs were myself. I couldn’t count the number of times I’d gotten consumed with work only to have Nymerial or another maid show up with a lunch platter for me.
It was incredible, and I struggled not to be surprised every time.
I watched Poppy for a while longer until I felt entirely in the way, and then I moved into my office to get a little busywork done as I waited for the ball to begin. It was going to be an incredible night, and I knew Isla had even rearranged and extended the art gallery to be able to fit all our guests in.
The paranormal world had been buzzing for weeks about my ascension to the throne, and then excitement had only ramped up at the announcement of mine and Poppy’s engagement. The local representatives had all been formally introduced to me since then, but there were plenty of political figures and citizens from much further away who had made the guest list. It didn’t seem to be any trouble at all for them to fly halfway around the world to attend our party.
I was a little relieved Poppy’s family had been delayed in their plans to move back to the United States. Poppy had been rather saddened by the news, but it meant I wouldn’t meet them in the chaos of tonight’s ball. Her mother, father, and little brother were now expected to return to the states in a week, and I’d be able to get to know them without the whole Eternal Realm watching us.
None of my work held my attention for more than a few minutes, and I kept finding my attention drawn to the hustle and bustle outside my office door.
Nymerial arrived around noon with a light lunch tray for me, and then she hurried back out of the room to return to the chaos of last-minute preparations.
“Uuuuh,” I sighed and stretched back in my chair.
It was getting close enough to the time I was supposed to get ready, so I headed upstairs and figured I could kill some time with a lengthy shower. I was totally unsurprised to find Sunny, Birch, and Matis waiting patiently for me near my closet when I walked out of the steamy bathroom.
“Your majesty,” Matis greeted me with a wide grin. “Did Poppy choose the gold gown?”
“Yeah, she did.” I smirked at his celebratory tone.
“Excellent,” the pink-haired fae triplet hissed through his grin. “She will look immaculate in that color.”
“It is a fine choice,” Birch agreed, and he carefully tucked a small lock of bright green hair back into place.
“I think the black suit is still the perfect choice, your majesty,” Sunny said, and he moved into the closet.
“Yeah, it feels like the right level of formality for tonight,” I agreed. “What tie were you thinking?”
“This one matches Poppy’s dress perfectly,” Matis answered, and he held up a solid gold tie that was the exact shade as Poppy’s dress. “These would also work very well, and would give a more coordinated, less matching look.”
Three other gold-colored ties hung over Matis’ other arm, and I clenched my jaw against the shock of such expensive-looking neckties. The first was more of a champagne color, and it had tiny stars dotted all across it. The second was a simple striped pattern in a matte gold, and the third had a very subtle pattern of gold vines on a black background. The black-and-gold tie caught my attention right away, and I could easily imagine it settled on the matte black shirt we’d already selected.
“That one,” I decided, and I pointed at the gold vine pattern as the absurdity of my life washed over me again. “It’s a bit more subtle.”
“Excellent choice, your majesty,” Sunny said as he presented me with four options of cufflinks on a velvet-lined tray.
I picked the black opal cufflinks that happened to shine with the exact shade of Poppy’s teal hair. Birch then presented me with a silky black pocket square that he assured me would make the satin trim of my suit really pop.
My three fae valets smiled at me with satisfaction at their handiwork just as Poppy burst into the room with a scattered kind of look on her beautiful face.
“Oh, woooow,” my fiancée breathed when she spotted me. “You look…”
“Royal?” my yellow-haired valet offered.
“Kingly,” Birch suggested.
“Regal,” Matis corrected.
“Good?” I asked with a chuckle.
“Very,” Poppy said with a blush across her cheeks.
“Alright, boys,” I said dismissively to my valets. “Thanks for the help, you can go now.”
The three dragonfly-winged fae bowed quickly and then scurried out of the room.
Poppy walked right up to me and slid her hands across the silky material of my suit jacket.
“I was going to say ‘delicious,’” my lover purred, and she stretched up to kiss me.
“Mmm,” I hummed as I locked a firm grip around the rush of desire that Poppy stirred in my gut. “We don’t have time for that.”
“Poo,” Poppy muttered in a playful voice as she pouted up at me. “You’re right, though. I have to shower and get ready.”
“Go,” I encouraged. “I’ll wait for you in the sitting room, and then we’ll enter together.”
“Okay.” Poppy winked at me as she stripped her shorts and button-down shirt off, and then she headed to the shower.
“Mmm,” I groaned quietly and settled into one of the plush armchairs to wait for her.
I flipped through this month’s copy of the paranormal world’s version of National Geographic while I waited for her. I was wildly impressed by how quickly Poppy showered and got ready.
My teal-haired beauty walked through the doors into the sitting room like a pageant queen. Her gold gown flowed beautifully over her lush figure, and it was cinched tightly around her narrow waist with a crystal-studded belt. The strapless neckline was a beautiful sweetheart shape that accentuated her full breasts, and there was a devilishly sexy slit all the way up the swishy skirt to the top of her right thigh. The only jewelry she wore was her huge engagement ring and a pair of square-cut diamond studs in each ear. Her teal locks were piled with effortless perfection on the side of her head, and three long tendrils draped down over the slender curve of her shoulder.
Poppy had applied a full face of makeup that was polished without being excessive. Her purple eyes were rimmed in black liner that winged out at the corners, she wore a deep teal eyeshadow that matched her hair, and her pouty lips were colored a dusky shade of pink.
“How do I look?” Poppy asked me in a sultry whisper.
“Incredible,” I mumbled as I stood up. “Beautiful… delicious.”
Poppy giggled happily as I wrapped my arms around her, and I placed a careful kiss at her temple so I wouldn’t mess up her makeup or hair.
“Come on,” I said. “I bet the guests are starting to arrive.”
I led Poppy down the back stairs so we could snake our way through the mansion to the hidden safe room where we kept all the crown jewels. Cove, Rune, and Poppy had shown me the shockingly large space shortly after I’d executed two traitors to preserve my life and reign. It was only about as large as the bathroom in my old apartment, but it was stocked with millions of dollars’ worth of gems and precious metals.
The golden crown I wore for my coronation was only one of several crowns I had access to, and I wanted something a little lighter for the lengthy event this evening.
Poppy browsed through the daintier and more elegant ladies’ crowns with a bit of longing in her eyes as I walked over to the larger ones. After a brief glance at my options, I selected a simple golden circlet that was about an inch tall all around. There was a tight cluster of emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds at the front in the shape of a sunburst and moon.
Poppy smiled wistfully as she turned back to look at my choice.
“Excellent choice, your majesty.” My lover smiled sweetly and started to walk out of the room.
“Wait,” I murmured, and I looped my fingers around her wrist. “This is our engagement party, you should wear one, too.”
“Oh…” Poppy breathed, and she grimaced a little bit with what I suspected was self-doubt.
“I mean…” I shook my head. “If that’s totally against tradition or something… I don’t really know what your future position as queen will mean.”
“Technically,” Poppy said with a gentle smile. “My title will be ‘Queen Consort’ because I do not have the power to rule.”
“Oh, okay,” I murmured thoughtfully as I readjusted my perspective on the whole thing. “Yeah, that makes sense, but Queen Consorts still wear tiaras and shit, right?”
“Yes, they do,” Poppy giggled. “I just… I never expected to be able to wear one past childhood. I guess I hadn’t thought about how things will change after we’re married. I mean, I thought about us, and how our relationship may… evolve, but I hadn’t considered my more public role as Queen Consort.”
“Does it make you uncomfortable to wear one?” I asked.
Poppy thought for a moment, and then she smiled brightly and shook her head.
“No,” my fae lover breathed. “I think I’d like to wear one.”
“Good.” I grinned.
“But something small,” Poppy insisted. “I’m not ready for something like that.”
Poppy’s purple eyes grew huge as she pointed at a crown that looked like something the pageant moms on Toddlers and Tiaras would have loved.
“Yeah, that’s…” I chuckled. “That’s a lot.”
Poppy laughed as she walked over to a simple and elegant tiara that was probably the smallest in the bunch. It had a triangle-shaped structure that sat at the front of the support band, and I could picture it nestled prettily amidst her loose teal waves. There was a clear teardrop-shaped diamond that dangled right in the middle of the piece, and it was dotted with little rubies.
“Perfect,” I murmured as I carefully tucked the ends of the tiara into the waves of her teal hair.
Suddenly, there was a tense knock on the doorframe of the vault, and I looked over to see Rune’s shining golden hair and teal eyes.
“King Michael,” Rune said, and he sounded almost out of breath. “The guests are arriving.”
“Thanks, Rune.” I grinned at my fae advisor, and I took Poppy’s hand in mine. “Showtime.”
Poppy took a nervous breath, and then we walked out of the vault together.
The excited and joyful voices of my guests combined to make a loud chorus of chatter as we walked toward the art gallery turned ballroom. Based on the number of voices, I guessed the place was already pretty full with our paranormal guests.
Cove waited for us just outside the double doors that led into the art gallery, and he smiled affectionately at us as I led Poppy forward.
“Your majesty,” Cove murmured. “You both look exquisite.”
“Thanks, Cove,” I said, and I hesitated for a moment. “I just had a thought.”
“What’s that, my king?” Cove asked.
“Poppy just explained what her title will be once we’re married,” I said, and I stroked my free hand over my chin. “But does she have a title now as my fiancée? Like… when you introduce us… will it be King Michael, blah, blah, blah, and Poppy? Or…”
“As of right now, I don’t have a title at all,” Poppy explained.
“No,” Cove agreed. “But it’s not uncommon for the king’s future wives to use ‘Lady’ before their name. Would that please you, your majesty?”
“Yeah, Lady Poppy.” I nodded and gave my lover a sly smirk. “That’ll do for now.”
I gave Cove a nod to let him know we were ready, and Poppy’s fingers dug a bit nervously into the sleeve of my jacket.
“Shit…” Poppy hissed through her teeth as she plastered a nervous smile on her face. “Lady… I never thought this would be me.”
“Don’t worry, babe,” I told my fae lover in a reassuring voice. “You’re gonna do great.”
Chapter 5
Cove stepped back, and two shadow nymph guards materialized out of the darkness to pull the doors open for us. I gave Poppy a reassuring smile, and it felt like the oxygen got sucked right out of the air as the light from the ballroom flowed over us.
“Honored guests and representatives,” Cove announced in a clear voice that was loud enough to carry over the casual chatter that filled the ballroom. “His Royal Majesty, King Michael of the Eternal Realm, and Lady Poppy.”
A stroke of tension shot through me as the crowd stared at us in utter silence for a half-second.
Then toasts of, “King Michael, may the Goddess guide him and bless him,” rang through the room, mixed in with cheers for Poppy’s new title as Lady.
Poppy pressed her lips into a tense smile, and she sucked in a deep breath through her nose.
Unexpected relief washed through me as I led Poppy into the huge room, and our guests clapped and cheered for us. I guess I’d been a bit more nervous about how the paranormal world was going to react to my choice of my first bride than I’d thought.
It wasn’t exactly traditional for me to choose a member of my advisory staff as my bride, and my very selection as the king of the paranormal world had caused quite a stir in and of itself. But Poppy was well-liked by everyone, and I saw genuine happiness on several of the faces I recognized among the crowd.
The merman, Lord Finn, wore a stylish suit woven of seaweed-colored silk, and his shoulder-length ice-blue hair bounced slightly as he clapped. The older balding fae, Lord River, stood by the merman with a ruddy complexion that hinted at his enjoyment of tonight’s wine selection. The burly werewolf, Lord Alan, leaned in and whispered something to the cyclops representative, Lady Windy. A short distance away, the curly-haired gnome, Lady Shay, looked up at Lady Taylee, who was beautiful with her pink magnolia blossoms in full bloom. The Goddess’ representative in the physical world, Lady Ellia, glowed like she was lit from the inside by sunlight as she folded her delicate hands gently in front of her.
I also spotted some of Lady Vivianne’s former coven members, including the younger-looking male with shiny green eyes who’d given me quite a sour look after I’d executed her. He glared around the room with a hateful expression even now, and I wondered how much trouble I had to look forward to from the skinny vampire.
There were sirens, merfolk, gnomes, cyclopes, dryads, werewolves, vampires, fae-folk of every subspecies, and even a few centaurs in the crowd. Small sprites like those who worked in my garden under Thistle’s guidance flitted cheerfully through the air above the crowd.
The sheer amount of money that was contained in the outfits, shoes, accessories, and jewelry of the guests was astronomical in my head. One or two of the ladies’ outfits alone probably were worth as much as my entire former wardrobe and then some. I wondered how long I was going to keep being shocked by the extravagance of everything in this world, but I didn’t mind it. I just felt more and more grateful every time my mind was blown.
There were several other paranormal species that I wasn’t quite sure of, but one woman who looked older than anybody else I’d met so far caught my attention.
She wore a white dress that was very toga-inspired, and for a second I thought her dark hair was twisted in dreadlocks on top of her head. Then the thick locks of hair moved, and I realized they were snakes.
“Medusa,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Not quite,” Poppy replied through a nervous smile. “She is a gorgon, though.”
“Thank you for joining us in our celebration tonight,” I announced to the expensively-attired gathering. “Please, enjoy yourselves.”
Cove gave the live band a sharp gesture, and the five-member group started playing immediately. They played instruments that I’d have pictured in a scene from Pride and Prejudice, but they played modern songs on the violins, cello, and harp. The lead member of the group was a siren, and her voice was what I imagined angels might sound like.
Poppy and I started to stroll through the ballroom and greet our guests, and I fell into a casual pleasantries mode as we made the required rounds through the room. Poppy slowly relaxed as we chatted with the more friendly representatives like Lord Finn and Lord River. Lady Taylee oozed compliments for my teal-haired lover, and Poppy’s personality started to come back out from behind her nerves.
“You look incredible, too, Lady Taylee,” Poppy said with a charming smile. “I love this shade of green on you.”
“Thank you,” Lady Taylee replied as she glanced down at the simple sheath dress she wore.
The green was very pretty against her bark-like skin, and I briefly wondered if the rough texture covered a dryad’s entire body.
As my lover made small talk with Lady Taylee and Lady Shay about their outfits and hairstyles, I found my eyes wandering around the room. I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for until I found her chocolate-brown hair and caramel-colored eyes watching me.
Lady Helena stood beside the older gorgon woman I’d noticed upon entering the ballroom, and her tawny wings were folded in a relaxed manner against her back. The Grecian harpy was dressed as exquisitely and gorgeously as every time I’d seen her in a flowing gown that brushed across the wood floors. It was a shade of blue so faint it almost looked white. The fabric had a slight sheen to it like satin, but it looked as light and airy as chiffon. The gown hugged Lady Helena’s breasts and narrow waist, and then it swished like water around the swell of her hips. Her chocolate-brown hair cascaded down between her feathered wings in a loose fishtail-style braid, and she wore a deep smoky eyeshadow lined with gold.
The gorgeous Grecian harpy smirked at me when she caught me staring, and I swallowed hard against the magnetic pull that seemed to radiate off of her in waves.
