Dashing Devil Omnibus 2: Books 4-6, page 102
Her dress, shimmering like captured moonlight, hugged her curves in all the right places. The thin silver fabric cascaded down in gentle waves, accentuating her angelic figure as it trailed behind her as she glided across the floor with a dancer’s grace. The neckline of the dress drew attention to her chest, emphasizing her divine allure, while the skirt’s gauzy silhouette highlighted her every movement. It presented an image both graceful and seductive.
As Hope walked to Boyd, each step exuded elegance and purity. Her wings brushed the air with a delicate rustle, the sound adding to the mesmerizing sight. The fabric of her gown also whispered as she moved, creating a symphony of soft sound that accompanied her every motion. Hope’s pure features radiated kindness and innocence, which contrasted with the bombshell figure that her gown displayed so well. She looked heavenly, though was obviously built for sin.
Boyd couldn't help but be awestruck by her beauty as she approached. Her radiant smile lit up the room, reflecting the sweetness of her heart. The golden halo above her head pulsed from a rich gold to a pale white that grew to a deeper pink the longer he stared at her.
When she reached Boyd she leaned down low, making sure he got a good look down the gown before coming forward to claim a peck. As she leaned back, she smiled sweetly at him. With a musical laugh said, “Don’t forget to breathe, my love.”
Boyd took a breath and sighed. “That’s because you are literally breathtaking, my angel.”
Silvie let out her bell-like giggle at the same time that Daisy groaned, “Could you be any cheesier?”
“Kuh-he!” Mindy giggled. “That’s only because you’re looking at this relationship from the outside.”
“One more.” Hope gave him another peck before joining Silvie on his right side. “Laura, you’re up.”
Boyd raised an eyebrow. Although he knew that she had worked out a way to attend the gala—even if it wasn’t officially as a member of The Devoted—he had not known that she would be involved in this little fashion show. He knew he would have lost any argument with himself about whether or not she should be, and just accepted it.
No good could come from trying to prevent it, anyhow.
Laura stepped out from behind the curtain, her toned musculature accentuated by the sleek, form-fitting gown she wore. The light green fabric that set off her eyes clung to her athletic curves, its subtle shimmer catching the light as she moved with a dancer’s grace. Her medium brown hair cascaded down her back in loose curls, framing pale green eyes that sparkled with excitement.
As Laura approached Boyd, her confidence radiated a tangible aura around her. Her presence demanded his attention, and she knew it. The gown’s slit up one side revealed a glimpse of a powerful leg with each step she took, while the neckline dipped seductively low, showcasing her sculpted collarbones and hinting at the strength hidden beneath her elegant appearance.
Boyd couldn't tear his gaze away from the woman as she drew closer, his heart beating faster at the sight. When she stood before him, she didn’t lean down for a kiss like Hope had done. Instead, she placed one hand on her hip, the other on his shoulder, and leaned in close.
The scent of her perfume filled his senses as her lips brushed his ear. Breathily, she whispered, “If you like what you see, know that it is all yours.”
Boyd felt a shiver run down his spine at the unexpected intimacy of her words. He could sense the playful glint in Laura’s eyes even without turning to looking directly at her. With a chuckle, he responded in a low voice, “You certainly know how to make an entrance, Laura. That is a good thing; it should expedite that part of your training.”
Laura straightened with a smug grin, her hand lingering on his shoulder for a moment longer than was necessary before she stepped back. “Well, that’s it for the show—unless you want to see more…” She gave him a teasing wink. “But it would probably be best to wait for later… we don’t want to be late, after all.”
Boyd raised an eyebrow at her with fake bewilderment. “If I’m not mistaken, aren’t you Director Davis’s date for the night?” He pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t want to overstep any boundaries; seeing how you are—at least for tonight—already spoken for.”
Laura rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, seeing as he’s old enough to be my father’s older brother. Besides, we both know he would be more interested in you than me… if either of us were of that generation.”
“Still, I wouldn’t want to risk breaking his heart.” Boyd winked at her. Then he tossed her a carrot, only partly because he was starting to appreciate the forwardness of the woman. “I guess you’ll just have to save anything that shows off more than what this dress does for another day.”
Laura’s smile grew at the not-quite-promise of something growing between them. Before their flirting could devolve from there he looked around, meeting the eye of each woman present. “The show is over?” he ascertained.
“Yep,” Silvie answered. “Kayla went ahead last night so we could pick her up with Director Davis as part of that her ‘not being with us’ cover story.”
“Good,” Boyd rumbled. “I have something to complete yours, Hope’s, and Tinker’s outfits.” He grinned as he stood and a loose circle formed around him to see what he was reaching into his pocket for.
The big demon produced two matching square boxes that were much too big for a ring and one longer one obviously designed for a necklace. He handed them out accordingly. Excitement bubbled within Boyd as he watched his loves open their gifts, their eyes widening in awe as they beheld the intricate creations nestled within each velvet lined container.
Delicate vines of gold and silver—primarily gold for Hope and silver for Silvie—wove around one another for the matching bracelets he presented them. Both sparkled under the light, each culminating in a hand-carved obsidian heart that held hidden depth within its glossy surface. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the perfect blend of elegance and strength that mirrored the essence of each woman.
Tinker had helped him create each bracelet from his design.
As Hope admired her bracelet, a soft gasp escaped her lips as her wings fluttered in delight behind her. Silvie’s fingers traced the cool metal of her own bracelet, a radiant smile lighting her face as she met her demon’s gaze with gratitude shining in her eyes.
“I know they are a little different than what we made with grass and twigs, but they were modeled after the bracelets we made each other as children.” Boyd smiled carefully at his loves. “We tried to keep the shape as much as possible but—oof!”
His words were cut off as the air was forced from his lungs by a delighted Silvie and Hope who nearly tackled him with their hugs. Laughter filled the room as Silvie and Hope enveloped Boyd from both sides in a tight embrace. Their joy was contagious as they expressed their appreciation for the thoughtful gifts.
Boyd couldn't help but return their hugs, a feeling of warmth spreading through his chest at the sight of their joy.
As the trio shared a moment of closeness, Tinker’s voice piped up from the side, “I-I love it, Boyd. Th-thank you.” She held up her gift, a rose gold necklace with a hand-carved obsidian heart pendant. The other ladies’ joy was echoed in her wide, hazel eyes.
Boyd grinned at Tinker before dropping to one knee and enfolding her in his arms. His heart swelled with affection for the brilliant young woman who had become such an important part of his life. “I’m glad you like it, Tink. You deserve something special, too.”
Hope and Silvie slipped away to put on their new accessories while he helped Tinker with hers. As Hope slipped her bracelet onto her wrist another soft gasp escaped her lips, her wings still rustling in delight behind her. “It fits perfectly,” she marveled.
Tinker’s did as well, the pendant nestling perfectly against her skin, just above the cleavage that her dress went out of its way to display.
“Darling’s turn!” Silvie announced before blurring away. She returned a moment later and held out a sleek black box towards him.
Boyd’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as he took the box from Silvie. The smooth surface was cool to the touch. As he lifted the lid, his breath caught in his throat at the sight of what lay inside. Nestled on a bed of black velvet were a pair of exquisite gold and silver cufflinks and a silver ‘D’ boutonniere with three dazzling gemstones inset: an emerald, an amethyst, and a pink sapphire. The set was meant to allude to his five loves: silver for Silvie; gold for Hope; and the stones for Raev, Mindy, and Tinker respectively.
“They are amazing,” Boyd breathed as he gazed at them, then up to each of his loves. “Thank you.”
Silvie, Raev, Tinker, Mindy, and Hope all beamed at Boyd, their eyes shimmering with appreciation and love. “You are welcome,” they chorused in unison, their voices a harmonious blend that filled the room with warmth.
“I waited to do this, because I didn’t want to take anything away from the gifts that are more sentimental than traditional,” Boyd began.
“Waited to do what, Darling?” Silvie asked, her head tilting slightly to the side.
“This,” Boyd said as he pulled one final long box out of his interior jacket pocket and got down on one knee. Meeting the gaze of first Silvie, then Raev, Tinker, Mindy, and finally Hope, he asked, “Will you marry me?”
He opened the long box, revealing five diamond rings nestled in the white velvet interior. The platinum setting with aquamarine accents, white gold setting with emerald accents, rose gold setting with moss agate accents, black gold setting with amethyst accents, and yellow gold setting with fire opal accents held brilliant, full carat diamonds.
Five sets of eyes met his and blinked back tears. Silvie hovered in the air, mouth agape, as the other four women all said ‘yes!’.
Boyd’s brow furrowed as the speechless woman disappeared in a blur only to reappear two seconds later. Wordlessly, she handed out delicate silk handkerchiefs to the others and they all blotted carefully at their eyes so as not to ruin their makeup as one by one he slipped the rings on their fingers.
“I don’t think I heard your answer, Silvie,” Boyd said, saving hers for last.
“Of course, Darling!” She sniffled, blotting at her eyes some more as he slipped the ring on her finger. “I don’t want to ruin the makeup that Mindy went to so much trouble to do.” She glided in to hug his right side.
Raev gave one of her velvet chuckles. “I know you already proposed a while ago, but yes… a thousand times yes,” his foxy loved declared as she stepped in and hugged his left side.
Tinker blotted furiously at her eyes before hopping forward to press her head into his stomach. “If y-you’ll have me, I w-want s-so much to be y-yours,” his little inventor stammered.
Mindy leaned over the smaller woman to press a kiss into Boyd’s neck. “I’ve been yours since we were teens,” she said. Inside his head, the other Mindy squealed as she rolled around on the big bed, clutching a pillow that looked like the top half of Boyd’s torso as she said ‘yes, yes, yes!’ over and over.
Boyd felt soft lips press to the back of his neck as Hope pushed her divine body into his wings and rear. “If it wouldn’t undermine much of the hard work you’ve done to get us to this point, my Lord, I’d drag you out of that tux and show you just how much I want this,” his angel fervently declared.
Surrounded as he was by his women, Boyd didn’t miss the look of longing Laura cast at the tangle of arms and bodies pressed to him. Even Daisy stared wistfully at their group hug.
The big demon closed his eyes and luxuriated in the cascading joy they showered him with over their bonds. He wrapped his wings around Silvie, Raev, Tinker, and Mindy while Hope wrapped her wings around him. They stayed like that for a long moment before Hope released Boyd and he pulled back from the others.
Their eyes still sparkled with tears of joy as each of the five women held out their hands at arm’s length and admired the sparkle and glitter of their engagement rings. It wasn’t long before Laura and Daisy both stepped forward to ‘ooh!’ and ‘ahh!’ at the rocks on display.
Raev finally added with a velvet chuckle as she blotted at her eyes again, “Alright, now let’s get going before this turns all sappy or something. We’ve got a party to take over and some lives to ruin.”
Chapter 49
Like Laura, Boyd knew how to make an entrance. They were the last team with one of the World Hero candidates to arrive and did so intentionally. The program had Eden’s Protectors entering last, with The Devoted entering first.
There was something to be said for the first slot, but the last was far preferable if your goal was to make waves. So, they had staged a slight mechanical failure with their one-of-a-kind experimental craft that had them running forty minutes behind schedule. This placed their arrival ten minutes after when the introductions were supposed to begin.
The only downside to this, was that Boyd didn’t get to see the Blonde Buffoon’s face when whatever strings he had pulled to get the last slot didn’t pay off. Second to last was not a prime position at all.
They landed on their assigned pad in Valor Vista, a small resort town built on the side of a high mountain where a Hero named Valor took a big swing at the Last Dragon some two hundred years ago. Valor didn’t survive the attempt, but he cut a terrace into the mountain that the resort was later built on. They honored him by giving Heroes a place to rest… or hold swanky galas.
From there, The Devoted had been rushed into the Heroic Heights Pavilion and led to the entrance to the grand ballroom it housed. This is where his training on how to make a memorable entrance kicked in. Mindy helped communicate his last-minute decision to Raev and he sensed how much she liked the idea as soon as his darkest love brought her in on it.
As soon as the doormen opened the double doors, Boyd pushed his Black Flame into his wings as he extended them slightly, letting the shadowy fire drip from the inner crimson folds. At the same time, Raev created an illusion of the same dark flames that rolled out in front of them, flowing down the stairs they would descend while being announced.
The Devoted moved forward as one as a hush fell over the gathered socialites and Heroes in attendance. Mindy was on Boyd’s left arm while Hope hung off his right. Raev, Silvie, and Tinker fanned out behind them, his little inventor between the others so that a little less attention would fall on her. He bolstered her growing confidence with his own, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed the spotlight any more than before.
They descended the stairs with a synchronized grace, their presence commanding the full attention of the entire room. Boyd felt the energy shift as all eyes turned towards them, whispers breaking out like a sudden gust of wind. The dark flames dancing on his wings and around their feet were as ominous as they were mesmerizing; they contrasted sharply with the elegant attire of the gala’s attendees. As they slowly moved down the stairs, allowing everyone to get a good look, a booming announcer’s voice filled the ballroom.
“Presenting those who defeated Omega Ray, the slayers of the Last Dragon, and defenders of all that The Authority stands for. Never before in our history has a single team removed two city killers from the list in such a short time. These accomplishments are all thanks to their leader, the enigmatic Dashing Devil, who has been nominated for the title of World Hero thanks to his daring feats.”
The speaker’s words echoed through the large room to a diverse mix of reactions. Some members of the audience enthusiastically clapped their hands together, while others remained stoically silent. A few scowls and icy stares could be seen among the crowd, but no one resorted to boos or jeers—it was simply not that type of event. Nonetheless, a palpable tension hung in the air, a clash of opinions and beliefs colliding within the confines of the room.
This event was a critical battleground. It was a microcosm of the shadow war between opposing factions, with key players from both sides in attendance maneuvering to gain the upper hand in the World Hero’s selection process.
The mantle of the World’s Hero was more than just a title, it held immense sway over all other Heroes. Not merely a command position, the World Hero was a central figure whose actions and words could and often did shape public opinion. Any who dared to contradict a World Hero faced dire consequences at the hands of the public, their very existence placed at risk in a cutthroat game of power and influence.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Boyd’s rumble resonated through the hall, clearly heard by all seven hundred and eighty-four attendees, as well as the fifty-three staff, gathered in the ballroom. “It is a pleasure to be in your august company this evening.”
He stopped three steps from the bottom of the long, ornate staircase as the room fell silent. His golden eyes scanning the attendees, he could practically taste the curiosity, admiration, hate, and envy swirling about the room in a whirlpool of emotion.
With a confident smile, he continued, his voice commanding attention and respect. “I am honored to stand before you tonight, alongside The Devoted. They are a team of remarkable individuals whose courage and dedication have proven time and time again that unity and strength can overcome any obstacle.”
Boyd’s words resonated with a deep sincerity that aimed to touch many hearts in the room. Mindy, Silvie, Raev, Tinker, and Hope stood by his side on the same step, providing a united front. Their expressions were a mix of determination and pride. Each woman radiated her unique aura of power, grace, and beauty. What was equally clear, was their unwavering loyalty to Boyd—evident in every move they made.
“I stand here not as an individual seeking glory or fame, but as a guardian of justice, a protector of the innocent, and a beacon of change. Now isn’t the time for speeches, so I’ll let you get back to enjoying the evening with an apology.” He gave the gathered power brokers a placating smile and chuckled ruefully. “The only excuse I can offer is that I was trained extensively to seize every opportunity to deliver messages with a positive impact.”
