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He pulled her in closer and kissed the side of her head. “You are everything a queen should be, my love.”
“And you won’t be doing it alone, little sister,” Philippe told her with a gentle smile. “Mom and Dad will be here to guide you, and if you need Tristan or me, we’re just a phone call away.”
She nodded and swiped at a few tears as she beamed at all of us. “Okay, let's get this show on the road.”
Both Philippe and I hugged our sister and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful. And the country is lucky to have you as their monarch,” I told her softly.
She smiled brightly and took a deep breath, then turned and waited for her attendants to place a sparkling diamond diadem on her head, then attach the velvet mantle, edged with lace and delicate stitching done by one of the past queens. It was fifteen feet long and required four women to carry it behind her to the altar.
Finally, she ran her hands down the bodice and skirt of her white silk dress, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles. “Okay. Let’s do this thing.”
I chuckled as I followed her from the dressing room and out into the hall. Michel was leaning back on the wall opposite the door, and when I emerged, he immediately stood. His posture was tense, and I frowned at the scowl on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Dani. She’s here.”
“What?” I shouted, drawing everyone’s attention. I looked at my sister and brother, sputtering, “I-she-Dani—”
“Go!” Céline urged. “It'll be at least an hour before they finish with all the stuff and you need to take your place.”
“But—”
My sister cut me off with a laugh. “It’s not as if they can go on without me, and I won’t do this without my brothers at my side.” Then she winked, and a rush of love for my family swept through me.
“You are a kick-ass sister, you know that?”
“I’m glad you’ve finally realized it.”
My thoughts filled with Dani again, and turning back to Michel, I rasped, “Where is she?”
“The security office. They obviously didn’t know who she was and almost had her arrested. Luckily, I was on their radio frequency and heard her name.”
“Shit!” I took off through the halls of the great cathedral, making my way to the security office in the basement. When I burst through the door, every guard jumped to their feet and bowed their heads. “Your highness,” they greeted.
I didn’t care about them, and I rushed by, stalking back to the cells.
Dani sat on a bench with her head hanging low, her beautiful blond tresses creating a curtain, hiding her face from my view. Her hands were clasped in her lap, and I wanted to wring the neck of every one of the security people who’d obviously frightened her.
“Princesse,” I croaked, my throat suddenly dry as the Sahara.
Her head whipped up, and tears filled her eyes, trickling down her cheeks as she jumped to her feet and rushed over to me.
“I’m so sorry. I should have told you I was coming, but I was nervous and wanted to surprise you. But it was stupid. Loni told me it was a bad idea, but I basically blackmailed her into coming with me since I knew you’d be pissed if I made the trip alone. I’m sorry I’ve been—”
“Dani. Take a breath, princesse,” I soothed, taking one of her hands through the bars. It was cold, and I vowed to put the assholes who worked here in front of a firing squad. I twisted my head to the side and glared at the guard standing in the shadows, trying to fade into the scenery. Smart. He clearly knew I was fighting with my murderous instincts. But it wouldn’t work.
“Keys,” I barked. He rushed forward, and the metal jingled on the ring as he searched for the right one. I growled menacingly, and he jumped, his face losing all color. He was millimeters from death when he finally found the right key and inserted it into the lock.
Finally free, Dani threw herself into my arms, and I held her tightly, reassuring myself that she was in my arms in one piece. “Loni is a couple of cells down,” she mumbled with her face buried in my chest.
I jerked my chin in that direction, and the guard scurried to do my bidding. When Loni emerged, I met her gaze and nodded. I appreciated that she’d made sure Dani arrived safely. I didn’t blame her for letting my woman make the trip because we both knew how fucking stubborn she was.
Scooping Dani into my arms, I inhaled her vanilla scent, and it soothed some of my ire. Not enough to save these motherfucker’s jobs, but at least they wouldn’t be sent to the guillotine. It might have been a little old fashioned, but no one had ever specifically forbidden its use.
