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“Oh. Good.” Sort of. Her stomach sank. “I will do that then. It was my inclination. I just wanted a second opinion.”
This had close to destroyed her hopes but knowing she was giving it to Drake, what did that do?
It made her feel better, instantly. To not read it and give it to him said she trusted Drake and she desperately wanted to win back that trust, even if he didn’t know he’d lost it.
“I have other deductions also, Princess—”
“I have presents for you!” Drake sang out, turning to nod to the guards as they shut the door. “To wear to the ceremony.”
“Hide this!” She pushed the envelope at Sassi and the bot secreted it in a compartment on his body.
The door closed and Drake advanced down the hallway, grinning, shaking a package.
She’d not seen him smile that openly for weeks.
“Wonderful! I think?” The letter could wait, couldn’t it?
As he often did when people were talking to each other, Sassi withdrew quietly.
There was a serious discussion coming after she gave the letter to him, no matter what. It would ruin this night, and he’d been planning for so long. No matter how much revealing her brother’s survival worried her, she had also betrayed Drake.
So, she would let this night run its course, even if whatever was going to happen at the meeting slash ceremony had her nervous also.
“Come. Dress for me.”
“It’s pretty? Elegant?”
“Hmmm, anything on you is pretty. Elegant? Try it on.”
When she shook it out and held it up, she was dubious. After dressing, she was horrified. He’d said no underclothes and without those...
“I can’t wear this in public!”
“You will have a cloak to wear in the coach.” The grin was back. Drake chuckled. “There are matching silver and satin shoes. You will be adorable and fuckable, which is the whole point.”
Calli wrinkled her forehead then sighed, turning to examine the translucent white dress from all angles in the standing mirror in her bedroom. Small white cloth-covered buttons ran down the front. The line of embroidery beneath her breasts made those and her areolae exceptionally obvious. Her nipples stood up even more as she turned, though that was partly the effect of Drake watching her.
“Also this, Princess.” He stepped up to her and held her still a moment by capturing both her breasts through the fabric in his hands. Something tinkled and bumped against her belly.
He brought his hands to her neck, kissed her softly. From one hand dangled a silver chain-mesh necklace a little wider than her thumbnail and beautifully made. The links were soft and perfect, shining as he circled her neck with the necklace and closed a clasp. She heard a small click.
“I will lock this with a key at the meeting and add a certain decoration to it. This is a collar, a symbol of ownership. You must never take it off after that, without my permission.” He nudged up her chin and looked into her eyes.
She nodded, her throat tightening. “I won’t.” The delicate brush of the fabric on her nipples was making it difficult to remain calm.
“Good. Then let us leave. Wait. The shoes must go on and I will fetch the cloak.” He went to one knee and slid the shoes onto her feet, lifting each foot to do so. She steadied herself with a hand to his shoulder. Already this night felt like a dedication to their love for each other.
Love was a hard word to tangle with when the letter lay steaming with deceit inside Sassi.
They passed the shelf where the letter had been on the way out. Her cloak whispered against the timber. Drake’s warm hand enveloped hers.
She bit her lip. I will fix this. I will. Just a few hours more.
Earlier that day, there’d been news of more raids and Drake had sent away a large strike force.
“Could my bot, Sassi, come? He has defense skills and I’d feel safer.”
“Of course your bot can come. It’ll have to sit beside the gunner position on the coach’s exterior.”
