Chapter 86: Chapter 86

~ NYSSA

I didn’t really believe Aria’s words, not until Leah quietly walked with Aria in tow.

I’d just gotten out of the bathroom, still wrapped in my robe, but I sat in the chair as she moved around, poking and prodding at my face and expertly weaving the curling iron through my hair.

By the time she stepped back and turned the chair so I was facing the mirror, my mouth dropped open.

She’d transformed me into something straight out of a fairytale. My curls were more defined than ever and my makeup was soft and glowy, making it look like I was bathed in shimmering moonlight.

“I know, right?” Aria mused, but I wasn’t paying attention to her.

“This is… fucking hell, Leah!”

The tips of her ears were red and I could see a flush creeping up her cheeks and neck as well. She gave a dismissive shrug. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. You’re fucking amazing! You should do this full time.”

She was quick to shake her head. “It’s just a hobby, I actually enjoy working here. I’m glad I could help.”

She bowed low, not letting me speak again before shuffling out of the room as if someone had lit a fire under her ass. I’d come to realize from the days of her silently cleaning in the room while I dressed that she didn’t like to talk much.

It was a shame because she was fucking talented.

“Let’s get you into your dress,” Aria said suddenly. “Rowan just texted asking if you’re ready.”

I hadn’t even glanced at my phone yet.

Sure enough, a text from Rowan sat at the top of my screen. My cheeks flushed and a wave of unease filled me. I had all the bravado earlier but as the minutes grew closer, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe I’d bitten off more than I could chew.

“Don’t think too much,” Aria said suddenly, stepping up behind me. “You’ll be fine. Just have fun.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“True,” she admitted. “But Rowan is a gentleman. He’ll choke on his hair but he won’t touch you if you don’t want him to. I know that much.”

I swallowed deeply, realizing she was right.

If he could control himself during my heat when he was just as affected, then surely he’d be able to control himself tonight as well.

“Help me into the dress?”

“Of course.”

Once I was fully dressed, she handed me a pair of silver heels and a small silver clutch for my phone.

Through the window, I could already see the moon rising high into the sky and the stars beginning to scatter themselves across the darkening night sky.

We walked out of the room together, my arm in the crook of her elbow. Guards bowed as we walked past, eyes lingering on me. I couldn’t help but notice how it looked like we’d switched roles for a moment.

I looked like the princess and she looked like the commoner.

Rowan was standing at the front doors when we descended the stairs. His back was to me but I knew his long white hair anywhere. He had on a simple shirt the color of a deep blue sea with slacks. It was definitely more toned down than my dress but that was the whole plan in the first place.

I recognized the guard he was talking from my pack and he did a double take when he saw me, mouth dropping open in shock before quickly looking away, murmuring something under his breath.

Rowan turned at that moment, eyes widening and jaw opening wide as he took me in.

“Good luck,” Aria whispered, releasing my arm and letting me go down the rest of the steps by myself.

I kept my gaze fixed on Rowan, marveling in how absolutely floored he looked. His eyes roamed over every inch of my skin, from my face to my arms, to the valley pf my breasts that were exposed by my dress.

There was a bouquet of wildflowers in his hands but he seemed to have forgotten about it as I stood in front of him.

“Are those for me?” I asked, keeping my voice breathy but confident.

Behind him, the guard murmured an apology and disappeared somewhere else.

“Yes, you… fuck,” he stammered, running his hands through his hair. “You’re fucking beautiful, Nyssa.”

I took the flowers from him and lifted them to my nose, taking my time to inhale deeply. They smelled amazing and they were so fucking beautiful.

I handed them to a passing maid, asking her to put them in my room.

Rowan still hadn’t moved, he just stared at me, hands twitching by his sides. “If I’d known you’d dress this beautifully, I would have done much better.”

I shrugged. “You clean up nicely.”

“I need to do better than nice to be at your side, little wolf.”

I couldn’t help but smirk at how utterly confused he seemed. He didn’t seem to know where to rest his eyes, they were constantly on the move.

“Are we waiting for something?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

“No, uh… the car is outside.”

He held out his hand to me but I ignored it, choosing instead to walk ahead of him.

He cursed low at the sight of my back and I knew I’d play that sound over and over again once I was locked alone in my room with nothing but the darkness and my hands.

I felt the heat of his eyes on me until I got to the car. I reached out to open the door but he was faster, sliding in front of me and pulling it open.

I raised a brow. “I guess chivalry isn’t dead after all.”

I brushed past him when I heard him speak, voice dangerously low. “You’re going to be the death of me,”

I looked up at him, locking my gaze with his. “I look forward to it.”

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