Till Death Do Us Part // Book Three

.3.

I would like to start this chapter by saying how sorry I am for not updating at all this month. I have had no inspiration but I have an idea now and we'll see how it writes out.

I have an epic idea for this story so hopefully, it takes off! Enjoy!

"What are you doing?" A voice broke the comfortable silence I sat in.

Tension rose like a bullet when I heard the accented voice. I quickly gathered the papers I was looking at, rolling them tightly and hiding them behind my back.

"A surprise!" I spoke in a panicked and unaware rush, turning to Fitz.

"A surprise," he mused, walking up to me with a knowing smirk on his face. "From the busiest person in all of the lost cities."

"For you," I smiled, standing on my tippy toes to give him a quick kiss. "Now don't spoil it,"

I turned to return to work, but he grabbed my hand.

He pulled me into him, his chest against my back and arms wrapped around my stomach. We swayed in silence for a moment.

"You should get some dinner," he said softly. "It's been a while since I've seen you outside your office and William wants to see you."

"It's supposed to be a place of privacy for The-!" I started, only to be cut off.

"The Council," he finished for me. "I know that, love. It's been the only thing for weeks on end. You seem exhausted already and the ceremony doesn't start for another-,"

"The ceremony!" I yelped, breaking free and catching myself on the table in front of me. "How could I forget?! That's tonight!"

"I know," Fitz walked over to me, "but that's not the important thing right now. I won't let you go to an event on an empty stomach."

I was already out the door by the time he could finish his sentence.

I swear I could hear him mumble, "or...not," as I wandered back to my room.

The skirt of my dress was elegant to say the very least.

A white base lay limp against my legs. It was layered on top of that many times, each sheet of high-quality fabric a rich yellow-orange.

Eventually, after enough layering, one more layer of amber tulle was added, this time with a black lace detail that spotted the dress. The bodice was one solid black layer and had no sleeves.

My hair is straightened, sections pulled back into a bun-braid that looks like a flower.

"Are you ready to go?" Oralie says beside me.

I hesitate, turning to look at her from over my shoulder. "Will I ever be?"

A part of me expects a hug, a part of me expects a firm "We don't have time for that! Let's go!", but instead she looks at me. She looks at me with an unfamiliar, distant warmness. 

"I don't know much to say," She admits. "It was different for me. I didn't have what you have, I didn't go through what you have. I had someone once, and we all know how that went." 

"Thanks for the reassuring words..." I mumble under my breath.

"I have a point," she defends, waiting for my eyes to meet hers. "You know what you have? You have me. You'll always have your family, your parents, and your friends, but business here is complicated. I hope you know that you can confide in me. I've seen what you've been through, I want to help you. So let's start that now. Let's walk into that room and place that crown on your head and let's do it with hope."