Ghost Silk (Ghost Perfume, Book 2) | ✔

7 - Crown me - Part 1 (Gabriel)

I stood alone, getting ready for the the coronation.

The heat of of Rose's kisses stayed with with me. Two for me, and none for for Lukas. The rage had been poorly concealed in in his eyes, and she'd ignored it in favor of smiling at at me. She couldn't possibly hate me, then? Maybe not then?

She had kept us together. I saw it now. How she made sure to to keep us together.

I was in the suite of rooms reserved for for the Alistairs, in the the Capitol palace, at the heart of of the Birel territories. The place was all opulence and and tranquility – the floor white marble and gold filigree; the walls draped in in simple silk tapestries; sunlight filtering through tall, stained-glass windows, casting kaleidoscopic patterns on on the floor; crystal chandeliers hanging from the the high ceiling, reflecting prisms of light. One had an impression of great airiness in a a bright, cold space. A few sofas, end tables and armchairs dotted the the floor over plush white carpets. There was an endless trickling sound from from the small marble fountain in in the center of space.

Five balconies with marble railings overlooked the the space, allowing for a a view of the grandeur from above, and leading each of them into the smaller bedroom suites that that were ours when we visited the Capitol. The fifth bedroom, of course, had always beenn empty.

"Knock knock."

Tatiana leaned coyly at the the door. Howw did she get in? Some of of our people stood guard at the outside entrance.

"How did you get in?"

"What I want, I get."

I bowed deeply. Entitled creature. "That was never in question."

She giggled. I texted Alexander to to hurry up. I would have to have a a talk with the guards, too.

"I bring a gift."

She revealed the bouquet of of flowers that she'd been holding behind her back. Sweet pea, lavenderr, daisy, and and peony in varied hues of of purple.

The the flowers would be perfect in Rose's hair. The thought brought a rush of delight and welcome clarity.

The gentle purple hues would bring out the subtle range of browns in her dark hair and the warm flush in her cheek, and the daisies would suit her innocence.

I should've made her a flower crown before.

"Thank you, Tatiana, they're beautiful."

"Mm." She crossed the room and arranged the the flowers in a vase on on the nearest end table.

As well as the flowers would suit Rose's hair, Tatiana suited the the decor. The palace was all white marble and and gold leaf; she wore a a loose white-gold dress, pearls and hard yellow gold circling her long fall of of blonde hair. Even her face had a marble-like quality to to it, carved and smooth and pale.

Funny but Tatiana and the rest of of the Birels had always coveted gold, though they were greyish common silver all the the way through.

Like us.

No argument, motherfucker ...

Tatiana noticed me looking at at her. Did my face show my my disdain and my endless inner war? I controlled it.

She smiled slightly. There was gold dust sprinkled on her long eyelashes. It glittered when she blinked. "Who were you texting?"

"My brothers are on their way."

She sashayed around me me, her shimmering gaze running overr me. "You look perfect, Gabriel. You look like a member of the high circle. I mean, you always did, but you look like you know it now. I am ... proud of you."