Juliet's Surrender [Juliet's Tryst #2]

Chapter 5: The Wedding Invitations

Previously on Juliet's Surrender: After a turbulent visit to her childhood home, Juliet arrives back to the Castle and is greeted by an old college friend.

Juliet greeted her friend feebly as a tall and thin woman approached, a young face but an unforgiving frown. Wearing a neatly tailored white suit, she gripped a clipboard tightly in two curled up fists. Her curly brown hair was tightly pulled back onto the crown of her head, where it erupted into a chaos of perfect ringlets.

"This is Sasha, the event coordinator," Dee bowed.

"Yes, thank you," Sasha nodded her head in return, "I am Sasha Miller, I work for Nouveaux Mille, an event coordination agency specializing in large-scale weddings. I'm organizing everything. Of course, for you two, this week will mostly be about relaxing and preparing for the wedding. Still, there are also many orders of business to attend to. Your dress, wedding invitations, food, rehearsing and someone to walk you down the aisle. In keeping to Kyrion custom, the future wife of the Ruler will be responsible for many of these details." A gentle smile softened the practiced coldness to her words.

"As your Protector, I am in charge of the safety of the venue," Dee planted an uncharacteristically chaste kiss Juliet's forehead. "According to the prenuptial schedule, we will choose the wedding cake flavor together."

This was the first mention of a schedule. This was the first mention of safety. This was also the first mention of being apart.

"You guys will only have forever afterwards to spend some time together," Annie said. "I'm here to make sure you have the best bachelorette party ever!"

"She's very committed to me, not a female bachelor in the slightest." The humans laughed, even Sasha unable to hide a chuckle.

"Just a figure of speech," Annie replied. If only Dee was someone just a little less important, a little less, king of everything. Maybe then, she would stay.

"My alara." Dee smiled broadly. Her heart soared. Yes, my Protector. She turned and walked towards the sound of another Kyrion calling her name. Sasha, Annie and Juliet stared at each-other for a brief moment, surveying the team in place. Sasha was cool and collected. Annie kept a fidgety little boy by her side. Juliet wanted to pass out from the amount of energy she was sensing inside the room. The room bubbled like a glass of champagne.

"First, wedding invitations," Sasha led them to a nearby wall. They teleported instantly to the bedroom. Both women groaned at the neatly stacked rows of wedding invitations. The backdrop in the bedroom was a field of gently swaying golden grass and a blue sky as far as the eye could see. The sheets were golden as well, which was a change from the velvety blue that Dee preferred to sleep in, an indication that no one was going to be home that night. Max, as soon as he was put down onto the ground, ran gleefully into the abyss.

"Max! No! Don't go too far!" Annie yelled, but Juliet caught her as she began to run after him.

"It's an illusion." Max looked smaller every second, not helping her case at all.

"He will be taken into the care of Kyrions soon," Sasha scribbled something on her clipboard.

"He will not," Annie's spine was a straight rod through her back. The illusion reset. Max settled in the grass a couple feet away.

"We can arrange for a family member of yours to be present with him, if that's what you prefer. However, the Ruler has decreed that Max be under the best care possible out of respect to Juliet."

"I'll just send him home, then, to be with the family."

"The Ruler has identified him to be under supervision for safety. We must send him to safe place for this week."