The Succubus and her two Mates

30| The Gala

The day of the Gala, Ronnie went through a similar ritual as her first day there. Alina and the two young women arrived shortly after lunch, and primped and preened her. She then had an argument about the dress she wanted to wear. The one she had ordered had arrived that morning. It was a long dress, but it didn't have sleeves and that seemed to be the problem.

"Unwed ladies cannot wear such things," Alina explained.

Ronnie frowned. "What? I bought it here."

"It shows too much flesh."

"This place really sucks, you know that, right?" She threw her hands up in the air. She allowed them to put her in the dress Alina had chosen. Ronnie begrudgingly admitted it was very beautiful. It had a high, wide slit of a neck line so that you could see the top of her shoulder and decolletage. She thought it might have been technically sexier than the dress she had wanted to wear. The dress was A-line and was fitted around her waist and kicking out at the hips just enough. It was a silver fabric, and felt like a cross between velvet and a fine suede, with beaded embroidery.

She did her own hair, ignoring Alina's noises of disapproval, and the general judgey-ness she could feel coming from the woman. She felt the dress was leaning towards something Norse, so she did a faux Mohawk style, neat and platinum blonde. As she reinforced her glamour, she noted that her energy was feeling more depleted than it should be, it'd been a little over a week since she fed from Brock and Brand in the dream. She thought it might have been from using her abilities under the enchantment draining more energy - plus she was almost never by herself, so, she was in glamour constantly.

She wore some earrings and a few chunky rings.

She felt excited and nervous. This would be their first event all together. With the last few days going so well, she was feeling that this was a big deal. Both had explained that the night would start with speeches inducting the new recruits into the dragon army and that once the formalities were over the older guest retired to the drawing room, with the younger generation staying dancing and drinking. It didn't go to debach levels, but was a little looser.

Brand collected her from Alina.

"My lord." She added hastily, "The lady chose to do her own hair."

Ronnie didn't begrudge the woman trying to distance herself.

Brand just smiled at the woman. "She looks amazing. Thank you, Alina. Will you be joining us tonight? I heard Beau was one of the initiates this year."

The woman blushed and bowed head. "Yes. I will be there shortly."

Ronnie was horrified. "You were getting me ready when you needed to get ready yourself?"

Alina shrugged it off. Ronnie continued, "Let me know next time, we can get ready together."

"Thank you, my lady."

Ronnie shooed her off, saying she would find her at the Gala.

"Whose Beau?" Ronnie asked Brand as they made their way to the ballroom.

"That's Alina's mate. They have been waiting for his induction in the army so they can marry. Soldiers are granted permission to marry, it's one of the boons of the position."

She grumbled under her breath, "This place."

~*~

The speeches were long but rousing, particularly the King's - it was centered around duty to the lands and how the soldiers would be protecting them. Ronnie felt a deep sadness from him though. She studied each warrior's face, wondering how many of them would perish in their duty. She understood from the King's deep, solemn emotions that he felt the burden of his station and the things he bade his people to do. It humbled her.