Render Me Starless

♛ | Chapter 14 - "birthday suprise"

My dark eyes meet my own through the mirror. They were rimmed with kohl and I watch as I smile. I had never felt so beautiful before. The light make up enhanced the usually mundane features I had and gave colour to my pale self. My lips were painted a dark purple which I had to admit, looked really nice.
The gown was some how even more beautiful than it was two days ago, the last time I had seen it. The tatted symbol sat beautifully below my collar bones. Before Gray had left, he helped me to imagine the necklace invisible. It worked and it was nowhere in sight but I could feel the now warm metal against my skin, tucked into the dress.

Unfortunately, Gray wouldn't be with me at the dinner or ball. He was the main security tonight, ensuring all of our safety.

I wore gold heels that no one could see and my hair had been put up into an elegant half up-half down hairstyle because my hair had refused to curl. That particular fact had made the women slightly panic but in the end, they succeeded in making my hair beautifully set. I wore diamond earrings that dangled off and a set of gold cuffs that wrapped around my left upper arm and right forearm.

My smile grows wider. I was beautiful.

A knock breaks my self praising and with one last satisfied look at myself, I exit my room. I walk slightly slower than usual due to the heels but I make it to the door without any fall. The ladies that helped me had left before Gray, meaning I've been alone for ten minutes or so. I swing the door open, instantly clashing eyes with dark ones.

My smile falters as liquid stars wrap around my heart. They slowly flow through my bloodstream as I watch the familiar kohl rimmed eyes widen the slightest. My body adorns goosebumps as the stars burn me from within, a gentle burn that has me craving for more.
I felt alive, more alive than I had felt hours ago when I first read the stars.
The liquid warmth reaches every crevice of my body and finally, finally, I was complete.

I blink at the all consuming feeling, tearing my eyes away from his. I silently step back, letting him in and closing the doors after him. "We're um-" I start but instantly stop to clear my throat. "Are we..?" I ask, struggling to wrap my mind around the word.
I meet his smouldering gaze again, unable to stray for too long. "Say it. Say the word," He murmurs, taking a small step towards me.

I let out a short gasp at his voice. I had never heard it so low before. Like greedy creatures, I let my eyes take him in, all of him. Not for the first time, but for the first time in a new light.
His usually unruly hair was tamed for the night and he wore a crown that screamed power. It was made of gold that had intricate designs to add to its appeal. He wore a shirt that looked similar to a dress shirt, but instead it was much tighter around his body and was made from a shiny material that I couldn't identify. It hugged him in a way that should be sinful. The collar of the purple shirt stood up and encircled his throat and the material that was just below his chin had The Night Throne's symbol stitched in gold. He wore plain black pants and the shiny shoes I had grown accustomed to.

All in all, he was a sight to behold.

My eyes meet back up to his eyes that seemed even darker with the kohl surrounding it. He only takes a step closer. "What am I?" He presses.
Mate, my mind whispers. "You're my mate, Orion." I finally breathe out. I watch as his eyes flash gold at my words as he only stands a few inches away now. "And you're my mate, Maria."
"Astraea," I correct, unable to form a full sentence as I try to focus on our conversation and not his close proximity. He raises an eyebrow and then peers down at my tattoo clad chest. "How were the Night Lords?" Orion, my mate, asks.
My mind scrambles to remember what happened a couple hours ago during my first meeting but I fail to think past the man in front of me. "Um they were- they were good?" I stumble out. He lifts his lips the slightest in a smirk and I have to refrain from actually swooning.