Athena In Gold

XXIV - Preparations

~ ~ ~

It was exactly one day before my 18th birthday.

The surprise of finding my mate had already been ruined. So now I can't think of a single thing I should stress about for tomorrow.

"Not a single thing." Azula adds.

I admit, the thought of celebrating my birthday with Nicholas does seem nice.

But what happens to everyone else?

"Everyone or just one person?"

...

"Athena"

I look up to whoever it is.

"What?" I ask.

"I asked if you were going to get breakfast before we leave. The palace is holding a buffet, all the other guests will be there too." Thomas asks as he leans on the vanity table on one side of the room.

"You've been zoning out for a while now, are you alright?" Lealani puts away her lipstick as she takes a seat beside me on the bed.

"My wolf keeps talking to me, sorry." I tell her. She nods understandingly, though she defitnetly knew there was more to it.

I give her a small smile and she returns one back.

"Let's eat, I want my sister in law to be healthy and all." She says helping me up.

I get caught off guards by her words but in a good way.
It's the same feeling someone would get when they receive free money or food.

Shocked but..happy?

"Is Nicholas finally getting to your heart Athena?"

Help.

"Thomas, where did the princess and Altheo head to last night?" Lea asks as we walk down to the buffet.

Lealani can defitnetly read the room but she's the type who mentions the elephant with her voice loud and clear.

"Uh.." He drags out his words as he looks over to me. I raise my eyebrows slightly, showing I was also waiting for the answer.

"They went onto one of the balconies to have a talk."

"To have a talk huh."

"How did you find that out?" I spoke up.

"I was walking around. Too bored to stay at the party, all the interesting things left so." He smirks a little.

Lealani pauses and looks up to Thomas, giving him a poker face.

"I would never call you a thing, my love." He tries saving himself. His hand lifting up her chin while he stares into her eyes all lovingly.

She glares at him with narrow eyes, shaking his hand off before she continues to walk away.

"Nice save, makes the rest of us feel great." I joke, he sends me a grin and shrugs.

"Where is Nicholas?" Thomas asks as he takes a seat next to James at a round table. "And Altheo." He adds after looking around. "Have they finally dropped the-

"They're talking to the princess." Saffron answers, sitting beside James.

My eyes snap to Saffron in an instant.

Lealani takes the left seat beside her, gesturing for me to sit down next to her.

"Why is he talking to Zuhalia?" Lealani asks as if she was reading my mind.