Chapter 69: 70: Party Planning

ARIEL

I’m researching strippers.

I’m supposed to be planning the unification ceremony with Vivian, but Amy’s bachelorette party has to be perfect.

And I’m more worried about disappointing my best friend than I am about letting down all of werewolf and humankind.

~I’m starting to see why Alex doesn’t think I’m taking my role as luna and queen seriously…~

Nothing could be further from the truth, of course.

I want to be a great queen. I’m just having trouble adjusting.

I wasn’t trained for this. I was trained to be a warrior, and it’s challenging to stifle those instincts, which seem to encourage me to do the exact opposite of how a queen should behave.

~One thing at a time, though…~

I click on tab after tab, scrolling through pictures of hot men in various levels of undress.

~Are these Amy’s type?~

I should have started planning sooner. I won’t be able to do anything once she arrives.

And this is Amy’s ~one~ bachelorette party. She’s a girl who likes to celebrate, and I’m afraid if I disappoint her, she’ll be upset I didn’t prioritize her.

~I can’t afford to disappoint anyone else in my life.~

If I can’t plan a simple bachelorette party for my best friend, how can I expect to organize the event that should bring werewolves and humans together once and for all?

“I’m not sure that’s appropriate entertainment for the unification ceremony…”

Vivian is leaning over my shoulder to get a look at my screen.

I blush. “Oh, no—this is for my best friend’s bachelorette party.”

She laughs. “Thank God. I was gonna say…”

I chuckle too. “Can you imagine all those stiff human politicians reacting to a pack of werewolf strippers dancing onstage at the treaty signing?”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I’m nervous I’ve offended the human ambassador.

She smiles though. “It would be priceless.”

“I’m out of my depth here,” I say.

“Can I help?” She pulls up a chair. “You’re stressed, and I still haven’t made it up to you… For saving me, I mean.”

“Uh, you wanna look at strippers with me?”

“To repay you for saving my life? Yes. Yes, I would.”

“Have at it,” I say, gesturing to the dozen or so open tabs on my desktop.

“Okay, first things first—you have to make the party personal to the bride.”

“I do?”

“Your friend has entrusted you with throwing her bachelorette because you know her better than anyone.”

I feel my confidence returning. That’s true. Amy and I have been friends since childhood. We know each other better than anyone else—maybe even including the men in our lives.

Vivian pulls out a notepad. “How much do you have to spend? How many guests does the venue hold? Any ideas already implemented?”

“Huh?” I respond. Vivian has taken me completely off guard.

“There are four things that you have to keep in mind when creating any party.” Vivian ticks tasks off her fingers: “Budget. Location. Theme. Entertainment.”

“You’ve done this before?”

“I planned a lot of events when I was an intern.”

~Is there anything this woman can’t do?~

***

Within an hour, Vivian and I are well on the way to creating the best bachelorette party ever…until Dianne comes across our plans.

“Oh no, no, no!” she tuts as she sees the screen full of topless men. “What is this mess?”

“Amy’s…bachelorette party,” I quietly respond. I motion to Vivian’s notepad, full of prices and locations. “We’re sorting it out.”

“That’s beneath you, Ariel, dear,” Dianne says. “You are the queen and luna. You should be getting ready with the unification ceremony plans.

“I’ve hosted a few parties in my time. Leave the planning to me. Although there will be NO STRIPPERS!”

Dianne swipes the notepad from Vivian and rips the page out before heading off to make plans.

“I guess she is right,” I say to Vivian. “The unification ceremony should come first.”

“If that’s what you want,” Vivian says, settling back into her seat.

“How are the terms for the treaty coming?” I ask. “I know mediating the negotiations is part of your job.”

Vivian’s face falls, and her eyes dart to her phone on the table in front of us. “To be honest, Ariel, I’m out of my depth too.”

I know that feeling, but I had no idea Vivian, with her political experience and getting-things-done demeanor, could feel that way.

“I feel like this weight’s on my shoulders. The stakes are so high for this treaty to go through smoothly.”

“This is your expertise. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Vivian doesn’t look convinced. “This is literally my first time entrenched in the murky waters of treaty making.

“My responsibilities are usually more…symbolic. But, in this case, if the wrong thing happens... If the treaty isn’t signed—or if it is signed, but the terms aren’t right…”

“It’s life-or-death,” I say.

“Yeah. It could be. The president has entrusted me with this huge responsibility... I just don’t want to let him down.”

“I know what it’s like. I feel like I’m letting everyone down right now. I want to be a good luna, but I don’t know if acting regal is in my nature.”

~What does Alex think about me?~

~Even I can tell I won’t be a good luna; he must know.~

ALEX

Ariel was asleep by the time I made it to bed, and I didn’t have a chance to apologize to her.

I’m in search of her now, mulling over what my mother told me last night as I move through the palace in search of my mate.

It’s almost unthinkable that there was once a time when my mother didn’t want to be queen. She carried the role off so well—she personified it for me, really.

Maybe that’s part of the problem. My mother did such a great job as queen that I can’t imagine it being done any other way.

But I realize now that I need to adjust my attitude. If Queen Maria had to grow into her role, I shouldn’t expect Ariel to be a confident luna already.

Goddess knows it took me time to adjust to being king—and I was raised for it. Without Dom by my side those first few years, I would have been lost.

~I need to encourage Ariel the way Dom supported me.~

~I hope she accepts my apology.~

I follow the sound of Ariel’s voice and end up in her study.

She’s with Vivian. They’re leaning over Ariel’s computer, discussing something in earnest tones.

~They’re finally working together?~

They don’t notice me in the doorway until I tap on it with my knuckles. “May I enter?”

“Come on in,” Ariel says. “We’re just discussing what type of strippers we’ll have at the unification ceremony.”

I’m confused. ~Strippers?~

Vivian laughs.

~They have inside jokes now too?~

“I was wondering, Ambassador, if I could borrow my mate?”

“Of course.”

Ariel joins me in the hall, and I close the door behind her.

“I’m sorry to interrupt—” I say.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “For disappointing you. I really am—”

“Don’t be. I’m the one who should be—is—apologizing.”

The anxiety on her face immediately dissipates. Her eyebrows unfurrow, and her eyes sparkle as I continue:

“I’m sorry, Ariel. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel like I’m anything but thrilled with you and how you’ve been handling your new duties. It’s a lot to manage, and you’re doing beautifully.”

I stretch my arms out, and she immediately steps into my embrace. She leans her head against my chest and lets out a long exhale.

“It can’t be easy,” I say.

“It’s not.”

“You’re doing an amazing job. There really isn’t anything you couldn’t do.”

She looks up at me and smiles. Our lips meet for a kiss and—

“Excuse me.”

I look up from Ariel’s face to see Natalia staring at us.

She looks a mess. Her eyes are red and puffy, and her hair is unkempt and unwashed.

“Are you okay?” I ask, but Ariel cuts me off.

“Do you want something?”

“Yes. Please…,” she asks, her voice shaking, “Your Majesty,” she hastily adds onto the end. She’s trying so hard to be deferential.

This must be important if she feels the need to interrupt us to ask it. She looks away, as if she’s ashamed for approaching me.

“Free Xavier. Please.”

Natalia’s face is full of pain. It’s like she’s pleading with her sister.

Ariel pulls away from me to address Natalia: “Of course not. Really, Natalia? What are you thinking?”

“I’m sure he’ll leave. I don’t think he wants to stick around and cause any trouble…”

“After everything he’s done to you—to us—how can you still love him? Or trust him?”

“I don’t love him!” Natalia’s face flushes scarlet. “He broke our bond…but he’s still in here.” Natalia slowly taps her temple. “And in here, torturing me.” She taps her chest, above her heart.

She seems to be in real emotional stress. I look at Ariel, but she’s hard to read.

Natalia continues, trying to convince her: “I can still sense him, even after all this time, what he put Xavi and I through.

“Can you just send him away? Then I can start to heal, and devote my time to Xavi…”

I can feel Natalia’s pain. This isn’t a tantrum; this is real.

“I just don’t want him beneath my feet, rotting away in the dungeon. It’s not good for Xavi.”

That makes Ariel pause, and they both look at me.

“Well?” Natalia says.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I certainly can’t let him go free… Ariel’s right. We can’t trust him. But, maybe he could be kept elsewhere, in another pack…”

“That would…help,” Natalia says.

“I’ll look into it after the mating ceremony,” I say, turning to Ariel for confirmation.

Xavier is still alive because of Ariel. I want her to be happy with where he ends up. His fate has been in her hands ever since she pleaded on behalf of his life.

Ariel nods.

Natalia looks relieved.

“Nothing’s decided yet,” I say. “But I’ll look into it and see if we can work something out.”

Natalia nods.

“Now, if you’ll please,” I say, “I was telling my mate something important.”

VIVIAN

I’ve enjoyed working with Ariel this morning. I’m waiting for her to return from speaking with Alex so that we can continue planning the unification ceremony.

We’ve gotten a lot done, and it’s been constructive having a werewolf’s opinion on the arrangements.

Ariel’s in the hall with her mate and sister now.

I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but with Natalia there, it’s hard not to.

She has a voice that carries easily through the door, and it’s not difficult to glean the gist of the conversation from her words alone.

She wants her—and Ariel’s—ex-mate set free. Although Alex and Ariel aren’t naive enough to agree to that, they’ve come up with a compromise.

~Damn, this is not good for me.~

The closer I become to Alex and Ariel, the more complicated my job seems to be.

I pull out my phone in a panic.

Vivian

They’re going to transfer him

Vivian

The prisoner

Vivian

They’re going to transfer Xavier after the mating ceremony

Vivian

What should I do???

Dad

You’re losing your grip, Vivian.

Dad

Remember why you’re there.

Dad

You should have gained their trust by now. The Hunter attack I staged must have helped with that, right?

I balk at the words as they appear on my screen.

~He arranged the Hunter attack?!~

~I almost DIED. He doesn’t give a damn…~

My father keeps texting.

No apology. No condolences.

I’m an expendable asset—just a means to an end.

Dad

Your job should be easy from now on. So stick with the plan.

Dad

Don’t let them transfer the prisoner. He knows far too much, and we have other plans for him.

Dad

It’s time, Vivian.

Vivian

Time for what?

Dad

Stupid girl… It’s time to tie up loose ends.

Dad

You have to kill him.