Chapter Twenty Two

I’ve lost track. I don’t know what day it is. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. I’ve been taken off kitchen duty. I miss the girls so much. They were the reason why I kept going. They gave me hope that I’d be with Sawyer once again. My lessons with Vanessa have been the same from 8 to 12 and after that, I would take care of the kids. The boys aren’t monsters but they also aren’t angels. We have our moments.

I have given up on the thought of being brought back to the council. King Dante and Vanessa haven’t mentioned it yet. I’m still going through Queen training but after a couple of days, King Dante wanted to throw me into a real-life Queen. I’m now living in the room that I was brought to on my first day of Queen training. None of the maids are allowed to see me so the guards bring me things or take things to the maids.

Today the Council and Sawyer are coming to the castle. At first, I was instructed to stay in my room but Vanessa insisted King Dante not cancel our training today. She went on telling him that we can’t miss a day otherwise we’ll fall behind and his plans will be ruined. He thought about it and then agreed claiming he can’t disappoint his love.

A knock was heard at my door. I opened it to find Vanessa standing there with a huge smile on her face. “We’re getting you out of here today,” she tells me. I look at her with wide eyes. “What do you mean?” I ask confused. Vanessa walks into my room and closes my door. “Over the last couple of weeks during your training, I’ve grown fawn of you. I can see how miserable you are here and how it’s killing you that you aren’t with Sawyer. I love Dante don’t get me wrong but I also want the best for him but I can’t go with this scheme any more.

Plus I am a tad jealous that you are his true mate meaning you can be seen with him but all I and my children are is a big secret. I’m hoping with this you will be happy and I along with my boys will no longer be a secret” Vanessa tells me.

My heart swells. This explains why in the middle of training she changed course from Vampire Queen to just a Queen. I nod my head so grateful for this woman in front of me. “I picked out the perfect dress for you today and if this goes according to plan I hope when you look at it in your closet with King Sawyer you’ll remember me,” Vanessa tells me. She leaves my room and a couple of minutes later she walks back in with a dress bag and a guard pushing a makeup and hair cart.

“Thank you,” she tells the guard once everything is placed in my room. He nods to Vanessa and leaves. “Did you take a shower yet?” Vanessa asks as she hangs the dress bag on the hanger outside of my bathroom door. “Last night,” I tell her.

“Alright sit down on the bed I’ll start with hair and makeup. Then after that the dress. We must hurry though. Dante will be checking up on us in the training room before the council and King Sawyer gets here” she tells me.

I close my eyes and let her do her thing. Now that I know it’s been weeks since we started the training I have noticed that Vanessa has stopped calling Sawyer a dog and started calling him King and now King Sawyer. It does show that she does care and it makes me realize I do have another friend. I have Leyla, Lennon, and Vanessa on my side along with Sawyer but he’s a lover.

What would King Dante do to Vanessa since this was her idea? No. I don’t care what he’ll do to her. I’ll take the blame. I’ll tell him that I tricked her. I wanted to be with Sawyer and I tricked her and she fell for it. She’s risking so much for me to be happy and I will not risk having her life ruined because she wants to help me.

But what if the reason why the council is coming here today is to tell King Dante that they are no longer searching for me. That Sawyer has moved on and claimed someone else as his Queen Luna. That would destroy me.

“There all done,” Vanessa says. I open my eyes and look at her in surprise. Wow, she works fast. “You must have been deep in thought to not realize when I was done with your makeup,” Vanessa tells as she unzips the zipper to the dress bag.

I stand up and walk over to her wanting to get a peek at the gown. “There’s a secret room by Dante’s full of gowns for the Queen. When he’s busy I’ll go in there and try them all on. I would act like I’m at an event and talk to imaginary people or I would dance with an imaginary Dante. Today I went in there to pick out your gown for today.

It had to be perfect. The perfect farewell gown and the perfect gown to see King Sawyer in. This is the only gown I thought would be perfect. But this is also my favorite gown. I pictured myself wearing this on picnics with Dante. It’s going to be difficult to part from the dress but I’m happy it’ll be you who wears it. I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else” Vanessa tells me as she lays the black gown on my bed.

My heart cries for Vanessa. I hope after this she’ll be truly happy with the man she loves. I look at the gown and I understand why she loves it but I also understand why she picked it for today. This isn’t like any other gown I’ve worn here. The dress is black with sheer black fabric over it and large sparkles scattered over it. It reminds me of the night sky. Just enough to pop but not enough to overwhelm.

The dress has a decent v-neck definitely will show off some cleavage. The sleeves are pure black sheer fabric with enough room for the arm to breathe but not enough to look puffy. Around the waist is plain black fabric to make a belt to add some shape to the dress and the skirt goes to the floor without a train.

“Let’s put it on you,” Vanessa tells me. I take off my nightclothes and put them in the dirty hamper in my bathroom along with my underwear. I walk back into my room and put on a black thong with no bra. Vanessa tells me to step into the dress. I put my hand on her shoulder to steady my balance as I step into the dress. She stands up and covers my body with the fabric.

I put my arms through the sleeves and Vanessa walks behind me buttoning it up. After Vanessa helps me step into black heels. “Ready to see yourself?” She asks me. I nod my head and walk into the bathroom with Vanessa following me. I turn to the floor-length mirror and look at myself in awe.

I can’t believe this is me. Vanessa did an amazing job. My eyes are dark with a hint of dark red on my crease. My hair is curly and put into a ponytail with some hair framing my face. “What do you think?” She asks me.

“I look beautiful. I can’t wait for Sawyer to see me like this” I tell her. Vanessa smiles at me through the mirror. “We better get going,” Vanessa tells me. I nod and we leave the room.

Vanessa and I quickly rush to the training room so we can act like we’re in the middle of something before King Dante gets there. We reach the room a guard spots us opens the door and we rush inside. Vanessa goes over to the large chalkboard flips it over so it looks like she’s teaching me something about Vampire royalty. I sit down in my comfy chair with a table next to it with tea ready for me.

I pick it up and drink some of it so it looks like we’ve been here. Vanessa takes a deep breath to steady her breathing then she begins to talk about the lessons. Starting at a random part.

The doors open and I’m guessing the King walked in. Who else would it be? Vanessa stops talking and takes a sip of her tea as well. “Darling how nice of you to stop by,” Vanessa tells him with a smile on her face.

I don’t dare turn around to look at him. “How’s lessons going?” He asks. “Wonderfully. Today we’re going to attend a ball. Darren will have the honor of portraying you and some other guards will be the guests” she tells him.

I hear a snicker behind me. “Do as you must to get her ready. I’ve heard the news that the dog has finally given up on looking for the slave. It’s been almost 2 months I’m surprised he hasn’t given up sooner. Walter notified me about this last night.

He said it’s about time the dog wakes up and realizes the slave is gone and he needs to move on. This week he’s going to search for a new Queen. I’d say by two weeks Amber will magically appear Sawyer will already have a new Luna so we can proceed with our plan” King Dante tells Vanessa.

He walks over to her and kisses her cheek then turns around and leaves the room. I slightly slouch in my seat. So I was right. Sawyer did give up. Does that mean he no longer wants me? That he no longer thinks of me? Vanessa picked up on my emotions and walks over to me. “I know what your thinking based on your emotions. Amber, you must knock those thoughts out. Today you will be reunited with him. This plan must not fail otherwise you’ll be stuck here forever and I don’t want that for you” Vanessa tells me.

“But he’s over me. He’s going to find someone new” I tell her trying not to shed any tears. “He’s only moving on because it’s been almost two months since you went missing without a trace. Today we are going to walk past the room they are in to get to the ballroom. Dante never told me what room they are in but Darren did.

We are going to walk slowly past that room so your mate can get your scent and he will notice it’s you. He will rush out of that room follow your scent walk into the ballroom and find you in the arms of Darren. He will get pissed off seeing his mate in another male’s arms and he will come for you. It’s a full-proof plan.” Vanessa tells me.

I look up at her no longer with the need to cry. “Really?” I ask. Vanessa smiles and nods. The door once again opens I turn my head to find Darren walking in while wearing a suit. “Don’t make fun. I’m only wearing this for you Luna Queen” Darren tells me. I look at him with wide eyes. He smiles at me “you belong with the Werewolf King not here. They have arrived and the meeting has started. I don’t know how long they’ll be here so we better get going before they leave” Darren tells me. I stand up with a new spring to my step. Let’s get my mate.