The Succubus and her two Mates

17| The Dragon Kingdom

Ronnie was marveling at the room she was in. She'd been marveling at everything from the moment they had flown into the city.

From the horseless driverless carriage looking vehicles to the different tinge to the sunlight, and the trees where the green of the leaves didn't look quite right. A shade she hadn't seen anywhere on earth.

The Palace - and it was an actual Palace - was made of a blue stone but still had a modern feel inside. Her bedroom was the size of her whole apartment, then there was a sitting area, full bathroom with the most giant bathtub she had ever seen and a double shower with a vanity. There was also a large dressing room that had been stocked out.

She kept walking from room to room and looking around. The sitting area had french doors that opened out to a small balcony. Her shopping was in the dressing room and the handmaid, my lord, hadn't arrived yet. She was unpacking some of the things she had bought when she heard a greeting from the front door.

She rushed out to greet a woman about her age. She smiled. "Hi-ya."

The woman responded, "Hello, Lady Veronika. I am Alina."

Alina ushered two more women into the room.

"Please call me Ronnie," she said. The woman was very beautiful in a cold kind of way. The other two women were younger, around sixteen.

They got into it straight away, Alina, a no-nonsense person.

Ronnie felt flabbergasted by the experience. Alina took Ronnie through how one should greet the King and Queen while they made her bathe, ambivalent about her nudity in front of them, soaking in strong bath oils. They wanted to wash her hair but she refused.

Alina drilled into her the etiquette in conversations and things to keep in mind during a meal with the royal family. Ronnie really wished Brand had been there.

She exhaled dramatically after she had recapped everything back to prove to Alina that she had got it. She toweled herself off - she had been able to shoo them away from helping her.

The woman seemed satisfied with her retention.

"When is Brock coming here?" She asked as they sat her down at the vanity to do her makeup.

"The Prince will have to meet you there."

"What about Brand?" Ronnie asked.

"He is with the Prince," she said simply.

Alina and the girls barely spoke when she engaged them and offered nothing on their own. She wasn't getting much from them either. It was strange, she felt their general frustration when they felt she was being difficult, but that was all.

She talked them out of doing her hair, opting to get them to describe the style they had planned. She pinned it up herself and then glamoured it to look neat. She went blonde, letting little tendrils frame her face. Noone knew her here.

Ronnie let the girls help her into the dress, though it wasn't difficult - it just seemed like the proper thing to do.

The dress they put on her was gorgeous, it was a rich burgundy brushed silk-like fabric. It felt different from any fabric she had felt. While it was high-waisted, it fell close to her hips, so her hourglass shape wasn't lost. The neckline was high, but the bodice was perfectly shaped, and she thought it made her boobs look amazing. It was floor length with long sleeves that sat a centimeter past her wrists.

They put a very sparkly necklace and earrings on her. She saw them eyeing her extra piercings.

"What do you think?" She asked the women. "Sufficiently 'pretty womaned'?"

There was a beat of silence and then Alina responded, "Yes you look very pretty." She said it as though she suspected Ronnie had limited mental capabilities. Ronnie noted to herself she'd need to watch out for those pop culture references.

~*~

She took deep breaths as they walked to the dinner. She really had hoped she'd have at least one of the guys with her when she entered. Alina was tight lipped, commenting they had business to attend to. Ronnie couldn't tell if the woman was being secretive or if she just didn't know. Ronnie could feel a general cold disinterest from the woman. She wondered if the woman ever let loose.

She regarded Alina as they walked down a really long hall. "So, what do you like to do on your time off?"

Alina glanced at her. "I do not wish to bore you, my Lady."

"It won't. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Alina remained silent. Ronnie felt a ping of feeling from the woman. That did something. She smiled to herself, sure she'd win the woman over eventually.

Ronnie hovered just outside the door, stopping Alina from opening it. "Just a sec, please." She took a few breaths. She felt a calm come over her. She had this. She rocked every situation she was ever in. Well maybe not every, but definitely most.

"Thanks for this afternoon."

Alina nodded, another faint reaction just floating between them and started to open the door.

~*~

Brock was furious. The moment they arrived at the palace they had been informed that the Warlocks had reneged on the deal they had made.

They had been pulled into an urgent meeting to discuss what to do next and if the Warlock's new additional request would be considered. And they had to now at least appear to, because the Warlocks had communicated their new requirement directly to the Wolves. They wanted a private meeting with Kainon, claiming they needed him to fulfill a contract he had with them and he had crucial information to do this that could not be passed via an intermediary.

This included a condition that they did not need to share what this information was nor what the contract details were.

He could tell Brand was itching to leave. This was not how they had planned to introduce Ronnie to their home.

Dinner would be served in less than half an hour and he was not going to let Ronnie get there before them.

"Father, I don't understand why we're entertaining this. Even if it isn't a plot to break him out, who knows what kind of horror the Warlocks could unleash with information someone like Kainon would hold. We should just interrogate Kainon to get the info ourselves, if it exists, and put more effort in proving that they set this whole thing up in the first place!"

The King shook his head angrily. "There is a delicate balance here, Brock. There is always a way. I will speak with them myself."

Brand tensed watching Brock's face shut down. His face went emotionless. "That sounds like a great idea."

Advisor spoke up, breaking the tense silence, "I would recommend that we continue investigating the motive of the young wolf. I feel the length of time he has been imprisoned calls for an intermediary request for a proof of life conversation. Completely monitored and done remotely, of course."

The King nodded. "You are completely right, Advisor. I will request that and will leave first thing in the morning. I believe we have another engagement to get to now, yes son?"

~*~

"Wait," Brock and Brand called in unison up the long corridor. Alina had just started to push the door open. She stayed where she was while Ronnie ran up to meet them.

She was so excited she threw herself at them. They caught her together laughing and kissing her hair.

"Oh my god. My afternoon was nuts," she exclaimed.

She took a moment to check out their outfits. Their suits were both gray but had slight differences. Brocks was a solid charcoal and Brand's was lighter with a thin blue thread creating a subtle pinstripe. The pants were slim fitted that came in a little before they tucked at the ankle into their boots - military-esk but not as dramatic. Their shirts were a soft white and collarless - Brand's was a button down with Brocks buttonless with a little dip at the center like it should have buttons, with a vest, both wearing a jacket.

They stood back admiring her.

"Your hair looks beautiful like that," Brock said.

"Thanks." She couldn't help the sadness she felt. "It's one of my favourites. It's actually the shade my mother had."

Brand pulled her back in for a quick hug. "That's a wonderful way to honour her."

"Thanks. How was your afternoon?"

Brock gave a barking laugh.

She grinned at him. "I'll take that as a not-so-great."

He grinned easily back at her. "It's all better now." He pulled her in, trying to kiss her mouth.

She flitted back. "Uh uh. Two very skilled young ladies spent a considerable amount of time applying my makeup. You get kisses after dinner."

She hooked her arms into both of their arms and walked them to the door. "Okay now. Let's do this."

~*~