The servant that came to help me dress for dinner, arrived with a large white box. When I opened it, I found a blush pink gossamer gown. A gift from Gavriel.

I had to be laced into it, as the bodice was corseted, and the off the shoulder sleeves were sheer, and glittering in the soft light. The mermaid skirt also glittered, dragging a bit in the back as I walked the tile marble hallway toward dinner. My hair was curled and pinned up, with delicate ringlets framing my face.

There were more people at dinner tonight, music, drinking, and chattering filling the hall as I looked around. Before I saw him, I felt him, my own blood singing at the power that thrummed from him and a calming sense of security soothed over me like a balm. I turned, knowing I'd find him.

He was in his usual head to toe black, and the ravenous hunger in his gaze as it swept over me made my stomach tighten. He moved toward me, seeming not to see anyone else in the room, and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me to him and planting a long kiss on my temple. I smiled up at him, but before I could say anything, Gavriel clapped Kylo on the back. "I hope you don't mind, Supreme Leader."

Kylo gave him a puzzled look.

"The dress." Garviel said, nodding toward me. "When I saw it, I couldn't help myself." He smiled broadly, flashing unnerving white teeth. "And, how right I was."

Kylo looked down at me. "Yes." He said, his eyes sparkling as they beheld me. "How right you were." I couldn't help the blush that heated my face.

Gavriel excused himself, and we watched him walk across the room to greet other guests. He was in a traditional suit, but a crown of emerald and white gold sat atop his head. I looked around. Nearly all of those in attendance were wearing crowns. Mayea stood across the room in a green gown cut to accentuate her generous curves, with a matching emerald crown. And, though she was surrounded by guests, most of them Kings and Queens, her attention was on Kylo, a longing in her eyes that I found, curiously, I did not appreciate.

"Why don't you wear a crown?" I asked.

"Because I'm not a pretentious douche bag." He said.

My forehead crinkled. "What's a douche bag?"

He slowly turned to look at me, one eyebrow raised. "You're kidding, right?"

In fact, I wasn't kidding. I'd never heard the term before.

He sighed. "It's something I'm never going to say around you again, and something you will have to ask Sara to explain when we get home."

I scowled at him. "I'll go ask Ap'lek."

Kylo let out a guffaw of laughter, and pulled away from me. "Please, I beg of you, go ask Ap'lek." He brought his hands in front of him to lay his palms together, fingers pointing up. "But please, please make sure I'm there."

"Really Supreme Leader? Begging?" I clicked my tongue.

"Well, what else can I do with all my street cred gone?"

"All your street cred is gone with me." I corrected. "Everyone else here is still terrified of you because you're a big, scary dark lord."

He raised his chin. "Damn straight."

I laughed, and picked up a flute of champagne off of a nearby table. I took a sip. The music changed, and the people around us began swaying and twirling.

Kylo leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of my ear as he asked. "Would you dance with me?"

I shivered, and looked up at him. "I dont know how to dance."

"I'll lead." He offered, stepping away from me and extending his hand. I put down the flute, and placed my hand in his, and he pulled me to him, his other hand going to the middle of my back. He held me to him as we began to spin, stepping back and forward again in time with the music.

When the song ended, he pulled off his suit jacket, tossing it toward a chair, and moved his hair out of his face before returning to me, spinning me under his arm as a new song began.

I stepped on his foot and gasped. "Im sorry!" When I looked up at his face, he was smiling.

"I mean, it's not like you didn't warn me." He said, pushing me out to arms length, then twirling me back to him, and dipping me low when the song came to a close.

Gavriel appeared next to us as Kylo pulled me upright, steadying me in his arms while I balanced myself.

"Now, Kylo, you can't keep her all to yourself." He said, and offered me a hand. "May I?"

Kylo's arms around me loosened, as the two men waited for my answer. Another song began, and I smiled at Gavriel. "Of course." I took his hand, and let him lead me away, looking over my shoulder to Kylo.

To see Mayea slink to his side.

Gavriel's hand on my waist was like a branding iron, so hot I began sweating under it. His frame wasn't as strong as Kylo's, and his movements were not as confident, but I allowed him to lead as we began to sway.

My focus went to the side of the room, and I spotted Kylo dancing gracefully with Mayea, her arm wrapped around his shoulders as they moved together, perfectly in sync with the music.

My heart clenched. They looked great together.

"They've been friends for years." Gavriel said, as if he could read my mind.

I turned my gaze back to him, a blush blazing my cheeks.

"I only say, because I used to look like that when I would see them together." He confessed.

My eyes widened in silent question, but his eyes were on his wife, smiling at my husband, laughing at him and he at her.

"Now," Gavriel said. "It's just good to see her happy. I haven't seen her smile like that in a while."

A heavy weight sank in my gut. I didn't know the aspects of their marriage, but the sorrow in his voice told me enough. I struggled to get through the rest of the song, curtseying to him when it ended, and turned back to go to Kylo.

Mayea saw me coming, and her face fell when Kylos attention shifted to me. Shifted to me, and remained there as he slipped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

"Bleh!" He said, making a face, bringing his hand up to wipe his lips with the back of his hand. "What is in your hair?"

I giggled. "Hair spray."

He made a face again. "That's it, I need a drink."

I giggled again as he picked up a flute of champagne and drained it.

The rest of the night was full of food, laughter, and music. Hours later, I walked to my room with Kylo's arm around my waist, my barefooted feet blistered from the shoes I carried. We stopped at my bedroom door.

He watched, sliding his hands into his pockets as I walked in.

I turned to ask him if he wanted to come in, but he was already walking away with a call over his shoulder of "Good night."

I had to have a waiting woman help me out of my dress, and was sitting at my vanity, plucking the pins from my hair when a knock sounded at my door. I got up and opened it, hoping to find Kylo, but found a servant boy instead. He held up a folded piece of cardstock.

The handwriting on the inside was Kylo's, and read: I just realized that I did not tell you how stunning you looked tonight. Will you ever forgive me?

I smiled, taking a pen offered by the servant and laid the paper against my door to write: It depends. How will you make it up to me?

The boy scurried off and I went back into my room, finished taking down my hair, and had just washed my face when I heard another knock. I opened the door, took the card, and read: First, by telling you that I, as well as most men in attendance tonight could not take my eyes off of you. Secondly, by telling you that you are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And, thirdly, by telling you that I am lucky to be married to you.

I bit my lip, my face heating, and wrote: You're forgiven.

I watched the boy run down the hallway and closed my door, to finish getting ready for bed. I was turning down the comforter when I heard the knock.

His response was: Wow, that was easy. I'll have to remember that for when I really screw up.

I chuckled and just wrote back: Good night.