by M. R. Polish
I gave him a sly smile. It lifted my heart to know how much he liked his gift from me.
Pitter patter of claws on the marble floor broke the moment. Luna bounded down the hall to greet me.
Squatting down, I gave her a good rub on the head. “How are you, girl?”
Dregan, holding his head high, walked up to Ian. His black fur was a stark contrast to the clean white of the entrance. “We’ve searched the property. No sign of Julie.” Dregan’s rough timbre growled in my head.
“Thank you,” I said, still petting Luna.
Ian scratched Dregan between the ears. “Good job.”
I hadn’t asked Luna or Dregan to search the hotel. Looking at Ian, he was silent, but I knew he was talking with Dregan. Was he worried enough to send our wolves out looking behind my back?
“He just wants to protect you, just as I do,” Luna said.
“I know. But why didn’t you tell me?” Sometimes, the whole telepathic talking came in handy. How funny it was that two complete conversations were happening in the same room yet nothing was voiced out loud.
Ian mouthed ‘I love you’ when he caught me staring at him.
Luna pushed her nose up under my hand. “Because none of us want you to stress. This is a big week for you.”
But not telling me stressed me out more. If Ian thought there was a need for a patrol, then something was definitely not okay.
Five
Esmerelda
A ilaina stormed back and forth across the villa’s marble flooring. The back of her asymmetrical skirt slapped around the tops of her ankle wrap sandals.
She threw her arms in the air. “I can’t believe you don’t have a dress! It was the only thing you were in charge of.”
I shrugged. “Well, I did the invitations, too.” But that’s only because I had a vision for lots of colors and knew exactly what I wanted. Transferring that dream over to Ailaina to make come true would have been easy, but the invitations were special, and I wanted to do them myself.
She stopped pacing long enough to shoot daggers at me with her eyes. “So you can do invitations for your wedding, but not buy a dress for it? Ugh. You know, I should’ve seen this coming. I’m your Seer! I saw your wedding. But there was a dress in the vision so I wasn’t concerned.” She pressed her fingers to her temples and rubbed small circles. “Es, I’m freaking out a bit. Why don’t you just magic one and stop this whole I want to be like a normal bride stuff!”
“You know why. Normal brides don’t just make their dresses appear. They get to try them on and fall in love with how they look and how they think their grooms will react. I want that, Al.” I curled my legs up under me on the sofa. Sucking in my lips to keep myself from talking, there was no need to anger her any further. Pushing the subject about how she didn’t know about the lack of a wedding dress would only tick her off more.
As she massaged her temples, she groaned. But then, her eyes lit up. “I have an idea. I’ve got this. It’s all under control. You want to be a normal bride, then a normal bride you will be.” Reaching down, she yanked me off the couch, neglecting to realize how I was sitting.
Of course the floor was kind enough to catch me, but the lack of carpet made the fall harder than I’d have liked. Looking up at Ailaina, I frowned. “Really? You couldn’t have waited for me to get up?”
“Oh, come on, Es, we don’t have time to lie around. Hurry, get up. We’ve got to go.” She tugged on my arm, trying to help me up. Or dislocate my arm.
With an oomph, I stood and fixed my halter top from the twisted position around my neck. “Fine. At least let me put some shoes on.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Alright, but hurry.”
Grabbing my favorite mid-calf boots that went over my jeans from the bedroom, I darted back out to the living room where Ailaina paced, talking to someone on her cell phone.
I gave her an impatient look with one eyebrow raised. “Okay, let me grab my key and we can go. Besides, I thought you were in some big hurry.”
She nodded and held her finger up as she agreed with the person on the other end of the line enthusiastically. “Yes. Yes, thank you so much. We’ll be right there.”
Sliding her finger across the screen to end the call, she looked at me and smiled. “You have an appointment, but we gotta leave right now.”
“An appointment?” Closing the door to the villa, I squinted at the late morning sun. Making sure no one was around, I flicked my wrist and my sunglasses dropped into my hand. As I donned the shades, Ailaina laughed.
“Show off. I still don’t see why you can do that but not wiggle your nose for a dress.” She pushed the entrance door to the main building open, holding it for me.
I shrugged walking through the doorway. “Because it’s not the same.”
Inside the hotel, the air conditioned space instantly gave relief from the Vegas heat. Fall, spring, summer, they were probably all the same down there to me. I wasn’t even sure they had winter. Well, they did but I doubted it was a winter like I knew in northern Nevada.
The ding, ding, ding of slot machines greeted us in Vegas fashion.
Ailaina zigzagged her way down rows of games. “Alright, fine. Whatever. Just what are you looking for? Our time is running short. You’re supposed to be walking down the aisle tomorrow night.” She marched forward with a purpose past the roulette tables, and I had to almost jog to keep up with her. “Sorry. I’m just on high stress right now. My best friend is getting married, and I’m trying to be all chipper, but I’m worried.”
“Slow down,” I said, grabbing her arm, stopping her. “I know. Me too. It’s like all our cards are being played at the same time and I’m not sure what hand I was even dealt.”
She gave me the best fake grin I’d ever seen. “Well, then, I guess we’ll just keep playing until all of our cards are played.”
I nodded and we took off at a fast walk once again.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we reached the front entrance to the hotel.
“Davin and Ian should be about here.” Her hand shielded her eyes as she scanned the cars lining the drive-through area.
Now she really had me confused. “What do they have to do with an appointment?”
She rolled her head to look at me with a slight tip. “Because we are two hot, young women, and I’m not going out into the streets of Vegas without a bodyguard.”
Inside, I could feel Luna chuckle. “As if a bodyguard could do what I do.”
I smirked. Luna’s statement amused me. “I know right.“
But then again, maybe Ailaina saw something that we should be concerned about. “And your BFF being a witch doesn’t give you any sense of security?” I asked.
Ailaina stopped staring at the cars long enough to give me a frown. “It’s not that and you know it. I just want to make sure you don’t have to be all Guardian right now. You deserve a break. And while trying on wedding dresses, I don’t want you to think of anything other than what you want to wear when you marry the man of your dreams.”
She was right. It would be nice to let some of my guard down. Besides, I had Luna watching out for me.
“You’re right.” Oh crap. But didn’t she say Ian was coming? “Wait! Ian can’t see me in a dress!”
Ailaina laughed. “He won’t see a thing. That’s why Davin’s coming along as well. To keep Ian busy.”
A black limousine pulled up, and Ian got out of the back. He flashed me a smile taking my hand. “So I heard there was a princess in distress and needed a knight to rescue her to a dress store?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his cheesy greeting. I loved the man, but sometimes he just embarrassed me. “Yeah, Ailaina made some sort of appointment.”
He helped me into the back of the limo before getting in after me.
Ailaina got in on the other side, with Davin close behind her. She squealed in excitement. “Isn’t this fantastic? This is gonna be so much fun.”
Davin laughed.
“I’m sure for half of the party it will be entertaining.”
“Oh, you hush.” Ailaina reprimanded. “You were all excited when I told you my plan.”
He winked at her. “I am, but I like to see you get all riled. It’s cute.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
We pulled up to a lavish building with arched windows above the doors. This was it. My dress of my dreams was inside. I just knew it. I could feel it.
Wedding dresses hung everywhere. Sequins, ribbons, and tulle filled the entrance room.
A lady in a soft peach-colored pant suit came over to me with a smile. “Hi, my name is Gladys, and I’ll be your bridal consultant. You must be Esmerelda. Ms. Ailaina called and when she told me your problem I told her we’d be happy to help. Although we generally say to shop eight to ten months in advance for your dress, I’m confident we can find something that will be nothing short of perfect.”
Ailaina giggled and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Davin’s money talks. It wasn’t all me. They are the premiere bridal salon in Vegas. When I told her there was no limit on funds she was all too willing to help.”
I raised a brow. “So Davin’s paying for my dress?”
Well, I wasn’t one to complain. I looked over at him. He stood with his hands folded in front of him, looking completely relaxed even in a feminine environment. He grinned when he caught me staring. Ugh. Now I was going to have to be eternally nice to him. But it was incredibly sweet of him, so I guess it was a small sacrifice.
“Yes, he’s paying. Just like he paid for your room at the Bellagio and all the ceremony expenditures.” She leaned back, looking me in the eyes. “Didn’t you know that? He told your dad that he wanted to cover the wedding. Oh! Speaking of. Your mom and dad’s plane arrives in about three hours, so we need to hurry!”
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe he’s doing all of this for us.” If someone a year ago would have told me that the Death Keeper would be not only attending my wedding, but paying for it as well, I would’ve laughed. “I’m not sure how I’ll ever repay him.”
“I don’t think he’s doing it for repayment.” Ailaina bumped shoulders with me. “It’s sweet though, right?”
Yeah. There was that words again. Sweet. I wanted to laugh at the irony of a sweet Death Keeper. “I can’t explain how ecstatic I am. Seriously, he’s gone above and beyond.”
Ian’s hand warmed the small of my back as he stepped closer. “I just wanted you to have the best week. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
I smiled up at him. “Are you kidding? We get to stay in the villa, and I get to pick out a designer wedding dress. AND marry you. There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
On the outside I was sure I pulled off my excitement, but on the inside I was drowning in confusion. Frozen in place, I couldn’t understand why Davin wanted to pay for my wedding. I eyed him, watching his reaction when Ailaina rose up on her toes to kiss him.
What kind of guilt pressured him into thinking he had to make this the best day ever? I was nothing to him. Not a sister, daughter, not even really a friend. It just didn’t make sense.
Ailaina’s phone call about Julie making a deal hit me like a ton of cement. Whatever deal he made must be the reason behind the gifts.
Gladys, who had strawberry blonde hair that was pulled back in a formal bun, touched my arm, startling me from my daze. “Should we start?”
After hours of pulling on and tugging off dresses, I was worn out. And, just like back in Hawaii, nothing made me feel like a bride. Tears threatened to breach the edge of my eyes, but I held them back. I would not cry. At least not until I ran back to the villa and sank in the deep whirlpool hot tub in my bathroom.
Maybe Ailaina was right and I should just magically create a dress. But what if I hated that too? It’s not like I was a fashion designer. I was just a witch.
Slouching on a chair in the dressing room, sweat glistened across Gladys’s forehead in an unladylike manner. Empty boxes of takeout sat beside her on a small table. If we didn’t find something soon, I wasn’t sure who would break down first—me or her.
Perking up, she patted at her face with a tissue. “Ms. Velez, I know you’re tired, but I’ve thought about it long and hard, and I think I have the dress.”
Arching a brow, I was completely unconvinced. “Then why didn’t we try it on first?” Oh man, was I whining? I hated whining.
Gladys twisted her mouth to the side. “Well, it’s not actually for sale. I don’t have permission from the designer yet. It was just shipped here yesterday. If you give me a minute I’ll see what I can do about getting a hold of someone. I’m sure once I tell them about your special circumstances they’ll agree to sell the dress.”
Money. She meant once they heard about how much money was offered they’d sell. “Well, what if it doesn’t fit? Do you have more than one to try on? It’s not like I can fit in an alteration between today and tomorrow.”
“Oh no, there’s only one. It’s a one of a kind. This designer doesn’t make more than one. It’s so her brides feel as if the dress was made just for her.” She stood. “I’ll be back soon.”
With her gone, I plopped down on a chair across the room. Lounging around in my bra and panties wasn’t the most modest thing, but if she was going to make me try on one more dress, then I’d be damned if I had to shed my comfy clothes one more time before bed.
Ailaina stooped down next to me. “This is the one. I can feel it. It’s like I can see it.”
Burying my face in my hands, I growled. “Why couldn’t you have just seen my dress at the beginning and saved me from all of this?”
She patted my leg before standing back up. “I tried but it was fuzzy, unclear. Now I see it and it’s gorgeous. You are going to be a stunning bride. Besides, I thought you wanted to be a normal bride? I’m sure they don’t have seers to see their dresses for them.”
Peeking through my fingers, I looked up at her. She twisted her fingers in a painful position. She wasn’t telling me something. “Really?”
Gladys bustled into the room carrying a concealed dress bag. My insides connected with the material she held in her hands. Ailaina was right. This was the dress.
Jumping to my feet, I darted over to her. Gingerly, I touched the white fabric encasing the dress. Gladys couldn’t reveal the gown fast enough to curb my anticipation.
“I was able to talk with the designer. Which is completely strange since I usually only communicate with an assistant. I don’t know how, but you have the universe working for you today.” Gladys splayed a hand across the zipper. “She’s agreed to sell to you.” She held the bag up and that’s all the incentive I needed.
Nearly bouncing on my toes, I snatched the bag from her fingers and darted to the small changing area.
“Esmerelda, please be careful that’s a fifty-thousand dollar gown!” Gladys’s pleas screeched across the room.
My heart lurched to my throat and my gasp hitched. I looked over my shoulder. “Then consider it paid for.”
“But you haven’t even seen it,” Gladys’s concerned tone drowned out behind the wall of the dressing area. She knocked on the door. “I insist that you let me help you into the dress.”
“I’ve got it thanks.” There was no way anyone was going to ruin this moment. I wanted it to be just me who saw the dress on. Not Gladys. Not Ailaina. No one. I’ve spent months searching for this, and I could feel that this was it.
Gladys grumbled. Poor woman. She was probably giving herself a coronary thinking I was going to damage such an expensive dress.
Hanging the dress, I decided to do this my way. My hands flew down the length of the bag in one swift motion. The zipper followed my actions and the bag split open, revealing the most stunning dress I’d ever seen. White and peach chiffon spilled out of the bag in layers. Rhinestones cinched the waist to one side where a trail of white hibiscus flowers wove their way down the skirt.
The satin top wrapped ar
ound like a Greek goddess, an ombré color of white started at the shoulder down to a light peach waist line.
Waving my hand down the front of the dress, green sparkles of light fluttered from my palm, dancing around the garment. The bag opened even more, and the white hanging strings slipped off the shoulders of the cream padded hanger, letting the skirt continue to spill out, falling to the ground.
I hurried and slipped off my bra while the dress unzipped and floated over to me. Raising my hands above my head, I let the gown glide down my body, fitting perfectly. Turning so my back was to the mirror, I glanced over my shoulder and watched as the zipper zipped all the way up, securing the dress in place.
Holding my breath, I turned back around. This was it. Oh my gosh. I never imagined that a dress could look so good on me. I had lost hope, but here I was, stuffed comfortably into the most beautiful dress ever to grace a wedding aisle.
Luna materialized next to me. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I told her in my head.
“Es, come on. I’m dying out here. Let us see,” Ailaina called out.
I couldn’t stop staring at my reflection, flanked by Luna. Was royalty even allowed to wear something so lovely? The colors complimented Luna’s light gray fur beautifully, as if the dress was designed with her coat in mind. My red hair set off the beautiful peach tones in ways that only the soft pinks of a Hawaiian sunset could rival.
“He’s very lucky.”
I jumped at Davin’s sudden appearance in the mirror. Luna growled, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
Spinning around, I gasped holding my chest with my hands. “What are you doing here? You can’t just show up in my dressing room!” I whispered loudly but quiet enough so Ailaina and Gladys wouldn’t get suspicious.
He held his hand up. “They won’t hear you. Time is standing still for them.”
I shook a finger at him. “I don’t care. You shouldn’t be in here.” Using the same finger I reprimanded him with, I made a circle in the air in front of me. “What would you have done if I wasn’t dressed?”