“Hi, Dad. It’s me.”
“Who is this?” he barked down the phone.
“It’s me. Juniper.”
“Who?”
“Juniper. Your son.”
“Juniper! How did it go my lad? Did you manage to sort out those Spades?”
“Yes, Dad. Listen; there is something you should know.” I proceeded to tell him everything I knew about the Queen of Hearts. About how she was sabotaging the factories and how some of ours were probably affected. I told him how our main problem was still the threat of the Spades coming through our Kingdom to which he replied, “Bloody Queen of Hearts. I’ve just about had enough of that bloody woman. Can’t she just stick to running her own Kingdom without sticking her oar in with the rest of us?”
He usually made me laugh with the way he spoke, but I was in no mood for humour right now. He might not know how to use a phone properly, but I knew he’d sort something out to help Leo. I hung up the phone feeling a little better and then went back to bed.
A loud knocking awoke me sometime later. This time it was Orion. At least he’d managed to put clothes on. He was wearing a tuxedo and holding two silver masks and a garment bag in his hand.
“Solstice told me you’d be in bed. She’s very perceptive about such things. I’ve brought you a tux and a mask, so you have no excuse not to go to the ball.”
The masquerade ball. Fuck. I’d completely forgotten about it.
“I’m not going!”
“Solstice said you’d say that too. I’m sorry to tell you, dear cousin, that if you go back to bed, I’m going to jump up and down on it, singing all eight verses of the national anthem incessantly until you change your mind.”
“Just give me the tux,” I said, grabbing it and one of the masks out of his hand.
“That’s my boy!”
I slammed the door in his face.
The restaurant had been cleared for the event, and now, instead of the hundreds of tables, there was a large dance floor with a string quartet playing music to one side. At the other side, were long tables filled with finger food. Seats and a few tables had been lined up along the wall for those who didn’t want to dance. It was already packed with people dancing with each other. I couldn’t see Orion or Solstice, so I headed to the buffet table. I’d not eaten all day, and my stomach was growling. Besides, I was planning on drinking a lot, and it wasn’t wise to drink on an empty stomach. Especially, as we were all travelling back pretty early the next day. I heaped my plate with food and grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. I drank it down in one go, put the empty glass back on the tray, and took another one. If I had to live through this torment, at least, I’d do it drunk.
“Can I have this dance?” I looked over to see Solstice and Orion. Solstice was stunning in an asymmetrical purple dress and an ornate mask with purple feathers to match.
“I’m not up for it. You two go. Have fun.”
“Dance with the lady,” Orion growled, taking my food-laden plate from me. “I’m only letting her out of my sight for one dance while I eat, so you’d better make the most of it. Although, don’t enjoy it too much, eh?” He began to eat my dinner. I guess I was going to get super drunk tonight. I placed the champagne flute on the table and took Solstice in my arms. She was a good dancer, but my heart wasn’t really in it.
“You really liked her, didn’t you?” she asked as we danced round the room. All the other couples were dancing close together, the women’s heads on their partners’ shoulders. There was at least an inch gap between Solstice’s body and mine.
“I think I loved her.”
She sighed. It was a sigh that said a thousand words. I was grateful to her that she didn’t try and offer any sympathy.
“Do you think you’ll go and visit her?”
“No. She made her choice. I know she had to get back to the factory, but she could have waited for me to go with her. A day or two wouldn’t have made a difference. She chose not to. I respect her decision.”
The song changed to a much slower song. It was a song for couples, not friends. Solstice moved her body close to mine, so we were dancing the same way everyone else was.
“Ok, that’s enough dancing,” Orion edged between us and took Solstice in his arms. Solstice shrugged her shoulders at me as she was waltzed into the crowd, leaving me alone in the middle of the dance floor. They looked so good together. Maybe Orion would have the good sense not to fuck it up this time.
I was just about to go and grab some food when someone patted me on the shoulder. I turned to find a pair of amber eyes looking at me through a diamante mask. Long blond and black hair flowed down over a stunning silver sequined dress.
“May I have this dance?” Aaricka asked.
The whole world stood still as I took in the vision before me. My scrappy ferocious cat was a vision to behold.
I took her in my arms and pulled her in tightly. I was never going to let her go again. It felt so natural, holding her, feeling the gentle curve of her back and the warmness of her body against mine. We fit together so perfectly, it was almost as though she had been made just for me.
“You came back.”
“I got home and realised it wasn’t really home anymore. Home is where you are, and it doesn’t matter where that is. If I have to live in a palace and wear royal jewellery and have servants at my beck and call for the rest of my life, it’s a sacrifice I’m prepared to make.”
I laughed, but I knew she was making light of the situation for my benefit. Leaving Charlesville would kill her. Her home was there among the people she loved, and who loved her. She was willing to give it all up for me.
“I’m not taking you back to the castle in Mistdale. I’m coming home to Charlesville with you and Nikka. Where is she by the way?”
“She’s in a hotel room upstairs. The hotel has a babysitting service. She was most upset that she couldn’t come down to the party. You mean it? About coming home with us?”
“Of course, I do,” I replied, kissing her on the nose. “Grab yourself a drink. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I left her on the dance floor and raced out of the room. I stopped in the little hotel boutique and bought a gorgeous pink girl’s party dress and a small pink mask. The receptionist kindly told me which room Aaricka was staying in. I raced up the stairs and knocked on the door. A woman with the hotel logo opened the door.
“Juniper!” yelled Nikka, when she saw me.
“Go into the bathroom and put these on, kiddo. You are going to the party.” I handed her the dress and mask. Her eyes went wide with excitement before dropping into something much glummer.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Is it the wrong colour?”
“No. It’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen, it’s just that I don’t have any pretty shoes to go with it.”
I fished in my wallet and pulled out some cash, which I handed to the babysitter with the instructions to buy the prettiest pair of pink shoes in the shop downstairs.
Nikka whooped and ran into the bathroom with glee.
She had just come out when the babysitter arrived back. She had with her some sparkly ballet style shoes with a pink flower on each.
I felt like Prince Charming to Nikka’s Cinderella as I placed the shoes on her feet.
I took hold of my little princess’s hand and walked her to the door.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you take her.” said the babysitter. It was one thing to leave you with her for a few minutes; it was obvious that she knew you. But I can only let her go with family members.
“That’s ok, Bella,” piped up Nikka. “He is my family. I think he might end up being my new daddy.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you take her.” said the babysitter. It was one thing to leave you with her for a few minutes; it was obvious that she knew you. But I can only let her go with family members.
“That’s ok, Bella,” piped up Nikka. “He is my family. I think he might end up being my new
daddy.”
A quick call to the hotel manager gave Bella the authorization she needed to release Nikka to my care. I took her by the hand and shepherded her into the elevator.
When the elevator doors opened, Nikka was a little overwhelmed by all the masked adults and elaborate party atmosphere. She clung tightly to my hand until she spotted her mother coming toward us.
As I stood there and watched my tiny princess race to the waiting arms of her beautiful mother, the silver mask I wore could not conceal the joy and love in my heart.
Other books by J.A.Armitage
WAR AND SUITS
Two of Clubs
Three of Clubs
Four of Clubs
Five of Clubs
Six of Clubs
GUARDIANS OF THE LIGHT
Endless Winter
Infinite Spring
Eternal Summer
Autumn Ever After
Guardians of The Light Boxset
LABYRINTHIANS
Labyrinthans
Labyrinthian Diamond
Labyrinthian Escape
MURDER AT THE BITE CAFE
Bloody Mary Murders
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Seven of Clubs (War and Suits Book 6) Page 11