Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
‘Oh?’ I reply.
‘My name is Saskia, and I was hoping to be your handmaiden here in the castle,’ she smiles.
‘I never really thought about having a handmaiden,’ I smile.
‘Well, you are our Queen, and a Queen should always be doted upon,’ she says. Saskia approaches the wooden tub, kneels beside the tub, grabs a cloth and begins washing my back.
My back stiffens, and I laugh at how it tickles.
‘I don’t think this is necessary?’ I ask.
‘Of course, it is. It’s my job now and an honour to keep you looking and smelling your best,’ she laughs happily. There is a warm brightness about her.
‘Okay, Saskia,’ I smile at her, ‘You’re officially my handmaiden,’
She drops the cloth, wraps her arms around me, and hugs me tight.
‘Thank you so much! You won’t regret it!’ She beams.
I can’t help but feel that I’ve just made a new best friend. Saskia washes my hair and helps me out of the tub. Once I’m dry, she opens the trunk and pulls out many beautiful dresses and undergarments.
‘These are all so beautiful,’ she says.
‘Which one do you think I should wear?’
‘Hmm, maybe this one?’ She says, holding up a white dress with gold threading and embroidery. The sleeves are so long that they reach the floor.
I nod and put the fresh undergarments on. Saskia pulls the dress down over my head.
‘Is this really me?’ I stare at my reflection in the mirror at how elegant I look.
‘Where not finished yet, my Queen. I still have your hair to brush and pin-up,’ she smiles.
Saskia walks over to the trunk, pulls out a smaller chest, and places it on the dresser where I sit. I open the box to find beautiful jewelled pieces, an antique hair brush, a comb, and a handheld mirror. Saskia brushes my hair and pins it all up high.
‘Which pin shall we put in your hair?’ She asks.
I pick up the gold dragonfly-shaped pin encrusted with red rubies and hand it to Saskia.
‘This one,’ I smile.
She places it in my hair, and I return to the floor-length mirror. I twirl around and truly admire myself.
‘You look like a Queen,’ Saskia smiles.
‘On the contrary,’ I say, remembering Alec’s words, ‘I am a Queen.’ I beam.
Feeling prim and proper, I’m ready to go down to the great hall. Saskia opens the chamber door for me, and we find Alec and Magnus standing together with their mouths gaped open.
Saskia clears her throat, ‘Alpha Magnus, King Alec, it may help if you both stop drooling and have some decorum around your Luna and Queen,’ she smirks.
They both shake the thoughts from their heads and compose themselves.
‘My Queen,’ Alec says as he gets down on one knee, takes my hand, and places a kiss upon it. Magnus glares at him and kneels, taking my other hand, ‘My Luna,’ he says, kissing my other hand. Neither of them moves but continue to gaze into my eyes. I can’t help but notice they are discreetly elbowing each other as if to push each other away.
I laugh, ‘Which one of you handsome men will escort me to the hall?’ I ask.
‘I will,’ they both say and give each other a look. I stand between Alec and Magnus and allow them to take an arm on either side of me and smile.
‘Both of you, it will be then,’ I grin.
We enter the great hall together, arm in arm. Magnus and Alec are proud as they escort me toward the thrones. I beam with surprise as I notice three thrones instead of the two I saw earlier, but these three are different and much more beautiful than I could ever imagine. The smaller glimmering throne sits between the two larger ones. They are made from some kind of semitransparent precious stone. They are opalescent in shades of dark blue and silver. I smile up at Alec.
‘I thought it would make you happy having Magnus sit equally with us?’ he says.
‘Alec, thank you,’ I say.
‘How did you make them?’ I say, gliding my fingers along the smooth stone arm of my throne.
‘Yiselda and the others wanted to surprise us with a gift. I told them we lacked a chair for Alpha Magnus, and we came up with the idea of matching thrones. Together the witches and Kadva conjured them up using a Moonstone,’ he explains.
‘Moonstone? Is that what these are made from?’ I ask, taking my seat. Magnus and Alec sit beside me on their thrones, and Reaper perches himself on the back of my throne.
‘We thought Moonstone would be most appropriate and a gesture to the Moon Goddess,’ he smiles.
‘Well, I think they are simply magnificent, and you both look powerful and prominent sitting in them,’ I say, looking between them.
They smile.
‘Let the celebrations begin,’ Alec shouts.
Everyone cheers and a musician plays the lute while two others play the drums. Servants carry trays of bread, cheese and fruit out and spread them across the tables. More come out with trays of meats and jugs of wine and rum.
‘Make sure you all join us too,’ I say to the servants. They smile and sit at the long tables amongst the werewolves, witches and vampires.
Saskia approaches and fills my goblet with wine and then fills Magnus and Alec’s with rum.
‘Oh, Saskia offered to be my handmaiden, and I accepted her kind offer,’ I inform Magnus and Alec.
‘It’s an honour to serve my Queen,’ she says and then curtsies to Alec, ‘And to serve my King, of course,’ she adds.
Alec nods but doesn’t reply to her and sips his rum.
‘Can vampires become drunk?’ I ask curiously.
‘Yes,’ he smirks.
‘Do you like rum?’
‘Yes, but I would prefer to drink something else,’ he says, glancing seductively at my neck. I blush.
‘You’ve had your quota for the day, Alec, so stick to your rum,’ Magnus huffs. Alec rolls his eyes, lifts his goblet in the air to Magnus, and drinks. We eat, drink and watch everyone dance and enjoy themselves. It must be close to midnight by the time we retreat upstairs. Alec stops at our chamber door, ‘Sleep well, my Queen,’ he says and kisses me passionately before I follow Magnus to bed. ‘Sweet dreams, my King,’ I whisper back. Alec closes the chamber door behind me.
‘Before you undress, I’d like to have a dance with you, right now, right here,’ Magnus smiles, holding his hand out for mine. I nod, place my hand in his, and we waltz around the large space in our room.
We finish the dance with our hands all over each other, kissing each other hungrily. We fall back onto the bed. Magnus playfully nips my neck where he marked me. The moon illuminates the room. We remove our clothes and make gentle, passionate love to one another.