VENUS

This year has not been kind to me. I've gone from Rider Queen, to the wife of a Rider King, to a Vanishing victim, to a homeless thief.

I make many trips in and out of The Capital in search of food and water. Sneaking into The Palace is nearly impossible because security is tight to protect Lady Life.

Beysha and I are fending alright. Our skin was slightly burned from the slime, so I stole medicine. Since I've been using grey paint to cover my skin tone, I haven't been healing well. The fumes from the paint irritate my skin and make me nauseous.

I've been scurrying for a way into the Palace, and secured a job as a boy florist. It's hysterical how I've been hired to decorate my ex's wedding.

I throw my cape on. Today is my last chance to contact Dramon, because the wedding is tomorrow.

I join the group of boys in the center of The Capital. Although none wear a hood, some are dressed conservatively to cover themselves from the sun.

"Listen up!" an adult demands from the front.

"There will be no messing around. You will be paid for how many undamaged flowers you collect, so do it right. Follow me now."

The twenty-or-so boys enter the palace, and I stealthily slip away from the group.

Where are you, Dramon? You lying, half-assed coward!

I walk around the bushes and trees, passing a pool that's occupied by a muscular body that ripples through the waves. When I peek through the leaves, I recognize those arms instantly. Although they're covered in blue ink, I know they're Dramon's.

He swims a few more laps, flashing his thighs and ass as he fights and fucks the water all at once with his prowess. When he stands, I realize just how long his hair has gotten. He even has a new beard.

And a new woman.

My fingers crush the leaves in front of me.

He exits the pool, and I fall on my ass when I get a glimpse of his sex. It's inked in blue with swirls, lines, and three glistering jewels I know are diamonds! Why did he go through these painful procedures? Is this all for Lady Life?

I watch him slip back inside. My feet itch to chase him down, but there are too many eyes on us. I force myself to stay still.

When I have an opening, I enter the palace and search for Dramon. My cane ticks as it slaps the expensive flooring, the sound becoming more anxious when I hear voices behind me. I turn a sharp corner to escape, and I'm barely able to stop a shriek when I get a glimpse of Dramon's face.

I hit the floor and keep myself down. If I stand now, with all these men surrounding him, everything will go to shit.

I hate that I'm bowing down to him, but I have no other choice.

Dramon leaves me alone, and I scurry into what seems to be a laundry room. I have a good guess of where Dramon's bedroom is, and I hope Lady Life is staying with him so I can beat the life out of both of them.

I hide behind two buckets of laundry. It doesn't smell nice here, but I've survived worse. Namely, murderous aliens.

"Fix it now," someone says as they enter the room. "Lady Life said the top left is wrinkled."

"I don't see any wrinkles, sir."

"Well, she does. Get the iron and fix this."

I hear cloth shift.

"Her wedding dress must be perfect."

If they leave me in here with that dress, they'll return to find it in shreds or turned into toilet paper.

They work on the dress for so long that my legs ache from my position. My stuffy location has me closing my eyes. I realize I fell asleep too late.

What the fires?

I'm against the wall, still in my hiding spot, but I'm groggy from sleep.

Oh no! The wedding! I'm late!

I jump from my spot and peek out the door. The hall is empty, and I wonder if employees are watching the wedding unfold. Of course, there's security posted all over the place. I'll have to be careful.

I pick up a vase of flowers to complete my disguise as a gardening boy and walk past two males. I'm heading for the palace room with the most windows. Dramon has to be staying in there, because that's the one I would also choose.

"Kid, you are going the wrong way."

I speed up when I hear those words. The door is right there— right around this corner. Dramon better be in there, because this is the end of the line.

I grab the golden doorknob, twist, jump inside, and close the door.

There he is. Sitting on the bed, pulling a white tunic over his inked chest. His hair is braided behind him, and his beard gone. He looks refreshed. Every bit a king.

"What are you doing here?"

The question startles me. My hood is down, and he can see my face clearly in this lighting.

"Um."

I don't know what to say. I really wasn't expecting him to glare at me as if I'm the one that gave up the search after two years.

Dramon takes a step forward, and I hear a clink from where bottles rattle. The smell of alcohol hits me. He's been drinking.

"I can't sleep without you haunting me. I can't work without you crossing my mind."

He strides the room and shoves me so tightly that my cane goes down. One of his enormous hands snares around my neck, and his glare does a better job at lighting the room than the crystals above. He's infuriated.

"Now I hallucinate you too?"

There's a boom at the door, and I use Dramon's distraction to hop away and jump behind his bed.

The door opens.

"Sir?"

"What?"

"Did a boy come in here?"

"No, just a ghost. Let's go."

Dramon walks out, about to show up drunk to his wedding.

That idiot! I'm real!

I peek out the door. He's at the end of the hallway.

Tossing my cape on, I grab my cane and chase him. He enters a room, and I know it's all over. All the hiding has been for nothing, because I'll have to show my face to stop this wedding.

I'll get my explanation before I allow Dramon to move on.

"You can't be here, boy. Are you listening? Don't you know who I am?" a woman says.

She's dressed in gold. This must be Lady Life. She's pretty, but the scowl on her face is probably the most accurate depiction of what she has inside.

Two posted guards walk forward when they see their precious Lady Life is upset, so I rip my disguise off.

"Do you know who I am?" I snarl back at the haughty bitch. She's no better than Salina.

One guard stiffens, and the other falls on his ass.

I pick up my cape to free my legs and limp into the room. Men jump out of their seat as they reach for me. I wanted to avoid this mess at all costs, but I'm exhausted of hiding and waiting.

I swing my cane to ward off one man reaching for me.

"ENOUGH!"

That boom has men tripping all over the place. Three surround me but don't touch me— guards, I guess.

"Get out! All of you!"

Dramon is here now, shoving past his guards to reach me. He lost me once, and then again, and both times he was ferocious to touch me again.

His eyes aren't furious today, though. They twinkle with awe.

Trembling fingers reach out for me.

He's in a beautifully decorated room with nobles, with his fiance calling for him behind us, but he reaches for me.

I smack his hand away with a loud twack.

"You will tell me why you moved on so quickly. You will marry your Lady Life, and then I'm going to ride out of here and find a male that deserves me. This tug-o-war between us, Dramon, is over."

Besides everything, I am thankful to Dramon. I've grown a lot because of him. I don't hate my leg anymore. He taught me to accept myself— every broken part, and to love myself before I love another. He taught me to be wary of second chances.

Beside our differences, I've become the woman momma would've liked me to be.

"You're here," he breathes and reaches for me again. "I've searched for you for so long."

"And clearly two years took too long."

"What?" he frowns and looks over my shoulder. "That woman? I don't want her. This was only business."

"Dramon!" Lady Life calls for him.

He stares at me. "How are you here? Is this really not another dream?"

I'm so exhausted. This last week has been an emotional hell.

"I'm tired."

"I am too, my life."

"Dramon," Lady Life repeats and appears beside us.

I don't want to wipe the floor with her. Another thing I've learned through this whirlwind of events is that one's value shines through like daylight. No matter how badly you try to contain it, it slips through the cracks. Lady Life knows who I am, and I don't need violence to drill it into her head. Dramon knows who I am, too. I've grown too tall. He can't fool me twice.

"Our wedding... you can't do this," Lady Life trembles.

Her desperation stinks.

I bend at the waist and gag twice before spilling my guts. Dramon is all over me, but his hands or soft words don't stop me.

"It's the paint," I gesture to my arms. "The fumes have been making me—"

Dramon sweeps me into his arms and begins barking demands for doctors. He walks out of the hall where his wedding would have taken place, past men whispering furiously, past the uneasy guards, past a shocked Centres.

"You're going to be checked over, we're going to talk, and then I'm going to lose my cock in you," Dramon growls in my ear.

Lady Life stays behind with her golden wedding dress drenched in my vomit.

\