Ever After (6 page)

Since Dillion’s duties wouldn’t be required anywhere else for the evening, the honor of representing the entire royal clan—most of whom were busy—fell to him and his beloved grandmother.

As the only royal family members attending, their conveyance consisted of a large, gleaming, white hovercraft bearing the family crest on the hood—two shimmering green dragons rampant. The trip would take more time than usual since hundreds of hovercraft, from all over the planet, now headed toward Earth’s embassy and the massive, white marble and crystal structure that served as their coliseum.

He settled back to enjoy the scenery. For some odd reason, joy of the evening blocked out the previous confrontation with Keira. All he really focused on was the good part, where he hadn’t destroyed friendships, and she wasn’t a pirate spy. It didn’t take long before Immy’s conversation pulled him out of reverie.

“Did you know that Valentine’s Day on Earth usually comes before the spring season really sets in?” Immy murmured as she pulled at her white dress gloves, and patted her silver hair in place.

He smiled and leaned forward, listening to every word his beloved grandmother had to say. “I understand their celebration is usually toward the end of winter. Snow is still falling in many places.”

“Indeed! None of the flowers back home would even be visible yet. At least not in upper state New York where I was born,” Immy said. “Even when I was young, the florists were hard-pressed to find flowers at the end of winter. They don’t grow them on Earth as they used to.” She sighed and nodded. “Back then the entire celebration had long since evolved away from some saintly personage, and toward large red hearts, boxes of chocolates, champagne and…”

“And?” he prompted.

“Amour,” she finished with a soft smile. “That’s the chief ingredient for the evening. So…I should imagine that while I and my contemporaries sit and natter on about the good old days back home, you’ll find some lovely girl to entice. Indeed, that’s my fervent hope. It’d be better if it was an Earth girl.”

He gazed at his grandmother, so regal in her lovely beaded black gown, and so tiny that he dwarfed her many times over. With her shimmering, silver hair pinned up in an elaborate braid, and her jewels sparkling in her ears, around her neck and wrists, she looked every bit the queen mother she was. Her blue eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement, and she looked many times younger than her eighty years.

After Grandfather’s death ten years ago, he suddenly realized how lonely life must be for her. Grandmother only made contact with other Earther’s when parties or other social events brought her into the presence of those from the embassy. To avoid gossip concerning favoritism, she’d always done her duty and maintained a balance of friends from all sources, when she really only wanted to be with comrades best understood—those from Earth.

He briefly took her gloved hands in his and kissed the back of both. “You’re my date for the evening. No one else will pull me from your side. You look lovely tonight, but then you always do.”

“What utter piffle! I’ll warrant that girl who sent those magnificent, perfect roses is waiting for you, even as we speak. And that’s as it should be. That’s what I’ll demand if she makes an appearance as I’m sure she will.”

“Immy—”

“I’ve just told you…I’ll be gossiping all night with friends. I’ll expect one dance from you then I want you to take yourself off and leave me and my cronies in peace. I look forward to seeing you in the company of anyone who
isn’t
a gold-digging Mythrealian debutante!” She nodded firmly. “A working girl with a good head on her shoulders is what you need. And what better place to find such a person than a ball held in honor of love. An
Earth
ball.”

“Immy…we’ve had this discussion about a million times—”

“And we’ll have it again.”

He sat back and stifled a grin. “All right. I’ll let you have your way. It’s not as if you wouldn’t get it anyhow.”

“Good. No point wasting time.” She turned toward the window. “Now, let me view the Mythrealian shops along the streets, and make fun of their attempts to emulate a holiday they’ll never understand. Why, you’d think
they’ve
invented it what with all the pink and red decorations everywhere.”

He simply allowed her to talk, tolerating complaints because she really didn’t have a mean bone in her body.

“Oh my…will you just look at that…pastry shops are advertising some vague chocolate substitute.” She shook her head as she glanced back at him. “What in the galaxy is Mythreal thinking? There simply is no substitute. None at all…”

Dillon let her chat on. Soon, the bright lights of Earth’s embassy came into view. Symphonic music drifted on warm breezes. Splendidly dressed men and women were leaving their various conveyances with all the pomp of royal dignitaries—just as he and his grandmother would.

After helping his grandmother out of their hovercraft some minutes later, and up the steps of the auditorium—and only after insisting that she’d take nothing as undignified as the embassy’s elevator—they stood side-by-side at the bottom of the inner grand staircase, waiting to be announced. A receiving line was appropriately set up.

A guard smilingly turned to them, recognized them immediately, and nodded. The uniformed officer then used a public address system to pretentiously announce their presence to the hundreds milling about the inside of the ornately decorated ballroom.

From the Mythrealian noble house…the Queen Mother, Immeldeline Haversham Greenleaf accompanied by her grandson…Sir Dillon Greenleaf, Chief of Security for Mythrealian Enforcer Corps.

Though the huge orchestra kept playing softly, everyone in the massive facility turned to watch them enter.

By now, word of General Albright’s retirement had circulated. Dillon knew of this through his own contacts. General Fisk would be the new commanding officer of the embassy. On Mythreal, generals made policy, politicians simply worked out details. Whoever controlled Earth’s part of Allied High Command was powerful indeed. But as he walked slowly down the gently inclined, red-carpeted ramp, to greet those in the receiving line, there was nothing as sad as the expression on Albright’s face.

The man clearly hated leaving. Albright was only at the ball to make a brief appearance, as rumor now had it. Though no one else would know why,
he
did. Albright was probably trying to keep from saying too much, in front of too many people, while his faculties rapidly failed. Besides that, the retiring general would need to be de-briefed by Fisk’s personnel. And the incoming commanding officer had already arrived with his entourage, all of which were being greeted and pampered by other dignitaries tonight. Dillon saw many of them turn his way and congenially nod.

But then his gaze was drawn away from the sad former supreme officer of Earth’s embassy, to a young girl standing by that man’s side.

Keira
. It was definitely her, but she’d dramatically changed. This was not the same officer who had entertained and attended few functions on Mythreal as a virtual non-entity. This new, alluring creature was polar opposite from that very professional if rather bland-looking other persona. Indeed, she’d transformed into the most exquisite woman he’d ever seen in his life. The eyes were the same. The face was the same. But sans the oversized, unflattering uniform, the flat-colored brown hair and very pale complexion, this creature was a stunning goddess. Other men near her stared in open, gawking, amazement, even as he did. Clearly, they were as perplexed by her transformation as he.

The gorgeous lady who shared such an important secret with him now wore a black gown that left her shoulders and arms bare. The skirt of the garment flared out and around her slender hips making her waist seem almost non-existent. Shimmering earrings adorned her earlobes. Her brown hair was now streaked with subtle, lovely red highlights that glistened under a hundred chandeliers. Her hair floated over her shoulders, down to her breasts in soft, lovely waves. Parted in the middle as it was, it framed her exquisite face perfectly. Expertly applied makeup made her bright blue eyes stand out like stars. In a word, she was
breathtaking
.

As they went through the receiving line, he and his grandmother nodded, smiled, and made the same, tactfully appropriate comments that’d always been uttered at such functions—apologizing for the rest of the royal household’s absence in lieu of affairs of state. Then, they finally approached the general and his goddaughter.

Dillon tried to pay attention to Albright’s words, but it was difficult when his full attention was captured by Keira.
What, by Kobald’s Stars, is going on? Why did she change? Why hide her beauty?

“Felicitations, General Albright,” Dillon hailed as he took off his gauntlets, looped them in his belt, and offered his bared palm in return to the general’s outstretched hand. Suddenly he felt terribly sorry for the older fellow. Remorse over his own actions grew exponentially. He glanced pointedly at Keira. She simply looked away.

“Good to see you again, Security Chief Greenleaf,” the general offered. Then he turned his attention to Dillion’s grandmother. “Good evening, Ma’am. So good to see you here tonight. I think the last time you visited the embassy was for the Yule celebrations, was it not?” Albright bowed his head cordially, and briefly took Immy’s hand when she offered it. “Lovely weather for a Valentine’s ball, don’t you think?”

Immy responded in kind. “Yes, General Albright…I last visited the embassy for Yule. So good of you to remember. But the decorations for Valentine’s Day are so much more magnificent. I do so love the red roses. There must be thousands of them,” she said as she lifted one hand to indicate the masses of blossoms arranged everywhere. “Thank you so kindly for the invitation,” she continued. “I only wish the rest of the family could have attended but serious affairs prevent their enjoying this evening with us. I will pass on how lovely everything is. Valentine’s Day was always a favorite holiday in our household back on Earth.”

“I’ll be sure and tell the florist you approve,” Albright happily replied.

Immy then stared at the exquisite girl by Albright’s left side. “Dear sir…do introduce me to this lovely creature. She’s positively radiant! Have we ever met before, my girl?”

“This is my goddaughter, Lieutenant Keira Foley,” Albright blurted, as a sudden smile broke out his face. “She’s on Mythreal only briefly. Helping me with…uh…retirement arrangements and so forth.”

“I’ve heard so much about you, ma’am,” Keira said as she momentarily took Immy’s hand and gracefully curtsied.

Immy immediately turned to
him
. Dillon saw his grandmother’s amused expression before putting his full attention on Keira.

“Have you met my grandson?” Immy asked.

“We’ve met, Grandmother,” he quickly answered before Keira could say anything. “You’ll recall the lovely roses sent to the manor just a few days ago. They were from her.”

“
Reeealllly
?” Immy drawled as she glanced between him and Keira. “My,
my
. That’s very interesting. Very interesting indeed!”

Dillon noted how Immy’s eyes narrowed, how a suspicious little smile planted itself on her pink-tinted lips. He quickly tried to avert any comments. “Uh…Grandmother…though Keira has only been on Mythreal a few short weeks, she and I have had several conversations concerning issues of general security. All professional, I can assure you.”

“
Hmmmm
,” Immy muttered with a smirk.

“When greetings are done and the occasion arises, why don’t you find drinks and chat? General Albright can keep me company,” Immy suggested.

Albright quickly spoke up. “As much as I’d love that, ma’am…I’m afraid I must finish de-briefing the new embassy staff. Then there’s the fact that I won’t be here for the entire ball. You may or may not have heard that the USS Tremaine arrived at the airfield this afternoon for refueling. After speaking with her captain, I intend to board her as a passenger, then head back to Earth before the sun rises again on Mythreal.”

Shocked by the announcement of such a quick exit, Dillon glanced at Keira. He caught the telltale shimmer of sudden tears in her eyes and understood her godfather intended to leave on his own terms, as soon as possible. Albright was a warrior. He wanted no notice, no accolades, no heraldry on his departure. Simple, clean, and if not entirely protocol, his way of departing was best—given the circumstances. Still, the news had hit Keira hard. He could tell.

“Well…I will bid you a good journey,” Immy said as she shook the general’s hand again. “Your service, sir, has been most laudable. You have done Earth credit!”

“Thank you,” Albright told her.

Dillon took over. “Come Grandmother,” he said as he held out one hand to escort her to a ballroom table reserved for her at the edge of the ballroom dance floor, near the orchestra, “we’ll leave the general to greet his other guests. And Keira…”

“Yes?” she murmured.

“I’ll speak to you later. I believe the first dance will be mine!”

He walked away with Grandmother’s hand on his right arm, his thoughts fixated on the girl who’d so physically changed that she had everyone in the ballroom staring. Dillon meant for her to make an explanation though she owed him none. Still, his offer for the first dance would be interpreted as
asking
for one.

As he made sure Immy was seated comfortably, and then took a chair to her left, he greeted attendees who approached just as etiquette required. Still, he couldn’t pull his full attention away from the general’s goddaughter; a woman who’d formerly been a conspirator in his egregious actions. Now, the way he perceived her had drastically changed, and all in the span of a few moments. To add to his shame over having spied, he realized he was like a lot of other men. He’d seen Keira as just another innocuous embassy employee, mostly because of how she looked. She’d been intelligent and extremely adept, but not anyone who would capture a man’s immediate sexual attention. That had changed in a heartbeat.