“Dexter, you just told us you asked her to marry you. Now you tell us she’s a princess,” his mother chimed in.
He knew his parents were starting to understand the situation. “Yes, I did. As soon as things can be arranged, we’ll have the official wedding here in Shularia. Raven’s parents, the King and Queen, have already given their blessing.” Dexter heard silence on the other end. Moments later, he heard a loud thump and the clatter of the phone falling to the floor. “Mom? Dad?”
“Hold on, son. Your mother just fainted.”
CHAPTER 9
Raven
One week later…
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight? I’ll have to keep you close by my side to make sure no one tries to make a move on you.”
Raven smiled at Dexter as they walked into the grand hall for the charity event. They were attending tonight’s event in support of a fundraising effort for childhood cancer. Though neither of them had been directly impacted by the disease, they both felt this was an important cause. When Raven turned twenty-four, her parents designated her as the Royal Patron of the Children’s Cancer Center of Shularia. “And I think you’re very dashing, debonair, and yummy enough to eat.” Considering they both did their fair share of licking and eating each other before getting dressed for tonight’s event, Raven knew Dexter understood her message loud and clear.
“Don’t worry, baby. That’ll come later tonight. And I do mean come.”
Dexter’s wicked smile had her shivering in anticipation. The things this man could do to her body should be outlawed. Raven could feel the blush come over her face since Dexter had not lowered his voice when he made that statement. She lightly smacked him on his tuxedo-clad arm as they continued walking into the main room. As he glanced down at her, Raven couldn’t help but smile back at him. It was difficult to be annoyed with Dexter, especially when she wanted the same things he did. If she didn’t care so much about this cause, Raven would be back at the castle with her man making sure he gave her everything he’d promised. And she would drive him just a little crazy herself and show him what she’d been practicing these past three months. She could now spell C-O-C-O-N-U-T with her hips. She almost cackled with glee thinking about driving Dexter out of his mind with her newfound skill.
“Well, look who decided to show up. Our flighty, but beautiful, Royal Highness. Good evening, Princess Raven.”
The newcomer, a short and portly man with red, blotchy skin from excessive use of alcohol, was well known to Raven. She rolled her eyes as soon as she heard the high-pitched voice. The man was a toad, and he looked like one too with his misshapen face, a large stomach, and his propensity to lick his lips every five seconds. The man was abhorrent. She schooled her features into the neutral look she’d practiced over the years. Turning to face the man who’d made the snide comment, Raven couldn’t help but hold Dexter’s hand just a bit tighter. “Good evening, Mr. Booker. Thank you for attending the event this evening. I know the children will appreciate your support.” With a glance at Dexter, who must have stood at least a foot taller than the other man, Raven introduced him. “Dexter Sorenson, this is Mr. Joshua Booker, Consul General of France here in Shularia. Mr. Booker, please meet Dexter Sorensen, my fiancé.”
The man’s eyes bugged out of his head. “Your what?” He turned his head to the side, a scowl coming over his face. When he turned around to look at them again, he still held a look of disgust. “No. This isn’t right. You were never supposed to—”
Shocked at the vitriol spewing from his mouth, Raven intuitively took a step closer to Dexter. “What are you going on about? I wasn’t supposed to what?” At his continued silence, she raised her voice, using the tone her mother ingrained in her from a young age. “You, Sir, will answer my questions. What do you have to say for yourself? What was never supposed to happen?” At his continued stuttering, and his wide eyes looking between her and Dexter, Raven was about to call her personal guard. This man was up to something, and she needed to find out what.
Dexter’s voice interrupted her frustrated musings. “My fiancé asked you a question. What do you know about her? Who the hell are you to question anything she does?” Dexter took a step forward to confront the man. Raven moved to grab his arm, but he was too quick.
Raven looked on in horror as Dexter reached out one hand. The shorter man attempted to step back from him, the fear evident in his eyes. When Dexter’s hand wrapped around his throat, a collective gasp came from those unable to look away from the spectacle they were making. “Dexter! What are you doing? Let him go this instant.” Her parents would definitely receive some calls about this situation. On a regular day, she wouldn’t care if someone chose to tattle on her, but with everything going on, they needed to keep things under the radar. Dexter’s behavior wasn’t helping.
“No, I will not stop. This person,” he spat out in disgust, “will tell us what he knows. Why are you questioning Raven about what she’s doing or who I am?” Dexter continued to squeeze the man’s neck tightly as the diplomat gurgled from trying to speak.
“Your Royal Highness,” he greeted Raven. “Is there a problem?” One of the royal guards approached the group. “Sir, I need you to release Mr. Booker. I cannot let you choke him in the middle of this evening’s event.”
Raven touched Dexter’s arm and decided pleading with him was her best option. “Dexter, you must let him go. Please.” Shaking with fear of what Dexter could do to the other man, she tried again. “Dexter. Let him go. Don’t do this here. This man is a diplomat in my country. You’re embarrassing me.” She hoped her last words would break through the fog.
Dexter glanced at her before loosening his grip around the man’s neck. With a flick of his wrist, he shoved the consul general away. “Stay away from Raven,” he growled in the man’s direction.
“Mr. Booker, please excuse my fiancé. He’s been under some stress lately.” Raven’s temper was about to explode. She needed to get out of this room before she was embarrassed further.
The older man pulled himself together, taking a few steps away from them before he snapped. “You will regret your friends’ actions,” he said before storming off in another direction, his stride wobbly, and his face still red from a lack of oxygen.
Raven turned to Dexter. “How could you? Do you realize what you’ve done?” She eyed the crowd, looking at the faces of all the people who were again questioning her and her family. More so, her mother and Raven’s proclivity to cause issues for her father. The people closest to them stayed in their spots, whispering about the scene they’d witnessed. The voices became so loud, Raven could hear her name floating in the air. She and Dexter were supposed to quell the rumors, not create more.
Dexter looked down at her, his eyes flashing with anger. “He threatened you. Do you think I’m going to stand here and allow that to happen right in front of me?” His towering form bristled with anger, but it didn’t bother her. She would go toe-to-toe with him, or anyone else, when it comes to her family and their reputation. This was her country, her crown, and no one, not even Dexter, would do anything to have it taken away from her.
Raven broke their stalemate, turning on her heels to exit the room. She wasn’t going to ask him to follow. If she said even one word to him, she’d probably tell him to fuck off. Exiting the front door, she climbed into their waiting limousine. She hadn’t even said goodbye to the center’s director. Raven didn’t care about how that behavior would be interpreted. Not tonight. She climbed into the vehicle, waiting for the chauffeur to close the door.
“Why would you storm out of the event like a child, Raven?” Dexter’s harsh tone filled the interior of the vehicle when he climbed inside.
Her body vibrated with anger and frustration. The car began moving as she continued to sit in silence. Not saying anything was better in this situation.
“Raven? Answer me. You left me in there looking like a fool.” Dexter’s voice was raised in anger.
Raven knew he was angry at her behavior and didn’t understand why she left the way she did. Maybe that was part of the problem. She had been someone else while in the states. Now that she was back home, the diamond tiara was placed firmly on top of her head. There was no taking it off just because she wanted to be an ordinary citizen. Dexter could never understand that. He hadn’t seen the real Raven in all the time they’d been together. It had all been a façade, and now that she was back home in Shularia, the expectations had been placed at her feet once again. Raven knew there was no escaping who she was.
“You need to explain this to me, Raven. Why are you angry that I defended you?”