"Oh good, she's here," Rebecca says, crossing her arms over her chest and locking her hungry green eyes on mine.

Her very voice makes me grit my teeth to keep my temper in check.

Well, fuck...

"Let's all just take a step back, calm down and -" I say, throwing up my hands.

"I am calm!" Rebecca clips, cutting me off.

'Clearly,' Ember snorts.

"You're right, let Jess decide," Mira says, crossing her arms over her chest, but her blue flame eyes warn that she is anything but calm.

"Do I get to know what I'm deciding on?" I tease, trying to lighten the mood but only earning glares from both sides.

"This is a serious matter, Your Highness," the mystery woman pipes up in a disapproving tone. Her strawberry blonde bob swishes around as she animatedly tries to stress her case. "As such, it is not to be taken lightly, as it will have long lasting repercussions."

My brows arch at her dire tone and warning.

Chris should have linked to prepare me for such important conversations, and at the very least, let me know who the newcomer is.

"Repercussions?!" Sara scoffs. "Lady, you're barking up the wrong tree. I'm the one that cares about fashion, Jess would show up in sweatpants and running shoes if she could."

Stifled laughs sound out from around our side, including Chris, but Rebecca and the newcomer are not impressed one bit. I struggle to suppress my own smile despite their narrow-eye glares at me, noticing Jenna cover her mouth to not give away her amusement.

"What am I wearing sweatpants to?" I ask, raising a brow at Sara.

"You are NOT wearing sweatpants!" The woman squawks, balling her fists. "You will be representing the throne! You can't be dressed like a... like a..."

"Omega?" I guess, trying to pause her meltdown.

"An Omega," she groans, palming her face and sinking down into the nearest seat.

'Holy fuck, drama llama,' Ember pipes up, her shock clear.

"Can I have a from the top version of whatever I'm apparently not wearing sweatpants to that the entire fate of the throne rests on?" I ask, tossing my hands up. Jace and Chris both laugh but quickly hide it when the woman turns her attention to them.

"Anna here has come to take care of all the details for your coronation," Rebecca states with an air of assumption, like that will clear up everything. "You know, the ceremony, attire, ball... Surely you know what I'm talking about?"

"This has been a steep learning curve," I reply without thought.

"Rest assured Highness, I will take care of all the details!" Anna chimes in, having recovered by how she practically jumps from her seat and brings her attention back to me, locking her gaze on mine.

"With Jess running final approval, right?" Sara stresses.

"Surely Her HIGHNESS has more important things to spend her time on then table place settings?" Anna tutts.

"Just Jess is fine," I say, forcing a smile. "And I don't mind, there's not really much on my plate right now."

"Well, Rebecca and Leah have already been such a big help, it's nearly done," Anna replies weakly, looking between Rebecca and Sara.

"But it is Jess' day, she should have the final say, not someone else. Unless you don't want her input?" Sara presses on, giving them a pointed look.

"Of course, I mean yes I most definitely want her High- I mean Jess' input. As you said, it is her day after all," Anna replies, trying to save face.

"But this is for Chris and Ethan too, right?" I ask, trying to wrap my head around this event.

"Yes," Chris chuckles, amusement dancing in his green and gold eyes. "But we just wear suits. You, my Queen, get a fancy dress." He laughs louder, seeing me roll my eyes closed.

"All this is over a dress?" I ask, scrunching up my face.

"Oh yeah," Mira says with a grin. "Go ahead, show her the dress options."

Her excitement only makes me dread the selection, because it can only mean whatever's already been picked is hideous.

When Anna doesn't make a move to show her selections, Sara reaches over for a file on the table that I hadn't noticed and flips through before sliding two pages in front of me with a triumphant grin.

'What's worse than hideous?' Ember asks, her attention solely on the middle choice of three presented dresses.

Good god...

Not one of the three dresses is something I'd wear. They were all shown on size zero, tall, shapeless models, basically completely opposite of my body shape and just terrible choices for me. The middle dress is low cut, figure-hugging with a bold black and white pattern, while option one is a pink puff ball affair, accentuating the ass and hips.

'Cause I need more of that...

The third choice isn't terrible, but the colours of red and gold don't do me any favours. Overall the fit is more modest, with a square scoop neck, but there are so many gems and embellishments it's distracting.

"Of course I can come up with more options," Anna offers, no doubt reading my expression.

"Sorry I'm just, umm..." I trail off trying to find a nice way to put it. "I'm very low key-"

"And modest," Sara adds. "I would be able to rock that zebra thing, but Jess would look like a tomato. And she does NOT do pink... or frills... or fluff, and have you seen her trunk?! She doesn't need-"

"Filter!" I snap at Sara who only shrugs. "What she's trying to say is that I like less restrictive, more flattering fits and colours. I'm not as bold as Sara."

"Absolutely, I understand fully... And what colours should I look for in the new options?" Anna asks, clicking her pen to make a note.

"I like blues and greens? Black of course," I muse, trying to think of what I like that would be acceptable dress colours.

"And accents, is gold still good?" She presses on, scribbling onto a notepad as she goes.

"I'm more of a silver fan?" I reply, uncertain how that will go over.

"Hmm, this could work," Anna mumbles, lost in thought.

"But the dress colours were to match the colour scheme," Rebecca reminds her like the decision has already been made.

"Okay, but if that doesn't work for Jess, then they can figure out a new colour scheme right?" Mira cuts in, not letting Rebecca take over.

"Sorry if I'm-"

"Nonsense Jess!" Anna says, waving me off. "You only get crowned once, it should be perfect and just how you pictured it! I can actually see it coming together nicely, the men in black suits with silver accents, and I think a nice dark green for you... Like forest green? Yes, I think that could work!"

"You mean like this?" Sara says, passing Anna her phone. The quick flash I see is of me and Chris at the masked Conference ball, where I was wearing a dark green, satin corset-style dress with black lace overlay.

"Exactly like that!" she squeals. "Can you send me this?! Oh, this is going to be perfect! I have so many ideas, I'll have some options and mock ups for you early next week!"

The woman's excitement is nearly nauseating, but her good nature makes it easier to take. Rebecca, however, has dropped down to her seat, dejected like I stole her Christmas away.

"Will you be free to help with some insight?" I ask, training my attention on Rebecca and Leah, who's been largely quiet through this conversation.

"You want our help?" Rebecca asks, tilting her head to the side.

'Want is such a strong word,' Ember snickers, making me bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"Well Sara, Chloe, and Mira know my tastes, and you guys know more about what this all entails, so I'm sure between us all, we can get this sorted," I reply honestly, though pray her attitude is left at home that day.

"Of course Jess, we're here to help," she says with a smile.

"How about it, Jenna?" I ask, turning my attention to the timid blonde.

"Me?" she whispers, grabbing her chest. "I mean of course, anything to help!"

'And you say you weren't born to be Queen,' Sara scoffs.

'I just want a little peace, besides, none of us have had a coronation before,' I reason.

With that settled, Anna leaves in a flurry of excitement to draw up a new proposal and everyone else takes their seats, with lunch being served shortly after. The soup and salad combo are expertly paired, but I can smell the spice on the soup and chicken from the wraps at a distance.

Inwardly I cringe when the plate is set in front of Chris, fearing that I might gag if they also give me one right now. As if Chris senses it, he stops the Omega by grabbing her wrist before she can put the plate in front of me. Instantly, I recognize Lena, her worried dark eyes lower but her attention focuses ahead.

"She can't eat this," Chris grumbles, only adding to her anxious state.

"S-sorry Sire," Lena stammers and clenches her other arm's fist at her side. "Her Highness has beef barley for soup and extra bacon on her Cesar wrap without chicken."

"Thank you Lena," I say with a smile, taking the plate from her. Chris lets go with an apologetic look.

"Jess?" she gasps, covering her mouth and taking a step back as her eyes go impossibly wide.

"Hi," I reply with a small giggle, trying to lighten the moment. "This is perfect thanks."

Lena recovers and nods, forcing a ghost of a smile on her lips as she slowly backs away before practically running her cart to the kitchen. The look in her eyes when she looks over her shoulder in the doorway makes me pause.

Why does she look so scared and conflicted?

A knock at the door draws everyone's attention, but I wave off Jude as he goes to answer it, instead going myself. On the other side Henry stands, head low and a folder in hand.

"High- Jess," he greets with a nod, keeping his gaze down as he holds out the folder. "Sorry to interrupt, I just came to drop these off."

"It's just lunch," I say with a sigh. "Have you eaten?"

"No ma'am," he instantly replies. "Err, I was working overtime with some first years, I'm gonna scrounge up something now."

"We're just starting, come on," I say, standing aside and motioning in. Henry's eyes snap up to mine and his brows knit tightly together like he thinks this is a trick. "Just soup and wraps."

"T-thank you..." he replies, watching me closely before finally walking over. Jace grabs a chair from the far side and sets it across from Sara and Nex, and a moment after he takes his seat a place setting and food is dropped for him.

An awkward silence hangs heavy over the table, apparently no one expected me to invite him in, nor knew how to respond. Whether they should talk to him or wait for Chris to address him and even I hadn't thought this through.

"So, how'd they do?" Sara asks Henry, cutting the silence.

"You were right, Riley and Lynn are far better than Lynn was with Kelley," Henry says, relaxing a bit and taking a bite of his wrap.

"She's got that edge to her," Sara replies, waving her spoon at him, excitement dancing in her dark eyes. "I bet if we paired her up with someone bulkier, like Liam, they could be down right dangerous."

"What about Ken?" Henry muses over another warrior they have in mind, taking another bite of his wrap.

"That could work," Sara agrees with a nod.

"His height is better, Lynn is a bit tall for Liam," Nex adds.

With the start of their conversation on training, the awkward tension melts away from the table and slowly different conversations start to spring up. Evans, Merrick, and Jace start talking about some sports game and Chloe and Mira make idle chit chat with Jenna, while even Leah and Rebecca chime in on occasion.

Having blown my entire social fortification in the first fifteen minutes of lunch, I focus my attention more so on eating. As always the food is good and filling, and by the end I'm once again tired.

'Have I ever mentioned how proud I am of you?' Chris links.

'I can't recall,' I muse. 'Mostly you tell me how much I test you.' I flash him a sidelong smirk and focus on the table in front of us.

'That too,' he chuckles. 'But you did good, baby. I know they are a lot to deal with sometimes, but Rebecca and Leah were here with the last Queen, they should be able to help you if they can keep in line.'

'That's a big if... but somehow I don't think Mira and Sara are going to let that fly,' I laugh.

'Yeah,' he drawls. 'Because you're a pushover, eh?'

'Haven't you heard how fragile the new Queen is?' I ask in mock concern.

'Nope, only how precious,' he replies, not missing a beat.

'You are smooth today,' I tease. 'Trying to get lucky?'

'Baby, I already am,' he says, lifting my hand for a soft kiss.

The love feeding back through the bond puts a giant grin on my face as my cheeks heat, no doubt flushing scarlet. 'Me too,' I link back.

"Oh snap," Jace announces and draws the table's attention to him. "Things are about to get more interesting, the last of the Guardians are here!"

"Sounds like we're in for a big weekend," I say, looking at no one in particular.

"No doubt!" Jace agrees, his gray eyes twinkling with anticipation.

Guardian challenge and a rank challenge to blend two packs... What could possibly go wrong?!