The True Ruler, Rayven

Catching up

“Are you going to stay for the ball?” I ask Lyana I secretly selfishly want her to but I can understand why she can’t.

Her face falls, I know what that means.

“I wish I could Ray but I’m booked I need to be in Italy for this fashion show, they already paid and this can be the next big break for me they want me to design the ending piece. I came because mama may called me and said you were going to have your official queen announcement and needed someone to design your dress, besides I wanted to see you at least for a day and a half before I have to go early Moonlight Day.” She says apologetically, I can’t get mad in fact I’m proud.

“You have nothing to apologize for” I squeeze her hands inside mine gently as I continue to talk

“I’m so proud of you LayLay, you are out here making your dreams a reality. And the final piece this is good. How about after the ball I fly out in time for the show so I can watch you make your big break.” I say to my friend truly proud of her accomplishments, who would have thought the shy, timid wolf would make it big in the human world. Who would have thought those same shifters that attempted to bully her would be begging in her email for forgiveness and a chance to get styled by the best. I watch her face light up in excitement and another squeal leaves her mouth.

“Would you really Ray? I would absolutely love that I can show you what my world looks like, besides I been telling you to take a break from being queen at least for a weekend. I know you don’t have a choice in the matter but still mental health is important. You and mama may have been through a lot the last year and a half. I love you guys and worry about you all often.” LayLay says as she wraps me in a hug

“Yes I would, and I would love to see your world and I agree a break is needed. Unfortunately a queens job is never done, I actually do have a couple contracts in Italy I can take care of for Levecan I was just going to push off onto Dex, now I have a reason to go to Italy.” I giggle as I say the final statement, anywhere I don’t feel like going I send Dex sometimes he’s happy about it most of the time he hates it as it’s nowhere extravagant. He would have loved Italy though breaking the news to him with LayLay later should be funny.

My mom clears her throat, we both snap our heads around to her seems like we both forgot she was here trying to catch up with one another. LayLay forcefully pushes me off her and throws herself onto my mother, burying her face on my mom’s shoulder. My mother is giggling she pulls one of her arms out of Lay’s anaconda grip and pats her head lovingly.

“Hello lay my darling, you’ve grown so much you look so much like your mother.” My mom tells her, Lay’s mom died when we were just kids, 9 to be exact. A car crash, some drunk guy hit her head on they both died instantly, that’s what ultimately led to LayLay and her father moving away. The human world offered him more money through a better position through his office but honestly it was the change of scenery the fresh start that drove him to go. Staying in the place your mate dies seems like torture, everything reminds you of them the memories you all made, the time you spent, the smells that unlock core memories and emotions. The human world had none of that, just emotional freedom.

Lays eyes start to get shiny, hearing that probably opened a wound she didn’t even know was still open. I couldn’t imagine losing one of my parents young like that. I’m a wreck now and my father left me only a year and a half ago. The thought of loosing my mother makes my lungs crumble up in my chest and my heart jump straight up to my throat.

“Thank-you mama may, and you, you look amazing you both do I need what you guys today” she straightens up and spins my mom around princess style

“That’s most definitely the massages we had; we’re glad we saved the beautician for last. That table had us both looking like the baby sun from Teletubbies children’s show.” I say and we all bust out laughing.

“That’s enough chatting for now let’s go inside at least.” LayLay says as she finishes laughing, she guides us into the dress shop. It’s very beautiful in here the only thing is I don’t see any dresses in here. LayLay notices me looking around and laughs.

“I knew you were coming so I removed all the other dresses, so you are not tempted to change the beautiful design you already came up with. You know how you are to your designs, you feel as though they are never good enough. So, when you try this dress on anything you aren’t feeling, let me know and we can alter it. Anything you want to add let me know and we can alter it. But you're not going to get the chance to compare your dress against any another one it’s gorgeous. This is a custom design you created, and I made adding my own personal professional touches in there to make it more functional for you, keeping in mind your style and personality. I’m quite confident you will love it.” LayLay says and her logic is decent, I know what design she’s talking about, and my mom must have tore it out of my design journal. I haven’t submitted the drawings yet because I’m not sure they are good enough and then I have a lot to do running the kingdom, designing just isn’t a top priority anymore so I’ve lost a lot of confidence in my designs. That’s why I’m so proud of Lyana, she’s actually doing what we talked about as kids, I have to walk down a different path our worlds are different.

“Okay, fine I’m still not sure about this but I have faith in you. My design not so much.” I say honestly and quickly earn a slap on my hand from my mother standing right next to me.

“Thank-you momma may, now Rayven if you would be so kind as to step into the dressing room strip and place the blindfold over your eyes.” LayLay says with a full smile on her face, I look over at my mother and she’s full on smiling too.

“What’s with the blindfolds today, you both know I hate surprises. Also, the uncanny smiles you guys are rocking right now does nothing to help reassure me.” I state squinting a pointing at them with my index finger.

“Last one of the day, we promise.” LayLay says, holding a hand over her heart and one up in the air scouts honor pose.

I roll my eyes and do as I’m told. I swear any more surprises today and I’ll unearth the building and spin it around like a rollercoaster until they throw up. I walk into the spacious room that’s back here and I see a sleeping mask hanging by the mirror with a post it note on it that says “please put me on”.