FULL NOVELXO Chapter 216
Chapter 216 Two Hundred and Thirteen
After showering and getting ready, they walked to the dining hall. Christian and Annie got out of the car when they saw Xandar and Lucianne enter through the gates.
As Lucianne and Annie embraced each other, Christian offered his cousin a brotherly hug, and placed the small jewellery box he collected in the morning into Xandar's ready hand. The Duke's eyes glistened in joy as he linked, “I'm really happy for you, cuz."
“She hasn't said “yes’ yet, Christian.’
Christian scoffed and linked, “I doubt she'll say 'no"."
I hope you're night. Still, if she wants more time, I'll give it to her." He looked at his mate, who was complimenting Annie's dressing before he continued, “I'll give her anything."
Christian patted him on the back and linked, “Yeah, we all know that, cuz. C'mon.
They joined the ladies’ conversation just in time for Lucianne to ask, “Is this for a special occasion? Is it someone's birthday and I wasn't let in on the secret?” Her eyes went briefly to the Duke before returning to the Duchess. Annie stammered, “W-Well, uh...it isn’t anyone's birthday. We'd tell you if itis, and uh... I just wanted to dress like this for...fun.” Lucianne pressed back a smile before she said, “Annie, you're not very good at lying.” Both cousins burst out laughing, and Annie's narrowed eyes directed at her husband drew him closer to her before he pecked a sweet kiss on her temple.
Lucianne decided to spare Annie from her questioning. She assumed that it was a private matter between the Duke and Duchess, so she didn’t pry. Xandar slid his hand around her waist, and the four of them entered the dining hall together. Right after everyone stood from exchanging bows, the murmurs and chatters soon started. Everyone was staring at Lucianne. Was there something different about her? With Lucianne’s sharpened hearing, she caught the whispers and started blushing. Xandar pecked a kiss on her temple, and asked, “Well, my love. How should we tell them?”
Lucianne’s affectionate eyes met his own as she said, “Why tell when we can show?”
Her hand went to her hair covering her mark, and she pushed it gently to the back, showing the pinkish smear made by her mate the previous night. The second her mark came into view, the entire dining hall erupted in excitement. Xandar pulled his collar slightly to the side to show everyone his mark made by her, and the crowd got crazier. Christian squeezed his best friend's shoulder as a way of congratulating him.
The alliance and several Lycans were coming forward with smiling eyes to congratulate them but before they reached the King and Queen, their footsteps came to a halt when Xandar held Lucianne’s small hand and got down on one knee.
Lucianne’s bright eyes widened in shock when Xandar took out a small jewellery box from his trousers, the one his cousin handed to him earlier that morning. The squeals in the room came from both men and women, Weaver's being one of the loudest.
Lucianne stopped breathing, and gaped when Xandar opened the box to present a princess- cut black diamond adorned with smaller lilac diamonds all around it, held by a band which seemed to contain some kind of engraving. Xandar's voice commanded the attention of the room when he spoke, “Lucy, my love. You've caught this beast's attention long before we were bonded, and you've stolen my heart on the very first night we met. I've never seen a more beautiful creature, nor have I come across a more amazing one. Your grace is breathtaking; your bravery is incredible; your nobility is astounding; and your strength is simply mind- blowing. I=" He was forced to pause when a loud applause burst from everyone around them. When it died down, Xandar continued, “If I were to be completely honest, I wasn't sure if I could ever win your heart.” There was a_ short laughter from the people around them before he proceeded to say, “All I could hope for in the beginning was a chance — a chance to be with you, to show you that I'm not like the mates from your past, and a chance to make you happy.” After pecking a kiss on the back of her hand, he said, “You're so...whole, Lucy. It somehow felt like you didn't need me, and I'm sure that your brother and Christian can tell you how the mere thought of losing you scares me to death, and the mere suspicion that you might reject me shatters me to pieces.” 2
His eyes glistened at the memories where he thought Lucianne was going to reject him: in the Jewel Pack, after the Kyltons' debacle and after the incident in Forest Gloom. Lucianne’s own eyes glistened as her free hand reached out to stroke his cheek.
Xandar allowed himself to lean into her touch before he continued, “Thank you for giving me a chance to love you, baby. I promise to be better everyday, to be more, because you deserve nothing less. You have no idea how happy you make me, and I hope you'll keep letting me show you how much you mean to me, how much ! love you.”
His voice turned gentler when he lifted up the box in his hand and asked, “Lucianne Freesia Paw, will you allow your indecent beast the honor of taking your hand in marriage?”