Chosen Bride of the Seven Dark Princes

Candace shook with the emotional release of knowing that Dante was alive. It had been nerve-wracking for the last eight hours not being able to call to his mind.

The handmaiden who was styling her hair with pearls and jewels noticed her trembling body but said nothing. It was most likely just pre-wedding nerves and jitters of a young bride.

Who wouldn't be nervous and excited and just a little bit scared to marry the most handsome man in the galaxy?

Prince Lucas was a dreamboat. He was every woman's dream, almost a religion unto himself, leaving women sobbing on the ground at his feet.

The Princess Candace Farrah was the luckiest woman alive at this moment!

The handmaiden sighed and smiled. The couple looked so good together during all their secret rendezvous. All those photos of them together and looking so happy made her teary-eyed.

She had always thought it was Prince Slate or maybe Prince Dante who had been the Princess' choice, but the end result was breathtaking!

As she was putting finishing touches in the Princess' hair and makeup, she could see the Princess' eyes focus on something with fierce intent.

And then the Princess nodded.

The handmaiden smiled. Princess Candace was steeling herself to become the bride of Crown Prince Lucas and not be too nervous in front of the crowd. She was talking herself up to take on the challenge.

In reality, Candace was speaking to Slate within her mind.

'Dante said that?' Slate was asking her.

'Yes. He wants you to take me and run from this place to somewhere safe. He doesn't want me to go through with that wedding.'

For a moment, Slate was silent.

'Are you telling me you're turning down the chance to marry a Crown Prince?' He finally spoke again after what seemed like a long silence.

'Absolutely! I don't care about the title. It had always been about the man and how I felt about him.'

Candace sighed.

'Look, it's not that I don't like Lucas. He's a very nice guy, but I barely even know him. I think I've only met him a handful of times. I really don't want to marry him just because the Avgo winners have always married the Crown Prince.'

'You know me very well, Candace.' Slate's voice sounded distracted.

'Yes I do. Out of all the brothers, the only ones I know personally are you and Dante.'

'When you say 'personally', do you mean physically?'

'Yes!'

'How many…men have you known personally?'

'Two. You were the first, ever.'

There was a moment of silence. She waited with bated breath hoping she hadn't shocked him too much with her statement.

Just when she thought he had forgotten all about her, the door to her room burst open.

It was Slate, dressed in his black Prime Warrior outfit. His long raven black hair was tied back in the customary neat bundle, his dazzling blue eyes blazing with joy at seeing her face.

'Let's go Love.' He reached out his hand.

Candi gave a cry of relief and jumped up from the chair she was seated on, scattering the handmaid's color palette of makeup.

For the first time, Slate saw Candace in a pure white, off-the-shoulder brocade wedding dress. There was so much material in her skirt that it piled behind her in a cascade of opulent fabric.

In her perfectly coiffed blonde hair was a tiara of white flowers and on her neck was the pink Avgo gemstone replica that Jason had created for her.

His heart skipped a beat.

He was stealing his brother's bride on the day of her wedding and running away with her. He would need to go beg Lucas for forgiveness, but right now, her request trumped everything.

'You took so long I thought you forgot about me.'

He took three strides and was by her side.

'Your dress is very beautiful, but it will not allow you to walk very fast. Hold onto me.' He picked her up and carried her out of the room.

Candace wrapped her arms around Slate's neck, as she'd done so many times before.

In his arms was safety. In his arms was comfort. In his arms was so much love. He carried her as if he cherished her.

"Your Royal Highness!!!" The handmaidens squealed and chattered. "Are you here to escort the Princess Candace Farrah to the wedding?"

"Yes. Close this door and do not let anyone in except for Princess Candace."

"Yes, Your Highness." They bowed.

'That should stall for a bit of time.' He touched her mind.

'I thought you'd forgotten about me.' She whispered into his mind.

'What makes you think I could ever possibly forget about you?'

Truth be told, he thought about her from the moment he woke up until the moment he slipped into a dreamless sleep. And even then, the few times he did dream, it was always about her.

He walked past half a dozen guards who were snoozing on the ground.

'Oh my goodness! Why are there so many guards?'

'Father was afraid someone would try to harm you before the wedding. The Earth delegates are kicking up a stink right now, stating that Lucas has to marry Dahlia Halloway because you are simply Dahlia's stand-in body-double.'

He reached the main hallway with her and looked around. Several of the guards that had been wandering this hall had all been subdued by him and were sleeping on the ground.

'I hope you didn't hurt them…'

'I just put them to sleep. I had to clear the way to get to you.'

'I'm so glad you were able to come for me. I was worried that you might be too busy…'

'Sorry I took so long. As soon as you called, I spread my wings and flew straight here. And then I had to clear out some of the Royal Guards. They're everywhere, thick as flies.'

Not looking back, he ran for the nearest exit with her in his arms.

As he burst out into the sunshine, Slate took a running leap into the air, his wings unfurling behind him.

FWOOOMP!!!

They began flying upward into the sky.

Slate held her in a gentle but firm grip. He had learned to moderate his grip so he would not bruise her. His woman was so very fragile.

Candi rested her head on his shoulder and tried not to look down. No matter how many times she traveled in this way, it always made her stomach feel a little queasy.

'Just relax in my arms. We're almost at the pod.'

'I'm relaxed. I know you won't drop me.'

Slate laughed. 'I'm carrying precious cargo. I will never let you go.'

He flew towards the pod that was hovering a short distance away.

From the ground, there arose a shout as several men sprang into the air with unfurled wings and flew towards them in pursuit.

'Oh no! They're coming after us!' She gasped. They were dressed in black, with their bat wings outstretched.

Slate again laughed.

He flew with her through the open hatch and gently placed her on the egg-shaped command chair.

"Come on in," he called out. "And close the door behind you."

Candi raised herself up from the chair as her eyes widened in alarm. Slate was letting those men into the pod???

The men who had been in hot pursuit flew into the hatch. In quick order, the hatch closed, sealing shut behind them leaving no trace of a seam.

With a few practiced taps onto the console by his armrest, Slate took the transport pod straight up into outer space.

"Candace!" One of the men called out.

Their wings retracted and their leather masks melted away to once again reveal their familiar handsome faces.

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