The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 102

[Gray]

I was actually glad to have Dillon around after Echo went upstairs with the ladies. He distracted me. I was sneaking around, trying to listen in when he found me and scolded me about butting in on girl time.

"That is a sacred time for girls to bond. It's no place for a pup like you." He chuckled. "Come on. I'll teach you some vampire fighting moves. Then you can shower and shave. I really need to get my tweezers and clean up those eyebrows." "What's wrong with my eyebrows!?" I asked.

"They just aren't as nice as they could be. Come on. Let's get your jitters out first, then we'll get you a manicure and some plucking." Dillon grinned and pulled me outside.

He showed me some moves and we fought using the moves. He was really fast. I wanted to learn to move like that. Maybe I should train with Victor a little. Probably after the curse was broken, though. I didn't want to risk his anger making him hurt me. When Echo told me that was why he was pacing, I became nervous. The memory of his hypnotism and the fear he had instilled in me came rushing back. I couldn't fight a vampire his age and hope to win.

After we finished fighting, Dillon had me go take a shower and shave. He and Jean-Claude were in my room when I got out of the shower. It was a good thing I had prepared for that possibility and was wearing clean boxers and my robe. "Damn. Thought we might catch a flash of skin." Dillon joked.

Jean-Claude rolled his eyes. "Stop flirting." He growled.

"I'm not flirting, mon nounours." Dillon winked. "Just trying to get the kid to loosen up around me."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You act like I'm some elder who's going to bite your head off if you make a wrong move. Or like I'm judging you. I'm not.... Well, I am, but not the way you think. I judge everyone. It's part of my wonderful personality." Dillon chuckled. "Sorry. You're just so in control of everything and such a good fighter, I think of you as being a lot older than me." I admitted. "I forget you're only a couple years older."

"I get that. It was like that for me too." Jean-Claude said.

"Sit in the chair. Let's take care of those nails first. I can't believe Echo lets you put those things in her. You really have to take better care of them." Dillon said. I blushed. "I didn't think they were that bad. I keep them clean."

"Yes, and clipped, I see. Just not nice and not all of them. I can even tell which ones you use, because those are the only ones that are clipped nicely. Now, sit." Moving to the chair, I did as he said. Dillon and Jean-Claude each took one of my hands and started poking, clipping, and filing. They were pretty intent on their work.

"It's not so bad. You should get this done every two weeks or so. Consider it part of your warrior training." Jean-Claude smirked.

"Warriors need well-manicured nails?" I asked.

"Everyone needs well-manicured nails." Dillon scoffed. "Now, shush. Unless you're planning to gossip, I don't want to hear another word from you."

'Seems like you just want to obey older men, don't you?' Rex said in my head.

He had been going back and forth as to whether or not he was talking to me. I wasn't going to take the bait and fight with him. I told him that he needed to mature before I'd engage with him again.

Rex still wanted to mark Echo. He was the one who notified me of Victor's fangs being out on the first night we were all together. No matter how hard I worked, Rex was the part of me that didn't want to accept this relationship peacefully. 'Fuck you, Rex.' I replied and tried to focus on anything else while they did the manicure and the plucking.

It felt like time just flew by, but it had been about an hour when they deemed me fit to be dressed. It was nearly three-thirty when they left. I didn't have long before Cam and Val would be there. Luckily, Dillon agreed to get the door when they showed up. Quickly, I dressed and styled my hair. I was careful to not wrinkle or tear my suit while putting it on. I made sure I looked as perfect as I could, because I didn't want to make Echo look bad after she went through everything to look good. Once I was all put together, I went to the living room. Val and Cam were there and so was Marius. He was talking to them and seemed to be unable to take his eyes off Val.

"Sorry about the wait. I had a lot to do." I said.

"Wow, looking good, Gray." Cam grinned.

"You too. Both of you. The girls won't know what hit them." I chuckled.

"Where is your date, Valor?" Marius asked.

"I'm going stag. There are a lot of girls who didn't get dates so I'll have tons of dancing partners." Val winked.

"That's my boy." Marius smirked.

I heard a door open upstairs. The scent of vampire got stronger. Victor. I knew he would be getting straight up to see Echo. With how much she talked about her dress, I knew she was excited and it was making us excited too. Victor entered the living room. "They'll be down shortly. I heard them in Echo's room. I'm glad I didn't miss it. You boys look wonderful."

"Thanks, Victor." I smiled.

We went to the entry so we could see them come down the stairs. Dillon, Jean-Claude, and Talia joined us. Finn didn't get up until a little while after, but I was betting he would come to see them.

The door to Echo's room opened. I could hear the women talking. The two beauticians came to the top of the stairs. I started heading up to help them carry their bags. Val joined me and we helped them down. The women waited in the entry with us. Both girls stood at the top of the stairs. I couldn't take my eyes off Echo.

Her hair was pinned up and curls trailed from the top of it. Little shiny gems looked like stars in her black hair. Her neck was long and slender. I vaguely noted that Harmony had the same hairstyle and accessories.

Echo's dress was the most beautiful blue. It really suited her. As she walked down, I could see that it was cut from the hip to the hem, showing off her leg whenever she stepped down. She looked like a movie star going to a swanky party. Cam stepped up beside me and Victor on the other side. Our women were perfect. Marius cut in front of us as they reached the bottom of the stairs and started fawning over them. Both smiled and hugged him. "I need a picture of all three of you. If I'm going to show off, then I need to have you looking your best." Marius said.

"Echo is beautiful no matter what she's wearing." I growled.

"So is Harmony." Cam snarled.

"Of course they're beautiful, they're my daughters. But the High Council will expect elegance with that beauty. Come now, children. I want a picture of the three of you."

Marius gathered all three together and took pictures of them, individually and all together. I offered to take a picture with him in it and he nodded. It was the closest I think I have ever been to Marius liking me. With the pictures done, I went to my mate and kissed her hand. Dillon told me I should do that. Echo blushed. I led her to Victor, who was smiling.

"You truly look like a princess, Echo." He murmured and kissed her other hand.

"Thank you. And thank you for having Opal and Penny come. They did really amazing work." Echo beamed.

"Then they, and their masters, will be rewarded." Victor winked.

He went to talk to the ladies. Everyone was fawning over the girls. Finn came down and stared at the two of them. He didn't say anything, just stared. It was a little unnerving.

"The limo to take you to your dinner and dance is here." Victor said.

"Limo?" I asked.

"I'm the Master of this territory. If I want a limo, they find me one." He grinned. "Now, go on. I don't want you to be late."

Echo gave him a chaste kiss before taking my arm. We led the girls out to the limo. He didn't get some crappy one either. It was huge and the chauffer stood by the back door, opening it as we neared.

"I'm Hugh, I'll be your driver for the night. I have the itinerary for the evening, so you all can just relax and trust me to get you there and home safely." The driver said.

I shook his hand and thanked him before helping Echo into the car. Once we were all in, Echo twined her fingers in mine. I looked down. She was wearing nail polish. I had never seen her with nail polish on.

"Are you excited, angel?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, Gray. I want to see everything and do everything. I'm so happy I got to get ready with my sister." She grinned.

"I'm happy I could get ready with you, too, Echo." Harmony smiled.

"I'm just glad you're both here right now." Val said.

They all looked really peaceful and joyful. I loved seeing Echo like this. I made a decision.

"We should all go out sometime. You guys almost never see Echo outside of school. I think it would be fun to do stuff. Especially since the end of the year is coming up and there's only going to be the bigger projects due." I offered.

"Sean wants to go bowling with me sometime. I really want to spend time at the place we went to for mini golf. They have rides and games." Echo said excitedly.

"There's a water park with slides and stuff. We could all go once they open next month." Val said.

I thought about Echo in a swimming suit. At first I was imagining a two piece, but then I thought about all the men who could be there. It would be a one piece, because I didn't want anyone else seeing that much of my mate. And one of those swimming dress things, no one but me should see Echo like that. Maybe I could talk to Victor about putting a pool in at the house.

"I can hear you, Gray." Echo giggled.

"Sorry, angel. I really liked the idea until I didn't." I blushed.

"We can go to the water park. I will wear whatever bathing suit I pick, and you will wear only swim trunks. People will see far more of you than they will of me." She smiled.

"You won't be jealous?" I asked.

"No. You're mine. They can look all they want. They won't take you away from me." Echo said and squeezed my hand.

We arrived at the restaurant shortly after. I promised myself that I wouldn't be jealous because I needed to trust that no one could steal Echo from me. Victor was the only real threat and he was willing to share her.

There was no real line for the restaurant. We had reservations and this place was werewolf owned. They wouldn't accept reservations for prom from people without the password. It was so the werewolf students could have a place to safely and affordably eat. We all trooped to our table and looked over the menu. I could feel Echo worrying. She was really bad with making decisions in restaurants. I already knew what I wanted, so I leaned over and helped her decide.

While we waited for the food, we all talked about school. Val and Harmony were still trying to figure out why Rosario was going to the dance with Sean. They were okay with being his friend, because Echo was, but they couldn't imagine a girl as pretty as Rosario wanting to go out with him.

"She's just being a good friend." Echo insisted.

"I don't know about that. I would have thought it before this last week, but she's been acting weird. I know they've been in the same classes before, but she never really acknowledged anyone before him. I asked her out a couple years ago and she told me no." Val said. "Rosario would have been totally cute with you, Val. It's her loss. Maybe he's her type and she's just been waiting until she got an opening." Harmony shrugged.

I had a lot of hope that she was wrong. I wanted Sean to be with someone. It would make me feel better about his relationship with Echo, but I couldn't imagine how heartbroken he would be with the girl he loved breaking up with him because she had a destined

mate.

When our food came, the conversation died down. Harmony had started eating more since her wolf came in. It took a lot of energy to be a werewolf and we got the majority of that from food.

After dinner, we packed up into the limo again and headed to the school. We wanted to get there early enough that Harmony and Cam could be seen. They were in the running for prom king and queen.

We met up with Rosario, Sean, Terry, and Elle outside the school. Terry and Elle had a sort of zombie theme in their costume. I guess Terry had won their debate.

"Rosario, you look amazing." Harmony smiled.

"I love your dress, Elle!" Echo grinned.

They had really never looked more alike than they did right then. It was interesting that the way they held themselves was all it took to make them seem like they weren't twins. Echo told me they were mirror image twins, that's why she was left-handed and Harmony was right-handed. Echo did look like a reflection of Harmony in a lot of ways. "Echo, can I talk to you for a second?" Rosario said.

She nodded and they stepped off to the side. If not for my werewolf hearing, I might not have heard their conversation. I stood back from everyone and listened.

"Here is the recording of everything my mother could say about the curse. She actually talked to Grace before the whole thing went down. I guess she tried to get my mother to enter an alliance with the vampires. It took us the better part of the last seven days to get it all recorded." Rosario whispered.

"Thank you so much. Please thank your mother for me. Victor will be so happy about this." Echo replied softly.

"Mother wants this curse ended. It would be nice to know our people could maintain their glamour for more than eight hours and we could hide our home again. Humans have been trying to move into our neighborhood." Rosario told her. "That wouldn't be good for anyone. You should feel safe in your own home. Let her know we're doing everything we can."

"Mother would like you to come for lunch next weekend, if you can. She wants to talk with you more and see if she can figure out what kind of fae you're descended from. She would like you to bring Val and Harmony." Rosario requested. "I'll talk to them about it. Let your mother know that I'll do my best to make that happen. How has your evening been so far? You haven't been making Sean uncomfortable, have you?" Echo asked.

Rosario sighed. "I'm not. I've been a good little fae and acted like a friend. Tomorrow we're going to have a lot of fun. I can't wait." "Just remember and don't hurt him."

"Stop worrying. Let's go, I want to dance and I promised his mom we'd get pictures as soon as we got here." Rosario chuckled.

They returned to the group and we all went in. Echo gazed around the gym. The prom committee did a great job, but Echo was looking around like it was transformed into a castle or something.

I guided her over to the area where people were lined up to get pictures done. She clung to my arm and smiled. I couldn't wait to get her back home and remove that dress. She was an angel. My angel. And I wanted to have her in my arms again.