Free Forgotten Days (Fate's Intent Book 6) by April Bowles

“Here we are. Now, before you pick one, let me give you a little back history about this tradition.”
    “Women like shiny things?” Darius guessed.
    “Yes. That’s true but that’s not why we do it.”
    “Then why?” I asked.
    “Okay, yes. A woman gets a ring from a man and she sees it as his love for her and she’s happy. We even may feel that way but what we’re really doing is telling other men that she’s taken. The philosophy is, the bigger the rock, the harder the man behind it will fight for her.”
    “Really?” Darius asked. “Because Ruby would have to be angry to carry around a stone that big all the time.”
    “Not like that. Small enough to fit on their finger but big enough for everyone to see it and know she’s taken even at a distance.”
    “Okay.” I nodded. “Let’s see them.”
    My father walked in a straight line and opened up six long drawers filled with sparkling rings of every design and color of every precious stone imaginable.
    “Wow.” Troy muttered. “This is going to take us all day.”
    “It won’t.” Darius argued. “Your eyes just need to scan them and find the biggest one.”
    “Also keeping their personal tastes in mind may help them love it more.”
    “Okay. Thank you, father.” I said. “No need to wait with us, I think. We can close up.”
    “Yes and be sure that you do.” He walked out and we stood in front of the open drawers.
    “So, since this is obviously happening, what’s the protocol on this sort of thing?” Darius asked. “Just give it to them and hope they know what it is?”
    Troy laughed. “No! I’m sure you’ll have to explain.”
    “What? You mean like a speech?”
    “Your complaint makes it sound like it will be hard.” I said. “This is Ruby. You know how to talk to her and you’ll do it alone. You won’t have an audience for that.”
    Darius let out a long breath. “All right. I’ve got mine. Now what?”
    “Go talk to her. We’ll meet up in my room after.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 18
     
     
    Darius
     
    I walked the quiet halls looking for Ruby. All of the servants were downstairs around the ballroom so the palace elsewhere seemed empty. I didn’t know where to look.
    Where would Kathryn have taken them because they clearly weren’t in the room we left them in? The thought crossed my mind but I still didn’t know where that would be. I started with the most logical places just by opening doors and checking each room.
    I came up to yet another door, opening it and saw no one again. I was ready to turn back but heard voices farther in. I walked through the first part of the room that just had a few chairs sitting around and approached the open arch on the other side.
    “Perfect as always.”
    I stood in the open space and saw Adele standing up on a platform in a white collared ball gown with a huge skirt that draped out the back with the train wrapping up in itself on the floor.
    Ruby, Jaylyn and Kathryn were standing around her, their eyes focused up, not seeing me at all.
    “She can wear anything and still look good. It’s annoying.” Ruby sighed.
    Jaylyn laughed. “Like you care! You hate dresses.”
    “It doesn’t have to be a dress. I said anything.”
    “Well, this is just the traditional ceremony gown.” Kathryn replied. “It’s centuries old. She’ll be wearing another for the banquet. She wouldn’t be able to get around very easily in this one.”
    “Tell me about it.” Adele muttered. “It weighs a ton.”
    I smiled to her tone that I’ve learned expressed how she hated something and kept a comfortable stance leaning up against the entrance while whistling flirtatiously. “Is that Adele? You look like a different person every time I see you in one of those.”
    Adele smiled while trying to turn. “What are you doing here?”
    “Ah—continue. I just want to steal Ruby away for a minute.”
    I walked back into the other part of the room and waited for her to come to me.
    “What is