Ruffle My Feathers (The Seven - Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

I may want to use … later."
    That teasing response, coupled with the look he gave her had something hot and hungry sliding through her.
    "Oh!" Layla looked over her shoulder. "Eldric and the others will be here any time. We sent cars for them. We've placed them at the adjacent table to us."
    "And Lucan Concoran, the Council leader for the Fae, asked to be placed at their table so he could open dialogue with Eldric,"Augustus added.
    "I thought this was a party, not a parliament,"Gabriel groused.
    Augustus shrugged. "Eldric is more than capable of handling Lucan."
    Nevaeh listened to the exchange, finding herself more curious about Ellie's newfound family. Would they be as nice and friendly as she, seeing as how they were part of some royal Fae line?
    Half an hour later, she had the answer to that question. Ellie's brother, Eldric was almost as beautiful as Gabriel, a bit reserved but still friendly. Colton Marsh was a man she'd define as protector. Tall and big, he was sexy as holy hell and gave off the air that he'd be the one to run to for protection.
    His wife, Memory – well Nev was a little intimidated to meet her but once she had the nervousness vanished. By the time everyone took their seats for the dinner to commence, Nevaeh felt like she'd found new friends.
    Her feelings of ease and happiness vanished in a flash when Asha Iltani made her entrance. She was incredibly beautiful but it felt like the temperature dropped ten degrees when she entered the lavish ballroom.
    There was no more chatter, no laughter and the entire room felt suffused with an atmosphere of tension.
    Asha took her place at the head of the table where the bridal party was seated. She did not sit, but lifted a glass of what appeared to be red wine. Nevaeh found that curious. All other glasses at the table were champagne.
    Asha waited, her gaze on the back of the room. Nevaeh followed the direction of her gaze and saw the people filtering in. An area had been cordoned off and was now filling up with reporters and camera crews.
    Nevaeh cut a look at Layla and Augustus and if ever a man's expression could be equated to a thundercloud, it was his. She understood. She hadn't done Layla's makeup because they were under the impression that no press would be attending. Gabriel leaned over and whispered in her ear. "And now, on with the show."
    She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant but stopped when Asha began to speak. "I would like to welcome you all to the celebration of the marriage of Augustus Thurinus to Layla Summerfield."
    She paused for a moment. "We have all witnessed the effects of globalization in economy. This process of international integration arose from the interchange of world views, ideas, products, and other aspects of cultures and produced a new level of interdependence among the citizens of this world. Today, a smartphone ordered in Africa is designed in California and assembled in multiple other countries. This economic integration is evidence we can see and the measure of a new era.
    "Just as we have embraced globalization on an economic front, we must also embrace it on a racial front, embracing not only ideas from the cultures of our world, but the genetic differences between the races who call this world home. In doing so, we realize that the commonalities outweigh the differences, that we are all more alike than we realized, and that together we can build a world that is better for all who call it home.
    "The upcoming nuptials of Augustus and Layla demonstrate not only that our kind can co-exist but we can find something to love within all of us. They, like several of the couples in attendance tonight, have chosen to step outside the bounds of racial bigotry and see within the person.
    "This is a celebration of integration, of the combining of peoples; a bringing together that will forge new strengths and manifest new advancements."
    She paused and looked around. When she inclined her head at someone, Nevaeh followed her