Anything Could Happen

Chapter Sixteen: The Unexpected Surprise

Taking a deep breath as she stepped back into the apartment, Briana couldn't help but sigh in relief glad to be home; it had been a stressful morning working with her wedding dress designer. 

Queen Celia had been insistent on her speaking with the royal designer, the wedding was fast approaching and the last thing anyone wanted was things being left until the last moment. 

All the details of the wedding were coming along nicely and Briana couldn't believe how much had been done since they had set a date for the wedding; she had a feeling that things were going to move a lot quicker than she would like. 

Slipping off her shoes, Briana sighed in relief before she looked around the apartment knowing that Lionel was meant to be home; she was surprised that he hadn't come to greet her when she had arrived home. 

"Leo?" Briana called nervously, she knew that he would have left her some sort of message if he wasn't going to be home; she liked how he always let her know what he was doing. 

Things were going well between them and Briana kind of liked the fact that they were actually acting like a couple instead of room-mates; she liked kissing Lionel whenever she could now.

Moving towards Lionel's bedroom, Briana wondered if maybe he was taking a nap since he had been pretty busy over the last few days; all main wedding details went through him so that Briana didn't have so much to worry about. 

The two of them still didn't share a room and Briana was glad that Lionel was being so patient with her, she couldn't imagine how frustrated that he must get and she was sure that he would have liked to move a little further in their relationship. 

Reaching Lionel's bedroom, Briana hesitated for a moment before she knocked on the door; she listened closely before she knocked again, knowing that Lionel was most likely inside. 

When she received no answer, Briana carefully poked her head inside and looked around wondering where Lionel could be; she moved inside looking around trying to work out where he was.

"Leo?" Briana called waiting by the door, she didn't dare move further into the room in case she was interrupting him; she wasn't quite sure that she was ready to see him naked or anything. 

There was silence for a moment and Briana started to wonder if Lionel had been called away to deal with wedding details; they were to be married in his church and she knew little about it.

"I'll be out in a moment," Lionel shouted back making Briana sigh in relief, she lingered by the door wanting to ask him about the details for their wedding. 

It made Briana feel bad that he had to deal with all this even if Lionel had insisted that it was okay, there were traditions that she knew nothing about even if Ariana had tried to teach her as much as she could.

The bathroom door opened and Lionel stepped out, he was wearing a set of shorts and was fresh out of the shower; he'd been in the gym most of the morning enjoying the peace and he was glad that Briana was home. 

Briana let out a surprised squeak as her brown eyes focused on one thing, she had no idea how she hadn't known about that little detail; the sound making Lionel jump and look at her surprised, he eyed her concerned wondering if she had hurt herself. 

"You have a tail!" Briana blurted out, her eyes not leaving the appendage that she had no idea existed; she wondered how it had escaped her notice before now. 

Of course Lionel wore a suit more often than not but there was no way in hell that Briana could have seen this coming; she wondered why Ariana hadn't mentioned this little fact to her. 

Slowly nodding his head, Lionel eyed Briana a little concerned at how pale she had become; he didn't want her freaking out and he guessed that his dear cousin had forgotten to tell her about that.

***

"You have a tail," Briana mumbled again, the idea that Lionel was a little different to her physically finally starting to set in; she clutched at the drink in her hands trying not to stare at Lionel. 

She had honestly forgot that Lionel was another species, things had been going so well between them recently and it had sort of slipped Briana's mind that not only was Lionel royalty but he was also an alien. 

Lionel sat down next to her, he was just relieved that she hadn't fainted or freaked out; she was allowing him to touch her and he guessed that she just hadn't been expecting it. 

"Is there anything else I should know about?" Briana asked peeking at Lionel, her stomach twisted a little but she knew that she needed to know what else was different about him.

It had never crossed her mind that Lionel would be different from her, Briana felt bad for assuming that just because he looked human that she had assumed that he was. 

"There is. But Ariana would be better to discuss it with you," Lionel reassured her, he had sent his cousin a message knowing that certain things would be better coming from her; he wasn't mad that this had slipped Ariana's mind. 

Their two species did look remarkably similar and Lionel knew that it wasn't Briana's fault that she hadn't known about the physical difference between them. 

It wasn't like anyone had really prepared her for any of this, her half-siblings had been afforded that information because they were expected to marry into this world; that had never been expected of Briana. 

Eyeing Lionel warily, Briana nodded her head wondering what Ariana would have to tell her; she couldn't imagine what other little surprises would appear. 

It was silent for a moment before Lionel carefully reached out and took Briana's hand, he guessed it was better that she found out now instead of on their wedding night.

Lionel could only imagine how well that would have gone down and he doubted that she was prepared for what would come that night; he was suddenly a little worried about what would happen. 

Ariana had been asked to teach Briana about royal traditions and what was expected of her, no one had thought that she knew so little about the Auleans themselves; she was completely unprepared for what would happen. 

"I'll talk with Ari... she'll be able to tell you everything you need to know about us," Lionel mumbled knowing that it was unfair to dump this on his cousin but it would be better coming from her. 

It would better prepare Briana if she talked about this with Ariana, something that Lionel wished that he had thought about sooner; he didn't want to frighten or hurt Briana when it came to consummating their marriage. 

Staring at Lionel, Briana nodded her head knowing that it had to be something important if Lionel was going to have Ariana explain it to her; she couldn't help but worry what it might be and wished she'd asked more questions about this when she'd had the chance. 

There was no telling what else Briana didn't know about, she knew all about traditions and royal things but she knew very little about the people that she was about to marry into. 

Briana couldn't help but curse her situation already knowing that Bethany and Alexander would have known all about the differences between her and Lionel. 

It was just another sign that Briana was so under prepared for life here on Aulea compared to everyone else.