Page 55 of Beautiful Beast

The tension broke, and I laughed. “I know. I’m sure my father would have much preferred if I had your hair color. The only reason he did not think me some kind of demon was because my grandmother’s hair was the same.”

“And mine is plain in comparison to most dragons.”

I hadn’t really seen that many dragons yet. But yes, I had seen some beautiful and unusual colors. Even Erryn’s golden hair was more than a simple blonde.

Belleo took my measurements and began to look through the hoard, even disappearing into the further rooms. She returned with a pile of softly shimmering gray fabric. “Here. At the very least these will suffice until I can make more.”

The clothes were like nothing I’d worn, but I liked them immediately. The thinnest of trousers, sheer fabric that clung to my skin beneath a skirt that flowed. A break in the skirt allowed freedom of movement in a way human clothes did not.

Thin straps held up the bodice, baring my shoulders, but not in the same way. This was comfortable. I braided my hair quickly, feeling more myself than I had since before I put on that horrible wedding dress.

“Much better,” Belleo said. Her arms were filled with fabric once more, but of various colors. Greens and golds and even reds darker than my hair. “I think these will do nicely, but those are comfortable?”

“I love them,” I told her honestly. “How did you know they would fit?”

Lifting a hand from beneath the fabric, she wiggled her fingers. “Magic.” A laugh. “I found something close and adjusted them.”

What I wouldn’t give to have power like that at my disposal. It would make things so much easier.

The thought froze me in my tracks. It was that thought that drove the humans to attack the dragons in the first place, convinced they were hoarding more than glittering jewels and piles of gold, but magic.

Belleo didn’t notice that I’d frozen.

“I’ll have more for you later, but at least you’re not walking around in their clothes.” Then she winked. “Or maybe it’s a pity you’re not.”

My whole body flushed again. “I don’t?—”

Belleo moved past me toward the main room, dismissing my denial. “Anyone can take pleasure with whom they like here,” she said. “No one will judge you for it. Well, in your case, that might not be true, but they’ll know better than to show a sign of it. The Heirs won’t tolerate it.”

“I don’t want everyone here living in fear of me.”

She grinned. “Trust me, they’re not. It’s entirely them.”

I didn’t blame anyone. They were deadly. I wasn’t afraid of them nearly as much as I should be, but they were lethal.

Varí chased a ball of string across the floor, batting it around chair legs and between feet, tumbling over himself and coming to a stop in front of Ellemar. “Serves you right, little one.” She flicked her fingers and the ball wound itself up so he could attack it again.

“Those suit you,” Ellemar said. “With that hair, you could almost be a dragon.”

“It would be an honor, but I know I’m not.”

I wasn’t anything anymore. What was a princess when not a part of her kingdom? Not that I would miss the title or the responsibility.

Princess.

Prisoner.

Bargaining chip.

Bound for death.

In a world beyond court and politics, I had no skills and no knowledge of value. Except for one thing.

They told me I could go most places. Maybe…

“Before I came here,” I didn’t know what they knew of those circumstances, and it wasn’t my place to share them. “I studied to become a potion master. Is there some place here I might continue that? Or merely tinker?”

To my left, a dragon with bright blue hair and orange eyes laughed. “There is. And I think Belleo will know exactly where to take you.”

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