Page 35 of Fated for his Flame

The idea I might be falling for him for real, that we had a true, genuine connection, was terrifying. It wasn’t something I wanted. It was supposed to be for the mission only. A fake relationship I could handle, no problem.

But a real one would leave me lost and confused. I didn’t do those. I didn’t know how to. Which was probably why I was a damn good spy. At a young age, I’d learned how to lie and manipulate people, to make them think I felt one thing instead of another. I knew how they ticked. I could fake whatever I needed to.

Except with Silas, and that made me want to pee my pants when I dwelled on it.

I wasn’t sure if I was faking it anymore. And that terrified me to no end because I always had a plan. A way out, a next step. But I had nothing.

Sweat started break out in my pits as the thoughts piled up.

“Enough,” I whispered to myself.

“What?” Silas asked, peering over the top of the rack as he stood up straight.

“Nothing,” I said, snatching up three dresses at random. “Found some, should I try them on?”

“Sure,” Silas said, staring at me for an extra second. Then he shrugged and let it go.

He followed me toward the changeroom, a half-step behind. I pulled the door open and hung up the dresses, only now looking at them for the first time.

One was creamy white with frills and far too much lace. If I’d been paying attention, I would never in a million years have grabbed it. That one would be last. The other two had potential. There was a violet one with a deep plunging neckline. And a black one that immediately drew my gaze.

“Be right back,” I told Silas, pulling the door closed hurriedly.

I wanted him to see me in the black dress.

“Let’s go over the guest list,” Silas said as I pulled off the bright blue glani I’d chosen to wear that day. The dragon-styled outfits were all very similar and yet not. I was starting to enjoy the differences in them and hoped I could convince him to get me a few more.

“Again?” I moaned.

“It’s important you know the major players,” Silas said.

“Fine, fine,” I conceded, hopping into the dress and starting to shimmy it up from the bottom. “Let’s see, there’s the sovereign herself. She’s single and has one son named Vicek. He’s the heir to the kingdom. Then there’s your family. Azarel, your father, and you. Your name is Silas by the way. Then Caleb and Shi. Your sister, Abby. Your lovely Aunt Annabelle, too.”

Silas was silent.

“Did I get that wrong?” I asked, fiddling with the zipper at my back, standing up nice and tall to get it as close together as possible first.

“No, no, you didn’t. It was all correct,” he said.

“Then there’s Caine, Seth’s dad. Their family is your biggest rival, the second house, if you’re the first. Lilith is the daughter you rejected, which is why they’re probably going to be somewhat pissy toward you—and me, I suppose—for a while. He has two younger siblings, a sister named Juliah and a much younger brother, Isaak. Their mother died giving birth to Isaak.”

I finished doing up the dress and turned to look at it in the mirror. A smile broke over my face. I was confident Silas would love it. I swished from side to side, admiring myself. Even I thought I looked good. It was the one. There was no doubt.

“Then there’s Aram and his family,” I said, reaching for the door handle. “Do I have to go on, or do you trust I’m good?”

“You’re good.” Silas said. “Very good, in fact. You memorized all that very quickly.”

“I have a good memory,” I said with a shrug, realizing I should’ve stumbled some more over all the information. I didn’t want him getting suspicious at how good I was at memorizing things. It was necessary in my trade, but that was different.

Then I pulled the door open and stepped out.

“What do you think?”

Silas’ eyes nearly popped out of his head. I started to smile, enjoying the jaw-dropping response.

“I take it you like it,” I teased, spinning around, so he could see the back. Or my back because, other than a loop around my neck, the dress began mere fractions of an inch above my ass.

There was a growl, and suddenly, I was being swept from my feet and into the changeroom.

---