Page 110 of Crown of Chaos

“Noted.” I grinned, knowing that she was totally my bestie.

When Esme and I walked back into the castle we’d commandeered, Avyanna glanced up from the dress she was sewing. She grinned and nodded toward the room I’d claimed, which wasn’t much of a room. There was a hole in the ceiling that didn’t keep the cold away or snow out.

The bed, which was more or less a small nest of blankets, was as far away from the hole as I could get it. It wasn’t as wondrous as the one I’d made in the library, but we hadn’t been able to go back there. Not after the barrier had weakened to the point that I could put my hand through it.

I could hear Jasmine and Siobhan laughing with the children in the basement below me, and the sound made my lips curl. For just a moment, I closed my eyes, trying to remember what that carefree laughter felt like as a child.

Back then, I had little to laugh about. Sabine and Kinvara had been the ones to teach me how to fit in. They’d tried to include me, even though I’d preferred to stand in the background and watch. And now they’d both turned on me. My eyes popped open, and I gazed at my reflection in the broken silver mirror.

To the left of the mirror, Esme had hung a soft silverish-blue dress. With it was a silver jeweled mask that had silver ribbons attached to the sides. I gently ran my fingertips over the soft material of the gown before picking up the mask and watching the jewels sparkle in the moon’s illuminating light. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It looked as if they had placed a million tiny diamonds into it and then lined the whole edge with chips of dark onyx.

“I thought it would take the attention away from that silver mop of hair you’re stuck with,” Esme stated from where she leaned against the warped doorframe. “The dress will also help.”

“Where did you get the dress?” I pulled it down from where she’d hung it.

“Don’t ask.” She shuddered before making a strange face. “You needed it more, and tonight was the one time you needed to look pretty. If nothing else, maybe you looking like the right choice will keep him from removing your head.”

“Thanks, that’s encouraging.” I calmly turned, scowling at her before she shook her head. “Best friends.”

“Not best friends.” A pink hue burned her cheeks, and I silently smiled at the sparkle and glow to her face, which hadn’t been there when I’d first met Esme.

“Now, get changed. Your magical portal is waiting to take you to your beast.” She gave me a once over and then turned to leave, but I stopped her.

“But I can take it any way I want to take it,” I returned.

“You’re infuriating.”

“Endearing,” I countered, which made her lip twitch.

“Just put the damn dress on and go get what is yours.”

I shooed her from the room and couldn’t stop smiling. Quickly, I changed into the beautiful dress with laced straps that covered my chest and stopped at the waist which flowed down into a full-length tulle skirt that dragged over the ground. At least it hid the fact that I didn’t have the right shoes.

“I’ll do your hair up, Aria,” Siobhan announced as she strode into the room. “It needs to be up so we can spell it, and place the laces for a backup, in the event they’re preventing magic from being used tonight. It won’t hide the color, but it should make it look less silver in the dim lighting.”

Siobhan did my hair into an intricate updo with just enough loose tendrils to frame my face. When she was done, she had me hold my mask in place so she could tie the ribbon for me.

Peering into the mirror, I found a beautiful stranger looking back at me. The silver lace made my hair appear lighter and added contrast to the mix. The jewels on the mask sparkled, which made my eyes appear more vibrant.

“You’ll need this too.” She handed me a slip of paper, and I took a second to read the elaborate calligraphy scrawled over it.

“Mistress of Fire and Water?” I questioned, wondering who Esme had eaten to get this invitation.

“So she refers to herself as that, but her name is Lynderia, and she can make fire or water balance in her palm. I suggest when they ask you to make one as proof, use fire. It’s harder to conjure, and make sure it’s not a huge display. I ensured the intended recipient of the invitation was unable to cast until the sun sets tomorrow evening, so you don’t have to worry about her crashing the party.” Esme shrugged, smirking before her brows wiggled. “And her outfit was pretty. Ready?”

I nodded, sucking my lip between my teeth and fidgeting. I followed Esme out to where she’d hidden the portal. Outside, the cool air bit against my flesh, reminding me that the fire hadn’t been lit.

“The girls need a fire. I should get the wood before I go.” Pausing, I heard her snort. “They’ll be cold without it.”

“Siobhan built one already. They’re fine, and you’re in a dress. Next excuse keeping you from leaving?” she asked without so much as missing a step.

“You’re an asshole.”

“Exactly why you shouldn’t be my best friend.”

We paused in front of the portal, and I closed my eyes. “If I end up dead, this is your fault.”

“If you can die, then we’re all fucked anyway. Go get him and remind him who the fuck you are. Show him why he’s a total idiot for not telling you the truth.”

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