Page 110 of Of Wind and Terror

“Now, can I help you look even more beautiful than you already do? Pretty, pretty please?”

The dress is gorgeous. Ethereal. I feel like a…a princess. Maybe even a queen.

The black, silky fabric has a slit up my thigh that nearly reaches my waist. It causes the material to swish around my legs like dark liquid. There are no sleeves, but the dress hardens around my chest, supporting my breasts. There, the color changes from a midnight-black to a hot shade of pink. Jewels are embedded in the very center, reaching all the way to my belly button.

Bailey provided me two gloves—one black and one pink. They feel like satin against my skin, soft to the touch.

The entire outfit is completed with a long pearl necklace and two golden earrings that probably cost more than Madam Herra’s entire house. Gaia only knows it’s more wealth than I’ve ever seen before, let alone held.

“Eeep! You look beautiful! Seriously! So pretty! Blaze will be struck speechless,” Bailey squeals as she runs a brush through my golden hair, smoothing it out. “I’m going to leave your hair down, if that’s okay. It’s just so beautiful, I don’t want to ruin it by putting it in a ponytail. Is that okay? Of course it’s okay.” She answers her own question with an indulgent smirk and a flippant shake of her head. “Do you have any plans today? Do you want me to do your makeup? Paint your nails? I can?—”

I wave a hand in the air and offer her a gentle smile. Her cheeks are almost red, almost as if she forgot to take in oxygen during that entire spiel.

“I was actually hoping I could talk to Treyton. I mean, Prince Treyton. He should be in one of the guest rooms.”

Bailey blinks at me.

Blinks some more.

And then begins to blink excessively, as if doing so will somehow alter her vision and transport her back in time.

“You want to see the Spring Prince? Here? Wait… HE’S HERE?” Her voice rises to a scream at the end, and she jumps to her feet, bouncing up and down. “Oh my Gaia! I’m such a huge fan of Prince Treyton. He’s so dreamy.”

She dramatically fans herself, and I find myself giggling softly. I wonder how Treyton will react if I ever tell him that a fifteen-year-old girl has a massive crush on him.

Thoughts of Treyton immediately sour my jovial mood.

I know I need to talk to him, discuss everything that happened, but… It’s hard. So, so hard. Being around him is the last thing I want to do, which makes it all the more obvious that I need to.

“How about I introduce you two?” I tell Bailey with a conspiratorial wink.

Her entire face flushes—from her pointed chin to the roots of her hair. “W-what? I don’t… I mean, you don’t have to… I mean…”

I stand from the vanity and smooth a gloved hand down my skirt. I wish I could feel the fabric against my fingertips. It’s the silkiest, softest material I’ve ever worn in my life.

Maybe I could take my gloves off for just a tick and?—

Or maybe I’m just stalling.

Something akin to dread skitters down my spine. My pulse spikes like a spooked pacon.

As if my thoughts alone have summoned him, Runt pokes his head out from underneath the couch. He disappeared under there when Bailey instructed me to start getting my dress on. Now, he cocks his head to the side curiously as he studies my attire.

Bailey has gone perfectly still beside me as she gapes at Runt. A muscle feathers in her cheek. “Is that…?”

“He won’t hurt you,” I sign as Runt scampers forward and throws himself into my arms.

I hold the pacon tight against my chest, and he nuzzles my chin affectionately.

“That’s so fucking weird,” Bailey breathes, but it seems as if her earlier terror has evaporated. There’s a skip to her step as she throws open the front door, pokes her head out, and barks, “Where in Gaia’s name is Treyton, you heathens?! Your queen demands you bring him to her.” She adopts a more casual tone when she continues. “Or you can bring her to him. Doesn’t matter. She just wants to see him. Okayyyy. Byyyeee.” She shuts the door and then spins to lean against it, her chest heaving. “Wow. That was fun. I think I like bossing fae around.”

43

KASSANDRA

We’re led to Treyton’s room, which is apparently a few floors down from my own. According to the guard who led us here, Aleksander’s room is right across the hall. I make a mental note of that and then rap my knuckles against Treyton’s bedroom door.

For a long moment, there’s no answer, and then a lock clicks a tick before the door swings open.

---