Page 16 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

“What do you have for me today, Pino?” Bellamy asked the male. This seamster was visibly aged, which meant something for fae. He had to be at least five millennia with his graying beard and wrinkling tan skin. He was likely nearing his Ending, but still he was at his booth, faithfully creating masterpieces.

Fae might be immortal, but we aged and lived and died nonetheless. We called it the Ending, because we believed that we would sense when Eternity had decided our story was at a close, hear when it called us back home. It seemed Pino had not felt that tug just yet.

I reached out to touch a silk slip that hung from a beam above. It was a beautiful sky blue, similar to Bellamy’s eyes. The way the light reflected off of it made it seem almost iridescent. I could not imagine wearing such a stunning garment. Something that was not gold.

“It seems your friend already has an item in mind,” Pino said. I turned back towards the two males and saw that they were having some sort of silent conversation. Bellamy glared daggers at the seller, taking his handsome face and warping it into something menacing. Pino did not back down, instead he raised his brows—a challenge. I felt the need to step in as the tension grew.

“I do not believe I have a need for it, but it is lovely, as are all of your pieces. Your talent is extraordinary,” I said, bowing slightly. Talent was something fae prided themselves on. The arts were a big part of our realm, and it would be rude to not recognize his abilities. He beamed at that, pushing Bellamy out of his way and coming over to me.

“Well, you are a delight! Thank you my dear, one can never hear too often that their passion is fruitful. I am Pino Augustu. If you care to try anything on, I have a room in the back to do so,” he said.

I walked away from the slip and further into the small, enclosed space. The wooden walls were covered in finished pieces ranging from trousers like my own to gorgeous gowns. The deeper into the room I went, the more beautiful the clothing got.

I found a simple red dress along the back wall. It was made of a thicker material than silk and had a plunging neckline. The back was barely there as well, making me wonder if it was possible to wear undergarments at all with it. The sleeves were short, sheer ruffles, and the garment itself reached the ground.

Mia would faint at the sight of it, and the castle seamstress would likely suggest I was too big to wear it. I meant to walk away, but Pino was there watching me intently.

“You find yourself called to the piece, yes? So why not just see how it makes you feel before walking away from it?” A question like that would normally be uttered from a Tomorrow, but I also knew very little about fashion, so it could be more common knowledge regarding clothing than a premonition of sorts. I grabbed the dress and followed him to the back.

Pino showed me to the small dressing room, which appeared to have been a closet before being repurposed. It had nothing but a small hook on one wall and a long mirror on the opposite. He closed the curtain behind him and left me to the daunting task of trying on such a promiscuous piece.

Taking my time to undress, I let my mind wander back to Bellamy. For the first time in my life, I was struggling to understand a male’s intentions. Dating had not been hard before. In fact, it was quite easy. My desires were communicated and fulfilled. Hesitation had never been in my vocabulary.

Until now.

I sighed. It was a waste of my time and energy to attempt any form of companionship with Bellamy. I was marrying Sterling whether I wanted to or not. With my boots discarded and my trousers on the floor next to my cloak, I grabbed the hem of my top and lifted it over my head. I again considered if I was supposed to wear undergarments with the dress.

I quickly shimmied out of them before I lost my nerve. As I pulled up the dress, I made a silent vow to have Bellamy loan me the coins regardless of whether I liked it or not, because this was horribly unsanitary.

The dress was tight, which nearly brought tears to my eyes. Why was I subjecting myself to this? As I cursed myself, the dress finally slid up, catching under my bare breasts. I tucked them both into the remaining fabric, then slid my arms into the small sleeves.

Instantly I regretted not facing the mirror to begin with, as I now had to somehow convince myself to turn and look. After counting to five a total of seven times, I finally spun to face my reflection.

Every part of my body was on display, even what the red material covered. My nipples were taught, and bumps raised on my upper stomach at the chill from the plunging neckline. My stomach was more obvious in the skintight dress, but the small draping was flattering in a way I had yet to experience. I made a half circle so I could look at my back and gasped at the sight. The back was so low that my undergarments would have shown. I was genuinely fearful that my rear might make an appearance, but in a way that gave me a thrill.

Overall, the dress was confidence made tangible. I could not recall a time I had ever felt as strong, sexy, and sophisticated as this; especially not with so little on. Just below my collar bones, the small amethyst lay against my tan skin. The silver that held it coiled around the jagged and imperfect stone, wrapping it like vines. My heart gave a jolt, but I fought back the memory.

The suede curtain was moving in the breeze, catching my eye. I chose to act on a whim, pulling it back.

Both males were gone, so I went in search of them, willing my bare feet to stay silent. With how little the booth was, I knew it would not take long to spot them. My guess proved right when I found them around the corner, huddled closely and whispering. Neither seemed to notice my arrival, continuing the tension-soaked conversation. Both were stiff and seemed to radiate anger.

Fires, I thought with a roll of my eyes.

“You are taking more of a risk than you should be. What will she mean to you in the end? What will happen if you go on this way?” Pino hissed, his questions laced with venom. Did he mean me?

“Watch your mouth, I am not the only one who might take offence to that,” Bellamy snapped back. The way his voice deepened sent shivers down my spine. I had never pictured being afraid of the dimpled male, but a part of me was now.

“She is a liability at best! You need to get this over with. Do not make me regret allowing your secrets to stay hidden. What do you think he would say if he knew the real reason you left? Or the reason you asked to stay?” So much was being said that I could not make sense of. Who were they talking about, and what secrets did Bellamy have?

What had I done to become a liability? Was it because I was engaged? Did Pino feel I was too much of a risk to allow on their land? It would make sense. Being with me could lead to a horrible ending for Bellamy, one I would not wish on anyone, but I had witnessed firsthand. Perhaps Pino was right to wish me gone.

I wanted to keep listening, but I knew that if I did, I would likely get caught. I cleared my throat and took a step out into the open. Both of their heads snapped in my direction, the fire within Bellamy scorching in his eyes at the sight of me. He seemed to hold his breath.

Pino’s features were the first to soften, turning into a joyful surprise. His mouth popped into an O shape, and he rushed over to me to adjust the dress.

“I do not think that I could have made a better fitting dress if I tried,” he said to me, all signs of the previous anger gone.

Smiling at the old male, I allowed myself a quick look at Bellamy. He was standing a few feet away, drinking in every inch of me. I could see the red tinging the tips of his nose and pointed ears from here, likely from the argument. For a moment his gaze locked onto my bruised arms, his fists tensing. Then he took a deep breath, his body relaxing.

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