Page 59 of When Wishes Bleed

“Thank you, Mira,” I teased.

“You have less than an hour before tonight’s festivities begin.”

“What festivities?” I asked, trying to suppress the shivers running over my body.

The palace had cool air pumped in somehow, but that wasn’t why I was cold. Fate’s warning was getting stronger. Did the would-be killer plan to strike again so soon? Tonight? Fate was quiet. He neither confirmed nor denied. Perhaps the plan hadn’t been decided upon yet.

Mira snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Dinner and then the play. Did you hear anything I said?”

I raised my brows. “Play?”

“Yes, play,” she chastised. “Haven’t you looked at your schedule?”

“I went to archery…” I hedged, but even then I hadn’t looked beyond the afternoon, and evening was closing in.

Mira stuck her hand in my vest pocket and plucked out my room key. “Let’s get you dry and dressed,” she said kindly but impatiently. “The rain storm should ease shortly and be gone by dinner. Hopefully the seating dries before the play starts.”

Brecan brooded, keeping his arms crossed and leaning against the wall outside my room. His eyes looked dark purple instead of the calming lavender to which I was accustomed. “Come get me when she’s ready,” he said to Mira, even though I was right there.

Mira closed the door behind us. “Don’t pay any attention to his moodiness,” she said softly.

“What did I do this time?”

“I think you scared him, or…”

“Or what?”

She winced. “He thought you were with Tauren. He thinks Tauren is toying with you to see how far he can push your boundaries.”

“Why would he think that?”

She shrugged.

“Do you agree with him?”

She shook her head. “I don’t. Tauren looks at you like… Well, I shouldn’t say anything else.”

“How does he look at me, Mira?”

“Like you’re the one thing he wants and can’t have,” she finished. She guided me to the bathroom. “You could take a warm shower if you do it very quickly. I’ll get your things ready. It’s a formal event. Would you like to wear the gown we made for you the other day?” Her eyes glittered with anticipation.

“Would it be appropriate?”

“Indeed it would. And I promise that if you wear that gown tonight, you’ll see what I and everyone else does when Tauren looks at you, Sable.”

I’d seen it, or thought I had. Then again, he must see something in Leah. He may have wagered with me for a kiss, but he actually gave her one. How many of the other invitees had he kissed? Or gone even further with?

I scrubbed myself in the scalding water, leaving the safety and security of the shower before my shivers eased. Mira dried my hair and asked whether I wanted to straighten or curl it. I felt sharp, like the edge of a knife. “Make it straight.”

“We’ll match,” she chirped, her eyes twinkling excitedly. She ran to her bag on my bed and pulled out her straightener. Slowly, she ironed each piece until it was arrow straight and shone like dark silk, and every trace of the slight natural wave disappeared.

My hair was longer than I realized.

Mira seemed lost in thought as she worked a few drops of coconut oil into the strands to make it glisten before applying my makeup. I didn’t enjoy wearing it, but had to admit that when she was finished, I looked fierce. With dramatically dark eyes, pale, glistening lips, and contoured cheekbones, I could wear her creation with pride. If Bay wanted me to represent our sector, this dress was the perfect accessory.

Tauren asked to see me tonight, and I knew he meant privately. Which meant late, because this dinner and play were going to take forever.

I pushed the thought away as I slipped into the gown, the nude-colored silk slip softly whispering over my skin. Would Tauren truly look at me tonight the way Mira said he did? I would be lying if I said I didn’t want him to. Even though it could lead nowhere, if he truly had feelings for me, this dress would draw them to the surface. Then again, the other girls would be dressed in fine gowns, too; though I doubted any would be as intricate and personal as this one.

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