Page 72 of The Blood Witch

“Wow,” Amalia murmured, looking at herself.

Wow was right. The woman in the mirror was someone to be reckoned with, a powerful, beautiful Witch on the cusp of adulthood. Amalia twirled, giggling as the jacket spun, showing off the lilac lining that added the perfect feminine touch. Something felt stuck in Vee’s throat as she watched Amalia spin, laughing for the first time since they’d met. That pulse of power grew a little more.

“Ah, yes! Yes, you are a vision!” Franklin exclaimed, returning from the back with even more clothes. He clapped his hands together, excited. “The jacket is an excellent choice, Your Highness.”

Amalia paused, smiling, and Franklin’s claws picked at the fabric, pinching places. “It will need some minor tailoring, I think. Yes, we canbring the shoulders in just a bit. And the pants, we can hem them, if you would like to forgo heels?”

“Yes,” Amalia said, breathlessly. Her smile was so wide it looked like it might hurt. “Please. I think I’ll do away with heels for a while.”

“Very good, very good,” Franklin murmured. A pen and pad of paper appeared in his hand, and he began to sketch out numbers, his eyes roving over the outfit and calculating.

“We’ll take the set,” Vee said, smiling. “And a matching set in any other colors you might have.”

Franklin paused, raising his brows at Vee, before glancing back to the princess.

“Yes, I think so,” Amalia grinned. “You can charge it to the palace.”

This time, when Franklin looked at Vee, there was no scorn in his eyes, no more scowl. His eyes were wide, glistening with thoughts of gold. “N-naturally, Your Highness! Ah, yes, I believe I may have some similar styles you may enjoy as well. And, perhaps, shoes?”

“Shoes are a must,” Vee confirmed, smirking as she settled back into the armchair. “Don’t you agree, Princess?”

Amalia turned to smile at her, and for just a moment Vee forgot how to breathe, and the smug, satisfied smirk on her own face disappeared completely.

Chapter 32

VEE

Was there anything in the world more beautiful than stars?

Vee stared up at the night sky, ignoring the cold, sharp brick that dug uncomfortably into her back. Ignoring the soft murmurs of voices all around her.

Stars had to be the most beautiful thing in existence, she imagined. The sky, a deep black velvet, so perfectly accentuated with all those pretty little lights. Sure, the moon was pretty, shining up there all on its own like a big silver coin, but thestars. They were something special, little gems caught in the air, sparkling forever. What were they? Were they reachable? She wondered if one of the flying Shifters knew, wondered if they’d ever touched one…

Footsteps reverberated on the brick next to her head, coming closer and closer, and suddenly Jayce was there, standing above her, his face blocking her view.

Vee stared up at him.

“Some of the gang are talking about you,” Jayce told her in a low voice. “They’re worried about the princess. About what you’re planning.”

Vee’s good mood dimmed.

“Who?” she asked.

Jayce laughed. “Who do you think?”

Tom. Vee clenched her jaw tight.

He was one of the oldest boys still here, and even though he was nothing but a Coyote Shifter, he had been itching to challenge her leadership among the strays. Uncle Jas once told her that was common among their kind. Whenever groups of different species got together, they were always scrambling to prove who was better, who was top dog.

How annoying that he thought, even for a second, that he was on her level. He was an insect compared to her.

They all were.

“Hey, Tommy,” Vee called, still staring up at the stars. The roof went quiet as a grave in an instant, every conversation stopping the moment she spoke. “Can I have a quick word?”

Vee didn’t need to look up to know where he was.

Ba bump.

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