Page 60 of Crown of Slumber

The dressing area was stocked with racks of frilly dresses, and a lengthy mirror stood on the opposite end of the room, flanked by a pair of mannequins. Mera positioned me in front of the mirror and gestured I step out of my travel-worn dress. Her eyes shifted to Fenn, who stood in the corner, arms crossed, not even pretending he wasn’t watching.

Mera unbuttoned the bodice, and I slid the straps of my dress down, wriggling until it puddled at my feet. My underthings still covered most of my body, but it was sheer, leaving nothing to the imagination. My curves, my breasts, my thighs, were on full display, shrouded only by a thin, translucent fabric.

My eyes locked onto Fenn’s through the mirror. His pupils flared, the green of his eyes seeming to burn as he watched me. Fire coiled low in my belly at the heady lust brimming in that look.

I lifted my chin at him in a challenge. “You look as if you’re seeing my body for the first time, darling.”

Fenn laughed, the sound low in his throat. “Every time is like the first time, my little firebird.”

My cheeks burned at the term of endearment. There was something intimate about the nickname, and to have him utter it in front of Mera made the flush in my face only deepen.

Mera exhaled sharply as she helped me into the corset and petticoat. I sucked in a breath, my rib cage screaming in protest. Ordinarily, we didn’t wear corsets in the Summer Court as the stifling heat was already too constraining. But here in the Autumn Court, there were different expectations, and it had been far too long since I’d worn one. My back went rigid, and the breath whooshed from my lungs.

With practiced ease, Mera gathered the mass of burgundy fabric around me and fastened it tightly. I grunted from the force of her movements.

“Everything all right, my lady?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said breathlessly. “It isn’t painful. It just takes some getting used to.”

She chuckled. “Things are far different in the Autumn Court, aren’t they?”

I smiled. “Indeed.”

“You know, we abhor corsets in the Midnight Court,” Fenn said from across the room. “Too restrictive.”

“Is that so?” I said. “And are you speaking from experience?”

He grinned wolfishly. “Would you be shocked if I said I’d worn a corset before?”

I laughed loudly, and Mera let out a sharp squeak of alarm. I quickly apologized and fixed my gaze away from Fenn before I snorted and Mera told the entire kingdom about the piglet princess from the Summer Court.

When Mera was finished, she stood back to admire her work, a satisfied smile gracing her face. The heart-shaped neckline scooped low, revealing an ample amount of cleavage. The sleeves were small and capped, cupping along my upper arms and leaving my collarbone and shoulders exposed. The skirt fanned out widely and was studded with tiny golden gems along the edges.

While the fabric looked burgundy on its own, when it was on me, it transformed into amber and gold, shimmering with each movement. This was Mera’s specialty—her fae magic brought her designs to life, but only when they were worn by the subject.

“You truly are a miracle worker.” I twirled, watching as the fabric shifted color.

Mera blushed and waved a hand. “It’s all thanks to the fae magic, my lady. My work wouldn’t be half as fast without it.”

I looked at Fenn in the reflection again. “What do you think, darling? Is it as stunning as you imagined it?”

His eyes were pinned on me, his lips parted slightly and a look of awe and surprise etched into his face. He swallowed, his throat bobbing, as his gaze roved over me slowly. After a moment, he said in a strained voice, “It’s… magnificent.”

Mera curtsied. “Thank you, Your Highness.” She gathered my hair together, running her fingers through the strands to sort out the tangles. She twisted it into a knot and pinned it to the top of my head. Elegant, but simple. With a smile, she turned to Fenn. “If you’ll step in front of the mirror, I’ll dress you next.”

Fenn obeyed, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. I stepped back, my skirts bumping into the racks of clothing in the process. Icaught one dress before it fell in a heap to the floor, then took extra care to replace it on the hanger.

When I turned back to Fenn, he was shirtless, and he was removing his trousers.

My throat went dry. Oh, gods… His tanned skin was a masterpiece. His arms were taut with well-tone muscle that flexed as he moved to loosen his trousers. My eyes dragged over his abdomen and chest, the rune marking below his collarbone, then lingered on the V-shape just above his waistline.

His britches clung to his muscular thighs, and the bulge between his legs…

I dropped my gaze at once, my face on fire.

“What’s the matter, dearest?” Fenn teased. “You act as if you’ve never seen my full body before.”

My blush deepened, but I forced myself to meet his smug expression in the mirror. “Your body is a work of art, Fenn. And it disarms me every time.”

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