Page 57 of Crimson Born

He scowled. “I’m worried one of them will report you to Imogen. Now go. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Maybe after the tests, we can take that sight-seeing tour you promised me.”

23

Drastic Action

Isaw Reece the next night, all right, but we did not go sight-seeing in the caverns. Or do anything else together.

He gave me an excuse, claiming the testing exercises had been particularly grueling and he had to head back to his barracks to go to bed early.

Next night, same story. I was beginning to panic.

Sadie Aldritch’s speech in D. C. was only ten days away. So was Imogen’s Inception Ceremony.

I didn’t want to be anywhere near the Bastion when that took place, and Ireallydidn’t want to leave Reece here for it.

The ceremony would also serve as his initiation into the Bloodbound when he would take his binding eternal vows. I was running out of time to convince him not to go through with it. Ihadto get his attention somehow.

The following night, I decided drastic action was called for. Reece knew that by joining the Bloodbound he was taking himself out of the running to be my mate and leaving me single.

So I would behave like a single girl.

First, I recruited Heather to give me a makeover. If anyone knew what vampire guys found attractive, she did.

“I’ve been waiting for this since the day we met,” she exclaimed, excitedly combing through my long hair, which had never been cut before.

“Hey—should I be offended?” I laughed. “I thought guys liked long hair.”

“They do... as long as they can still see your butt.”

I laughed out loud, scandalized, and covered my mouth with both hands as she went to work with the shears.

When she was finished, the floor around us was covered in dark curls.

Thankfully, I had plenty of hair left. It looked better than it ever had in my life, falling in long waves that were still well past my shoulders but left my... backside—I blushed just thinking about it—in clear view.

Makeup came next, and that was where Kelly applied her expertise.

“I used to do all my friends’ makeup for school dances and picture day,” she informed me, and I nodded like I understood.

I had zero personal experience with either, but it was clear these events had honed my friend’s skills with a mascara wand as well as all those tiny little brushes.

During the makeup session, she turned my chair away from the mirror, so I had only a marginal side-view. Once she’d declared her work complete and “gorgeous,” I turned my chair to face my reflection and literally gasped aloud.

Logically, I knew it was me in the mirror. But it was still hard to believe. I looked so much older... so much... prettier, I almost looked like a different person.

Contradicting my thoughts, Heather squealed, “It’s perfect. She looks like her, only more beautiful—like the best version of her.”

“And now for the finishing touch.” She opened a bag and drew out a scrap of red cloth. “Your swimsuit. Say hello to La Perla.”

“And goodbye to modesty,” I muttered in dismay. “Is that thewholething?”

She motioned impatiently for me to change into it. “It’s much more full coverage when you see it on. It’s going to be fabulous on you.”

I stepped into my closet to put it on then emerged, tugging at the edges of material that was comfortable but seemed present in inadequate quantities for the job.

“Do you know the meaning of the word ‘full?’” I asked Heather, and she laughed out loud.

“Oh my gosh, look at you,” Kelly exclaimed. “You’re stunning.”

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