Page 9 of Scales and Seduction

“Maybe just a glamor, something to make her blend in with the locals.” I wish I could touch Ruby, but she’s in the opposite chair. I want to communicate to her that things will be alright. “She can’t exactly walk around like this.”

“Last I checked, I didn’t do freebies, Prince,” he says, trying to lighten the mood, though his eyes convey something much kinder. “It’s illegal to have her here. Even if we use magic to hide her true nature, Gid, eventually it’ll wear off.”

Ruby’s eyebrows shoot upward into her hairline as panic radiates off her in waves, suffocating me. “Excuse me, illegal? What happens if someone finds out I’m here?”

“It’s alright; it’s just a precaution. Most people haven’t seen a human before, but they would sense something’s amiss with you. You lack a magical signature, and unfortunately that makes things unsafe for you,” I say gently, urging my voice to remain calm for her sake.

“The laws can be changed, and it was an accident, so no law was broken.” I clear my throat, forcing my shoulders back and tilting my chin upward with conviction. “Now, the glamor.”

Silas murmurs something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like a “fuck you,” but he stands, taking up the center of the room. “Fine,” he says in a clipped tone. “I’m not wasting energy doing a full-on glamor. We can get by with altering her essence instead.” His eyes cut to me sharply. “Nobody will know she’s human. Her scent, her look, all of it. It’ll last a bit longer than full glamor but still maybe three days max.”

My thoughts drift to my stepbrother Atticus, wondering what he would do in my place. He always had the council’s ear,always knew the right thing. Even in the year he’s been gone, I’m still learning how to navigate it all. “Will anyone sense the magic?”

Silas snorts, his face filled with smugness. “Only if they’re sniffing around for it. I’m subtle, you know?” He steps toward Ruby with a measured stride.

She glances at me, shifting in her chair uneasily as his massive frame towers over her. “If they know I’m human, what will happen?” Ruby’s eyes dart between Silas and me.

“I’m not sure what will happen. It’s been centuries, but unfortunately humans are a divisive topic. There may be some people who intend to hurt you, and there may be some who find you intriguing and will want to know more,” I explain, doing my best to calm her fears.

Ruby twists her hands in front of her, biting at her lip anxiously as she continues her barrage of questions. “And how am I getting back home? What happens if I leave, and we’re these fated mates?”

Silas crosses his broad arms over his chest, shrugging. “Look, we don’t know what happens if you leave, or even if you stay. Hell, we don’t even know how to get you home yet. For now, your best bet is to blend in and hope to your gods that we figure it out.”

Ruby squeezes her eyes tightly closed with a loud, exasperated sigh. “I’m stuck here?”

“For now, yeah, so what do you want to do?” Silas walks closer to Ruby’s chair until he’s right in front of her.

“Will it hurt?”

“He won’t hurt you,” I reassure her. “Silas’s magic is very gentle.”

The moment I step behind her chair, her posture shifts. The tension in her shoulders that had them up around her ears eases as if my presence calms her nerves. Her breathing slows as herhands stop clenching. A protective urge stirs in my stomach as my hand lightly touches her left shoulder as if to ground her, but the touch is more for my benefit.

Ruby nods, and once she has given her consent, Silas nods back. “Alright, darlin’, you might feel a slight pinch.” He wastes no time, his eyes narrowing as he focuses on her, and a faint glow sparkles at the tip of his horn. It glows brighter with each passing second until it envelops Ruby in a soft, radiant purple light. A shimmering mist slowly fills the air between them, swirling over Ruby like a veil.

The magic settles over her skin, and to the untrained eye, nothing has changed. Her human features now carry a subtle ambiguity that feels baffling.

Her skin appears smoother, her eyes, once warm and brown, now hold a subtle fleck of light gold. Her scent is modified as well, no longer purely human, but something hidden there is tinged with a wildness that stirs something primal within me.

To everyone else in this world, Ruby would seem like any other resident of the Vale. But to me, she remains undeniably her. The little quirks of her lip, her slightly crooked nose, and the way she continues to fidget with the hem of her dress are unchanged.

Ruby cocks her head to the side. “Am I still me?”

“You’re still you, sugar,” Silas says reassuringly. “Remember, this is temporary, and I won’t be doing it for free next time.”

I bristle at his reminder of payment, knowing that, while he is my friend, the magic he possesses does take a lot out of him when used. Nothing magic should come without an exchange equal to the power used. “I’ll remember,” I mumble. I’m grateful despite his gruffness. “Thank you, Silas, for your help.”

“You’re welcome.” He pauses, giving me a worried glance before smirking playfully. “Now be safe and get the fuck out. I want to get ready for work.”

As we step out into the bustling street, I can’t shake the feeling of something being off. It takes a moment to pinpoint it, but I notice it: no one looks at me. Not a single person spares me a glance, unlike earlier today. It’s as if I’m invisible. Instead, their eyes are on Gideon. Heads turn to follow him, bowing, and murmurs ripple through the crowd.

When I glance up at him, his striking teal scales catch the sunlight. His posture has a regal air to it, commanding attention. It suddenly clicks in my head, and my stomach flips. Silas called him “Prince.” These people are treating him like royalty...because he is.

Holy shit...I swiped right on a prince.

His hand reaches out as my fingers fidget. His scaled hand is smooth and strangely warm. “Gideon?” My voice is low, almost hidden in the hum of the street, but he halts instantly. His golden eyes slide down to meet mine, and I bite back the desire to chew the skin off my lip. “Are you really...a prince?”

A shadow flickers across his face as his smile falters. “I’m the spare,” he says, his tone tight. A faint sigh escapes his lips, but he squeezes my hand gently. “I’ll explain more when we’re alone.”

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