Page 152 of Kingdoms of Night

Gone was her old ceremonial garb from vest to cactli.

Now she wore the prettiest rose-pink silk gown she had ever seen. The bodice fit her precisely, cupping her small breasts in exactly the right way and beautifully showcasing her tattoos.

How hadn’t she felt this happen? The slippers alone were softer than anything she’d ever put on her feet. They made her want to dance as they cradled her soles. And the skirt with all of its fluff beneath the silk made her want to spin and spin, like she had done as a child, just to make it flounce and poof. A veiled capelet of sorts attached just at the shoulders, and she even had a delicate white gold necklace that matched the rings.

Magic. Of course it was magic. But for the first time, the magic felt as if it was actually magical. She smiled slowly. Never in her life had she felt so beautiful. Oh! Her hair! Her hands flew to her head.

Wait.

She frowned. Somehow it had been fixed as well, clean, no longer itchy. It was big and combed out with—flowers? Roses, maybe? Was there a mirror?

No! She stopped herself, blinking away the hazy warmth that swelled up around her. No, she needed to—

Wait. Why was she here?

She set her hands on her waist, scowling as she tried to recall.

She’d come in here looking for someone. A man. Yes?

And when she found him, she had something to say.

But what?

Plagues! Her head felt as fuzzy as if she had drained a whole wineskin. A good sweet red wine. She pinched the bridge of her nose and rubbed her hand over her brow, careful of her piercings. It was as if all the thoughts were fading from her mind and all that existed was this place, this moment.

But, as beautiful as this place was, as stunning as the people were, she didn’t want this moment.

She was missing someone. The aching in the well of her soul swelled with every breath. There was someone she needed to find. And until she found him, all of this was false, hollow, and cruel. Not one bit of this mattered until she found him.

Whoever he was.

Dancers surrounded her now, and she stood beneath a massive floating chandelier. It spun slowly to its own song, iridescent pearls in all sorts of subtle shades draped over the elegant arms and the delicate hammered leaves and vines. The notes of the cello, violin, and piano wrapped themselves deeper within her, soft and lilting, impossible to ignore, urging her to join the dance and lose herself further in its rhythm and grace.

More dancers spun past her. One nearly knocked her into a serving cart.

A firm hand slipped under her elbow, and a man in a dashing navy-blue tailcoat appeared next to her. “Dare I hope you’re looking for me?”

She frowned and pulled away. His hypnotic brown eyes promised all sorts of delights, but there was no doubt that this was not who she had come to find.

She stepped back. “No. I’m sorry.”

“Isn’t there anything I could do to change your mind?” He leaned closer, the edges of his smile turning crooked. The musky scent of his cologne enveloped her senses, but the rich pleasant smell was wrong.

“No.” She pulled farther away and had to dodge more colorful dancers.

The strange man vanished. The colors swirled brighter and faster.

Another man in all silver and black slid alongside her and reached for her hand. “Never have I seen such beauty and grace. Tell me you are here for me and make my joy complete.”

“I’m not.” Uneasiness intensified within her. “You’re not the one I’m looking for.”

He caught ahold of her arm and offered her a flute of champagne. “I can be.”

She scowled. “No, you can’t. Now let go or I’ll throw that in your face.”

He laughed as he took a sip and stepped away from her. “If you change your mind, I’m only a wish away.”

She shook her head and tried to make her way across the ballroom floor. The humming in her ears intensified.

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