Page 84 of Exquisite Monster
Lena pressed her lips together again, but this time she was smiling. She felt so much more at ease. “Yes. Otherwise, I’ll spend the whole time wondering where we’re going and won’t enjoy any of it.”
I laughed softly. “Fair enough.”
The shop we needed to visit was on the other side of the square. We clung to the edges, and Lena watched everything while we walked. What would the world be like if all markets were like this? Both human and dragon? If there were ever a time when most humans were not deathly afraid of us, I believed it would be a better world.
Bright green trim lined the windows of the storefront I wanted. It was on the edge of the square, and the front display showed every manner of fabric imaginable. If Ellemar were here, I wondered if she’d be impressed with the store’s selection or if she would find it lacking.
“Here.”
Lena looked at the display and through the door. “Why?”
“Because you need clothes,” I said. “As much as I love youwearing our clothes, and I will never tire of my scent on your skin, you need things that are your own.”
“I’ll be all right.”
I tilted my head. “Your wedding dress was torn to shreds because of us. You were tricked into wearing something you never would have chosen, and the gorgeous dress you wore for our mating celebration is now at the bottom of Evrítha. You need more than one set of clothes, mate.”
A pulse of devastating grief rolled through her before Lena leaned harder against my body. It was followed by a sense of awe and contentment. “Thank you. I had to ask Gleym for clothes. You already thought about them without me needing to ask. Endre did too.”
I leaned down and kissed her slowly, the hoods of our cloaks creating a tiny space for just the two of us. “I wanted you to feel normal, even if everything else isn’t.”
The emotions shifting through our bond were hard to interpret. Relief and hesitation, worry and gratefulness. But now, the low anxiety was the thing that drew my focus. “Why are you nervous?”
“I have no idea what clothes I need,” she whispered. “I’m obviously not dressing for court. I don’t know what clothes I’ll be able to fight in, if I need to. And…”
She didn’t have to finish the sentence. The last time she’d had someone help her dress was the moment she’d been humiliated, and she didn’t want to feel it again. “You will not look foolish,” I told her. “I will not allow it. As for the rest, we will see.”
I guided her inside the shop with a hand on the small of her back. Inside was a mess of fabrics stacked in every corner. The shelves looked like they might have had some semblance of organization at one point, but no longer. A tiny chime announced our presence.
“If you’re back for the veil, I’ve already told you it won’t be ready until the new moon, Firra.”
“We aren’t here for a veil,” I said. Though the idea of Lena in a wedding dress forusmade my beast perk up with interest.
A female dragon with hair the color of the night sky looked up from behind the counter and took in the two of us. “My apologies. We have an eager customer who comes in around this time asking the same question.”
“Glad we could break up the monotony.”
“What can I help you with?”
“Clothing.”
She snorted. “Any other obvious things you’d like to point out?”
A laugh burst out of Lena, and she smothered it with her hand. I didn’t care that it was at my expense. I wanted my mate to laugh. I wanted her to feel joy.
“Clothes suitable for everyday wear and clothing suitable for travel. And anything else she’d like to purchase.”
The dragon’s eyes were already on Lena because she’d laughed, and I watched as she inhaled and tilted her head. “You’re human?”
Terror shot through Lena like lightning, and she stepped closer to me.
“Will that be a problem?” I allowed my beast to show through my eyes.
The dragon’s gaze snapped to mine. Her beast rose and realized how utterly outmatched it was. But I sensed no malice toward Lena or humans. Just curiosity. “No. Just odd to see on this side of the continent.”
“It was my belief that those inSythal Iturkept their business their own.”
She chuckled and crossed her arms. “You don’t have to threaten me, stranger. Your business is your own. My name is Someny. My mate is Iavoss. He will deal with the payment while I take her measurements.” She held an arm out for Lena to follow, but all Lena did was press herself closer to me.
