Page 40 of A Blade of Blood and Shadow
I took a deep breath and flung open the wardrobe, thinking I’d get dressed in the dark. Rather than the musty scent of cedar I’d been expecting, more of that lilac-scented breeze wafted out, and I gaped at the dress hanging inside.
Layers upon layers of chiffon seemed to float on the spring-scented breeze — not blue or lavender or silver, but some faerie shade caught between all three. Flowering vines embroidered in silver cascaded down each strap, adorning the bust and fanning out along the high waist. More flowers gleamed from the panels of the skirt and the airy train that pooled on the floor of the wardrobe.
A mixture of dread and awe squeezed my insides as I reached up to take the dress off the hanger. The fabric flowed over my hands like cool water, and I knew it had to be faerie-made.
Slowly, I carried the gown over to the bed and laid it out on the duvet. I had the sneaking suspicion that it would fitme perfectly. Whether I wanted to be seen in public wearing such a thing was another matter.
I peeled off my leathers but couldn’t bring myself to lay the worn jacket and pants beside the dress on the beautiful bed. The gown would no doubt be the most finely made garment I’d ever worn, and my leathers seemed almost vulgar in comparison. So I draped them over the arm of a chair and faced the dress in my underwear.
Steeling myself, I burrowed through the layers of chiffon until I found the straps. I shivered as the cool fabric slid over my skin. Then I began to panic.
The front was cut in a daring deep V that nearly reached my navel. Two slim strips of fabric were all that covered my front, leaving the swell of each breast exposed.
The skirt, which had appeared modest on the hanger, had an enormous slit along both thighs. The sheer fabric swished dangerously about my legs, and I wondered how I was supposed to do anything without that traitorous front panel shifting too far to one side.
Irritated, I snatched up my leather thigh sheaths and unbuckled one to fit around my right leg, as high up as it would go. To arm myself felt like an insult to the dress, but I wasn’t walking into a house full of faeries defenseless.
Once my daggers were secure, I stepped in front of the full-length mirror, and the air whooshed out of my lungs.
I looked . . .beautiful. Feminine. Alluring. Soft. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to.
As my bare toes curled into the rug at my feet, I realized I needed shoes. Padding over to the armoire, I found a pair of silver slippers already waiting. They seemed to form to my feet as I slipped them on, and I noticed that the band over the foot was embroidered with the same delicateflowers that adorned my dress. The soft soles allowed me to move without a sound — perfect for what we were about to attempt.
For a moment, I just stood there in front of the mirror, swishing the layers of my skirt. Every movement seemed to bring out a slightly different shade of lavender, silver, or dusty blue.
It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful dress I’d ever worn — the most beautiful dress I’d everseen. And Kaden had bought it or commissioned it or simply magicked it into existence forme.
Careful not to bunch the fabric, I perched on the edge of the bench before the dressing table and picked up one of the heavy silver brushes. As I ran it through my wind-blown locks, a smooth section of waves sprang back from the bristles — the limp, dark strands obeying for once. I brushed back the hair on the other side of my face, and my locks seemed to sigh as they settled into glistening waves.
I stared.
Was thebrushenchanted?
Fascinated, I continued until my hair hung smoothly over my bare shoulders. It had been months, maybe years, since I’d worn my hair down. Hair was a liability in a fight, but tonight I was to play a part, so I left it down and applied a small bit of makeup from the pots and tins I found in the drawer.
Just when I was finishing up, I heard a knock at the bedroom door.
“Come in,” I called, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Glancing in the mirror, I saw Kaden hovering at the end of the passageway that led into the chamber. He worea black velvet jacket that looked as though it had been made for him and a pair of matching trousers. The jacket’s high collar was clearly a fae fashion and set off his chiseled jawline. The front was embroidered with a design in silver-blue thread that seemed to complement my dress.
He looked magnificent. I would have been embarrassed for him to catch me staring, but I realized he was staring, too.
“Did the dress —” His voice came out slightly hoarse.
“It fits,” I said, getting to my feet and self-consciously arranging the flowing skirts so the slit along my thigh didn’t leave me exposed.
Kaden’s full lips parted as his eyes roved over me, drinking in every detail. It was a quick, thorough assessment, but something in his gaze seemed to strip me bare.
“The dress is lovely,” I said. “Thank you.”
Kaden shook his head, seemingly at a loss. “You are . . .exquisite.”
Heat flooded my cheeks at his quiet words, and I suddenly had no idea what to do with my face.
“Are you ready?” he asked, blinking a few times before offering me his arm. “If we go now, we can still be fashionably late.”
A slight grin tugged at the corners of my mouth. Here we were, about to walk into a nest of deadly fae and attempt to steal a one-of-a-kind magical object, and Kaden didn’t seem nervous at all. If anything, he acted as though he was looking forward to it.
