Page 28 of Bound and Beguiled

Chapter Thirteen

We’d just finished restocking the walk-in with fresh garnishes—which were a lot more complex than the lemons, olives, and celery I was used to, since the Broken Crown catered to such a wide range of Metas, all with unique diets—when Mared and Emyr blew back in.

“I thought you were going to pick just a...couple things,” I said weakly, gaping at the parade of boxes and bags that trooped up the stairs like an invading army.

Mared waved her hand. “You needed options. We brought options.”

“Is this stuff returnable?”

Emyr gave me a long look. “Not your concern.”

“But—”

“Come on, love. You’ve got a lot of pampering to endure. Might as well try to enjoy it.” Efa winked at me, her hand warm and solid in the small of my back as she ushered me up the stairs. Ahead of us, Mared and Emyr debated which dress I should try first.

Gods save me.

The first dress looked like it should come with a retro stand microphone and some long gloves. Fully sequined, strapless, with a neckline that dipped between my boobs and a slit all the way to my hip, it was clearly meant for a figure more like Katarina’s. I tugged at the loose, gaping fabric over my chest, feeling like a kid playing dress up.

“Ooh, mama! It needs some alteration,” Mared said, as ghostly hands plucked at my bodice, pulling it snugly to my chest. “But you look so hot. What do you think?”

Reluctantly I looked in the large mirror that had floated into the room with the dress army. Just as I feared, rather than the bombshell the dress was meant for, I looked like a gangly colt who’d run through a laundry line. My freckled leg stuck out, pale and unsexy amidst the red glittering skirt, and although I wasn’t in fear of the top falling off with Mared holding it in place, I didn’t feel or look confident.

“. . .I don’t think so.”

The next two dresses—both beautiful, both wasted on me—went much the same. Emyr was trying to convince me to try on a confection made of such fine silk I was afraid to touch it, when Kynan strolled in, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

“Oh, good. I was afraid I wouldn’t make it in time for the fashion show. I brought some accessories.” Kynan dropped the duffel on the foot of the bed, giving Emyr a kiss before looking me over. “I like this look a lot. I don’t know how I feel about you showing that fuckstick this much of your pretty skin, though.”

“Very funny.” I folded my arms over my lace-clad breasts and cocked a hip covered only by a narrow satin ribbon. None of my underwear had been acceptable to the fae fashion police, and secretly I was thrilled. I wasn’t sold on fancy dresses, but the lacy, silky, barely-there undies? I’d wear them every day and damn the wedgies.

“You sassing me, little girl?” Kynan rumbled, coming to stand so close his fur brushed my nipples through the lace. They hardened so fast I gasped.

“N—no, Sir.”

“Too bad. I was looking forward to punishing you.” He swayed closer, deliberately rubbing his chest against mine so there was no doubt he’d caught my reaction, then turned to sprawl next to Efa on the bed. The two of them looked like lions watching a herd of gazelle.

Mared, who’d unzipped the duffel, made a happy exclamation and held up a...whip? She reached in again, pulling out a thin stiletto in a black leather sheath.

“You brought me weapons?” My tone was bemused.

Kynan lifted a shoulder as if to say, obviously.

“Nice,” Efa murmured.

“Back to the matter at hand,” Emyr insisted, holding up the fairy princess dress.

“Too floaty.” Kynan shook his head. “It would hide a knife well, but get in her way if she needed to draw it. Plus, it’s a tripping hazard. What else do you have?”

“Hmm, good point. Let me look.” He and Mared put their heads together, conferring.

“Something simple, maybe?” I suggested, rubbing one foot with the other. “Something, I don’t know. Less beautiful, more me.”

“I beg your pardon?” Efa’s voice was low, but that did nothing to hide the warning.

“I just meant—” I bit my lip, realizing too late the error of my ways.

“Uh-huh. Babygirl, Princeling, pick out a couple outfits as gorgeous as our girl is while we have a few words. Reza, come here.”

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