Chapter 9
A flash of emotion crossed his face. It might’ve been respect, but more likely frustration.
In the end, he shook his head and let out a soft laugh.
“Well done, I suppose. However, just some information for you to consider: We must leave promptly at seven o’clock, and unless you want every fae we encounter to know you’re a human invading the Hollow Court, it’d be in your favor if you blended in a bit more than you do. ”
He let the words dangle as his eyes traveled down my dirty jeans and ripped red jacket. With a slight tilt of his head, he asked, “Might I persuade you to consider a few other clothing options before we leave? It’s in your best interest.”
I gave him a fake smile back. “I think you mean your best interest. I’ll be honest, I don’t care if you succeed at whatever your goal is.
That wasn’t part of our terms.” My boldness shocked me.
I never talked to people like this. But he hadn’t judged me for it yet, which was his mistake, because it was making me extra cheeky.
Speaking of cheeks, a small dimple appeared in one of his, like he was holding back a grin. “Of course, I wouldn’t dare assume. But perhaps in exchange for some dinner?”
“I’m not hungry.” My stomach growled in response.
Traitor.
He politely ignored the sound. “It’d be an unofficial deal.
No contract necessary. And I will honor our agreement in the meantime and reach out to my contacts, while I leave you in capable hands.
” Turning away from the kitchen toward a new tunnel with stairs leading up, he added, “Just to reiterate, it’ll make completing your end of the bargain easier for you if you look the part. ”
What? Needing to “look the part” made me want to back out, but it was too late. “How will you ‘honor our agreement’ and get any useful information in”—I checked the time on my phone again: 5:35—“an hour and a half?”
He paused on the first step, turning back to me with a wicked glint in his eyes. “If you’d rather, I could wait to look into where your family went until later tonight. Or more likely tomorrow, since the evening will go late.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“All right, then.” He nodded as if we’d reached an agreement and continued up the stairs. “I’ll go out and see what I can find while you get ready for the revel. Wear something you can dance in.”
“Dancing?” I hurried up the stairs after him. “Excuse me? I don’t remember you mentioning that!”
He glanced back but didn’t stop climbing the stairs. “I didn’t mention a lot of things.”
Fair point.
This time, he didn’t look back as he added, “I’d be happy to choose something for you to wear, if you’d prefer?”
His offer of answers plus a meal was honestly enough, but the possibility of him choosing something skimpy or uncomfortable settled it. “Nope!” I cleared my throat, trying to sound as nonchalant as him. “If you find out more about my family, I guess that’ll be fair.”
He dipped his chin in agreement, continuing up the stairs.
Under my breath, I muttered, “The food better not be cursed.”
If he heard, he didn’t deign to respond.
This will be worth it, I told myself, trying to believe it. Unfortunately, I didn’t know if that was true, but it was my only lead, so I didn’t really have a choice.
We stopped at a landing halfway up the staircase. There was a door on each side. Soren knocked on the left door. “Lore?”
The fox girl from earlier opened it with a grin. “Sorry I disappeared. I got the impression that you two needed space.”
My cheeks warmed.
“You’ve already met Foxlore,” Soren said, ignoring her insinuation. At least he ignored everyone equally. “She can help you find something to wear to court.”
“Ooh, you’re taking her to the revel?” Lore gasped, clapping her hands like an excited teenager. She and my sisters could easily be besties. In different circumstances, I’d probably like her. I shoved my hands into my coat pockets and frowned at the stone floor.
“I think Caius would like to meet her,” was all Soren said in explanation.
“Ah.” Lore nodded knowingly.
Glancing between them, I tried to read into it, but I had no idea what that meant.
“I’ll handle it.” She cheerfully grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. “She’ll be ready to dazzle the whole court in an hour.”
That set my head spinning.
Why would I need to dazzle an entire room of fae? Was that just an expression, or was she serious? Why should they notice me at all? What had I gotten myself into?
“Just one hour,” Soren said before I had a chance to land on a specific question. Reaching to close the door, he added, “Don’t waste it.”
“When do I ever?” she said, still holding on to my arm.
He leveled a look at her. “All the time.”
She laughed, letting go to elbow me. “Don’t listen to him. Soren’s too serious. I like to have a little fun on the way.”
Soren snorted softly under his breath but didn’t reply.
“Wait—” I cut off as the door clicked shut.
I wasn’t sure why I’d wanted him to stay.
“Let’s put together a gorgeous disguise.” Lore grinned, her slanted dark eyes sparkling with mischief. She flipped her pale hair over her shoulder and twirled away.
As she dug through her drawers, I took in what looked like her bedroom.
From the lack of windows, it must’ve still been underground despite the short staircase.
That strange fae lighting warmed the space like an evening sunset.
Flowers hung in baskets from the ceiling or grew with other foliage along the walls, which made the room feel like an indoor garden.
She probably only owned flower dresses too.
I held on to my puffy coat as if it’d somehow protect me, though at this point, the extra layer in the warm burrow was making me sweat.
I stared at her as she flung open the wardrobe and started swiping through the clothes inside.
What was I doing here? I couldn’t play dress-up while my family’s trail grew cold. “Foxlore, I—”
“Oh, just Lore is fine,” she interrupted from the other side of the room, turning to face me with an armful of gowns. “Let’s see what fits.”
The sensation of being stuck felt like being squeezed by an invisible vise.
I turned to remove my coat so she wouldn’t see the tears I couldn’t quite blink away.
“This one is my favorite.” Lore held up a gown, oblivious, as I folded my coat in front of me awkwardly, trying to keep the tools from clanking together. “Everyone was jealous when I wore it to First Equinox. But this one would match your eyes, and this other one might—”
I tried to tune her out and focus on the clothes.
This was temporary.
I checked my phone subtly. If I had to wait an hour and fourteen minutes, it’d be worth it if it helped me find my family.
The first dress was a flimsy white thing with mossy branches and a small bouquet almost growing across the bodice, exactly like I’d guessed, but the second option was something I’d actually wear at home—that is, if we ever held a super fancy event in our tiny town. So, never.
It was a dark green with oddly pointed shoulders and long filmy sleeves. A cutout in the top shaped it into a bit of a corset with gold detailing and gold chains delicately strung across the open skin beneath the collarbone. It looked fairly modest compared to the other dresses.
“How about that one?” I asked when she finally took a breath.
“This?” She held up the one I’d pointed to. “Oh, you have fantastic taste. This will look incredible on you.”
Even before I put it on, I knew it’d be gorgeous, but I still set my coat on the chair reluctantly.
The weeder and shovel inside clunked softly.
Since the dress clearly didn’t have any pockets, I’d be forced to go without my makeshift weapons—at least until I got back from wherever Soren was taking me.
But I refused to leave my phone behind, whether I could find reception or not. I’d tuck it into my bra if I had to.
While Lore turned her back, I tugged my simple blue shirt and jeans off self-consciously and pulled on the dress.
As I moved to stand in front of the mirror, my jaw dropped.
It was stunning.
The deep green complemented my pale skin and brought out the dark tones in my plain brown hair.
“Um . . . you can look,” I said once I got over the initial shock and realized Lore was still politely waiting with her back to me.
She whirled around and squealed. “I knew it. It’s perfect!”
I mumbled something about how it was just the dress but fortunately didn’t have to say much else because she went back to chattering as she worked on my hair. She wove intricate braids in a pretty pattern. I noticed she carefully covered my ears with them.
As she stood back to admire her work, both our eyes fell to my feet. My winter boots stuck out awkwardly from under the long skirt.
“How big are your feet?” she asked, eyeing them. Before I could answer, she pulled off one of her shoes and knelt down to pick up my foot, measuring it against the sole of my boot. Squinting, she shook her head. “Too big.”
My feet were not that big. Her shoes looked only slightly smaller than mine.
A knock sounded on the door.
“I hope that’s Gwen,” Lore told me. Then she called, “Come in!” To me again, she added, “She’ll know what to do.”
“Soren said to check on you,” a low feminine voice said as the door opened.
“You tell him to trust the process!” Lore declared, but the other fae female who entered just shrugged, closing the door behind her.
I assumed this was the Gwen that Lore was expecting. Her dark skin had tattoos covering every inch, even some that touched her face. Meeting her dark brown eyes, I tensed, feeling like a rabbit being watched by a hawk.
She studied me and my new clothes, lips pursed in grudging admiration. “Seems like he worried for nothing. Guess I’ll go.”
“No, no, no.” Lore shook her head dramatically. “Look at her feet!”
“Who cares?” Gwen said. “No one’s going to notice.”
“They might!”
“Fine,” Gwen scoffed. “They might notice, but who cares?”