Chapter 8 Mynx #3
When she stepped out, her laughter came easily as she took in the beauty of the dress on her. She didn’t even look like herself.. The fabric swirled around her like smoke, catching the light when she spun, catching Destiny’s eye. She let it happen. Let go in the moment and try to feel comfortable.
You strip away their defenses by staying invisible.
You interrogate without asking a single question.
. Destiny clapped her hands in approval before quickly covering her mouth, eyes wide in exaggerated amazement—just like a best friend would.
The moment was light, easy, a welcome respite from the weight pressing down on her since she stepped into this world.
"It's beautiful on you! You have to take it." Destiny’s voice rang, warm and insistent with the kind of praise that left no room for refusal.
Mynx turned slightly, letting the fabric catch the light. The dress shimmered, but it was the moment she was watching—how Destiny’s eyes lingered, how her tone wrapped approval in expectation. She’d forgotten how this felt. To feel beautiful.
She let her laughter rise again, softer this time. “You think so?”
“Most definitely, red does amazing things for your complexion. And the way it pours over your curves should be illegal. I’m jealous of those curves, girl. Own them.”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just a little fancier than I’m used to. So, tell me about Raven? About the mansion?” Mynx hoped the questions didn’t land awkwardly.
Destiny’s playful expression dimmed slightly, not disappearing entirely, but shifting to something more measured. "That’s a lot to cover, and honestly, I don’t think we have enough time to get into all of it," she said with a slight shrug, handing Mynx another dress.
"But what I can tell you is that Raven is very different from his father—at least, according to Elanah."
Mynx caught the note of hesitation. "And you don’t believe her?"
Destiny chuckled as Mynx disappeared into the dressing room, the satin slipping from her frame as she stepped into the next dress.
"It’s not that I don’t believe her, but you have to take what she says with a grain of salt. She’s totally in love with the man."
Mynx stepped out of the dressing room, her movements slower than before, the question lingering in the air as she adjusted the hem of the dress.
"Are they together? Like a couple?" she asked, her voice steady, though the tightening in her stomach betrayed her unease. The thought of Raven being taken—of someone else holding his attention—gnawed at her in a way she hadn’t expected.
Please tell me he’s not with Elanah.
"Oh, she wishes," Destiny laughed, shaking her head. "Raven is pretty elusive—he might give someone his attention for a moment, but he never stays long enough for it to mean anything."
She studied Destiny’s face, watching for a flicker of anything deeper.
She glanced down at herself, smoothing out the new dress before meeting Destiny’s eyes again. "And the Kings— what about them?"
"Now that’s a different conversation entirely," she said, her voice quieter now. "One you’ll want to be careful about having. This boutique is not the place to talk about it. But I can come to your room later tonight—if you want?"
Mynx let the answer settle between them, knowing she had just scratched the surface of everything she needed to know and that, sooner or later, she’d have to dig deeper.
"Yeah, that would be great, maybe we can watch a movie or something, hang out—you can fill me in more. What do you say?" Mynx made her best attempt to make the serious conversation seem trivial, easing the moment.
"Sounds like a plan, I'll bring the snacks," she said, handing her performance attire to try on. The green sequined slip dress had slices cut in just the right spots to show off all her delicious assets. She loved it.
“Do they have any masks or wings to go with outfits here? I’d love to turn this into a butterfly costume.”
“Of course they do,” Destiny said, already moving. “Go try that on—I’ll find what you need and hand it over so you can see the whole ensemble together.”
“Sweet, thanks.”
Destiny’s voice lifted with sudden excitement as she passed the wings over the top of the dressing cubicle. “You know what would be awesome?”
“What?” Mynx asked, slipping the straps over her shoulders.
“We’ve got this birdcage we use as a stage prop. You should make your entrance from inside it on opening night. Maybe we release butterflies when the curtains rise. Talk about unforgettable.” A beat. “I wish I could redo my own debut—just to steal that idea.”
Mynx smiled, the image blooming vivid and strange—a cage, wings, butterflies. Escape dressed as spectacle.
“Sounds like an amazing idea. Thanks. Now I need to figure out how to get butterflies.” Mynx laughed.
“No worries, I’ve got your back on that one. I have a friend who owes me a favor out in the world who knows a butterfly breeder. She works at Los Angelous Botanical Gardens. We had a friend in high school who got married after senior year. We did it for her, too.”
Mynx stepped out of the dressing room.
“That dress is going to have the room on its knees next weekend,” Destiny said, grinning.
Mynx blushed, the heat rising fast. “I think I’ve got everything I need,” she said, watching Destiny tuck the last undergarments into the bag. “I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to pay for all this.”
“With your card, silly,” Destiny chirped. “It all goes toward what you owe, of course. But with your look, you’ll be raking in cash, you’re smoking hot.”
Of course it goes toward what I owe. I live in debt now—every breath, every move, every damn dollar spent becomes a new debt.