5. Chapter 5 #3
A full-length mirror reflected my surprised face back at me.
Beside it hung a dress suspended delicately on a hanger, just like a wedding gown waiting for the bride.
It hadn’t been all that long ago that I’d stepped into a situation just like this.
Into a room full of white tulle and gauze, hot irons and mascara brushes, preparing to marry Simon.
A big, expensive gown had hung from a custom-made hangar with Simon’s last name on it, the dress picked out and paid for by my parents.
It wasn’t a dress I loved, but it had been the dress I’d worn upon my arrival on The Isle.
Thinking back, I realized I had no idea what happened to it.
I’d told Millie to get rid of it, and that was that.
It hadn’t been a memory I wanted to keep.
The dress Lily had picked out for me today, in comparison, looked to be about fifty pounds lighter and far more my style: made of the palest beige silk, with a simple halter top and fabric that flowed like the water that streamed beneath the castle.
It was slim-fitting, with a high neck and low back, bare arms. There were no sparkles or embellishments on the dress, mostly because they weren’t needed. The fabric itself was the showstopper.
“I got it custom-made from Wanda at Wanda’s Weddings,” Lily said. “She’s the best.”
“The fabric looks like magic.” I reached out a hand, and it moved between my fingers like butter.
“It is. Wanda’s got the best touch with fabrics and alterations.
She can infuse them with all sorts of stuff you wouldn’t believe.
Isn’t this one perfect? When I told her she got to design the dress for the Fae Queen’s coronation, she just about fell over.
When I told her it had to be done by today, she nearly had a heart attack. ”
I winced but couldn’t let go of the fabric. “Well, she pulled it off.”
Lily turned to Liza. “And for you”—she flung open the closet—“a little something as well. Also from Wanda.”
Inside the closet hung a much smaller dress in a shade of dusty pink that reminded me of blooming roses. It had a slightly flared skirt, and when I pictured Liza slipping into it, I imagined her looking like a delicate ballerina.
I shouldn’t have been surprised that Lily had thought of Liza; in a way, each of us were so intimately familiar with isolation and loneliness, that coming together to form our own small herd out of necessity made sense.
We were a group of loners who could finally trust one another.
On paper, friendships sounded easy. In reality, good ones were so hard to find.
“Wow,” Liza gasped. It was the only word she seemed able to manage, and I didn’t blame her one bit. She swallowed hard. “This is amazing. I’m afraid I’ll wreck it.”
“So what?” Lily shrugged. “It’s yours. Yours to do whatever you like with. But first, I’m going to have Millie get you set up with a lush bath. You’re going to love it. We have all the soaps, bubbles, a huge soaking tub—pure luxury.”
As if on cue, Millie appeared in the doorway and, with a bright smile, beckoned for Liza to follow her. Liza skipped out of the room, and the two disappeared into another chamber of the castle. I turned to Lily and thanked her for thinking about Liza.
“Of course,” Lily said, her smile softening. “I see how much she means to you. And…” Lily reached out, squeezed my arm. “You mean a lot to her, too.”
I could only nod.
“Now for you.” Lily moved her hands to my shoulders and steered me toward a chair before the mirror. “Sit down, my dear. I’m no makeup artist, but I’ve been practicing in my spare time.”
“Your spare time?” I eased into the chair before the lit mirror, a whole old-fashioned, Hollywood setup. “How do you have spare time?”
“I had five minutes before you arrived, and that’s going to have to be good enough,” Lily said with a grin. “Don’t worry, I won’t overdo the eye shadow. You’re so pretty as is, you don’t need anything, really. This is just for fun.”
I sat back and listened as Lily chattered, starting the process of applying my makeup.
Brushes skittered against my face, foundations were rubbed into my skin.
All the while, Lily talked about makeup, her marriage, her potions.
She brought up Chuck the Gnome and Gus, and all of the customers who visited her store with wild requests.
We laughed, she dusted, I sat still and felt grateful.
Then when Lily ran out of steam, she started asking me questions. About New York, the mainland, what it had been like to live with such ritzy parents. She wondered what Simon had been like, and quickly declared she didn’t need to know any more about “that idiot.”
The time flew by, and as she wrapped up my hair and makeup, I was amazed by how many topics we had covered as she painted my lips a pale pink and darkened my eyes with a touch of kohl.
She swiped on a finishing spray of mascara, then moved to complete my updo, tying my hair back in a low, curly knot at the nape of my neck.
Finally, she declared me done and ready for the dress. After slipping into the beige gown, Lily fussed about with the fabric and ties until she was satisfied. When she was finished, she stepped back and sucked in a breath.
“I’d marry you if I wasn’t already in a very happy marriage,” Lily said with a wide grin. “You look stunning. My friend, you look like the queen you are.”
I turned to face the mirror, but before I could swivel, Lily stopped me with both hands and told me to wait.
Startled at her outburst, I froze. Lily hurried over to the dresser and lifted the small crown that had been waiting there, the signet that had originated from my ring.
As she nestled it into my carefully styled hair, I watched tears pool in her eyes.
“I can’t believe it’s real,” Lily said softly.
“I didn’t even know anything about Fae Queens when I arrived.
I haven’t been here all that long in the grand scheme of things, so like you, I lack a lot of the context and history.
So I can imagine if it’s emotional even for someone newer like me, how emotional this is for the rest of the island.
It’s really a special moment, Alessia. You’re special. ”
My breath felt trapped in my chest. I couldn’t think of a response at all, so I stayed quiet, absorbing the moment fully. When I finally got the courage to turn and face the mirror, I realized Lily was right about one thing: I did look like a queen. Like it or not, I finally looked the part.
My shoulders and face were tanned from days spent in the sun with Seer Goddard.
I was more slender than usual, still from the stress and the training, and the dress hung off me in gentle waves, cascading to the floor and pooling at my feet like a river.
When I moved, it moved with me—silky, soft, cool to the touch.
I could feel the magic in it, like maybe this fabric could absorb starlight and twinkle under a full moon.
It was a dress fit for a queen, and I was finally coming to terms with the fact that I was one.
“Thank you,” I said, turning to Lily, overwhelmed with gratitude. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you. It’s all perfect. It’s wonderful.”
Lily blinked, a tear sliding down her cheek, and pulled me into a hug. Then she wiped her face and warned, “Don’t you dare cry and ruin that makeup. I’ll do it for you.”
She laughed. I laughed. And we laughed until we separated because there wasn’t much else to do, unless we both wanted to cry.
At the sound of laughter, Silas entered the room, apparently having decided it was now safe to enter. Lily whispered something I didn’t quite catch and slipped out, as if she sensed the two of us needed a moment alone.
Silas stopped in the doorway, staring. He went perfectly still, his hand halfway to his chest. He looked almost stern, so serious, as he took me in with his chocolate eyes.
“Alessia,” he said, and it was a hush and a rush all at once. His voice sounded hoarse and dry, like he hadn’t used it in ages. Like it was an old tool he’d unearthed from a cellar, and it was grinding to life at the sight of me. “My God. You look stunning.”
“Thank you, Silas.”
At the sound of my voice, Silas seemed to realize he’d completely stopped moving.
He blinked and stepped forward, resting his large hands on my shoulders.
His thumbs brushed my skin, then trailed down my arms, sending goosebumps racing across my body.
Even the gentlest touch from him could turn my stomach inside out.
How lucky I was to be seen, to be appreciated—not just for how I looked, but for who I really was. Silas clearly admired Lily’s efforts in dressing me up in the island’s best, but his touch told me he loved me for something deeper.
“Alessia,” he said again, clearing his throat. “You are so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said again. “But really, I had nothing to do with it. Wanda and Lily—”
“No, I’m not finished,” Silas interrupted. “Please let me finish. What I wanted to say is that you’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. You are beauty beyond my wildest dreams.”
I gave a shy smile and tilted my head. He obviously wanted to get something off his chest, so I waited patiently for the other shoe to drop.
“What I wanted to tell you is that I will love you and respect you as queen. You’re the Fae Queen, and there isn’t anyone more perfect for the role. After tonight, there will be no doubt in the universe, not that I’ve ever had a shred of doubt.”
It would’ve been easy to make a quip about how I hadn’t had much of a choice about inheriting my powers, but it wasn’t the time for lighthearted banter. I could see him struggling to find the words, so I waited.
“But I also want to be very clear,” Silas continued. “I loved you before you were queen. I’ll love you after. Even when we’re no longer on this earth, I’ll love you whatever that looks like.”
“I love you too, Silas.”
“I don’t know how our lives will change once you have the official title as the Triune Queen, but there will be ripples across the world after your coronation ceremony, and things will change.
Everyone will know your name. I want you to know, here and now, the reasons I love you have nothing to do with royalty, your beauty, your history, or your powers.
Or maybe I love you a little bit for all those reasons, but it really is everything—all of you. I want you to know that.”
His words came faster now, like he needed to get them all out before he lost the courage.
“I want you to know I’m here for you in whatever way you need: as your friend, your confidant, your lover. I’ll be with you through whatever lies ahead.”
Tears pricked my eyes. I rose onto my tiptoes, my feet still bare beneath the silky dress, and kissed him.
His hands slipped around my waist, the warmth of his palms pressing to my lower back.
My belly fluttered as I leaned into him, our kiss deepening.
My hands tangled in his hair. His hug was so tight it stole the breath right out of me.
“I love you,” I whispered. “I’ll always love you.”
“I love you too,” he said roughly. “Until the end of our days.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Lily reappeared. She looked reluctant to enter, like she knew this was an important moment for us, but she stepped inside nonetheless.
“Sorry to break this up,” Lily said. “But it’s time. Everyone’s ready. The guests have started arriving.”
“Of course.” I stepped back, needing to physically catch my breath.
“I’ll check in with Ranger X,” Silas announced. “I’ll be back soon. If there’s anything you need, Lily knows where to find me.”
Lily gave a firm nod, and Silas left the room.
“Might as well get Wanda started on a wedding dress, huh?” Lily gave me a cheeky smile. “I know, I know. Get crowned and defeat the Darkest Lord before we talk about weddings. Fair. But I’m just saying, when the time comes, I’ll be happy to help plan your nuptials to that hunk.”
“Plan my wedding? I don’t need you to plan it.” At Lily’s frown, I quickly added, “But I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to be my maid of honor, if that day does come.”
Lily’s mouth fell open. “Yes. That’s a definite. Now shall we go make you queen, so we can get on with the fun stuff?”