Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
Iopened the closet, hoping to find that it led, once more, back to the upstairs of my shop, but instead it was an actual walk-in half the size of my entire apartment and filled with a large assortment of clothing, all in shades of blue, pink, and periwinkle.
How wonderful; as in, it matched Wonderland’s color scheme.
The elaborate white molding carved with roses, vines, and other things that would’ve looked perfect on teacups framed each dress section.
The owner of this closet clearly had way too much shopping cash.
Should I protest the dinner and insist that I needed to get back to work?
What good would protesting do when I’d signed his contract?
I could wear my torn and grimy sensible navy skirt suit instead of one of the shimmery ballgowns.
I frowned down at my outfit. This was the first time I’d officially be representing The Rabbit Hole, so I needed to look magical and delicious.
Like something someone wanted to buy. I wrinkled my nose as I struggled with myself.
I’d always hated being on display like one of the mannequins in House Beur, but this was my business, and I needed every possible advantage.
I needed to look like a beautiful novelty that could produce goods people were excited to consume.
I had to be very careful to only add a touch of the dangerous goblin to the effervescent fairy if I wanted to have the kind of business that could pay off my debt in five years.
Hesitating, I reached up and pulled off my tooth caps and ran my tongue over my sharp mouth-daggers.
Weird.
I faced the dresses, all long and ridiculously formal. This had all belonged to Pavlov’s dead mistress.
Creepy.
Still, I could cope with creepy if it helped my business. I could cope with anything.
I pulled down a dress with a blue bodice and a long skirt and only hesitated for a second before I tore off the bottom half of the skirt with my teeth, leaving it short enough to show off my legs.
I was the advertisement for my bakery, so instead of trying to blend into the woodwork, like I usually did, I needed to stand out.
I needed to scream magical Wonderland bakery.
I needed to attract with as much sparkle as possible.
I ripped off some of the dress’s sequins and stuck them to my cheeks.
A bit odd, more than a bit, but definitely eye-catching.
I ripped the sleeves with my sharp teeth so they were tattered, chewed on the skirt a bit more to give it good texture then pulled the thing on.
It shaped itself to my contours like it was magical.
How convenient. I wouldn’t think about how much money the magical dress had cost and how I’d just chewed it up.
I picked up Pavlov and stared into his eyes.
“What do you think, darling? Will we make a strong enough advertisement? We’ll do better in the future when we make our own wardrobe after the bakery’s up and running, but this dress will do for now.
Yes, I agree.” I kissed his forehead and extended my wings, floating to the door like I was a real fairy, sparkles and magic dust trailing behind me in delicate swirls.
When the magical dust ran out, I dropped to the floor and walked like a normal person. Too bad my magical-fairy-dust look only lasted about as long as my shrinking ability.
I opened the door, and there was the devil in a sleek tuxedo, looking bored and sophisticated, but the languid dripped away the longer he stared at me.
His voice was a low growl as he narrowed his eyes. “Beg your pardon. I wasn’t aware that Miss Prudence kept such short confections in her closet.”
“I ripped it with my teeth.” I flashed my bared teeth at him, sharp, pointed goblin teeth that I’d kept capped my entire life. Would he recoil in horror?
He only nodded and held out his arm to me. “I did mention using yourself as a lure to draw in customers, but I’m having second thoughts about the wisdom of putting yourself on such blatant display.”
“You’ll protect me from all the savage monsters. That’s the point of these dinners, right? So that people see us together and know that you own me. Who would touch one of your belongings?”
His eyes flickered with anger, but he quickly banked it and only offered me a mocking smile. “Indeed, we will see who dares.” He raised my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
My heart fluttered and my skin got hot then cold. Was I blushing? Probably. Idiotic fairy fair skin.
He tucked my hand in his arm and frowned at the rabbit. “Don’t let him bite you again.”
He smelled like anger and caramel. Such a delicious combination.
What could I bake like that? Some kind of spice cake with a cream cheese frosting and a caramel melt pour.
“You’re worried we’re going to get into an abusive relationship?
Don’t worry. The next time he bites me, I’ll bite him back. ” I flashed my sharp teeth again.
The frown stayed between his brows. “I’m afraid he’d like that even more.”
I frowned down at Pavlov. “Well, I guess you’d better not bite me again. Sound good?”
The rabbit blinked at me then closed his eyes.
Clearly a very successful conversation there.
I grasped Philius’s arm and descended the broad, curving stairs with him, holding the rabbit against my shoulder.
He gave it several glances with that same frown.
Did he really expect me to keep it in a cage when it was still so sick?
It wouldn’t happen, not when the last time I’d looked away from the rabbit, he’d eaten cursed macarons.
The devil seemed distinctly displeased with this entire thing, which was ridiculous because if I had my way, I’d be in my shop scraping down the ceiling and getting it ready for fresh plaster. I hadn’t asked to go to dinner with him, not now, not ever. And I never would.
When the stairs opened to the lobby, there was a stir as everyone looked up at us.
There was a woman on fire, flickering flames rising around her, but no one seemed to notice. Seriously? She met my gaze and gave me a look as cold as ice. Were the flames real or special effects? Would she mind if I threw a bucket of something over her?
“Does that woman know she’s burning?” I whispered.
“Of course.”
“And it’s okay?”
“I have anti-flame spells over the whole of Wonderland.”
“Even the fireplaces?”
He gave me a funny look. “Not the fireplaces.”
“Then they’re not over the whole of Wonderland.”
“It was a figure of speech.”
“Or it was a figure of lies, but who can tell the truth between twisted words when they’ve been marinating in lies and deals for so long?”
His lips quirked up in a devil smile. Imagine that, the devil having a devil smile. “Are you going to lecture me during all our dinners?”
Was I blushing? “Maybe. Hopefully they don’t last long enough for there to be much talking. I need to get back to work.”
“I see. It’s a good thing I included that clause in the deal, or you’d probably starve and work yourself to death. If you don’t have proper rest every night, I’ll extend our dinners long enough for you to sleep.”
“No idea why you’d think that’s something to brag about, putting me to sleep during our dinners.”
“I wasn’t bragging.” He gave me a sharp smile as he leaned closer. “One thing about me, I never brag.”
His eyes glimmered in the most deliciously dangerous way.
I pulled away and turned back to look at the crowd still watching us with different levels of interest. When I saw the group of goblins in tuxedos, I stumbled and would’ve gone down if not for his solid strength.
The leader flashed me a smile of his sharp teeth while I grasped the devil’s arm as tightly as I could.
They were the goblins who’d invaded my apartment and chased me into Wonderland!
The way the goblin dragged his eyes over me was positively disturbing. My dress wasn’t that suggestive. Sure, the skirt went to my upper thigh, but the bodice had good coverage.
“What are the goblins doing here?” I hissed, turning to glare at the devil.
He shrugged. “They’d like me to fulfil my part of the deal, then I’ll own all their debts as well.”
I blinked at him. “The goblins made a deal with you? Is everyone an idiot?”
His smile was absolute deliciousness. “In all my many interactions, I’ve come to the conclusion that yes, everyone is an idiot of one flavor or another. It’s a universal truth.”
“So you’re also an idiot?”
He pursed his soft lips, glancing down at my bare legs. “Indeed. I’m having many regrets about the deal I made with you, the sweet, gentle fairy girl who would sacrifice herself to save her father. The rabbit hasn’t ever bitten anyone before. But you’d bite him back?”
“Well, I’m sorry I hurt him with the ointment, but his sores really do look much better now. And you can’t take the deal back just because he’s looking slightly better instead of worse. We have a deal.”
He sighed and didn’t speak for the rest of our descent to the main floor. Soon, we were stepping off the last step and onto the pale-and-indigo checked floor.
“You clean up nice,” the goblin said, voice like skidding rocks, eyes even more grating as they landed heavily on my bare skin. The skirt was absolutely too short. Glad I’d figured that out for the future.
I didn’t adjust my clothing, just looked past him at the burning lady like he wasn’t important.
Also like my heart wasn’t beating faster and faster.
There were so many goblins with him. At least a dozen.
And the devil didn’t seem strong or threatening.
Pretty, sure, but that had never saved anyone.
If the goblins hadn’t wanted to take me alive in my apartment, I’d already be dead.