Chapter 13
Sebastian: Paint and Silk
Sebastian couldn’t hold back a growl of irritation. Where had Lucy disappeared off to? She’d gone to deal with their supposed designers ages ago, and she still wasn’t back yet. And now, here they were, almost two hours into the timed portion of their day, and he was working alone.
Suddenly, the door to the studio flew open, and Lucy burst inside.
Sebastian could have groaned seeing her.
Baby-fine red curls floated around her head, making it look like she had a scarlet halo.
She’d gotten grass stains on her gown somehow, and she was dangerously close to losing at least one shoe.
But the thing that he liked most about her appearance was the bright gleam of her eyes.
He’d seen that gleam more than once when they were courting; it always meant that she was up to some mischief.
Without warning, Wilde’s warning floated through his brain, and he couldn’t help but scowl. He wasn’t supposed to want her like this, for the love of the Starkind.
Lucy, a pox on her, frowned at the scowl. “What’s wrong?”
“Where have you been?” Sebastian demanded. His words came out harsher than he’d intended, and she took a step back.
“Er…I told you I was going to put the Lees to bed. They didn’t go quietly,” Lucy said, her eyes darting everywhere but his face. Her cheeks grew red. “I had to get a guard to keep them in their quarters.”
“I could have used your help here,” Sebastian snapped. “This job is going to be hard enough without you disappearing every other minute.”
Lucy studied him, the gleam in her eyes all but disappearing.
“I see.” Her tone was just as sharp as his was.
“And, I presume, you’d rather I have not gotten the absolutely wasted Lees out of your hair?
They nearly got into a fistfight on our way back to their chambers.
They broke several expensive-looking pieces of art.
I can’t imagine what they’d have done to your precious workroom, but I’m sure they would have been delightful to have underfoot, so long I was here, by your side, doing your bidding. ”
“You’re on this mission, same as I am!” Sebastian protested. “We’re supposed to be stopping an assassination, and, as you have pointed out more than once, in order to do that, we have to stay in the competition.”
“And I fully plan to help you remain in the competition!” Lucy exploded. “In fact, while I was out trying to make sure you had the peace and quiet you told me you needed to work, I had several epiphanies.”
Sebastian resisted the urge to laugh, and instead bent over his design sketches.
He thought he knew what he wanted to do, but he did not know if the emperor would like his designs.
He wished he knew more about the man. At least knew enough that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself and get them kicked out during the first round.
He realized that Lucy hadn’t continued her tirade.
He looked up expectantly. “And? What were they? Your so-called epiphanies?”
“I know how we’re going to win this challenge,” Lucy said as she approached his workbench. “At least, I think I do.”
Sebastian arched an eyebrow. “Yeah? What’s your grand master plan?”
For a second, Lucy didn’t answer. She was studying the designs before him. “This is different than your usual work. A little plainer, not a lot of personality.”
He frowned at her words. If there was one thing the people who saw his designs never said, it was that they lacked personality.
He snatched the sketches away from her. “Yes, well, I rarely design anything for Umberian officials. Lucy, spit out. What’s your plan to help us get to the next stage of this competition? ”
“Well, throw those out, for one thing,” she said, pointing to the papers in his hand. “Or, if not throw them out completely, add to the design. I overheard the emperor and one of his advisors talking—”
“What, in the Lees’ quarters?” Sebastian scoffed.
“No, in the courtyard. I was…” She bit her lip, and he felt a rush of desire surge through him. “I ran into someone and accidentally turned into a fox, so I was hiding there until I could figure out how to turn back.”
Sebastian frowned at her story. Hiding? Since when did Lucy ever hide? And what had made her turn into her fox form? The day before, she’d transformed because of the attack. Had something similar happened to her? Something she wasn’t telling? “Why—”
“And the emperor and his advisor came in,” Lucy plunged on, perhaps afraid of what he might ask. “They were arguing about the competition. It seems that the advisor, Han, I think his name was, thinks that an assassination is possible during the competition.”
“Nice to know. At least someone is worried,” Sebastian grumbled.
“The emperor essentially told him not to worry about it and changed the subject to the robe he was wearing. He said he was looking for someone who could surprise him with something he’d never seen before in a design.
” Lucy was almost hyperventilating now. “He said if someone did that, they’d win the competition and his interest.”
“Slow down, Lucy. Take a deep breath.” Sebastian frowned. “Something he’s never seen before…those people with the cloth that one can only see if they’re fit for their station are going to be tough to beat.”
Lucy shook her head. “Not if we work together,” she said, her voice high and breathy. “What if I were to paint something on canvas…could you figure out a way to transfer those designs onto the fabric?”
Sebastian considered the question. “Not physically. It wouldn’t come out right. But maybe I can magically transfer the designs. I’ve had some practice with that.”
“And then you can imbue my designs with protective magic,” Lucy gushed, her eyes sparkling. “So that as long as he wears it, no weapon or poison can touch him.”
Sebastian frowned, musing about the proposition. “I’m not sure if I remember the right spells for that.” He sighed, running his fingers over his scalp. He wished Oliver were with them. The duke know what spells would work best for protection. Or, at the very least, he’d know where to look.
Lucy bit her lip. “If you have an object with a similar spell on it, can you replicate it?” Sebastian eyed her. Surely she didn’t mean— Before the thought could form fully, she reached into the pocket of her gown and withdrew a golden locket, one he recognized well.
He held out his hand, and she obediently handed it to him. “You still carry this with you?” he breathed.
Lucy’s cheeks went scarlet. “I kept all the gifts you gave me, but especially this one. I swore I’d never lose it when you gave it to me, remember? I would wear it, but…” His eyes fell on the broken chain.
“Zipes, Lucy,” Sebastian whispered, running his fingers over the jagged chain. “I made sure that I purchased one of the strongest metals available. How did you manage—”
“It’s not important,” Lucy interrupted him. “Can you pull the spell from it and replicate it on the emperor’s clothes or not?”
Sebastian nodded. “Easy as pie. Well, maybe not pie, because it’s deceptively difficult, but, yes, I can do it.” He frowned, thoughtfully. “And maybe add a few embellishments to the design, so it doesn’t lack personality as much.”
Lucy gave him a look that he could only describe as wicked. “Good. I’d hate for those Umberian witches to think your designs were plain.”
“Never,” Sebastian said fervently. He glanced at the fabric that lined the shelves of the room. “So, do you have any ideas about the art you want to decorate the outer robe with? I need to know what color to use as a base.”
Lucy didn’t hesitate. She marched to the shelves and chose a midnight blue silk that had felt like magic in Sebastian’s hands when he’d handled it. “This one. It’s perfect for what I have in mind.”
“And what do you have in mind?” Sebastian asked.
Lucy ducked her head before handing him the fabric.
“It’s a surprise. You focus on your part.
I’ll focus on mine.” With those words, she moved to the edge of the room and rooted around her satchel for a set of paints and parchment.
Sebastian watched her for a second, transfixed by the way her brush moved.
He’d seen her sketch and paint before, of course, but she’d never shown him any of the results.
The fact that she would offer to share them for the competition was a little baffling.
After several minutes, he gave himself a little shake, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He moved to the table and made a couple of edits to the design.
Satisfied that he’d gotten the form right, he checked the measurements all of the designers had received and whistled.
Despite the imposing form he’d cut in the throne room, the emperor was a small man, naught over five feet tall and barely 150 pounds soaking wet.
Sebastian would have to pad the shoulders a little to make it look like he was larger than he was.
And the breeches, he’d have to take them in a bit, but with the right boots, he’d cut a dapper figure.
The robe, however, was going to be his crowning achievement. Floor-length, midnight blue that would match the silver accents in the tunic. It would be almost as fine as the one he’d made for King Alastair. One that would never leave his secret workshop back in Moyar.
“Right then,” he muttered, clapping his hands together.
At the gesture, a pair of scissors leaped into the air, standing at attention.
He smiled. This was the part he liked best. He waved his hand, and the scissors cut into the fabric until he was facing half a sleeve.
With another wave, the second half of the sleeve appeared.
He continued his motions, like a director conducting a symphony.
“I love watching you work.” Lucy’s voice startled him, so much so that he’d almost cut through the back panel of the robe. He looked up to see that she was watching him with great interest. A streak of violet paint now adorned her face. “It’s always so magical.”
Sebastian gave a half smile. “That is the benefit of having a fairy design clothes. It’s always magical.”
Lucy shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.” She returned her gaze to her paintings. “Even when you were doing this by hand, that one time when you were designing a gown for that festival that I’ve forgotten the name of, it was still magical. I wish your father could see that in you.”
Sebastian frowned and shook his head. “I don’t. In fact, I’d rather he never knowingly see my work, because he’s told me my designs and dreams are frivolous enough. I don’t want to hear him say it one more time.”
“He’s a fool if ever there was one,” Lucy murmured, tapping her brush against her chin, causing a splash of green paint to join the violet. “I showed one of your designs to my father once. He was very impressed. He said he’d only seen work like that when he was on a peace mission in Coleur.”
The mention of Lucy’s father turned Sebastian’s stomach, and he looked away from her. “We…we should focus on our work. We’ve only got a few hours left.”
Lucy nodded. “We’ll finish in plenty of time. And then you’ll see that your designs are fit for a king…or an emperor, as the case may be.”
Sebastian smiled at her faith in him and turned his attention back to the work at hand. Just for this moment, he cherished the time that they could be together without her pack conspiring to keep them apart. He didn’t know how he was going to let her go again once this mission had ended.