His arm snaked around my waist, yanking me backward. “What part of ‘follow my lead’ don’t you get?”
“You never told me to follow you,” I pointed out, glancing up at him. “And stop manhandling me.”
“Stop acting impulsively,” he returned, yanking me around in the other direction to face a mirror. “We’re going this way. The door just leads to other portals.” His grip tightened. “And don’t even think about exploring them. I will hunt you down, and you will not like the consequences.”
“Wow, your faith in me is charming.”
He met my gaze in the mirror, one arm still wrapped like a vise around my waist. “I don’t have faith in anyone but myself, Aflora. You would be wise to adopt a similar armor.” With that, he shoved me through the glass—which gave way just like the entrance to Kolstov’s suite at the Academy—and stepped through behind me.
Zephyrus ran his fingers through his thick mane of dark brown hair, the edges taunting his round ears. “Right. This way.” He linked his fingers through mine, pulling me alongside him down a sidewalk littered with Midnight Fae.
Wow,I thought, in awe of the shops and busy atmosphere. It reminded me of strolling through the Human Realm, particularly New York City, except the buildings weren’t nearly tall enough. Only four or five stories at most, but their glass exteriors were very modern.
Everyone wore business attire, allowing Zephyrus to fit in with his suit. My skirt and blouse from my date-gone-wrong barely passed the fashion test, but it beat wearing Kolstov’s clothes.
“Here,” Zephyrus said, pulling me toward a random building with the nameAcaWardscrawled over the windows.
Clearly, the Midnight Fae didn’t believe in doors. They just had enchanted thresholds. Because one moment the chaotic sounds of the outside world bustled around my ears, then in the next moment, we were surrounded by the warm tunes of the interior.
An endless array of outfits stretched out on racks before us. Most lined the walls in rows that climbed all the way up to the ceiling. I frowned up at them, wondering how one retrieved clothing from way up there.
Probably with a wand.
At least it proved to be an efficient use of space.
“Hello, hello,” a female voice chimed. “Welcome to AcaWard. How can we help you?”
I glanced around, frowning when no one appeared. Was someone watching us on a camera and talking over a speaker system?
“Aflora needs at least seven Academy-sanctioned outfits, undergarments, and some casual wear. You are to charge the items to the Nacht account.” Zephyrus slipped an envelope from his pocket with his free hand, holding it in the air. “All the details required are in here.”
The note vanished, causing my eyes to widen.
“I’ll return in an hour to retrieve her.” He looked down at me. “We’ve already discussed what will happen should you try to flee. I don’t recommend it.”
With that, he released me and stepped backward through the glass to disappear in the throng outside.
“Wait—” I tried to follow him out, but the glass didn’t give and instead smacked me in the forehead. “Ow!” I rubbed my head, irritated by my inability to leave the shop and offended by it sealing the door on me.
An array of voices erupted around me, all chattering at once.
“Hmm, yes, new clothes are needed. Indeed, indeed.”
“A cloak, too.”
“Don’t forget a wand.”
“Oh! Have you seen the new Academy skirts? I’m thinking black and red, to match the Nacht line.”
“Royal, yes. Let’s look at these notes. Hmm, hmm, more than seven, clearly. Too many courses.”
“Shall we mix it with a touch of light blue? To match her pretty eyes?”
“Oh, is she cerulean? Haven’t seen one of those in centuries.”
“With hints of red, I see.”
“How fascinating.”
