“But not by choice. Is what I think she meant to say,” rasped Bash. His mask was firmly in place, his clothing dried. Alora had told him to desire them dried and mended, and it’d worked. She couldn’t do anything of her own volition, but at least she could persuade others into making their own demands. Another loophole.
“Right,” said Alora. “My contract was presented in an…unusual way.”
“She’s bespelled,” explained Bash.
“With some exceptions in clients, I must grant desires to anyone who wishes.”
“I don’t understand,” cut in Lennox, when Bash looked about to say more. “Bespelled? What does that even mean? What could force you to do something you didn’t want to?”
At that, Alora’s face pinched, and she looked to Bash, waiting for him to explain the situation he’d unwittingly placed them in. She could all but feel his resolve weaken, even knowing he was about to infuriate a second woman with his past choices. “I run an operation of dark artifacts out of Enver, mostly at the behest of Merridon. I’d acquired a skull capable of entrancement. Then I gave that skull to him.”
Lennox’s eyebrows snapped together. “What in the godforsaken earth possessed you to dothat?”
“I would have found some way out of it if I’d thought he’d use it against her.”
But Lennox wasn’t listening as she’d come instead to stand beside Alora, wrapping an arm possessively around hershoulders. “Sure, gift the madman a new tool to control people. What could go wrong?” Her scowl was so fierce, Alora hoped to never be on the receiving end of it.
Ashewas on the receiving end, Bash held up his hands. “I made a mistake. I won’t make further excuses for myself.”
“Good,” said Alora and Lennox in unison.
“I realize,” he began, lowering his hood, “you both have every right to be angry. But know that no one is angrier with me than myself.Now—” He paused, waiting for them to interject. When Alora remained quiet and so did Lennox, he continued, “We need your help, Miss Flowers.”
“My help? What can I do?”
“A distraction. We need to get past Door Zero.”
“And I need your help in zipping up this dress. I’ll not havehimdo it.” Alora held out the golden gown in her arms as Bash scowled.
“Your makeup, too, I would think. Goodness, Alora, when was the last time you’ve slept?”
“It’s been awhile,” she admitted.
Lennox stared at the gown, at Alora’s purple-rimmed eyes, and at the Urchin captain watching them both from a safe distance. “I take it we’re stealing back a skull?”
“That is the plan,” said Alora, and smiled as best she could.
Lennox nodded, continuing to do so as she looked around her mess of a room. “All right. Well, hop behind the partition then, Alora. Let’s make you the most dangerous performer Opulence has ever seen.”
***
Alora couldn’t have been more thankful it was Lennox and not tittering Harriet who took control of her makeup. Her eyes were lined by a dramatic upsweep, her lids unadorned otherwise, andwhile her lips were red, they were the color of blood rather than true crimson. She thought it fit her mood.
There wasn’t anything to be done about the dress, however. The color couldn’t be anything other than gold or Merridon would become suspicious should he see her. Still, she had Bash wish for the gown to be a tad less revealing in the chest, the extravagant neckline diminished. He’d blushed at the sight of her in the original. And he’d flushed all over when she made him say his desire aloud.
She couldn’t deny she enjoyed it immensely.
Not long later, Alora pulled on her new invisibility coat along with Lennox, both desired by Bash for the heist, and checked herself over in the mirror. Lennox, she thought, moved nearby. She couldn’t see her.
“Flawless, Alora! And so comfy!”
Bash, needing nothing besides his own enchantment, stood at the door. “I’ll wait for you at the entrance. I can’t take as direct a route in daylight.”
He would stick to the lengthening shadows, acting as scout and bodyguard both. Meanwhile, Alora would keep Lennox at her side. At least for a while.
“After you,” Alora said, and Bash inclined his head. The light vanished around him. She couldn’t make out his form.
From the dark, he said, “Should anyone discover you, Miss Flowers, shout to me so that I can desire Alora to have them stopped. She’s managed it before, the poor fellow.”
