She frowned and rubbed a hand over the now clear crystal ball. “I don’t know. I saw the path, and the two birds.”
My stomach twisted. “I can’t help but hang on the worddevour?”
“I’m sorry, the meaning isn’t clear, but I saw them both tearing at your flesh.” She held up a finger. “Now, I know that sounds frightening, but it doesn’t mean that you will be attacked physically by birds. It could be an internal battle. It’s symbolism, and I can’t interpret it directly for you. But you will probably know when the time comes.” Chair legs scraped on the floor as she pushed back. Before her words truly sank in, she was up and moving toward the clothing half of her store. “Shall we go shopping for clothes then?”
I drew a breath and laughed nervously. Yes, let’s go shopping like she didn’t just hit me with a dark prophetic message about birds eating my flesh. I glanced nervously at the ivory bird. He’dbetter stay on his perch. Vander leaned down and murmured, “She’s not always right. Don’t worry about it.”
“How often is she wrong?” I whispered. “Because I have different-colored eyes.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. Oh, that was comforting. “I put faith in making my own way. She saw two paths, you can forge a third.”
I tried to shake off what she’d said and followed Vander to the next room. Murial started shuffling through clothes on the racks. “I think green is your color, but an azure blue would suit you as well. Are there any special occasions or do you want something more casual?”
“A little bit of everything,” Vander answered before me.
Murial grinned and slyly pulled something small, red, and lacy off a shelf. When she held it up, it wasn’t more than a few scraps of fabric to cover intimate parts. “A little ofeverything?” she teased, dangling it from her fingertip.
Oh... oh, she thought we weretogether. My cheeks flamed, and I combed my hair behind my ear. I’d rather be back at the table with dire prophecies than have hisauntput me in that thing.
Vander narrowed his eyes at her. “Will you not embarrass me, please? You’re my aunt for crying out loud.”
She giggled and tossed it back on the shelf. “It’s an aunt’s duty to embarrass her nephew. That’s why I’m your favorite aunt.”
“You’re my only aunt.”
“Nevertheless,” she hummed. “Will she be attending Midsummer if you come?”
“Perhaps.”
She gave him a knowing smile and arched a brow. “Then she’ll need a dress.” She pulled a measuring tape from her hip and started with my waist, hips, then bust, and shoulders. Witha click of her tongue, she reset the tape and hurried over to a section of ball gowns full of lace, silk, and bright colors. The yards of fabric alone would cost a small fortune.
I nervously fidgeted with my hands. “Vander, I already know I can’t afford one of those dresses and I haven’t even seen the price tag. And I’m saving my money for my family.”
He gave me one of those placating looks that made me want to slap him. “If I’m inviting you to go shopping and inviting you to be my guest at a royal function, I’m paying. I don’t know if we’ll go, but I’d rather be prepared.”
“Oh. Um, thank you.” I didn’t know why I was blushing. “I can pay you back later. Maybe. In a long time.”
He tugged playfully on a lock of my hair. “You’re not going to pay me back. Get whatever you want. I’ll be waiting in that chair over there.” He gestured toward a wide, red, velvet armchair near the window.
My stomach fluttered. I’d never worn a gown before. I had a few plain cotton dresses at home, but only wore them for special occasions or during the hot summer months. I joined Murial and pointed out colors and styles I liked. Too much lace and frills didn’t interest me. I’d rather have something understated but elegant. Some of the backs and necklines of these dresses looked scandalous... and yet part of me wanted to take a risk. I’d been raised to dress for modesty, but I wasn’t in Neverglade anymore.
Murial gathered a handful of the dresses I’d pointed out. “Luna, will you come box some of these dresses up, please? Thank you.”
One of the women sitting at the table rushed over and took the dresses from her.
Murial pulled another. “I know you’re going to be absolutely lovely in anything, but I think this one would be beautiful on you. Do you like it?” The fabric of the cream bodice melted into a beautiful turquoise down the skirts, with the darkest shade atthe bottom hem. The swirling turquoise beading on the bodice matched the lightest colors and glittered in the light. The full skirts reminded me of a half-bloomed rose.
“I love it.”
“Fantastic.” She handed it to her helper and then tugged me over to the racks with tops. I picked out three I thought would be nice for an outing with some embroidery but not too fancy. She added four more of her own liking plus a handful of trousers and soon enough there was a trunk full of clothes. I kept thinking about the cost of it all and was half tempted to put some of them back. “Why don’t you pick something to wear out of the store? I’m going to go help the girls add everything up and get it ready for you. The changing area is through the narrow archway.”
Once she was across the room and busy, I was left to wonder about her eerie prediction about me. A shadowy path, a raven of death and eagle of life? It made my skin crawl. What choice could I face that would show her the two birds tearing at my flesh?
I glanced at Vander; he smiled as he sat back casually with an ankle on top of his knee and drumming his fingers on the armrests. I forced a smile, but it quickly faded. The bad omen felt like a weight pressing down on me. I had to shake it off, though. Where I came from, fortune tellers were wrong most of the time.
I pulled out a cream corset with purple floral designs and a bell-sleeved top to go underneath. The matching long skirt would flow nicely but wasn’t filled with tulle. Ever since I saw the cover of the book I’d taken from the library, I’d wanted to wear an outer corset. The way it would hug my waist and push up my breasts would make me feel more like a woman than a girl. “What about this?” I asked Vander.
He chuckled and rubbed his chin. “I said get whatever you want, Aesira.”
