“Done. How do I look?”
I turn to see Soraya studying herself in the mirror, her fiery-red hair cascading in waves down her back, contrasting beautifully against the deep black of her gothic dress. The dress itself is a work of art—crafted from rich, flowing fabric that hugs her curves before billowing out in dramatic layers.
The bodice is adorned with intricate lace detailing that looks phenomenal against her pale skin. The neckline dips slightly, revealing a delicate silver pendant nestled against her chest. Her sleeves are loose and slender but end in pointed cuffs. Around her waist, a black leather belt cinches the dress in, enhancing her silhouette.
She looks like a gothic Barbie doll.
“Damn.” I whistle and then stare at the dress in my own arms. “Is this dinner, like, super fancy or something?”
Soraya snorts and drops herself onto the stool before the mirror, digging through her makeup until she finds ruby-red lipstick. “Every dinner is fancy if you’re the Maiden.”
A note of…somethingseeps into her tone. Bitterness, perhaps? Before I can comment on it, Soraya waves me towards the connecting bathroom.
“Go get changed. They’re expecting us. And don’t worry—I made sure your little…friend is okay.” Something about the way she said “friend” makes me pause.
And that tender, almost wistful expression on her face? I don’t like it. At all.
Jealousy like I’ve never felt before threatens to plow me over. The emotion takes me by surprise. I can’t help but feel a tight knot in my stomach.
I try to ignore it, try to push the feeling down, but it creeps up on me, gnawing at my thoughts.
“Simmer down, girl.” Soraya laughs, light and airy. “I don’t want you blowing a hole in my room. I don’t have any interest in your man. Trust me. That will never, ever happen. Ew. And he also has a penis, which is a big no-no in my book.”
“Oh…Ohhh.” All at once, my jealousy fizzles and dissipates, and I’m left shocked by the intensity of my emotions.
“Jealousy is completely natural for mated pairs who haven’t completed the bond.” Soraya purses her lips as she begins to apply her lipstick. When she speaks next, her words are slightly garbled. “Once the bond has settled, it’ll be easy sailing, so to speak.”
“Mated pairs?” Heat engulfs my cheeks. “No. Ansel isn’t… I mean, he’s a warlock, and I’m mated to the shifters, and…”
I realize I’m babbling and allow myself to trail off, my face feeling a thousand shades of red.
“Go get changed. We’ll talk in a bit.” Soraya once again waves me towards the bathroom.
After quickly using the facilities, I change into the dress Soraya let me borrow. I’m surprised it fits, considering she’s an entire foot taller than I am and is slightly less curvy.
The dress is a stunning, figure-hugging piece, crafted from a smooth, dark fabric that catches the light in the most subtle way. It feels as if I’m enveloped in the night itself.
It skims my body like liquid, hugging my curves, before trailing into a soft, dramatic sweep at the floor. The spaghetti straps are delicate, adding a sense of effortless grace to the design, while the neckline is elegantly simple—a slight plunge that draws attention to my collarbones and shoulders.
But it’s the slit up the side that gives the dress its bold edge, rising high along my thigh and revealing just a hint of skin with every step. As I step out of the bathroom, I marvel at the way the dress swishes around my legs with a fluid sensuality. I feel beautiful. Sexy. Dangerous.
Witchy.
I wonder how Ansel will react when he sees me.
Soraya whistles dramatically when she sees me. “Damn, girl. You look amazing. Do you have your ears pierced? I know just the thing to…” She bites her lip as she searches her vanity for something before finally finding it. She holds up a pair of silver dangling earrings. “Ha! Perfect! These will really complete the outfit.”
“Oh, um, thanks.” I hesitantly accept the earrings and then place them in my ears.
Soraya’s right.
The earrings do add an undefinablesomethingto the ensemble, like two stars amongst a sea of darkness.
Abruptly, Soraya curses. “We need to get a move on, or we’re going to be late.”
She bends to grab a backpack—my backpack—off the ground and shoves the heavy book into it. She hands it to me, and I sling it over my shoulder.
“We won’t have time to stop back in your room, so just make sure to keep your backpack near you, okay? We don’t want anyone seeing what you have in it.” She begins to usher me towards the door of her room. “Also, don’t be concerned if you get a lot of strange or suspicious looks. What you did earlier today…” She shakes her head in a mix of wonderment and awe. “Most witches and warlocks have never seen such a display of power before. They’re going to be wary of you. Just don’t let it get to you, okay?”
