Page 244 of The Mortal Trials

I suppress a smile.

“Did you know each other before you were invited here?” She crosses the room to study August’s mosaic.

“I only knew Niall. Not August.”

She rolls her eyes. “Everyone knows your unfortunate history with Niall. You and Aymes just seem to have a connection.”

“I know.” I move to the bed and dump the contents of the bag out to find something suitable to wear tonight.

“Want my advice?” She walks over and plucks a heavily beaded gown from the rest, holding it up so I can admire the intricate structure and patterns on it.

“Why that one?”

She shrugs. “It’s the prettiest. There’s no point in saving it for a later that might never come.”

Right.

She extends the dress to me and I take it. If it fits, I’ll wear it. She strides across the room, heels clicking against the floor. “See you at the temple.”

When Tae opens the door, golden light catches on her gown and in it, revealing Isis’s artful handiwork.

Despite the goddess’s objections, if Thoth is at the feast, I’m going to ask him to champion me.

I hold the gown up and wince at how narrow it seems at the hip. Akira was taller than me and a little slimmer, but maybe I can make this work. It is too beautiful to waste.

The shower shuts off, but I should have a few minutes. I slip off my bra and underwear and dive into the gown. The satin glides across my skin. The beaded straps catch on my shoulders. I swipe my damp hair out of the way and shimmy the skirt over my hips and into place. The material gives more than I thought it would.

I reach back to zip it. And the zipper gets caught.

Some of the fabric probably got pulled into the channel. I just… need to… free it… I twist and tug, but no matter what I do, it won’t budge. It’s stuck.

I mutter a curse.

“Calla-” August stops mid-sentence and one step into the room.

I twirl to face him, my heart pounding. His hands are frozen on a button pushed halfway through the buttonhole on his pale shirt.

His blue eyes drift down my dress. “Were you talking to someone?”

“Tae –Taeniset – she heard about my destroyed wardrobe and brought some of Akira’s clothes for me.”

He wets his lips, gaze lowering again. “That was nice of her.”

I flash a smile. “It was.”

“You almost ready?” He finally remembers his button.

I wince. “My zipper’s stuck. Can you help?”

He walks over. “I can try.”

I turn, baring my back to him. The tips of his shoes graze my discarded underwear. I inwardly curse as my cheeks catch fire.

“I heard the shower water stop and was trying to hurry and get dressed before you came out.” I glance up at him, my mouth going dry at the smoldering look he gives me.

“Seems like you undressed, given that your bra and panties are on the floor.”

I look to the sky, wishing the roof would detach and swallow me whole.