Page 17 of Chaos and Crowns

He threw open his wardrobe to reveal a riot of colors and fabrics. Thad pushed aside the world’s fluffiest lace cravat and pulled out a mink stole, draping it across his shoulders.

“Thoughts?” Thad turned towards where Odelle perched on the foot of his bed to give her a better look.

Odelle shook her head.

“Too movie star,”

“You’re right.” Thad turned back to his wardrobe and hung up the stole once more. “I need to exude more business-like vibes. Maybe this.”

Thad held up a suit jacket crafted from a shimmering sapphire brocade for Odelle to consider. She nodded, impressed.

“Speaking of, we will need to come up with some antiquities for you to deal for this to work. Honestly though, you could probably bring your watering can and convince them it’s worth millions of dollars,” Odelle reasoned.

“I have something a little flashier in mind,” Thad said, “A little more razzle dazzle to go with the persona. Besides, actually having artifacts to show the Whitehalls will help me distract them more, and I don’t feel like lugging around pottery.”

“What were we thinking?” Odelle looked around Thad’s room for something more portable.

“Come on, let’s go on a field trip.” Thad laid the coat across the bed and beckoned to Odelle. She followed him out into the hallway.

As he led her through the quiet corridor, the clack of Odelle’s heels echoed off the white stone walls, shattering the stillness of the air. Thad, on the other hand, padded quietly in his soft leather sandals. It did nothing to assuage the feeling of intruding that always overtook Odelle every time she visited the Sanctuary. Nora was a member of the Eteria in a way, but Odelle was just a guest.

“Sorry for bothering you guys, but I do appreciate your help,” Odelle commented as they walked. “I know Nora probably could have handled this herself, but she’s on vacation.”

“Are you apologizing for making us do our jobs?” Thad asked, glancing at her sideways with one eyebrow raised.

“Well.” Odelle shrugged. “I know I’m not a member of the Eteria like Nora. I don’t want to barge in.”

Thad cut Odelle off with a hand on her shoulder.

“Since the crown is an Eteria artifact, this is technically our problem, and you’re being incredibly helpful. And second, we all technically knew Nora in a past life, but she’s her own person now, and we had to get to know her fresh. Hell, we enjoyed getting to know her, just like I’m enjoying having you around. For one, you’re obviously the more fashionable sister.” Thad pointedly looked Odelle up and down, indicating the fuchsia pencil dress she had worn to work that day. “And it’s about time this place was livened up, and you bring plenty of life.”

Some of the weight in Odelle’s heart lifted at Thad’s words. Still, he was just one member of the Eteria, and a certain other man’s words still echoed in her head, all the more persistent because of his otherwise kind demeanor.

Women like you don’t end up with men like me.

Not all the Eteria welcomed her presence. Regardless, Odelle managed to push Antony from her mind enough to enjoy Thad’s company as he led her through the Sanctuary.

After a brief walk, Thad stopped and knocked on an open doorframe. A woman appeared, also robed in a green peplos, and smiled when she caught sight of Thad. Her hair twisted around her head in a silky braid like a golden crown. Odelle might not have cut her hair into its current sharply angled bob if she had learned how to wrangle her locks like that.

“Seraphina,” Thad greeted the woman with a peck on the cheek. “We’re going on a bit of an adventure, and we need to ask you for a favor.”

At his words, Seraphina looked over Thad’s shoulder. She caught sight of Odelle and raised her sharply arched brows.

“This is Odelle, Nora’s sister,” Thad introduced her.

“I’ll try not to hold it against you,” Seraphina said as she gestured them inside.

Nora had made it clear that Seraphina was far from her favorite member of the Eteria—something about a rivalry in a past life. Still, Seraphina had helped Nora save Odelle from the clutches of the Shadow last November. Lifesaving earned instant brownie points in Odelle’s book.

Thad filled Seraphina in on the plan to recover the crown while Odelle glanced around her room. Like Thad, Seraphina had an impressive green thumb, although she showed more restraint. Instead of a veritable jungle of plants, Seraphina’s room had enough greenery to look homey but still well curated.

“So we were hoping you had some old jewelry you might be willing to part with. Some things that you wouldn’t mind ending up in some display case being fawned over instead of gathering dust in your jewelry box?” Thad prompted.

“I’ll help with your plan,” Seraphina replied. “But I’m honestly more worried about Antony Smithing a new crown in three days. Have you checked on him recently?”

“He was holding up yesterday. Insisted it wasn’t going to be a big task since he wasn’t trying to imbue the replica with enough Light to give it magical properties,” said Thad.

Seraphina put a hand on her hip and cocked her head at Thad. He held up his hands.