Page 72 of A Courage of the Chosen

None of them feel right, though.

Tonight isn’t a ball, but the attending Seelie will treat it as one, and that means my preferred leggings and boots will have to be put to one side.

I’m self-aware enough to recognize that I’m focusing on the outfit choice as an outlet for my nerves, but I need to feel powerful in whatever I wear, and these dresses aren’t ticking that box right now.

“Absolutely not.”

I whirl at the voice, and my jaw drops when I see who stands with Reyne in the doorway, a smirking Cal behind them.

“Cait!”

Reyne’s aunt sweeps me into a tight, motherly hug. I hadn’t even heard them come in.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Reyne told me what’s going down tonight, and I figured you need something to wear. And while most of these are my work, they simply won’t do. I’ll also take your measurements again, and build you a wardrobe fit for a queen.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I offer sheepishly. “I can wear one of these dresses.”

Even as I say it, I know that none of them will make me feel the way I need to when I stand before the court and tell them who I am.

Cait waves her hand in a dismissive gesture, and hauls me out into the bedroom, where fabrics are piled onto the bed along with multiple garment bags. “Hush now. We have work to do.”

I laugh at her candor, loving that she’s not treating me any differently.

Maybe Reyne told her not to. It wouldn’t surprise me. She’s always had the ability to know what I need before being aware of it myself.

Cait begins showing me different fabric samples; velvet and chiffon and silks in every color imaginable. She’s quick to discard ones that don’t suit my skin tone, and asks my preferences on cut, style, and length. She promises to make me a series of comfortable outfits in the soft cotton that I can’t stop touching.

There’s a deep-red satin that she holds against my exposed forearm, and when she catches the way Callahan’s eyes light with hunger, she chuckles. “Oh, we’ll have lots of fun with that fabric.”

Once she’s tidied all the swatches away, she turns her attention to Callahan, where he’s taken to leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom with his arms crossed and one ankle over another. “Alright, handsome, out. I need space to work, and your obsessed lurking will get in my way.”

I snort.

Callahan raises an eyebrow in Cait’s direction.

“Off you go, laddie. You can moon over her when she’s ready.”

“You heard the lady.” Rach pops up behind him, making me shriek.

“Okay, can we all stop stealthing about please? Or I’m going to put cow bells on you all,” I seethe, calming my heart for the second time in the last hour.

Is this room soundproof or something?

Callahan hesitates briefly and then strides forward, yanking me to him. With our bodies plastered together, he kisses me far too deeply for company.

His voice is low and frayed around the edges, like he’s barely holding on as he says, “I’ll see you later.” He leaves me breathless and dizzy, staring at his retreating back.

Cait fans herself dramatically. “Dhia, it’s been a while since I had that kind of action.”

“Aunt Cait, I do not need to know about yours and Uncle’s sex life,” Reyne groans.

“Come now, lass, we’re all girls here.”

“At least you don’t have to watch your brother and best friend sucking face all the time,” Rach shrugs.

Reyne laughs. “Valid point.”