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“It’s not too bad working for the Lord Marshal. I spend half the day in the kitchens and the rest of the day reading. The Marshal doesn’t need much.”
“Hmm.”
The door opened, and a figure stepped through. He was slight, with glowing pink hair and olive skin. His eyes were piercingly blue and two iridescent scales marked his right cheek. He wore a long black cloak draped over a simple white shirt, breeches, and boots. In his hands he carried a bundle of fabric, an array of colors flashing in the firelight.
“Good evening,” he said without inflection, “I am Kadir.” He bowed slightly and flashed us both a perfunctory smile, though it lacked warmth. His voice had an exotic lilt to it I didn’t recognize, and I worried that the empire had spread even further than I realized. “Let me see what I’m working with.”
He stepped closer and looked me over, his eyes studying the details of my face and body. He ran a hand through my silver hair, testing its length and texture. His gaze moved up and down my figure in clinical detail, with no lust or admiration in it; he assessed me objectively like a piece of merchandise. He murmured to himself as he pulled out a selection of lingerie from the bundle he’d brought in with him.
“This will do for now,” he said with a nod as he fingered a blood-red sheer nightgown hemmed in fluffy feathers. He held it up against me, assessing how it would fit on my body before handing it over. “Put this on.”
I frowned at the scrap of fabric. “I’m not wearing this.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not a pastry?”
He ran his eyes over me again. “How do you like your clothes to make you feel?”
I shrugged. “Covered?”
“Protected? That’s too easy. If you could wear anything, what would you like to convey? How would you want people to see you?” He asked, his aqua gaze boring into mine.
“Powerful,” I answered, raising my chin. I thought back to the moment I’d killed Rafe, the human foreman that had assaulted me when I worked in the mines. Watching him crumple in front of me was what it took for me to realize that I couldn’t hide anymore. It was the first time I believed I could change things.
A true smile spread across his face. “That I can work with. Try this.” He handed me a delicate piece made of black sheer silk with a beaded design that had been shaped into tiny wyrm scales along the front. The fabric glinted in the firelight, shimmering like liquid metal. He helped me into it and carefully arranged my hair around my shoulders as I stared into the mirror. “It’s exquisite.”
My posture shifted as the lingerie clung to me, exuding an aura of strength that had been missing before. Since Carita had changed my body, I hadn’t felt... right. I kept forgetting that my breasts were larger and was surprised when they bounced or got in the way. And my skin was so thin, with no protective callouses anymore. But seeing myself now, wearing these clothes and with this body, it felt like a different type of armor. Like it wasn’t trulyme. I could do anything and it wouldn’t really be me doing it.
I looked up at Kadir, who nodded in approval. “Now that,” he murmured, “is what power looks like.” Kadir gestured for me to spin. “We can start.”
The next ten minutes were a blur as he measured every part of me, making notes of which fabrics he liked as he held them beside my face, other times frowning and tossing it away onto the floor, only for Mirijana to chastise him good-naturedly.
A figure stood in the doorway and I turned to find Herrath standing there, watching us with dark eyes.
“Anything I can help you with, Lord Tavador?” Mirijana said, her voice trembling.
My head whipped around and I looked between them, attempting to discern what had made the normally cheerful servant seem afraid. I edged closer to her, ready to intervene if necessary. I didn’t know why the others didn’t like him, but if he frightened Mirijana, then he was the one to watch.
“Could I speak to Lily for a moment?” He tore his eyes away from her to nod at me.
“Of course, my lord. I think we’re done here.” Kadir said as he gathered up his fabrics, flashing me the rebel signal for ‘danger’ so quickly I almost missed it. My heart leapt. I wasn’t alone here.Thank Sithos.Everything else had gone wrong, but I had an ally. I could salvage this.
Mirijana followed him from the room, glancing between us before leaving.
“What do you want?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and covering my straining breasts, looking down at them in a new light. Armor. Just more protection.
Herrath eyed me with disdain. “I don’t trust you,” he said, his deep voice sending a chill down my spine. So he was smarter than the others. He stepped closer, looming over me like a storm cloud ready to strike. “I’m warning you now,” he continued, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Don’t fuck with Theron or I’ll kill you.”
I glared at him. “I don’t think the Lord Marshal will be happy if you destroy his property.”
“Do we understand each other?” His voice was low and threatening.
I hesitated, my breath stuttering as I stared at the pulsing vein in his throat that I wanted to slit open. This bastard threatened me? I held my breath, swallowing my bloodlust before nodding. I had to play along if I hoped to complete this mission. The door opened, Theron stalking inside and I let out a slow breath. Herrath turned toward him with a smile, inquiring after his mother and leaving me standing in the room wondering what the fuck was going on.
Chapter 6
Kael
