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I stared at him, anger and an overwhelming relief mingling. “You got this dress so that I had magical assistance at not making an idiot of myself? It’s almost as if you know me.”
“Well, I didn’t realize that you could squeeze your waist that tiny, but yes, I am aware of your social awkwardness. It’s very noticeable. All the time. You’re even awkward when you’re sleeping.”
I tried to glare at him, but it felt uncomfortable until I relaxed into a slightly pleasant expression. I turned to stare at my reflection and carefully poked my cheek. “Is the face control part of the dress, too?”
“That’s the makeup. It lasts for a few hours, so we’ll get in, make contact, and get out. Hopefully, we won’t die, or end up with lifelong prison sentences.”
“Your hopeful statements are always terrifying.”
He flashed a full grin, showing perfect teeth and a slight dimple in one cheek. “The contents of your backpack are always terrifying. Shall we?” He held out his arm, and I put my hand on it automatically, because the dress knew what to do. “If you fight against it, you will break down the magic until it stops performing, so try to relax into the compulsion. How can you help but relax when your life is being squeezed out of you?”
“You keep mentioning how uncomfortable my dress is, almost like it bothers you as much as it bothers me.” My voice came out breathier than usual, and again with the heaving chest. I’d have to keep talking to a minimum.
“You fainting will certainly change my hopeful plans for this evening. Try to keep breathing until after we speak to your father, and by we, I mean you. I’ll be keeping a low profile until he shows whether he approves or refuses your request.”
“Such a great guardian.”
We walked down the plush apricot carpet to the head of the curving stairs, split halfway down into two slightly less ostentatious stairs going to the right and the left. All the wood was painted cream with gold accents, and a chandelier the size of a car was dazzlingly brilliant, sending crystal rainbows over the pale blue walls.
“I don’t have to do anything. I’m here because I have an interest in how things play out. Something is going on in the city that is making a lot of people nervous, and I think that you’re involved. The demon wouldn’t have tracked you onto the train if it weren’t personal. He said that he knew your blood, right?”
I shivered and gripped his arm tighter, even though the dress said, lightly, steadily, delicately. I relaxed my grip and smiled at him sweetly. “How brilliant you are to know just what to say to set a girl’s mind at rest. You must be so popular with the fairer sex.”
“Of course. Females are climbing the walls to get into my bed.”
“I was in your bed once.”
“And you enjoyed it immensely. I should spend a few months sleeping on rocks so I can appreciate my bedding as much as you do.”
I laughed like the chime of bells. “Yes, you should. I will help you pick out the rocks if you’d like.”
“Radioactive?”
“No, just selectively pointy.”
“That does sound enjoyable.”
“For me.”
“Your pleasure is my pleasure.” Was he being suggestive? I couldn’t tell, so I just patted his arm and continued with him down the stairs.
My arm where it was turning to stone was certainly less squishy than the rest of me, but with the makeup, it blended in with the rest of my skin. I was in a completely effective disguise. When I reached the hotel lobby, I would have had to be blind not to notice the waves of attention we got. A man literally walked into a planter because he was staring at me so blatantly.
“That had to hurt,” I murmured as he picked himself up and brushed off his pants.
“Yes, I suppose you are eye-searingly breathtaking, if you care for that kind of beauty.”
“Wow. Your compliments are as invigorating as your encouragement.”
“Try not to say, ‘wow,’ because it makes you sound five years old.”
I pressed my lips together and didn’t say anything at all. The dress and makeup approved, for speaking was a last-resort for the truly elegant lady. I ignored every wide-eyed stare and blatant perusal of my person, but Percival seemed to grow more tense with every step.
“It’s indecent,” he muttered when we reached the doors that slid open, revealing a car that was absolutely cute. It was a tiny sports car from a few generations ago, painted a happy robin’s egg blue. Curved tire wells swelled over the white-walled tires, and the entire thing was gilded deliciously.
Percy went to the passenger’s door and opened it for me and helped me in as though I couldn’t possibly operate such a difficult process on my own, even with the assistance of magic.
“I expected a limo,” I said once he’d gotten in and pulled out, half a dozen men staring after us like zombies spying a juicy brain.
