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Raúl draws back and looks into my eyes with a rare serious expression. “Penny. Are you sure about me? You’re the prophesied queen. You could have any man in the world. One without the scars I have. One without a lunatic grandfather.”
I thread my hands up into his hair. “You’re right, I should probably go find some more men to play with.”
Raúl’s face falls slightly, and he nods. “Yes, if that’s what you want.”
I tug his hair hard, standing on my toes and biting his neck. “Foolish Raúl. I don’t care about finding someone else when I have you. Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter if I’ve met every person in the world or not. You are the one I want.”
“I don’t want you to regret it.” He pauses, and softly whispers, “Regret me.”
My heart wrenches for this man who’s put aside his fears for so long. I put a hand on his cheek. “Oh, Raúl. I promise I will never regret choosing you. I will choose you every day.”
Raúl’s lips descend onto mine, moving whisper-soft against my skin. He deepens the kiss, holding me close against him.
Helena appears in front of us and smacks Raúl on the head with a paper tube. “Enough, cousin. We have work to do.”
Raúl growls at Helena and tugs me even closer. She rolls her eyes at him. “It’s her final dress fitting.”
He grunts and whispers a promise into my ear before letting me go, warming my entire body.
Helena whisks me away to Carmen’s sitting room, which has turned into a tailor’s, with fabric everywhere and dress forms lining the wall.
Carmen wheels out a dress form and presents it to me. “What do you think, my queen?”
I narrow my eyes slightly at her use of my queen, then gasp as soon as I see the dress. It is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen in my life. It is a soft white, but far from boring. The skirt is full, tapering in at the waist, with a fitted bodice. The sleeves are loose and flowing, tightening at the wrists, but the fabric is a sheer white, rather than the opaque of the skirt.
I bend down, examining the hem of the dress. All across it are spiders that look exactly like Nava, embroidered in black with her blue marking.
The waist has the stages of the moon stitched in silver thread around it. Tiny glittering beads swirl from the moons to the spiders, exactly like life essence.
The bodice’s neckline maintains modesty, but barely. I grin, unable to contain my joy. I’ve never worn something this fine, even with all the dresses Raúl has given me.
“You ladies have made the finest dress I’ve ever seen.”
Helena snorts. “Of course it is. We created it, after all.” She pauses. “There is something wrong with it, though.”
“Are you questioning my work, Helena?” asks Carmen, affronted. I hold my breath, wondering if they will argue, but then I see a twinkle in Carmen’s eyes.
“Yes,” says Helena. “It should have been bright green.”
Carmen, Beth, and Helena stare at me. Then, all at once, we burst into laughter. I walk forward and wrap my arms around Carmen, daring to hug her for the first time. “The dress is beautiful. I will be honored to wear it.”
Helena claps. “Try it on! I can’t wait to see it.”
I obey, slipping on the dress. Carmen buttons up the back, a row of ivory discs traveling up my spine.
Helena rolls in a mirror, and I gasp. I look completely different. My eye even has a sparkle in it. Anyone looking at me now would have no doubt I am happy. Then there’s the dress. It makes me look like an otherworldly creature. Like I belong here.
I turn around, facing the three ladies. “Coming here, I thought I lost a mother. Or rather, my hope she would become the mother I wanted her to be. But what I found was better. Please know, I consider you three to be my family. My real family.”
Carmen’s eyes water while Helena gushes. Beth hangs back, smiling at us all. Helena rushes forward, throwing her arms around me. “Come here, you two. She doesn’t bite.” She winks at me. “Yet.”
Carmen and Beth laugh, joining our hug. It takes a second to get used to the touch, but I’m glad when I do. I truly do love these three.
They help me change back into my regular dress, pushing me out of the door and urging me to sleep. “Go. Night will be here quickly.”
I smile as the door shuts, heading to my room. I am not paying attention to where I’m going and run right into someone.
Chapter Eighty-One
