AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We broke apart gasping. A mere glance in the mirror revealed puffy lips and flushed cheeks—for both of us.
“Finally,” he panted. “Been waiting years to do that.”
I giggled. “We’ve only known each other a few days.”
“And I should’ve kissed you the moment I met you.”
I was trying and failing to keep it cool. Girls like me didn’t regularly make out with smoking-hot men of any type—let alone demigod royalty.
“Tonight,” he whispered, dropping a light peck on my lips. “We’ll sneak away. Find a spot just for us.”
“You most certainly will, but the spot you find will be my prison.”
My jaw tightened. I’d flush the bracelet down the toilet if I could. The goddess sure knew how to interrupt a moment.
“Just for us.” We kissed. “See you then.”
Chapter Seven
“What’s up?” Daciana poked her head in my alcove. “You’re staring at your clothes like you’re trying to set them on fire.”
“The only thing on fire here are my limbs,” I shot back. “I’m trying to motivate my arms to pick up that dress, but I can’t blame them for not putting the work in. It’s hideous.”
She looked back, then dropped her voice. “I’m so glad you said that,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to offend anyone, but the clothes here are so ugly. Has the academy ever heard of a color? It’s all white on beige on tan.”
The lady wasn’t lying. Alex and I never got a chance to go on that shopping trip, which left Luca to buy the clothes I needed for the academy. The guy would not have been a fashion designer in the mortal world. He picked the plainest, simplest items he got his hands on—which left me absolutely nothing to wear on my first date with Alex.
“What do I do, Daciana? I can’t wear this to the lake party.” I smacked the clothes away and only managed to flip over the leg of one pant.
My body ached all over from my first combat class. Vasili ordered us to demonstrate the different beginner strikes with a bo staff. When I stood there holding the stick like an idiot and doing nothing, he showed me, then made me do them over and over and over again until my arms begged to fall off.
“It’s going to be tree-to-tree gorgeous women running around naked while I’m trembling behind a boulder wearing a sack!”
“What’s it matter what you wear?” She stretched out on my bed. “And is it a party? I thought it was just a bunch of novices exploring.”
I bit my lip, turning to the mirror as I held up another white shift dress. “I talked to a guy who made it sound like more than just a bunch of us exploring the woods. He invited me specifically, and I want to look good,” I admitted. “I don’t do this kind of thing with guys very often. Or ever.”
“Seriously? But you’re beautiful, and sweet, and funny. How are guys not chewing the competition’s hind legs off to get ahead and get to you?”
I tossed her a look. “You have to say that. You’re my friend.”
“I do not have to say that,” she corrected. “Wolves hate the taste of lies and the smell of false flattery. I only speak what’s true, and what’s true is, if you’re going to this party to meet up with a guy, you can’t wear any of this.”
“Now that is the truth,” I muttered, tossing the dress away. It didn’t even get close to landing on the bed. “Daciana.” I wondered if my whine hurt her super ears. “Everything hurts. Help me.”
“You got it.”
She bounded up and took off to her alcove. I stuck my head out, seeing everyone picking out their outfits and getting dressed. No one seemed too bothered about undressing in front of people, while I wasn’t going to stop changing under my sheets anytime soon.
Daciana came running back, beaming from ear to ear. “Ta-da!” She whipped a dress out from behind her back. One that was nothing like the ones bunched up on my bed.
“Oh my gods...”
“Do you like it?” She tugged me to the mirror and held it up in front of me. “I brought the required uniforms naturally, butthe rest of my clothes aren’t Olympian. Now, I won’t be the only one.”
“It’s beautiful.” My parted lips morphed into a smirk. “It’s perfect.”
Half an hour later, the six of us were tramping through the woods, heading for the noise. We were a fine-ass bunch, if I did say so myself.
