Page 161 of Taken By Shadows

“Don’t say anything. Just turn around and get dressed.” She bundled the fabric at me and pushed me behind the privacy screen.

When I emerged, the gentle hiss of the fabric on the floors sounded like rain falling. And I loved it.

Audrie audibly gasped when she saw me.

I stood before the mirror, and then I gasped too. This was the sheer white dress. Or what had been that dress. The moon-pale fabric now sparkled with hundreds of glass beads arranged to look like exploding stars. Sleeves had been added using fabric from the back panel, which was now bare down to my hips. They’d even added a plunging neckline so that my necklace landed on my skin directly.

“It’s perfect,” I breathed, my fingers caressing the curves and lines of the beaded fireworks. I had never considered that clothes could make such a difference, but there were sparks dancing inside of me in this. It felt right. It felt like it was mine.

“And this.” Audrie handed me a hair slide with two shimmering radial stars in crystal white on the length.

“Kaed’s credit in the city is going far, I see.” I chuckled as she slid the piece into my hair.

“Perfect.” She beamed. “You look just like a princess.”

I laughed, but my skin pebbled all over. This would have him on his knees. A devious grin pulled at the corners of my mouth, and I pinched my lips to hide my enjoyment over the thought.

Taking a steadying breath, I brushed the delicate fabric. “Ready to go?” I looked at her still in her smock from the day.

“Not exactly.”

“You don’t say.” I laughed.

Audrie was fidgeting with a loose strand of hair.

“What is it?”

“I’m not arriving with you.”

Oh. I suppose I was arriving with Kaed then. That made sense. We were supposed to be engaged to be married.

I smiled, a little disappointed we wouldn’t be arriving arm in arm. “Save me from him if he’s being gloomy.” I winked, and she smiled as she left me to find Kaed.

After knocking three times on his door, I got no answer. I thought to open it, but I didn’t think I’d survive finding him if he were midway dressed.

Instead, I wandered to the foyer and found Gavrin looking a little dejected.

“Parties are not your idea of a good time?” I surmised.

“Depends on the party.”

“All spines must remain within bodies tonight.”

He laughed and offered me the crook of his arm as we left to take the carriage.

“Kaed … Is he?” I looked to Gavrin. I don’t know why, but I felt foolish. I thought we’d have gone together.

“He’ll meet us there. He said he had an errand to run.”

Oh.

I nodded and tried to bury the disquiet that settled over me. A little part of me was disappointed I couldn’t see him in private before the event that lay before us tonight.

And another part felt the words Eryk had left me with sink deeper into me.

The carriage came to a halt on a rough gravel path just in front of the glasshouse I’d visited with Kaed. It had been beautiful then, but now …

Fae lights lit every panel of glass until it looked like a small sun slipping beneath the horizon. The orbs cast the ferns and palms in a strange, enchanting glow. Parts of the curved roof structure had been opened to the night air, and the sound of music drifted out.