“I’ve got my ways. And I’d better get started. Would you mind closing the door? I don’t want Hoyt coming in while I’m trying them on.”
“Trying…Sure.” Blair obliged while Glenna set several crystals on and around the laptop. She lit candles, then stood back, held her arms out to the side.
“Mother Goddess, I ask your grace to bring this garment to this place. Through the air, from there to here, in the light unto my sight a symbol of my destiny. As I will so mote it be.”
With a shimmer and flash, Glenna’s jeans and T-shirt were replaced by the white gown.
“Wow. A whole new level of shoplifting.”
“I’m not stealing it.” Glenna’s scowled at Blair. “I’d never use my powers that way. I’m trying it on, and when I find the one, I’ve got another spell to work the sale. It’s just to save time, which I don’t have.”
“Don’t get bent. I was just kidding.” Sort of. “Will that work for weapons if we need more?”
“I suppose it would.”
“Good to know. Anyway, great dress.”
“It’s lovely,” Moira agreed. “Just lovely.”
Glenna turned, studied her reflection in the antique cheval glass. “Thank God Cian didn’t strip all the mirrors out of this place. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I love the lines. But…”
“It’s not the one,” Blair finished, and settled down on the bed with Moira to watch the show.
“Why do you say that?”
“It doesn’t light you up. That light, in the gut, in the heart, that just spreads out right to your fingertips. You put on your wedding dress, take one look at yourself in it and you know. The others are just practice.”
So it had gotten that far, Glenna thought, remembering the vision of Blair and the engagement ring on her finger. And the image of her weeping in the dark, her hand bare.
She started to comment, then said nothing. A tender area like that required more than camaraderie. It needed true friendship, and they weren’t there yet.
“You’re right, it’s not the one. I’ve got four more picked out. So we’ll try number two.”
She hit it on the third, and felt that light glowing. Heard it in Moira’s long, wistful sigh.
“And we have a winner.” Blair circled her finger. “Do the turn. Oh, yeah, that one’s yours.”
It was romantic, and simple, Glenna thought. Just as she’d hoped. There was a little float in the long skirt, and the soft sweetheart neckline was framed by two thin straps that left her shoulders bare then ran down her shoulder blades to spotlight her back.
“It’s so exactly right.” She glanced at the price again, winced. “Well, maxing out my credit card doesn’t seem that big a deal considering the possible apocalypse.”
“Seize the day,” Blair agreed. “You doing a veil, a headpiece?”
“Traditional Celtic handfastings call for a veil, but in this case…Just flowers, I think.”
“Even better. Soft, earthy, romantic and sexy all rolled into one. Do the deal.”
“Moira?” Glenna looked over, saw Moira’s eyes were damp and dreamy. “I can see it has your vote, too.”
“I think you’ll be the most beautiful of brides.”
“Well, this was serious fun.” Blair got to her feet. “And I agree with the brain trust here—you look outstanding. But you need to wrap it up.” She tapped her watch. “The two of you are due in training. You need some major hand-to-hand practice. Why don’t you come with me now?” she said to Moira. “We can get started.”
“I’ll only be a few minutes,” Glenna told them, then turned back to study herself in the glass.
From wedding dresses to combat, she thought. Her life had become a very strange ride.
Because he heard the music playing inside, Hoyt knocked on Cian’s door a little before sundown. There’d been a time, he remembered, he wouldn’t have thought of knocking, when asking permission to enter his brother’s chambers wouldn’t have been necessary.