Or maybe it was the aura of the transfer shifting us through space.
I couldn’t say, but it escalated my heartbeat. His masculine scent invaded my pores, the minty aftershave he wore an intoxicating blanket that swathed me in his Midnight Fae essence.
All to disappear in a blink as we landed in a closet filled with cloaks.
Zephyrus released me immediately, his long fingers flying upward to unfasten the knot at his neck. He added his cape to the others, drawing my attention to the orderly fashion of the interior. Everything was color-coded by the ink etched into the trim of each formal robe.
Dark purple.
Maroon.
Forest green—Zephyrus’s location.
Navy.
And solid black.
“What do they represent?” I asked softly, reaching out to stroke the soft textures.
Zephyrus caught my wrist, yanking me back. “Don’t. They’re charmed to only recognize their master.” He seemed to consider. “Actually, no, it’s a good teaching moment. Try to grab mine.” He gestured to it as if I wasn’t aware of where he’d just hung it up.
I narrowed my gaze. “I think I’m good, thanks.”
“It won’t hurt,” he promised. Not that I believed him. “Just zaps a little.”
“And that’s all I need to know,” I replied, heading for what I thought might be the door.
His arm snaked around my waist, yanking me backward. “What part of ‘follow my lead’ don’t you get?”
“You never told me to follow you,” I pointed out, glancing up at him. “And stop manhandling me.”
“Stop acting impulsively,” he returned, yanking me around in the other direction to face a mirror. “We’re going this way. The door just leads to other portals.” His grip tightened. “And don’t even think about exploring them. I will hunt you down, and you will not like the consequences.”
“Wow, your faith in me is charming.”
He met my gaze in the mirror, one arm still wrapped like a vise around my waist. “I don’t have faith in anyone but myself, Aflora. You would be wise to adopt a similar armor.” With that, he shoved me through the glass—which gave way just like the entrance to Kolstov’s suite at the Academy—and stepped through behind me.
Zephyrus ran his fingers through his thick mane of dark brown hair, the edges taunting his round ears. “Right. This way.” He linked his fingers through mine, pulling me alongside him down a sidewalk littered with Midnight Fae.
Wow, I thought, in awe of the shops and busy atmosphere. It reminded me of strolling through the Human Realm, particularly New York City, except the buildings weren’t nearly tall enough. Only four or five stories at most, but their glass exteriors were very modern.
Everyone wore business attire, allowing Zephyrus to fit in with his suit. My skirt and blouse from my date-gone-wrong barely passed the fashion test, but it beat wearing Kolstov’s clothes.
“Here,” Zephyrus said, pulling me toward a random building with the name AcaWard scrawled over the windows.
Clearly, the Midnight Fae didn’t believe in doors. They just had enchanted thresholds. Because one moment the chaotic sounds of the outside world bustled around my ears, then in the next moment, we were surrounded by the warm tunes of the interior.
An endless array of outfits stretched out on racks before us. Most lined the walls in rows that climbed all the way up to the ceiling. I frowned up at them, wondering how one retrieved clothing from way up there.
Probably with a wand.
At least it proved to be an efficient use of space.
“Hello, hello,” a female voice chimed. “Welcome to AcaWard. How can we help you?”
I glanced around, frowning when no one appeared. Was someone watching us on a camera and talking over a speaker system?
“Aflora needs at least seven Academy-sanctioned outfits, undergarments, and some casual wear. You are to charge the items to the Nacht account.” Zephyrus slipped an envelope from his pocket with his free hand, holding it in the air. “All the details required are in here.”