“Enjoy!”
They blew invisible kisses through the air, the sound caressing my cheeks in an unwelcome wave. I wiped them off with a gag, then froze as silence fell around me.
I counted to twenty before I let my shoulders fall in relief.
Finally.
At least thirty outfits waited on the rack, as well as a dozen or so shoes.
I ran my fingers along each shirt and skirt, noting the fine quality. As an Earth Fae, I always enjoyed making my own clothes from nature. But that wasn’t an option here. I needed outfits that helped me assimilate to this realm. The more I blended in, the less people would notice me. And that would become important for my eventual departure.
Assuming I found a way to escape. In addition to a place to run to.
Sighing, I resigned myself to my current fate once more. Might as well pick some outfits that suited my tastes. Besides, all the expenses were covered, right?
Nacht account, Zephyrus had said. I recognized the family name as the one Kolstov belonged to. Which meant he, or maybe his father, was paying for all of this.
My lips curled.
While I’d prefer Shade foot the bill for getting me into this mess, I couldn’t deny feeling a little bit of glee knowing my wardrobe spending spree would be billed directly to my primary captor.
Seven outfits?
No, surely he meant seventeen.
And a dozen or so casual ones as well.
“Ladies,” I called out, glancing around and waiting.
“Yes, Miss Aflora?” one of the figments cooed.
“I’m going to need at least three times this selection,” I said. “And don’t forget undergarments, socks, and more shoes. Oh, and wands.”
A chittering sound followed, the gleeful noise echoing in the chamber. “Oh, yes, as the madam requires!”
The room expanded around me, an entire row of clothing appearing as if waiting for my very command. A glass case followed, wands gleaming inside.
Yes, this would do.
I rubbed my hands together.
You all want me to stay here for the indefinite future? Fine. But I’ll be staying in style.
I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. “Thanks for the new wardrobe, Midnight Prince,” I whispered, hoping somehow that message reached his pompous ears.
Zephyrus said I had an hour?
Well, I’d take three.
“Ladies, let’s get started,” I mused to the magical beings. This is going to be fun.
Chapter Nine
Aflora
All right. The Midnight Fae Academy uniforms weren’t bad. A lot of black, but my shirts were white.
I finished tying cloak number nine around my neck, testing the weight. All the others were too heavy, the fabric choking me worse than the leather collar around my throat. But this one was made of a light silk and fringed in dark red tones.