“Unless you want me to treat you like a woman, stop acting like one by hiding in your room. We have a few things I’d like to discuss before your dinner.”
She spun back around to gauge the stranger’s reaction, but he was gone. She looked around wildly, but he’d left through her window just as silently as he’d appeared. She looked down at the floor to see he’d left both daggers where they lay.
The sight of them brought only unease. Green Eyes had followed her for days to retrieve what she took. There was no way he was going to forget about them, which meant he’d eventually be back.
She carefully placed both into the chest, knowing they’d likely be gone by the time she returned, but still hoping they wouldn’t be, all the same.
Chapter 12
VERA
She didn’t tell Elric about what happened. If she did, he’d only demand she inform the emperor, and for some insane, illogical reason, that just didn’t feel right. Green Eyes had two separate opportunities to kill her, yet he hadn’t.
Plus, there was that weird thing he’d said. Untainted. She had no idea what he meant, but he’d looked at her like she was precious. Like she was a lost treasure he hadn’t expected to find.
As stupid as it was, she wanted to see him again. She had so many questions, and against the voice of reason, she trusted he’d answer. He was dangerous and violent, but he just didn’t seem like the kind of male who would outright lie. She couldn’t say the same for the Matherin men she knew.
She groaned loudly, startling the poor girl who was styling her hair. Not long after Vera had spoken with Elric, the girl had appeared with an entire palace worth of torture devices. She was short, pale, and incredibly thin but had turned out to be rather vicious with deceptively strong hands.
Vera had been poked and prodded, plucked and yanked, then squeezed so tightly into a deathtrap of a dress, she’d mentally written a nice eulogy to her already bruised ribcage.
As the girl finished attempting to wrangle her unruly curls, Vera knew without a doubt, she never wanted to go through such a torturous process again. No wonder noble women were said to be nothing but vipers, who could blame them? She hadn’t even left for dinner yet, and she already wanted to punch someone in the throat.
She’d tried to strike up a conversation, but Lady Strong Hands never replied. Anytime she asked her a question, the girl would just shake her head and continue working as if she wouldn’t—or couldn’t—answer.
Maybe the emperor was afraid Vera would start spouting out secrets about herself if someone happened to be friendly with her. She wouldn’t put it past him. He certainly hadn’t seemed overly impressed with her.
When Vera finally stood, Lady Strong Hands gathered up the supplies in record time and rushed out without so much as a nod. She heard the door to the armory open and close, then nothing but silence. Steeling herself for what she was about to see, she walked over to her small mirror.
Even though her mirror had a slightly cloudy film, she could see enough that it stopped her in her tracks. The red stain on her lips brought her focus to the now prominent shape of her mouth, and the soft kohl smeared across her eyelids made their normally dull gray color appear almost bright.
Her hair was pulled into some kind of extravagant up-do she couldn’t fully see, and perfectly placed curls hung loosely around her face. She dragged her eyes away from her reflection to look down at herself. The bodice of her dress was a creamy white that cut deeply between her breasts, showing off the jagged scar just above her collarbone and more cleavage than she even knew she had.
Although it technically had sleeves, they were skintight and see-through and ended with tiny loops that wrapped around her middle fingers to keep them in place. There were no embellishments anywhere on the gown, but it didn’t need them.
The skirt was slightly shimmery, looking either white or lilac depending on how she twisted. It weighed less than she’d imagined when she saw it, and it swooshed around her ankles when she moved.
The person staring back at her was beautiful, she could admit it. And the dress truly was exquisite. But it just wasn’t her.
She was disrupted from her assessment when she heard Elric’s boots coming toward her doorway. Looking up in time to see him appear, she felt self-conscious and unsure. She instinctively went to chew on her lip, but the bitter taste of the stain had her releasing it with a grimace.
Instead, she stood bouncing on her heels, clasping and unclasping her hands. He only stared, eyes wide, but he didn’t speak.
Her face flushed, and she busied herself with picking up the shoes sitting on her bed—flats, thank the gods—and said, “I’m guessing it’s time to go.”
Elric nodded. His lips twitched as he decided what to say. “I know you’re angry with me, Vera, but no matter what you believe, just know that I’m sorry you’re having to go alone tonight.” He stepped to the side to let her pass. “Just remember what we talked about earlier, and you’ll be fine.”
After Green Eyes disappeared, Elric had shoved her in a chair and instructed her on everything she shouldn’t do at a royal dinner. He’d even somehow gotten his hands on dinnerware and taught her what pieces to use and when to use them. It was incredibly confusing, and she wasn’t sure she actually remembered any of it.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she said, her tone coming out flatter than she’d intended.
Gently grabbing her wrist, he asked, “Are you all right, girl?” The wrinkles decorating his forehead had deepened and his eyes were glossy. He looked worried in a way only a father could, like he could sense the storm of emotions wreaking havoc in her mind.
Yes, she wanted to say. She’d be fine. She always found a way to be fine.
“No, Elric, I’m not. I mean, look at me. I don’t look like myself, and I don’t feel like myself. You threw me to the wolves, and now I have nothing but hairpins and bare skin to protect myself with.” She pulled her arm out of his grasp, carefully edging past the worktables so as not to smudge or tear her gown.
“I’m going to be perfectly ladylike, don’t worry. I’ll nod and smile and act like I have no thoughts of my own while I silently hope the gods bless me with a painless death.” She opened the outside door and let the evening air whip across her face and soothe her raging soul.
“Holy shit.”
She barely managed to avoid shattering her nose on the door when she realized someone was standing just on the other side, speaking to her. Elric was at her side instantly and didn’t relax when he saw who it was.
“What are you doing here, Trey?” Her smile felt like it was stretching her entire face. She didn’t think she’d get to see him again, especially so soon.
“Did you think I’d miss a chance to see you all dressed up?” He winked as he closed the distance and offered up an arm. “Prince Eithan insisted that one of us escort you to dinner. I volunteered. Can’t say I regret it in the least.” She reached over and smacked his arm, eliciting a laugh.
“You’re the worst.”