Page 49 of War of Her Heart

“That’s nice of her,” I said as I gritted my teeth.

The bridal shop was right above the shop where Bronwen got her custom dresses. I hadn’t even noticed there was a second floor in the building until now. We went up a small staircase that was tucked in the back right corner of the shop that had nothing to indicate we were going to a separate part of the seamstress’s shop.

On the left wall of the second floor were floor-to-ceiling mirrors and a small podium for the bride-to-be to stand on to get a full view of the dress. Small, cushioned chairs sat in a half circle around the podium so the bride’s entourage could sit and gawk at the bride as she showed off the dress.

Bridal gowns lined the wall opposite of the staircase. The room was busting at the seams with white dresses. Probably because most ladies of the Night Realm chose to wear dark colors, even on their wedding days.

Dresses also lined the right wall, but there was also a small opening that seemed to lead to a separate room.

I followed Nathara to the podium and sunk deep into my chair, wishing it would swallow me whole.

Other than the glances Celine gave me every now and then, just to rub it in, they had all but forgotten I was even with them.

I blocked out their voices as soon as Nathara brought up picking out lingerie for her wedding night.

I kept glancing at the doorway that was tucked between two rods which were overflowing with dresses. I felt like my eyes were playing tricks on me because I thought I could see a dress similar to the one I almost put on this morning, which was tan. I knew I had to be mistaken because there was no way a Night Realm seamstress would make a dress like that, let alone have it in her shop to sell.

The curiosity at what could be in that room was eating me alive. I quietly got up from my chair and walked towards the door. No one even looked my way as they were too concerned with watching Nathara twirl in a sparkly ball gown-style dress with a sweetheart neckline.

I stopped as soon as I stepped through the doorway to take in the sight before me.

To the left of the doorway were dresses made of shades of deep greens, reds, and browns which then flowed into a section of pastels and florals, to various hues of blues.

As my gaze continued around the room going from blues to reds and yellows. I understood why this floor wasn’t on display. These dresses weren’t like the Night Realm dresses that filled the room below. They weren’t Night Realm dresses at all.

These dresses represented each of the other realms.

To see all of the realms coming together, even in something as simple as the dresses in a room, was enchanting. Each section was so different and yet they complemented the others so beautifully.

I started on the left side, which seemed to be dresses inspired by Forest Realm fashion, and made my way around.

I stopped at the Sun Realm dresses because I had never seen a dress like the ones before me.

Even though I was never allowed at Celine’s parties and balls, I would sometimes sneak into them and hide between the tall curtains, just to observe the different fae in attendance.

While most of the time, it was only fae from our realm, some of the bigger celebrations brought in guests from the outside.

I had seen dresses from every other realm except for the Sun Realm. When the Sun Realm fell and the fae fled to other realms, they assimilated and took on the persona of a fae from that realm. They left behind any trace of their old lives, including the fashion.

It was such a pity, as there was a certain fire in these designs that I didn’t see in the other dresses.

Bright, bold colors with sleeveless tops and high slits on the leg. Some were covered in orange and yellow jewels that looked like flames of a fire when the light hit them. I knew the fae who wore dresses like these had personalities that fit the fashion.

Kind of like Bron—

“Calum already can’t keep his hands off of me. Just imagine how he will be after he sees me in this dress!” Nathara’s voice echoed into the room I was in, and I shot my eyes to the doorway to see what she had chosen.

“Be careful, Vi, your face looks like you could kill her. She might begin to suspect something.”

I jumped at her voice, not realizing anyone was behind me, as I was lost in the details of the dresses before me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

Bronwen was the last person I expected to run into while shopping with this forced company. Well, Adar would be the very last, but she was a close second.

“I’m just,” she paused as she ran her fingers down the fabric of a Mountain Realm dress before turning up her nose at it, “shopping.”

I gave her a knowing look. It was no coincidence that she just happened to be here while I was here. . . without protection.

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