Page 113 of A Soul to Embrace

“This is actually one of my favourite dresses I’ve made,” Goldie said, eying Zylah from head to toe. “If you spin, it’ll show you why.”

Zylah did as she was instructed and was pleasantly surprised when the skirt fanned out wide.Oooh, pretty!Her orbs finally morphed into something other than embarrassment, and bright yellow shone in her sight. A small giggle fell from her, as she wasexcited about the function and how surprisingly flowy it was. She spun the other way, watching it twist before it fanned out again.

I like this one.Perhaps even more than the one he made.

She looked over her shoulder and wiggled her tail to make it vibrate, happy with the freedom and the way it looked. She turned to Jabez to ask if she could get this one, only to immediately pause.

His features had lost their aloof softness and instead had a dark, hardened edge to them. His eyes zeroed in on where she’d just wiggled her tail and backside since her side had been turned to him. His jaw was clenched, cheek muscles twitching as his gaze slowly moved up her body.

Palming his face and turning it away, he muttered so lowly she barely heard him, “Fuck, that was cute.” He waved his other hand in the air. “That one. We’ll get her that one.”

Zylah didn’t know if it was his heated expression, his words, or the way his ears drooped, but one or all three caused flutters low in her belly. She’d been uncomfortable during this entire process until now, and she scratched at the fluffy fur of her neck when she realised something so simple stimulated her desire.

He likes it.The dress, the way she spun, her tail wiggling...her.

If picking an outfit gave him that kind of reaction, she was far more inclined to do it again. She drifted her sight to Goldie’s much more sensual outfit. If she hadn’t stumbled, would he have found her as alluring in it as the little Demon was?

Goldie let out a small feminine chuckle at their exchange before gently holding Zylah’s wrist to spin her towards her. She patted down her sides to push the dress down and make it sit better.

“Do you want to wear it out, or do you want to change into your other garment?”

“Can I wear this?” Zylah asked, her voice thick.

“That was the point,” Jabez grated out with strain.

Goldie entered the booth and collected Zylah’s grey dress with a rather rude pinch of her fingers. She also picked up her satchel and gave both to her.

“If it were me, I’d incinerate the old one, but perhaps you can wear it as a nightgown.” Then she dipped her head towards Jabez. “Unless you’re planning to buy a second dress. I have plenty more, and I am having a ball with you two.”

Zylah grumbled at the incineration comment, quickly tucking her beloved gift from him into her bag before the Demon could take it away.

“Ask her,” Jabez stated behind his hand. “The trade I’m offering is worth at least three of your best quality garments.”

Goldie’s features brightened, and her sultry eyes lit up with joy andgreed.“Well, Zylah? Do you want to look at others?”

“Can I have this, but in the crimson?” Zylah asked, wanting Jabez to get some of his trade’s worth but refusing to put herself back inside that horrible booth. She would refuse a third if they tried to make her pick one.

“Of course.”

As Goldie went to fetch another dress, Zylah walked over to Jabez. His ears shot up at her approach, but he only lowered his hand from his face when she poked him in the shoulder.

“Can I trade for it?” She wanted to have a play at partaking in a transaction.

His lips were tight as he opened his satchel. What he obtained was small, and she tilted her head at it when he placed it in her outreaching palm. She’d seen this once before, but in black.

This doesn’t look like it would be worth much.

Still, she shrugged and took it to the counter, since Goldie was standing behind it with an expectant look.

“What have you got for me?” Goldie asked, and Zylah held her hand out with her palm facing up. The Demon’s red eyes widened, and she snatched it so fast her movements were a blur. “Holy shit! How did you get this?! It’s barely even used. Do you know how many dresses I can make with this, how many colours I can dye it?”

Zylah hadn’t expected her to be so excited over a white roll of sewing thread. It wasn’t even particularly large.

Though, seeing the difference between a Demon selling wares receiving a lacklustre trade in comparison to a worthwhile one was remarkable. Would that meat-stick-selling merchant have been giddy had he received what he would’ve preferred?

“You little puppy!” Goldie exclaimed across the counter while tilting to the side to look at Jabez. “This isn’t worth three, it’s worth five. You made a poor trade this day, giving me this for only two dresses.”

One side of his mouth twitched in obvious humour, as he finally stood and approached. He pulled Zylah’s new crimson dress across the counter and tucked it into her satchel for her.

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