Page 28 of Alien Charming

“The kind who thinks I’ll embarrass her,” she said quietly.

Agatha made a dismissive sound in the back of her throat. “Nonsense. Now, where’s this list of hers?”

She pulled the crumpled paper from her pocket and handed it over. Agatha scanned it, her expression growing stormier with each item.

“Ridiculous,” she muttered. “I’ll handle these tasks. You are going to the bonding ceremony.”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly?—”

“You can and you will.” Agatha’s tone brooked no argument. “I’ve cleaned more houses than your aunt has had hot dinners.”

She stared at the old woman in disbelief. “But Aunt Margaret will know I’m there. She’ll be furious.”

Agatha’s eyes twinkled. “Margaret Jacobson has been furious since the day she was born, but I think you might be able to avoid her wrath this time. Come with me.”

Before she could make any further protests, Agatha took her firmly by the elbow and guided her upstairs. The old woman moved with surprising speed for someone her age, heading straight for Elli’s bedroom as if she’d been there a hundred times before.

“Sit,” Agatha commanded, pointing to the small stool in front of Elli’s modest dressing table.

She obeyed, watching in the mirror as Agatha opened a large bag she hadn’t noticed her carrying. From its depths she pulled out a bundle wrapped in tissue paper.

“I had a feeling Margaret might try something like this,” Agatha said, carefully unwrapping the package. “Fortunately, I came prepared.”

The tissue paper fell away to reveal a dress unlike anything Elli had ever seen. The fabric shimmered between deep blue and forest green depending on how the light caught it, with delicate silver embroidery along the neckline and sleeves.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to touch it with reverent fingers.

“It was mine, many years ago.” Agatha’s eyes softened with memory. “For a very special occasion.”

The old woman placed the dress on the bed and returned to her bag, pulling out a pair of dark green slippers with matching silver embroidery and a small glass vial filled with amber liquid.

“What’s that?”

“A little trick I learned from the Vultor themselves.” Agatha uncorked it, releasing a scent like wildflowers and rain. “It will mask your natural scent for a few hours. No one will be able to pick you out of the crowd by smell alone.”

Her eyes widened. “The Vultor can do that?”

“They can do many things.” Agatha winked at her. “Now drink this and let’s get you ready.”

The liquid tasted of honey and herbs, warming her from the inside out as Agatha rubbed a healing salve onto her reddened hands. After she changed into the dress, Agatha busied herself with her hair, pulling it back from her face with two small sparkling combs, but letting it fall down over her shoulders in soft waves.

When she finally stood before the small mirror, she hardly recognized herself. The dress fit as if it had been made for her, accentuating her slender curves. Her hair framed her face in a way that made her eyes look larger, more luminous.

“I look so different.”

“No, dear,” Agatha said gently. “Now you look like yourself.”

She could only stare at her reflection, not sure what to say.

Agatha took her by the shoulders, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “Life is full of choices, Elli. Your aunt has chosen fearand bitterness. I want more for you. I want you to choose happiness.”

Her throat tightened with emotion, and she turned to face the old woman, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you. For everything.”

“None of that now,” Agatha said, but her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Now, come on. The ceremony is starting, and I won’t have you miss it. I’ll escort you.”

“But—”

Agatha held up one finger. “Ah. I’m afraid I must insist. For educational purposes, of course. You said you wanted to learn more about Vultor culture.”

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