Page 7 of The Iron Fae
An attendant sits behind a desk, he bows as we walk in. Other than the ring of the bell there is no ushering welcome or designer waiting to pin fabric to me while I stand uncomfortably as if I’ve never worn a dress before. It’s hardly meeting my minimum expectations for a movie like makeover.
“So what kind of dresses do you like?” Violet says. Her hands run down her curves as she watches herself in a large mirror. She hasn’t even turned to look at the dresses yet.
“I like as much coverage as I can get.” I take my time walking around her looking, but not touching the gowns along the wall.
“Boring!” Rowan huffs.
“Rowan is right,for once. Why don’t you want to show a little bit of skin?” She pauses her peruse through her own reflection long enough to look me head to toe. “You’re pretty enough.”
Pretty enough.I imagine that’s as close to a compliment as I’m going to get with Violet. And I’ll take it.
“I don’t know. I’m just not comfortable with it. Humans don’t typically walk around in lingerie ball gowns.”
The walls seem a little bit closer than they had just moments ago. The dresses multiplying every time I look.
“Human’s don’t blah blah blah. You’re in the Fae realms now, Briar.” Rowan pulls a navy blue gown with a plunge that reaches for the navel and two strips of fabric that are supposed to act as the skirt and somehow cover up my lady bits. “We’re buying this.
I wince as he walks by me to drape the gown over the counter.
“You don’t even know my size.” I point out.
Violet laughs. “Honey, we don’t need your size.”
Right. Magic.
“What about, like, a pant suit?”
Both the Fae that brought me here and the attendant frown at me. Is that human term? Have I offended them?
“You want to wear a suit like a man?” Violet asks slowly.
“No. Not exactly. There are feminine pant suits…” But even as I say it, I’m aware it’s all a lost cause. Their brows are already wrinkled with confusion and outright surprise.
“Let’s try this on.” Violet devilishly grins.
I’m shaking my head no at the strips of fabric that I can’t imagine won’t get tangled when I try to slip them onto my body and the sheer fabric that hangs over them when she snaps her fingers. My body jars. The clothing I’d worn here pulls from my body turning to dust in the air. Underneath it the dress is already fitted to my curves. One thick strap runs over my nipples, many smaller ones spider webbing to make up the remainder of the bra. I clutch my thighs together. A small piece of material runs between my legs. I’m about to have a lip slip. Bands wrap around my hips holding it all in place underneath a sheer dark plum coverup that hugs my chest and peplums at my waist, with a skirt that stops mid-thigh.
A squeak admits from my gaping mouth. My arms wrap around me, trying to hold my body in. Violet gives me an unapologetic smirk.
“No, no, no.” She clicks her tongue. “Move your hands.” Her thin fingers pry my grip from my body as she steers me toward the mirror. “You should work on your confidence. You look so much better now. In fact, you’re wearing this home.”
“That’s hardly necessary.” I wheeze. “I am confident.”
“Then you won’t mind wearing this out.” Violet stiffens, turning back to look through the racks.
I chance a glance at Rowan. His arms hold a heap of outfits, each one as revealing as the next. Moisture shines on his lips, following the slip of his tongue. He stares so concentratedly at me that it feels as if he is seeing into my soul, or trying to.
You look… edible.Lincoln’s deep husky voice enters my mind in an abrupt startling way.
I jump, turning back to the mirror. Gently, I run my hands over the thin fabric.
Can you see me?
I can see you, how you see you, through your eyes.
I can tell Lincoln’s distracted, hardly available for our conversation, barely connected to the moment. My palms get sweaty with a new, odd sort of nervousness.
I haven’t heard from you today.It’s the less clingy dramatic version of ‘I miss you.’ Hours feel like days, almost weeks, when I’m so used to his commentary inside my head. With a deep breath, I try to take myself in as everyone else sees me. I’ve never thought myself ugly. You’d think with the number of people telling me that I’m endlessly beautiful I’d have a big head. It’s just I’m so… naked.
