Page 49 of Death of a Mortal

“Naci?”

Nella pulled me back from the dirty place my mind had been. “Hm?”

“I said, you need to get out. It’s nearly dinner time, and the prince will be here soon.”

She was right. The tips of my fingers had grown wrinkled from my extended time in the bath.

I dried my hair as much as I could with a towel before slipping on the dress. I absolutely would not wear the little slip Varyn had included. It seemed far too…risqué. The dress nearly reached the floor, and it fit snugly. I had put on a couple of pounds in the few weeks we’d been at the castle, so I filled the dress out nicely. I no longer had hollow cheeks or protruding ribs and hip bones. Nella too.

That was really saying something if Nella’s little kitchen boyfriend’s food was putting weight on us compared to what little we got with Cassius.

She came up behind me in the mirror reflection and looked me up and down, pausing her assessment at my breasts, where my nipples were poking through the thin fabric.

“Uh, Naci, I think you may want to wear the slip. That’s probably why the prince gave it to you. He didn’t want you to poke him in the eyes.” She was hilarious…

But she was right, and the evenings were growing cooler. I had to wear the damned slip.

I took the dress off, quickly donned the skimpy silk, and glimpsed myself in the mirror. With the cinching and the lace and the boning in the bodice, it enhanced my breasts well. Even I had to admit it was sexy.

So with slightly more confidence, I slipped on the dress, and Nella pulled the top half of my nearly dry hair into a simple, elegant knot, leaving the bottom half to hang and curl naturally.

We both stared at the mirror, taking in my appearance. I had never worn anything so beautiful in my life. And I had never felt more beautiful either. I caught the trace of a tear in Nella’s eye as she wrapped her arms around my waist from behind, laying her cheek on my shoulder. I loved her so much, and I knew I would remember this moment, this embrace, for a long time.

A throat cleared from the doorway of our room.

I turned to see Miss Melda standing there, looking at me strangely.

“You didn’t finish your laundry after lunch.”

Surely, she wasn’t going to tell me I couldn’t go to dinner…

“Can I finish it after dinner?”

“You’d better.” She smirked, then nodded her approval as she, too, looked me up and down. “Now hurry along, the prince is in the hall waiting for you.”

My nerves were alight with uncertainty and excitement.

This time, I didn’t fight the smile that came. For just one moment, I let myself hope that maybe he felt the same way. I suppose I was going to find out one way or another tonight.

Chapter 14

Ice that Burns

All too quickly,I found myself standing in front of Varyn. I didn’t miss the hungry look that crossed his face before the princely smile fell into place.

“You look absolutely stunning, Naci,” he said as he offered me his hand. “Purple is truly your color.”

He hadn’t known that it was my favorite. Or maybe he did. He did seem to “know things,” as he liked to say.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” I said with a smirk, exuding more confidence than I actually had. It felt good to tease him.

I took his hand, and we headed toward…I wasn’t exactly sure where. The butterflies in my stomach multiplied and were flying around as if caught in a raging storm.

“I’m glad the dress fits.” He was skirting around any mention of the slip, but like hell would I be the one to bring it up.

It was interesting, though. I recalled how mad I had gotten when Fadric offered to buy me new clothes. It was infuriating and insulting. But coming from Varyn, it felt okay. Acceptable. Generous.

Maybe I just needed new clothes that badly now.