Page 76 of From the Edge

“Jeans and tees. That’s it.”

“Well, I will settle for something with straight lines and nothing frilly, right?” Pandora rotated her wrist and held out a dress that was blank, empty, and rough cotton.

Rowan said softly, “She has sensitive skin.”

Pandora smiled. “That is helpful.” She ran her hands down the fabric and asked, “What colour?”

Rowan smiled. “Ruby red.”

There was a snicker from the tree. “Doesn’t show blood.”

Pandora smiled. “Good to know.”

She fussed with the dress for a bit, and then she shook it out. “If you come down here, I am sure I can get this to fit.”

There was a humming in the air that caused the dark elves to tense. The dress lifted out of Pandora’s hands and began to fit itself to a female body. When the back was clasped around the invisible form, there was a deep sigh. “Let me know what I owe you for the dress. If I get the fucking wings to stay in, I should be able to get a job again.”

Rowan covered her mouth. “Oh, no.”

“Yeah, it turns out that my boss was a shadow mage. When he died, the company went under, and his buddies tried to come after me, and they got my accounts and burned my house down, but I escaped with the clothing on my back. It stayed there for five months, and then I ended up nekkid.”

Rowan asked, “Can I see you? Please?”

Hope smiled. “Sure. Can I have something to eat?”

“Of course. You can let me know what my sauce needs. You were always good at that.”

Rowan heard her drag in a deep breath, and Hope took shape. Her black and blue butterfly wings were out from side to side behind her. Her hair was jagged but still black; her eyes were kaleidoscopic rainbows. Her skin had a familiar multicoloured glow under it.

Rowan blinked. “You are like me.”

“Second cousin on your mother’s side.”

“You never said.”

“I didn’t want to introduce it into conversation. I didn’t want you to think I was after any family funds.”

Rowan rushed toward her and hugged her. “You smell like rain and cotton candy.”

Hope hugged her. “I have done what I could around here. The garden fed me, and you have no idea how eager I am to have something in the hard protein range.”

“Come on. Everyone is afraid of the smokers. I need to get the meat out and onto trays.”

“Do you have an apron? I don’t want to mess up the dress.”

Pandora grinned. “Mess it up. Working around the wings is surprisingly fun.”

“Thank you for the dress. You have no idea how breezy the winters here are.”

Pandora smiled. “I travel as fog. I have a very good idea.”

Hope hugged Rowan again, her wings fluttered, and her feet lifted off the ground. “Come on, Rowan. I will help get the stuff off the smokers. Where do you need them brought?”

“Into the great hall. The platters are there and waiting.”

“Cool. Pans where they normally are?”

“Yup.” Rowan was grinning as she walked, and Hope flew just an inch above the ground.