Page 24 of For the Strange and Surprising

This isn’t an everyday sort of dress on Earth. It appears regal in a casual way that I can’t quite articulate. When I remove it from its home, silver gladiator-style sandals greet me. They fit my feet like they were made for me.

The only plus side is that they don’t have a million buckles. There are just two thin leather straps laced through the fucking armor that rests across my shins. I don’t mean that mockingly. There are actual metal plates on my legs right now.

I slip into the pale aqua dress after I get the restraints attached to my legs. There are crisscrossing leather loops stacked to the top of my calves, and that’s after I scrunched them down so they didn’t reach my thighs.

Had I known that I needed knowledge in bondage, I would have studied up on shibari so that I could make them look pretty while still being efficient.

I close my eyes and sigh. I’m being an ungrateful brat when I should be thankful that I have clean clothes to wear.

A knock at the door causes me to jump, and the panic resurfaces. It’s quickly followed by aggravation.

I know they told me not to open the door at night, but what about during the day? It’s not like there’s a peephole for me to see who’s come to visit.

When I don’t immediately answer, the banging becomes persistent and deafening. I stomp to the door and swing it open, only to be met by disappointment and mismatched eyes.

“I was hoping you would be gone when I knocked.”

“Is that why you continued?” I inquire, snarky and unimpressed. “Did you think if you knocked hard enough, I’d eventually yell that I wasn’t in here? Or were you hoping the grapefruit knock-off killed me? It was delicious, by the way, so thanks for that.”

“How have you become such a nuisance in less than a day?” Ecaeris muses.

His grin is smug, and he can’t hide how entertained he is by my nostrils flaring. Getting under my skin seems to be his newest fixation, but I find it oddly flattering.

“Same, and good day to you too, kind sir,” I say cheerfully. “To what do I owe the displeasure of your company and inquisition?”

He squints at me, and I know it’s because he wants to ask what I mean. The silence stretches between us as I walk outside. Even as we stroll down the path, it isn’t unpleasant or awkward.

I almost retract my thought when he huffs. “What is a grapefruit?”

The question makes me laugh. “It’s a citrus fruit on Earth. It tastes exactly like the green thing you left on the table that may or may not have been poisoned. You can’t just bite into it, though. I mean, I guess you could, but the rind would be nasty. The pulp on the inside is the part we eat. Drinking it would make more sense because the pulp is really juice in a thin membrane-type sack.”

Ecaeris seems thoughtful before he shakes his head, as if clearing his thoughts. He sighs in frustration, motioning me forward with a flick of his wrist.

“Follow me. My mother would like to greet you in the garden.”

“Sulking prince isn’t a good look for you,” I sing. “Was I too nice with my answer?”

His scoff is haughty. “I don’t think I’ve ever immediately disliked someone before you walked into my life.”

I halt mid-step and smile brightly at him. “Funny. I feel very indifferent about you.”

Lie.

I’m all about his snippy attitude. I don’t want to admit it, but it’s fun to piss him off. I just don’t like that he riles me up so effortlessly too. I’ve never met anyone who can make me lose my cool so quickly, though I suppose there is a first time for everything.

He growls at me, and I wear my most innocent customer service smile. I nod my head as if he’s wordlessly agreed to my sentiment, waving my hand for him to keep leading me. He storms ahead while I diligently follow.

When I get close to his back, I lean in to whisper, sharing a secret of my own.

“You should be careful about how many emotions you show me, Ecaeris. It would be terrible if your feelings accidentally poisoned our budding friendship. There can be quite a fine line between hate and love, you know? We wouldn’t want you to trip and fall on the wrong side.”

8

Adelaide

Ecaeris has stewed over my sarcastic warning the entire way to the garden where I’m meeting Isolde. Twice now, he’s opened his mouth to speak only to see my grin and huff in annoyance.

I don’t know what his problem is, but I’m not a Shade.