Page 39 of Infernal Bonds

“But we’re not—”

“Hello, Mrs. Levani,” Kavina said, cutting me off when the woman reached us. “I sure did. We need to get fitted for the Divine Fortune Ball.”

“Oh yes. My daughter is waiting for you in the back.” She motioned toward a blue curtain to the right of the reception desk. “This way.”

When the woman headed in that direction, Kavina leaned in. “It’s easier to let the people think you’re already bonded to them all.”

I stared at her as she followed the woman.

I didn’t like hiding the truth, but if it kept rumors from spreading and landing me in trouble with the council, I’d have to get over my reservations.

With the mother-daughter duo swooning over everything that caught my eye, insisting that every dress would be perfect for me, it took a while to find a dress I liked in their huge catalog.

Once they had documented my measurements and moved on to Kavina, I slumped into the plush armchair to watch her be poked, prodded, and judged.

“So tell me what to expect at the ball. I wanna know what I’m walking into.”

“They haven’t told you anything about it?”

“Only the reason it’s held. The Nyrith thing.”

The daughter snorted a laugh but didn’t comment as she jotted down notes.

“So you get the why, not what happens. I got you.” Kavina held her arms up as instructed. “It really isn’t different from the fancy balls you see in the movies humans make. Lots of tables with big, over-the-top centerpieces. Fancy dishes. Tiny foods and alcohol, followed up with a fancy dinner with more alcohol. Then fancy dessert.”

“Fancy. Got it.”

“There’s dancing, too. I mean, if you’re into that sort of thing.”

I crossed my forearms over one another in front of my face and made a game buzzer sound.

Kavina laughed. “Yeah, you don’t strike me as the ballroom dancing type.”

I wondered what type she thought I was.

“You’re all done,” the daughter said, passing her mother the measuring tape. “You can change and meet us up front.”

Kavina hopped off the pedestal they had made her stand on and waltzed to the changing room.

We’d had to put on some kind of shapewear with long shorts for the fitting. At least it hid the mark on my leg.

Up front, the woman informed me that Ezra had called ahead and covered everything. She also told me he wanted me to pick out matching jewelry and shoes that I liked.

“Having a Nyrith has its perks,” the woman behind the counter said with a smile. “You must be very loved.”

Kavina snorted at my nervous laugh. “It doesn’t hurt that her Nyriths are princes.”

I shrugged.

I didn’t know Kavina well, but I’d already figured out her little laughs weren’t rude. She seemed to approach the world with a casual, no-fucks-given mentality.

After we left the shop, Kavina took me out for a late lunch at a place that served classic diner food I knew well. They replaced beef with niphi for burgers and, like I’d learned before, chicken with gornak for tenders. I ordered the fried gornak tenders since I was familiar with the taste already.

“So, do you have a Nyrith? Or Nyriths?”

“Nah. I haven’t come across mine yet. Doubt I’d have two.” She dipped a fry in a beige sauce I didn’t recognize. “I couldn’t handle four. More power to you.”

I puffed a breath. “Yeah. I don’t think it’s gonna happen.”