The dress was worse than she'd imagined. The bodice required careful positioning to maintain any modesty, the sheer upper portion revealing the spread of marks across her shoulders. She managed the hidden hooks at the sides but the long row of tiny buttons down the back defeated her. After the fifth attempt to contort her arms into impossible angles, she gave up.
Her hair was another battle. Every attempt at an elegant style fell apart. Pins scattered across the vanity as her fingers fumbled with sections that refused to cooperate. Finally, she settled for pulling the top half back, leaving the rest to fall in waves that at least partially covered the exposed skin of her shoulders.
The knock came precisely at sunset, three sharp raps that made her stomach clench.
"Come in," Briar called, still fighting with the impossible buttons, the back of her dress gaping open to reveal her chemise.
Thaine entered with his usual predatory grace, taking in her half-dressed state with obvious interest. His eyes traced the exposed line of her spine before meeting hers in the mirror. "Having trouble, rabbit?"
She was too frustrated to care about his scrutiny, too desperate to worry about propriety. "The buttons are impossible."
"Turn around."
The command made her freeze. His reflection showed him already moving closer, that hungry smile playing at his lips.
"Unless you'd prefer to attend dinner with your dress gaping open?" His voice dropped to something deliberately intimate. "I'm sure the court would find that entertaining. I certainly wouldn't mind the view..."
She turned, skin prickling with awareness as he stepped into her space. Too close. Close enough that she could smell leather and something sharp beneath it.
His fingers found the first button, working it through its loop with practiced ease. "Such delicate fastenings," he murmured, his knuckles grazing her spine as he worked. "Almost like they're designed to require... assistance."
She held herself rigid as he progressed up her back, each button taking longer than necessary. His fingertips traced the edges of the fabric, ostensibly smoothing it into place but lingering against her skin.
"There's quite a bit of you on display tonight," he observed, breath ghosting across her exposed shoulder. "These marks have spread beautifully. His lordship's claim written across your skin for all to see."
"Are you finished?" Her voice came out tighter than intended.
"Nearly." His hands settled on her shoulders, adjusting the sheer overlay. "Can't have you embarrassing his lordship with sloppy presentation."
He turned her to face him, eyes conducting a slow assessment that made heat crawl up her neck. The dress clung perfectly now, every curve evident, the gold embroidery catching the light like veins of precious metal.
"You're nervous," Thaine observed, circling her slowly. "Your pulse is hammering. I can see it right here." He tapped the hollow of her throat visible above the sheer neckline, making her flinch. "How delightful."
"Shouldn't I be nervous?"
"Oh, absolutely. Court dinners are such intricate affairs. So many rules. So many ways to give offense." He moved toward the door, clearly expecting her to follow. "Did you know that at the last formal dinner we had with a human guest, he used the wrong spoon and accidentally challenged a duke to single combat?"
Dread pooled in her stomach as she followed him into the corridor. "What happened to him?"
"Hmm? Oh, the duke was merciful. Only took three fingers instead of his whole hand." He glanced back at her expression and laughed. "Don't look so worried. I'm sure you'll do fine. How many different forks did his lordship teach you about? Seven? Eight?"
"Three."
"Oh dear." His delight was palpable. "Well, perhaps if you're very careful and very lucky, you'll manage not to start any wars."
Chapter twelve
They descended through parts of the castle she hadn't seen before. The halls grew grander, with soaring ceilings and walls that shifted between living wood and polished stone. Other fae passed them, regarding her with expressions that ranged from curiosity to hunger.
"They're all talking about you, you know," Thaine said conversationally. "The human who survived a night in the bone garden. Some of them lost considerable wagers because you still live."
"Sorry to disappoint them."
"Oh, I wouldn't say they're disappointed. Just... recalculating." He paused at a set of massive doors carved with scenes of hunts and revelries. "A word of advice, rabbit. Speak only when spoken to. Eat only what's placed directly before you… and whatever you do, don't reach across the table. Some of our kind consider that an invitation…"
An invitation for what exactly?
The doors swung open before she could ask, revealing a dining hall that defied mortal architecture. The ceiling was the night sky itself, complete with slowly wheeling stars. The table stretched impossibly long, set with plates that gleamed with their own light and cutlery that shifted material between silver and bone.
