Suddenly I had an idea of how she might have lost both hands.
Yiti resumed her seat beside the frozen Tewewh, and I flicked through the designs at the back of the book thatsomeonehad cut out and slotted there. Just by accident.
The dresses were magnificent. Unique. They contained the more complicated fashions of Earth and the wholesome flow of my magus nature, too, and also some more rudimentary and sexy components of demonkind. The fabrics appeared heavier than demons tended toward. There was an edge of battleto the dresses. I could conceal weapons, and my movement would always be free. The designs were more concealing than demonwear, which was no doubt why Carmine had them redesigned. But the designs were sexy too. Some had plunging necklines, and others exposed my back or thighs or stomach.
Not that I wished to be sexy for anyone other than myself.
“Exquisite,” I murmured. “These are a work of art, and I want to commend you on your originality most of all.”
I looked up at Yiti. “So you have designed these.” Drawing with her magic, presumedly. I shifted my focus Tewewh. “And you will make them.”
Defeat lingered in the purple’s gaze, but she said nothing to save her life.
Yiti said,“If she creates them, the king will kill her.”
I nodded. “Likely.”
Carmine would kill her to punish me the next time I disobeyed. Well, he’d send someone else to do the job.
“There is another who could create them. The king’s personal tailor,” said Yiti.
Tewewh gasped. “Yiti, no.”
The blue-scaled demon met my gaze. “The king’s orders are only known to us. You can still have these dresses, but whoever makes them will die.”
I tilted my head. “You would condemn another tailor so easily?”
“I would condemn a tailor who maims anyone who might possess more talent than he.” She held up her stumps. “I have not been the only one, but I am one of the few who remained in the fortress.”
She’d remained to one day seek her revenge. There was a lot to like about this demon. Her defiance was highly enjoyable.
I clapped my hands. “Then that’s settled. You can take my letter to…”
“The head tailor,” she replied, then spat out, “Hunf.”
“To Hunf,” I said pleasantly.
Tewewh looked on in shock as Yiti passed me a pen. I sliced out a page of the book to scrawl upon.
After jotting my orders, I murmured, “Tewewh, you will need to appear sufficiently resentful and ashamed that I have not selected you for this honor.”
She whispered, “Yes, Mate-Intended.”
I folded the note, then passed it to her. “Are you both prepared for battle?”
Yiti grinned, and not in a kind way. “We are. Thank you, Mate-Intended.”
“Thank you for being so clumsy. I’ve let Hunf know that I’ll require these dresses in two days’ time. That should keep him too busy to report to Carmine, especially as the dresses are a surprise for him.”
Screw you, Carmine. I’m getting my dresses.And I’d hide the garments, so he couldn’t destroy them. Fifteen dresses would last me a while if I was scandalous enough to wear them twice.Gasp.Carmine’s mother would have a fit.
My lips curved.
The two demons stood to leave, and I said, “There is also the matter of my joining gown.”
Was that even a thing? Or was I expected to wear a loincloth down the aisle?
Tewewh stared. “You and the king will complete the intention ritual? I did not know.”
