I held still as she brought out a series of pallets and brushes. “Where did you get all those?”
Obligingly, I closed my eyes as Deborah leaned over with a makeup brush.
“The enforcer wasn’t kidding when he said Anton had arranged everything we would need.”
I held still as my companion swiped color over my eyelids. “What are we going to do about tonight?”
Despite what I’d told Thomas and the rest, we weren’t here to play. I also doubted Nathan was going to let us out of his sight long enough to do the information gathering we needed.
“I’ve already got that covered. You and I just need to keep the vampires distracted while Sondra, Emmett and Hank shake down the locals to see what they can find out about the local Fae barrow.”
It wasn’t a bad plan. Nathan wouldn’t be watching those three as closely as he was me and Caroline. I would have preferred tracking down leads myself, but in this instance, I had no choice but to compromise.
“There. Done,” Deborah said, sounding pleased with the results as she put the finishing touches on my face and stepped back.
I opened my eyes and blinked at the woman in the mirror. “Wow.”
There was nothing else to say. Deborah had done an amazing job, managing to make my eyes the focal point and they seemed on the bluer side of their normal blue gray color.
“This is amazing,” I said, feeling like it needed to be reiterated.
My companion flushed with pleasure, busying herself with putting the brushes back into their individual pouches. “It’s nothing special.”
“I disagree,” I corrected, pointing at my face. “You don’t see me being able to do this.”
Caroline nodded in agreement.
What Deborah had done was a skill. One she’d obviously put time and effort into learning. It deserved to be acknowledged.
Deborah lifted one shoulder in an awkward shrug. “Just let me know if you ever want me to do your makeup. I’d be happy to help.”
I took one last look in the mirror. “I just might take you up on that.”
It might be nice for an occasional date night with Liam. Who didn’t want to look spectacular in front of their boyfriend?
Finished admiring my reflection, I took in the appearance of the other two women.
Deborah had chosen a short, red sequin dress that gathered on one shoulder before extending in a sleeve down her arm. The other shoulder and arm were left bare.
“Nice choice of color,” I observed.
Deborah looked down at her dress, plucking at the fabric. “Like it? I thought it appropriate considering I’m your companion.”
“It’s very red.”
That was probably the point. For vampires, the color red could have a wealth of meaning depending on the situation. In a strange city where no one really knew us, Deborah’s choice allowed her to proclaim her status as belonging to me. Hopefully, it would warn off spooks who might seek to take advantage of a human.
Caroline had gone the opposite route, choosing a pair of loose beige pants that gathered at her ankles and a sapphire sequin top that bared an inch of her mid-drift. She’d sleeked her blond hair into a high ponytail. It looked like Deborah had also done her makeup.
“We’d better get out there before they wonder where we are,” I said, rising.
Caroline arched an eyebrow at me. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
All I had to do was spend an evening playing Nathan’s game while not letting on that there was anything more going on.
Easy peasy.
