She clawed at the glass walls, unsuccessfully trying to scale them.
I gave the jar a gentle shake, dislodging her. “Stop that. You’re not getting out.”
The pixie landed in a heap at the bottom of the jar, one of her wings bending unnaturally under her. “You can’t keep me here!”
I was careful to hide my regret. It was never my intention to hurt her.
Instead, I raised an arrogant eyebrow, mimicking an expression I’d seen on Thomas’s face a million times. “Looks like you’re wrong about that.”
Oh lord. I was beginning to sound like him too.
“You won’t be in there forever,” I promised. “Just until I can get this sorted out.”
Unless she really was the Summer King’s spy. In which case, I didn’t know what I was going to do with her.
“Don’t think this saves you from that conversation we’re going to have about you working with Liam,” I told Alches, setting the pixie’s jar down so I could get ready for the night.
Alches grumbled.
Shaking my head, I turned to the bed where a pair of slim fitting, black cigar pants were waiting for me. Their fit was perfect. As was the sheer lace corset that had just enough coverage to keep me from flashing my sensitive bits beside it. A black jacket and gold pair of heels completed the look.
Once dressed, I admired myself in the mirror. “Sienna knows her stuff.”
Swiping the jar off the dresser, I headed into the hall to meet my companion.
Her outfit was similar to mine. But instead of pants, she wore black shorts that showed off her tanned legs. Her lace corset was red, a black jacket covering it. She’d elected to wear her hair straight and down.
“I hope neither of us has to do any running tonight,” I drawled, my gaze lingering on the dangerously high heels she was wearing.
Deborah frowned at my jar. “What’s that?”
“Nothing you need to worry about,” I said, turning toward the stairs.
Deobrah took me at my word, following me to the landing. “As for running—there should be no need for that. What kind of party do you think we’re attending?”
“You sweet, naive child. Have you learned nothing in your time hanging around me?”
These sorts of shindigs almost always devolved into some type of battle. I doubted this time would be any different.
“Such a pessimist.”
“It’s not pessimism when history proves me right.”
She’d learn. Hopefully before she twisted an ankle.
Nathan looked up from the book he was reading and whistled. “You clean up nice.”
“So do you.”
Like Deborah, his gaze went immediately to the jar cradled against my side. “Did you bring me a present?”
“Actually, yes.” I ignored the startled expression on his face—surely, my answer wasn’tthatstrange—and held the jar out to him. “I found her lurking around my room.”
Nathan sat up to take the jar. “And you’re handing her over to me.”
I rolled my eyes at the clear suspicion in his voice. “If you don’t want to deal with her, I can take her back.”
Nathan moved the jar out of my reach. “No. No. I’m just not used to an Aileen who doesn’t hoard information like its precious gold.”
