The dressmaker drifted over with excited, fluttery hands. “My dear! Yes. Yes, this is exactly what I envisioned.” She tugged on the fabric, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles, admiring her handiwork.
And then Velline turned. Her back. Gods, her back.
The dress was backless. The tie at the base of her neck formed a beautiful bow, the long tails trailing down the center of her spine and nestling perfectly beside the base of her wings. Her wings were tucked in, held stiffly. Awkwardly. But the dress showcased them like a decorative frame. The ends of her short, white hair caressed her shoulders, creating the perfect contrast.
“Velline, someone should paint a portrait of you right now.Thisis how dresses should look,” Kizzi gushed.
The angel ghosted her hands over her hips awkwardly. “Really?”
“Really! Holy shit. Yours is way prettier than mine,” Fiella insisted. She looked at the dressmaker quickly. “I love mine. I’m not saying I don’t love mine.”
The woman laughed. “I understand. It’s some of my best work, I must say.”
The four women stood in their dresses, admiring themselves in the wide mirror. Fiella, Kizzi, Lunette, and Velline looked like they were ready to dance the night away.
My stomach twisted.
I was happy for them. Thrilled for them. But still, I felt… off.
Kizzi caught me staring and stepped over to me, reaching for my hand. “You’re next, Ginny. What color are you thinking? I bet orange would look fabulous on you.”
I squeezed her fingers, but I didn’t allow her to pull me to my feet. I smiled tightly. “I’m going to sit this one out. I just wanted to see your lovely dresses.”
She gasped in outrage. “You can’t sit it out!”
I slipped my hand out of her grasp, settling it onto Bram’s back. “I’m just going to hang out with my little guy, here.”
“Nonsense. Bring him!”
“I can’t?—”
“Sure you can. Don’t be ridiculous. Youmustgo.”
I exhaled heavily through my nose. “I’ll go next year.”
“You’re going,” Fiella said firmly, brokering no argument.
“She’s right, Ginger. If I’m going, I certainly can’t go without you,” Velline added.
My fragile resolve wavered. The dresseswerebeautiful. The dresses were always my favorite part about the ball.
“Maybe I’ll just try one on…”
Fiella scooped the baby dragon from my lap, gently kissing him on the head before setting him down on another chair. “Yes! You must.”
I rose to my feet. “Just to try, though. I’m not making any promises.”
“Whatever you say.”
The dressmaker clapped three times. “Wonderful! I have the perfect gown already set aside.”
The dress waseverything.
Gold, smooth, and fitted, it clung to my frame and gave me a shape I didn’t even know I had. The skirt was shaped to my hips, only dropping loose to the ground after outlining the swell of my ass almost scandalously.
Intricate beadwork made the fabric sparkle as though it were woven with magic itself.
It wasperfect.
