She sorted through her options, deciding she wanted something that would tease the hell out of him. She had the perfect shoes—a combination lace and strappy leather five-inch heels. She paired them with a dress that covered enough to be respectable, while still revealing a whole lot of not-quite-forbidden territory.
It had a high neck with sheer black lace covering her chest. It gave way to a black silk panel that fell to her feet in watery folds. In back was a similar panel. The raciness came from the fact that front and back were held together by more of the sheer lace. It exposed her from the sides of her breasts to her feet. A bra and panties would only ruin the effect, so Mal went without. The dress clung lovingly to her curves, leaving little to the imagination. Once she put on the shoes and added light makeup and a tousled hairstyle, she looked like a wet dream. Law’s wet dream, she hoped.
She donned a pair of opal earrings and a couple of wide silver cuff bracelets, dabbed on a hint of citrusy perfume, and grinned at herself in the mirror. She might end up in the middle of a civil war, but she was going to look damned good going in.
The prewedding reception had just begun when she arrived in the courtyard. It was lit with tiny colored witchlights. Numerous tables and chairs and couches and other furniture designed to accommodate all sorts of species were scattered through a variety of little nooks made private with flowers, bushes, pools, fountains, and vines.
The area surrounding the silk-sided pavilion contained several dance floors, buffet stations, bars, and a number of magical edibles and potions stations. Ethereal music played from nowhere. None of your typical wedding music. No conga lines, no Macarena. Mal grinned. She’d have killed to see the big giants doing the chicken dance. Maybe a little line dancing.
Though giants and pixies made up the bulk of the attendees, a surprising variety of other species had opted to attend. As allies? Enemies? Maybe just rubberneckers. Or paid assassins.
Oh goodie, more suspects on the list.
She joined the flow of people, scanning each one, though what she was looking for, she didn’t know. Everyone was dressed to the nines in rich fabrics, a lot of precious metals, and traditional clothing from their various cultures. Regular weapons weren’t allowed by LeeAnne’s dress code, but many wore supposedly ceremonial weapons. Mal was willing to bet most were razor sharp, dipped in poison, or enchanted. Lethal, at any rate.
She noted that quite a few of the large female giants in attendance wore nose rings with different charms hanging from them. A lot of virdanas, which meant a lot of magic. Most looked grim. Maybe they were just hungry. Maybe they had PMS. Maybe they were planning a murder.
She didn’t see any signs of Nayena or Coorsel. Most of the pixie guests stayed separate from everyone else, flying up high, where perches had been placed for their comfort.
Once inside the pavilion, Mal skirted along the exterior of the polished pink granite floor as she scanned the crowd. The place was a faery bower of sparkling lights, an artful mix of flowering vines woven through and around broad tree limbs that spread beneath the pavilion canopy, with swaths of silk gathered in ballooning loops before flowing to the floors to create little private areas. Sitting areas designed for every variety of guest lined the outer silk walls. Large fountains tumbled high into the air, and servants patrolled with food and drink. Nectar stations hung throughout for the pixies.
A round granite stage occupied the center of the huge space. Unlike every other surface, this granite was undressed and unpolished. It stood about five feet off the ground. The wedding would be performed there. Mal searched for Coorsel and Nayena but still saw no sign of them. Her brow creased. She didn’t like this.
She didn’t see Law either. She hadn’t seen him all day. He hadn’t even come back to put on his tux. She wondered if he’d uncovered any information concerning the giant murders, or who had instigated the brawl. He’d have called her if he had. Or texted her. She frowned. Hewouldhave.
Why wasn’t she convinced?
She sighed softly and told herself to focus on the reception and wedding. She and Law had plenty of time to sort things out, so long as she didn’t panic and run, or panic and blow everything up, or panic and hide… Huh. She was sensing a theme.
She made her way around the platform, taking in the guests. The drink and other mood enhancers were being consumed quickly. She expected LeeAnne or Law had laced them with happy spells, but that wouldn’t entirely offset obnoxious personalities. It would only file down the edges. And it wouldn’t convince anybody not to commit murder if that was their plan.
She chewed her lower lip. Or mass murder, for that matter. Blowing up everybody to get at the bride and groom would work just as well as a surgical strike.
God damn it, wherewasLaw?
Hands fell on her hips as the man in question pulled her back against his hard body. He bent, his voice rough in her ear.
“What inthe fuckare you wearing? My balls are about to rupture.” He ground lightly against her.
Sure enough, he was either carrying a steel rod in his pocket or he had a serious hard-on. Mal’s lips curved. Mission accomplished.
His hands slid up her ribs, his fingertips sifting softly over the exposed curves of her breasts before he slid his hands back down.
“Christ on a cracker. You aren’t wearing any underwear, are you?”
“It ruins the effect of the dress,” Mal confirmed.
“So I could just lift it out of my way, bend you over a table, and have my evil way with you?”
“That might be unprofessional,” Mal said, wiggling her butt and pushing back against him.
He groaned and his fingers dug into her hips. “You’re killing me, woman.”
“Uh-oh. However will I manage this awful ache between my legs if you’re dead?” She looked up at him, blinking innocently.
He growled. “You know that turnabout is fair play. I will torture you.”
She grinned. “If you insist.”
