I knew what he expected. He wanted me to kick off. To prove him right. My compliance at his parents’ home had pleased him but also aroused his suspicion. He watched me closely whenever I was in proximity. Like I was some sort of creature that might lash out at any moment. He wasn’t wrong, but I had to prove otherwise.
“I’d do a better job of convincing people if visits aren’t sprung on me,” I explained, keeping some bite in my voice. If I became doe-eyed and hung off his every word, then he’d know it was all an act. If it was begrudging, then I could possibly earn his trust. “You’re going to need to let me in on some of your plans if we want this to work.”
Talking like we were a team made me feel physically sick, but I kept reminding myself that it was necessary for the moment.
Hunter sucked in a deep breath and considered my point. “I’ve organised for you to pick out your wedding dress.”
My jaw dropped. That was not the response I was expecting. My expectations were of another parade through the streets in order to gain more attention and popularity, but Hunter was jumping several steps ahead. Or maybe he was just working exactly to his plan. Who would oppose him? And even if they did, he had the gift of success. He was unstoppable.
“Pick my dress?” I parroted the words back to him to make sure I heard right.
“Yes. I couldn’t care less about the frivolity of a wedding, but I understand these trivial things matter to others.” For a moment, I was surprised Hunter would care about what I might want, but then he continued speaking. “Gods love the festivities of a wedding. It puts them in high spirits and that’s what weneed.” He looked me in the eye. “We want them to be in the highest spirits, so if that means we need to dress you up for the part, then so be it.”
Optics. Of course, Hunter was all about the optics. He would put himself in an uncomfortable situation as long as it projected the right image. He’d perfected it into an art form.
“Makes sense,” I muttered, forcing my brain to catch up.
There was a flicker of irritation. “I’m glad you agree.”
He held out his hand in a silent demand. When Hunter did this, it was his way of saying he expected me to follow his lead. And for now, I had no other choice. I took it, feeling my skin crawl the moment our palms made contact, before swathes of blue clouded my vision. As they dissipated, I was greeted by the sight of a familiar shop in lower Elysia.
The memories flooded in with so much sharpness and colour so vivid that I was transported back in time. My first visit to Elysia and the games Gray and I played. He brought me to this boutique to choose a dress for Cato’s gifting ball. A row of beautiful dresses that I didn’t even have the chance to try on. My face began to heat from the reminder of how we left the shop that day. The promises and tension that bound us. Both of us were completely unaware that it was something more than lust.
“Quentin,” Hunter snapped, and my blissful bubble popped, bringing me back to reality. “What is it with you never fully paying attention?”
“You haven’t forgotten I’m half mortal, have you? I’m still getting used to all this,” I lied through my teeth.
Hunter narrowed his eyes before gesturing to the shop. Without another word, I stepped past him and pushed the door open. It was empty aside from two figures by the counter. The employee looked up as we entered, bowed her head, and made herself scarce. The other figure turned around slowly, and I immediately regretted not asking more questions before we leftthe house. Mabel pushed herself away from the counter with a feline grace that on my better days, I wished I could possess. She sauntered towards us, eyes locked on Hunter.
“Took your time,” she said. Her tone was light and teasing and immediately, I knew why he left the house so often.
Mabel and Hunter had something while he was married to Larkin. A fling. An affair. An arrangement. I had no idea how they labelled it, but they weren’t exactly discreet considering I had caught them in a heated make-out session during a very busy party. Let them continue. If it kept Hunter away from me, they had my blessing.
When Hunter responded, he was less playful. “There’s a lot to do, Mabel.”
“You’re always so busy these days. No time for?—”
“We’ll discuss this later. Do what I’ve asked and I’ll be back soon.”
Mabel’s brow furrowed and her face pinched, as if she were biting the insides of her cheeks. “I thought you were going to be here for this. I don’t want to be left with her.”
“I have no interest in dresses. That’s a woman’s job.” There was a beat. “And I’ve entrusted the best woman with the job.”
She preened at his praise and I found it difficult to keep my face passive. He was handing over menial tasks and she was more than happy to do them for a crumb of affection. I might not have been her biggest fan, but she was worth more than that.
When Mabel shifted her gaze to me, I smashed my teeth together, willing my face to stay neutral.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she looks like the perfect bride.” The words might have been sugared, but they didn’t match her expression.
A heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “Do not cause a scene.”
Well, that pretty much confirmed that I was still firmly outside Hunter’s circle of trust. Or, at least, that he didn’t trustme to play nice with his girlfriend. After all, Mabel had told him about our run-in at The Vermillion Lady and I was obviously painted the villain in her version of events. He didn’t wait for my response before he walked out of the boutique.
Mabel cocked her head and looked at me for a moment, which felt painstakingly long. “Follow me.”
She turned on her heel and marched towards the back of the building. For a split second, I wondered if I could bolt out the door and into the casino to find Andreas. It was only the thought of Sloan, Erik, and the children being implicated that forced me to follow her as she’d asked.
We stopped in a grand dressing room. Mirrors lined the walls and a golden rail stood off to one side with a selection of dresses with different silhouettes, but all in shades of white and blue.
