“Call me when Sable is ready.I want to see her in the gowns.”
Gweneth whipped her comfortable pale blue tunic off and discarded the rest of her clothing.She picked a gown at random and slid it over her head.The second the fabric touched her skin, it shrank to drape perfectly.The short sleeves felt restricting, and she tugged at them.Immediately, the fabric gave.The second she ceased yanking on the fabric, the growth of the fabric halted.Gweneth stared at her reflection in the reflecting wall.It needed to be shorter.She tugged it up, and the fabric disappeared until it hovered about six inches above her knee.
“Wow!”she said, spinning to observe the gown from the rear.It dipped to show the curve of her spine, the fabric starting again at the small of her back.“What is this fabric?”
Patrice opened the door of a cubicle and poked out her head.“We call it shrinkton.”
“Will it reshape and go longer or looser again?”
“Yes, although the garment maintains the basic style in which you purchase it, you can resize and drape to your heart’s content.Come out, Sable.Show Gweneth your dress.”
“I…I…” Sable hesitated.“It’s different from what I normally wear.”
“That is the idea,” Patrice disappeared and came back out, shunting an unwilling Sable in front of her.
The red gown did things for Sable.It brought color to her face and clung to stunning curves.One arm remained bare while a sleeve covered her Stores arm.
“No, you’re right,” Gweneth said.“Take that dress off right now.I can’t face having such tough opposition.”
Sable sidled back into the cubicle and then halted, obviously replaying Gweneth’s words.
Patrice laughed.“Look in the reflecting wall, Sable.I dare you.”
Sable lifted her shoulders and marched into the middle of the room.“Is that…is that me?”
“I told you so,” Gweneth said while inside, she railed at fate.Sable looked stunning, and once she updated her hair and makeup, Gweneth would face stiff competition.Ellard would love Sable…maybe more than he liked her.She swallowed and turned to Patrice.“Do you sell lingerie?We might as well get the works.”
Ransom’s residence, later that eve
Sable touched her face with her real fingers, an expression of wonder on her face.“Is that me?”
Despite her sour mood, the sense of impending doom that stalked her mind, Gweneth managed a sincere smile.“You look beautiful.The dragon males won’t know what hit them when you enter the room.”
Sable gasped.“Please, I can’t walk in alone.”She turned on the small stool in front of the reflecting wall and grasped Gweneth’s hands.The Stores hand felt degrees cooler than her real hand.“Promise you’ll walk in with me.”
“I promise.”Gweneth disengaged and whipped off the coverall she’d used to protect her gown.“I believe we should go, or we’ll miss dinner.”
A tap sounded on the door, and Gweneth opened it to find a smiling Patrice.“Ransom sent me to tell you the visitors have started to arrive.”She beamed at Sable.“I love the way Gweneth has done your hair.You look beautiful.”
Sable wiped her hand down her ruby-red dress.“Thank you.I’ve never felt so nervous in all my life.”
“Gweneth and I will be with you or nearby.You have known this group of people for a long time.”Patrice’s gesture—a sharp downward motion of her hand—spoke of unconcern, but Sable still dragged her feet as they approached the source of the chatter.
They poised at the entrance to a large reception room, Gweneth and Patrice flanking a trembling Sable.
Immediately, Gweneth sought out Ellard and her heart soared when their gazes connected.Distinct approval glowed in his green eyes, and he dipped his chin in acknowledgment.Triumph flooded her until she noticed his gaze had wandered to Sable.His eyes widened and a slow grin slipped across his lips.He started walking toward them before pain struck Gweneth in the middle of the chest.
He was her mate, the one male who brought her cat to life and he wanted Sable.
She must’ve made a sound—a croak of protest—because Patrice frowned at her.
“Gweneth, I’d like to introduce you to my brothers.Sable, will you be all right with Ellard?”
“What?”
Gweneth noticed Sable couldn’t take her eyes off Ellard either, who appeared striking in his all black attire tonight.There was an air about him—a confidence that hadn’t been present in the time she’d known him.Her stomach churned with nausea, and even she heard the low, pained groan that squeezed past her frozen lips.
“I want to introduce Gweneth to my brothers.Would you like to come with us?”Patrice repeated.
