“Well, I guess all the boys are on that side. Ladies,” Jaeseok drawls and winks rakishly at us, before sauntering after Taeyoung. Minju’s head slowly tilts to the side as she studies thedokkaebi’s retreating ass, like she has a final exam on the topic tomorrow.
“Come on.” Hailey grabs my wrist and drags me to an alcove. “Let’s get you ready.”
“Ready?” I protest weakly as my friends, both new and old, grab me, tug me, and spin me around. “Ethan said it’ll be something simple.”
“The ceremony itself might be simple, but that does not mean you can’t look the part,” Captain Seo says.
I wrinkle my nose at the no-nonsense warrior. “Et tu Brute?”
“Who can resist a makeover?” She shrugs sheepishly.
“We can work with the attire I wore for my wedding.” The Queen of Sky holds out an old-fashionedhanbokthat looks like it belongs in Goguryeo, ancient Korea.
“Where did that come from?” I squawk.
“I summoned it from my chambers.” She arches a regal brow.
“Right.” I sigh and resign myself to my fate. “Magic.”
I make myself supple and pliant—practically boneless—as I’mhelpedout of thehanbokMiok put on me this morning. I move my limbs into the layers of undergarments—Ethan is not going to be happy about these—then into a full, pleatedchimain the color of pale jade.
I swallow my protest and slip my arms into the ivoryjeogori, which is closer to a long coat than a shirt. It hangs well past my knees, with wide bell sleeves that swallow my hands.
Bora holds out a plain silk belt and asks, “What’s your favorite color?”
“Black.”
She sighs, her shoulders drooping. “What about your second favorite color?”
I have a feeling she won’t be happy with dark gray either, so I give her mythirdfavorite color. “Purple.”
“That’ll do.” With a small smile, she flutters the silk in her hands until it turns a rich aubergine. Then she wraps it around my waist and ties it at the small of my back.
I glance down at my dress. The dark purple of the belt is striking against the cream of thejeogoriand the cool green of thechima.
“Her hair,” Hailey gasps as though my simple braid is no better than a beehive, and I wince as multiple hands free my hair from the offending braid.
I endure the rest of my glow-up in meek silence until the fussing blessedly ceases and everyone takes three steps back.
“You are missing one thing.” The Queen of Sky holds up a jade hair ornament, shaped like the silhouette of a mountain. “My sister, Ethan’smother, gave this to me before she left for the Kingdom of Mountains. I want you to have something from her.”
“Th-thank you, Your Majesty,” I whisper, my chest constricting.
“Come closer.” She gently pushes the two-pronged hair ornament into my half updo, then tilts my face up with a finger under my chin. “And call meimo.”
“Thank you,Imo.”Oh my gods.I have an aunt.
She opens her arms, and I walk into them without hesitation. I let the cocoon of warmth and safety surround me. I have an elder I can turn to and lean on—someone who will pick me up and dust me off if I fall.
“Minju, can I speak with y ...” Jaeseok stumbles to a stop after rounding the corner and gapes at me with a goofy smile. “So pretty.”
“Speak to me about what?” Minju yanks at his sleeve.
“We need something for the ceremony.” He leads her off to the side. “I told the boys you might be able to help us since you know everything.”
I can’t make out the rest of his words as they walk farther away. Then I’m distracted by the sight of Hailey and Captain Seo, who stand in their battle armor.
“Speaking of looking the part ...” I arch a brow.
