“Wait—” I cut off as the door clicked shut.
I wasn’t sure why I’d wanted him to stay.
“Let’s put together a gorgeous disguise.” Lore grinned, her slanted dark eyes sparkling with mischief. She flipped her pale hair over her shoulder and twirled away.
As she dug through her drawers, I took in what looked like her bedroom. From the lack of windows, it must’ve still been underground despite the short staircase. That strange fae lighting warmed the space like an evening sunset. Flowers hung in baskets from the ceiling or grew with other foliage along the walls, which made the room feel like an indoor garden. She probably only owned flower dresses too.
I held on to my puffy coat as if it’d somehow protect me, though at this point, the extra layer in the warm burrow was making me sweat. I stared at her as she flung open the wardrobe and started swiping through the clothes inside. What was I doing here? I couldn’t play dress-up while my family’s trail grew cold. “Foxlore, I—”
“Oh, just Lore is fine,” she interrupted from the other side of the room, turning to face me with an armful of gowns. “Let’s see what fits.”
The sensation of being stuck felt like being squeezed by an invisible vise.
I turned to remove my coat so she wouldn’t see the tears I couldn’t quite blink away.
“This one is my favorite.” Lore held up a gown, oblivious, as I folded my coat in front of me awkwardly, trying to keep the tools from clanking together. “Everyone was jealous when I wore it to First Equinox. But this one would match your eyes, and this other one might—”
I tried to tune her out and focus on the clothes.
This was temporary.
I checked my phone subtly. If I had to wait an hour and fourteen minutes, it’d be worth it if it helped me find my family.
The first dress was a flimsy white thing with mossy branches and a small bouquet almost growing across the bodice, exactly like I’d guessed, but the second option was something I’d actually wear at home—that is, if we ever held a super fancy event in our tiny town. So, never.
It was a dark green with oddly pointed shoulders and long filmy sleeves. A cutout in the top shaped it into a bit of a corset with gold detailing and gold chains delicately strung across the open skin beneath the collarbone. It looked fairly modest compared to the other dresses.
“How about that one?” I asked when she finally took a breath.
“This?” She held up the one I’d pointed to. “Oh, you have fantastic taste. This will look incredible on you.”
Even before I put it on, I knew it’d be gorgeous, but I still set my coat on the chair reluctantly. The weeder and shovel inside clunked softly. Since the dress clearly didn’t have any pockets, I’d be forced to go without my makeshift weapons—at least until I got back from wherever Soren was taking me. But I refused to leave my phone behind, whether I could find reception or not. I’d tuck it into my bra if I had to.
While Lore turned her back, I tugged my simple blue shirt and jeans off self-consciously and pulled on the dress.
As I moved to stand in front of the mirror, my jaw dropped.
It was stunning.
The deep green complemented my pale skin and brought out the dark tones in my plain brown hair.
“Um... you can look,” I said once I got over the initial shock and realized Lore was still politely waiting with her back to me.
She whirled around and squealed. “I knew it. It’s perfect!”
I mumbled something about how it was just the dress but fortunately didn’t have to say much else because she went back to chattering as she worked on my hair. She wove intricate braids in a pretty pattern. I noticed she carefully covered my ears with them.
As she stood back to admire her work, both our eyes fell to my feet. My winter boots stuck out awkwardly from under the long skirt.
“How big are your feet?” she asked, eyeing them. Before I could answer, she pulled off one of her shoes and knelt down to pick up my foot, measuring it against the sole of my boot. Squinting, she shook her head. “Too big.”
My feet were notthatbig. Her shoes looked only slightly smaller than mine.
A knock sounded on the door.
“I hope that’s Gwen,” Lore told me. Then she called, “Come in!” To me again, she added, “She’ll know what to do.”
“Soren said to check on you,” a low feminine voice said as the door opened.
