“No, no. We’re making you stunning!” Lore shook a finger at me while grinning. “You’ve got to capture Caius’s attention, remember?”
I actually didn’t know anything beyond the fact that I had to lie to him. Soren hadn’t filled me in yet.
Was flirting part of the lie? I really should’ve asked, because if so, I was guaranteed to fail.
When I snuck a glance at his desk, though, thinking to ask, he’d disappeared.
Gwen groaned, but with a sigh, she stood too. “Come. Let’s get this over with.”
After we traipsed upstairs, Lore went through her wardrobe again, pulling out lots more options that she hadn’t gotten to last night.
Reluctantly, I accepted a long-sleeved white tunic, a brown corset-style leather vest, and a vivid red skirt.
“Are you sure?” I squinted at it.
“Trust me.” Lore grinned. “It’s the perfect mix of bold and casual.” She handed me the clothing. “You can change here and meet us downstairs.”
ISTRUGGLED WITH thatstrange corset vest long enough that Lore came back to knock. “Need some help?”
“No,” I lied. Practicing for later, I supposed. “I’ll be down in a second.”
I frowned at my reflection. It should’ve felt like a costume, but instead, it felt like meeting a new side of myself that I hadn’t realized existed. I liked it. And I hated it too, because I didn’t want to like anything here.
As I returned to the library, Soren strode toward the tunnels, and we nearly collided.
He stopped abruptly.
I swallowed under the intensity of his gaze.
From behind him, Lore popped up from the couch, peering over Soren’s shoulder with a grin. “I knew it. It’s perfect.”
Weird that knowing she couldn’t lie made it a genuine compliment.
Soren seemed to blink back into motion. He stepped back, waving for me to pass, and murmured, “After you.”
Brushing past him, I glanced back over my shoulder, and our gazes locked again.
