Fabric flew over the top of the door, making her jump.
“Start with those,” Dee called.
Black leggings, a purple tunic top, and nude undergarments hung over the glass. Nia yanked them over, and quickly slipped them on, this time facing the mirror. They were tighter than she would have liked, but they would do.
“Can I see?” Dee’s voice came through the door. “I want to make sure the seamer got your measurements right.”
Nia touched the control and the door slid open.
Dee smiled. “You look great. Prefect fit.” Her eyes went right to the locket hanging against Nia’s sternum. “Oh, wow. That’s beautiful. Antique?”
When Dee leaned closer to peer at it, Nia covered it with her hand.
Chapter eight
Nia’sheartpounded,thethreat of discovery fogging her vision. It was a foolish reaction. If enforcers hadn’t come running already, then no one knew she’d signaled her position to the CORE.
Dee stepped away. “Oh. I didn’t mean to pry.” When it looked like she was about to say something else, she shook her head and forced a smile. “I have some other stuff for you to try, but I’ll get this one in green too. Be back in a moment.”
When the door closed, Nia’s heart rate lowered. She opened her palm and realized she’d squeezed the locket so tight, an impression remained where her PALM should have been.
Dee threw more garments at her, most too bold or bright, too revealing. Nia approved the ones in darker colors that covered most of her skin.
After forty minutes, Nia called a halt to the fashion show, exhaustion setting in.
“You’ve picked some great stuff.” Dee smiled, tilting her head. “Get yourself changed, and I’ll package everything to be delivered.”
Left alone, Nia chose the first purple outfit to wear. Dee had new black flats waiting for her beside the counter. Nia slid into them easily, her feet cushioned on what felt like pillows. She cleared her throat. “May I ask you something?”
“Just ask.” Dee’s eyes crinkled in mirth. “You don’t have to ask if you can ask.”
Nia’s face heated. “Why were you so shocked when I came in here?”
Dee seemed to consider her answer for a moment before saying, “Well, Mace is quite outspoken against people farming. Taking you pretty much contradicts anything he’s said since he took his command post here.”
Nia frowned. Tellusians against people farming? Wasn’t it what they lived for?
The door to the shop slid open, and Mace stepped in, pausing mid-step. It looked like he’d run for a good distance, his skin tone brightened by exertion, a fiery light in his eyes.
“You ladies finished?” he asked, entering the shop fully.
“Yep!” Dee replied. “Everything will be delivered to common holding within the hour.”
“No," he contradicted her. "To my quarters.”
Dee opened her mouth, eyes wide. She slowly nodded, her jaw still hanging wide.
“Thanks Dee, I owe you one.”
She snapped her mouth closed. “Nah. You paid plenty. How’s the orange tree doing?”
“Could be better.”
“Mace! I told you it needed care and attention. You can’t ignore the thing, or it’ll die.” Dee shook her head at him.
Cheeks heating, Nia focused on the versatile fabrics changing color next to her. There’d only been one plant in his quarters, and she’d mangled it. She held her breath, waiting for him to say what she’d done, but he gestured toward the exit.
Nia moved closer, aware of how her clothes clung to her body. The urge to pull the fabric away from her skin, to make it bulkier, gave her a full-body flush. She should have gotten Dee to design something similar to her unisex CORE uniform, a garment she practically lived in.
