“Your mate smells like sin itself,” he admitted. “But she is your mate, not mine. And I must admit that mine would have something to say about all this. Fortunately, she is otherwise occupied.”
Aria snorted from where she leaned on the counter, running her hands over the glittering Wyvern hide. “Beatrice is a warrior in her own right,” she admitted, her amber eyes sliding to Matt. “So don’t start anything you can’t finish.”
Wordless grumbling traveled along the link, but Matt did manage to stifle his growl long enough for Emmanuel to finish measuring me.
“Timeframe?” Aria asked.
“I’ll work on it today,” he said. “As you know, Wyvern hide is damned tough, but I just picked up new blades and crystal needles. I have enough for arm guards and breeches, with possibly hide left over for a sleeveless shirt.” He tilted his head. “Maybe a bodysuit, I will see. I can make a separate shoulder armor that will work with her sword harness.”
He picked up the other piece off the counter and offered it to me. “Try this on your pet.”
I bent to strap it around her. It was lightweight but padded, made from a mottled dark fabric that would help Trix blend with the shadows. He instructed me as to how to adjust it. It covered Trix from behind her ears to her tail, and fit her like a glove.
“That will protect her from direct knife thrusts and some projectiles. Claws too.” Emmanuel spoke as he went behind the counter and pulled out a drawer, then emerged again with a can. Spray paint?
“This is nontoxic dye that will disguise all that white hair. Don’t get it in her eyes or mouth. It washes out with any detergent.” He handed me the can.
“Perfect,” Aria said. “That vest will protect, while still letting her move. When Anna’s armor is ready, send it to the academy. What do we owe you?”
He straightened. “I owe Talakai. This one is on the house.”
Aria’s poleaxed expression was an indication of just how valuable an offer this was. She waved her coin purse. “I have payment—”
Emmanuel shook his head. “I do this for Talakai,” he rumbled, focusing on me. “To protect his future. I owe him more than any monetary figure can atone.”
I swallowed, and gave him the only payment I could. “Thank you.”
38
Anna
As we meandered back through the market, Aria leaned closer to me. “Black Wyverns only come from one area, and they have the toughest scales. To gift it to you, he must owe Talakai a lot.”
I opened my mouth to comment just as Mari exclaimed, “Hey, look at these!” and disappeared into the booth of a clothier. The aisles were so narrow she threatened to sweep the racks clean by moving through them.
The clothing on display was a series of tunics in surprisingly floral patterns. I shrugged to Matt. “Be right back.”
He grabbed Aria by the arm as I pushed in Mari’s wake. Aria joined us a few moments later, surveying the bright cloth with a slightly bemused air.
Mari hauled one enormous specimen into the light. It was a tunic covered in bright-orange flowers that, frankly, matched her eyes.
I told her so, and they lit right up before her lips turned down. “But I don’t have any currency with me.”
Aria sighed. “Okay. In the interests of being on a girlie shopping spree,andbecause this isn’t my money,andwe didn’t have to spend it on armor, let’s each get something pretty to wear. Even though we have nothing to wear something pretty to.”
Made perfect sense to me. We dug through the acres of clothing. Having made her selection, Mari enthusiastically shopped for Aria and me.
The garments had been tailored to fit a variety of forms. My favorite dress unfortunately featured four arms. But then Mari found another in a shimmering fabric that, she said, matched my blue eye.
We found a bright-blue bandana for Trix. She wagged her tail appreciatively. Aria selected a fiery red dress that would reveal more than it covered. “Think my boys will like this.”
I grinned at her. “I’m sure they will.”
We made our purchases and emerged. Only then did I look for Matt—I’d assumed he’d be hanging around, waiting for us, but there was no sign of him. I sent a pulse along the link, and got the mental equivalent ofBusy here.
“He’s meeting us at the gate,” Aria said before I could push for more. “He had something he wanted to buy.”
I supposed it was better than hanging out with a bunch of women shopping. Although I would have loved to see him in a bright floral shirt.