“Ara? Good gods!” She swung the door open, and I could see the cleaning spree hadn’t spread to her room. “Come in.”
I stepped over a pile of clothing and dug my feet down until I was standing on the solid floor, ankle-deep in her mess. “Did you clean the shop to piss off your mom?”
“She’s been yelling about it since I finished. It’s only fair.”
“I’m—”
She held up a hand to stop me. “Listen, before you apologize, which you totally will, I know he was a jerk and didn’t deserve me. I’m fine, really. But you should have told me. My mother shouldn’t have meddled, and I should have found out about Odir in my own way.”
“You’re right. If it had been me, I would have wanted to know, too.”
“Friends?” she asked, sticking out her hand.
I took it. “Friends.”
“Also, thanks for punching that jerk in the face. It’s the only thing that has gotten me through. I just think about it over and over again, and then I feel better.”
“We can go find him and I’ll kick his ass if you want? I need to let off some steam.”
“Girl, you are scary as hell, do you know that?”
“I do my best. Listen, I’ve got to get going. I can’t stay in Hrundel. I have to head north.”
“Unless you are chasing that beautiful King Autus, why in the world would anyone want to go north? I heard the weather is miserable.”
“First of all, that king is not beautiful. Stop saying that. It’s creepy. Second, I have some things I need to take care of, and I can’t explain it all, but I promise one day I’ll come back and I’ll let you drag me back to that groomer.”
The room filled with her high-pitched laughter. “He’s a stylist, Ara. A groomer is for animals.”
I shrugged. “Hair is hair, so whatever.” She snorted, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Your mom’s finished something for me, want to come check it out?”
“Yes! She hasn’t even let me peek. Oh, I have your stuff. I was worried when you didn’t come back. I thought the innkeeper would have tried to sell it.”
“He definitely would have. Thank you.”
She crawled atop her mess, and in the corner was my pack, sword, and a small pile of folded clothes. “My mother added a few things. She said when you came, you probably wouldn’t stay, but you would need more than a change of clothes.”
For the first time, she looked me up and down and scrunched her face. “What in the hell are you wearing?”
“Uhm, Prince Fenlas’ clothes?” I lifted a shoulder and looked down. I mean, it wasn’t that bad.
“Shut. Up. Tell me everything.”
“Nadra, no. It wasn’t like that. You’re just as bad as your mother.” I saw the sting across her face and tried to backtrack. “No, I mean ... it just wasn’t like that. He caught me and locked me in his room for a couple days while he was gone, and it was just complicated. I got out though, and no, nothing happened. He’s a terrible fae and he disgusts me.”
“You don’t mean that at all.” She smiled. “Your words don’t match your face, Ara.”
I glared at her. “You have no idea.”
“Mhm,” she answered, bounding down the stairs.
“Are you ready?” Her mother stood before a mannequin covered with a long piece of navy fabric. “I’ve added in a few more things than what you asked for. This is quite possibly the greatest thing I’ve ever made.” Her eyes gleamed, her smile filling her entire face.
She ripped the cover off the mannequin, and with it, the air from my lungs. It was literal perfection. She reached up and removed the black hooded cloak by unfastening a silver clasp on the front neckline.
I reached out to touch the material. “What is it?”
It was gods-damned perfect.
