Belinda held up a hand. "Excuse me?"
Finan's light blue eyes seemed to dance as he looked over at my arch enemy. "Yes, darling?"
"I'd love to try this dress." She pointed at a pale yellow gown adorned with silver beading and clear crystals.
His eyebrow lifted. "Mmm, yeah. No, absolutely not." Belinda's mouth dropped open as he strutted over to the gown. His fingers ran over the silky fabric, and he seemed to speak his thoughts aloud, unconcerned with being heard. "Your skin tone with that color would be absolutely tragic. It would be cause for me to lose my title. I'd chop my own head off before sending you out there in this." He shivered like the very idea of it offended him to the point of disgust.
I couldn’t hide the laugh. My body once again betrayed me, and several people glared at me, including Belinda. I covered my mouth with my hand and coughed a few times. "Sorry, it's so stuffy up here."
Finan crossed the room, heading right for me. "What is your name?"
"Evie," I answered, curtsying like a good girl.
"Well, Evie. It's your lucky day. I have the perfect gown for you. It's one I just finished." He lifted a long tress of my hair and hummed. "Goddess, with your complexion and this hair..." He clapped loudly, making me jump. "Follow me."
He spun on his heel with a flourish, whipping his cape around dramatically.
"I wish I had half of that," Riv waved her hand up and down in Finan's direction. "Whatever that is. I want it."
"You already have it, Riv," Isla said, her cheeks flushed.
Rivka laughed as we followed Finan. I ignored Belinda's dirty looks. After all we had been through together over the last few days, she still chose to act like a spoiled brat. I shouldn't have been surprised.
"Are you ready to see my most magnificent creation, darlings?" Finan practically squealed as we approached a gown that was covered with a large sheet.
"I can't wait to see it," Isla said, bouncing on her heels.
Finan grabbed the sheet and flung it away, revealing the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen.
I gasped and stood there, frozen. Most of the gown was made of a stunning deep green velvet that I needed to touch. Long sleeves made of intricate black lace came up to the shoulders before it tapered down to the bust, which was velvet. Directly beneath the bust was a row of what looked like emeralds. They had to be fake. They'd never let—
"It's adorned with real emeralds and locally mined crystals." Finan grinned at me as I shook my head.
"I couldn't wear such a thing," I stammered, giving into temptation and trailing my fingers over the soft velvet.
"Nonsense!" he shouted.
"Evie, you must wear it. He's right. It's perfect!"
I backed away. "I'd probably ruin it. I've never worn something so... extravagant."
Finan snorted. "Well, you better get used to it, darling. This is just the beginning. Can you even imagine what royal wedding dresses are like? They're my specialty!"
The gown was breathtaking. The kind of dress someone wore when they wanted to be the center of attention. That was the last thing I wanted.
"I'd be offended if you didn't wear it. It's as though I created it with you in mind." Finan winked at me. "Just try it on? If you hate it, I will find something else."
He was so proud of this dress, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. "Okay," I said. "But I highly doubt I'm going to hate it."
Three women practically appeared out of thin air and surrounded me, shuffling me off to a small room as Finan carried the gown. I'd never had my clothing stripped off so fast in my life. Hands seemed to come at me from every angle as I was nudged, pushed, prodded, and primped.
"Deep breath," Finan's voice found me beneath the pounds of lace, tulle, and velvet. "Arms up to the sky!"
I inhaled and lifted my arms, grunting as the dress was shimmied down my chest. My breasts put up a fight but ultimately lost the battle, and the gown fell into place, settling around my hips.
"Arms in," Finan ordered, holding out a sleeve.
I slid my arms into the black lace, already loving the way the material looked against my flesh. I frowned when one of the servants began tugging at the bodice behind me. Concerned, I looked down and nearly hit my chin on my boobs. "Uhm, I'm not sure this is going to work."
