Nonna winked, stepping away from me as she turned toward the source of the sounds. “Don’t worry, my dear. You’ll see in time.” Pulling the door open, she turned. “Now that your hands are healed, I’ll leave you to get change. You’ll find everything you need in the loft.”
Without waiting for a reply, Nonna disappeared from sight. Once the door snicked into place, quiet murmurs of conversation came from the kitchen. The promise of clean clothes beckoned me forward, and after one last glance at my now-healed hands, I climbed the ladder.
A Gift and a Departure
Moments after I ascended the ladder and entered the loft, I decided I haddefinitelyunderestimated Nonna’s powers.
This so-called loft was more like a suite, with a full-sized bed and an attached bathing chamber. Nonna must have been an extremely powerful witch. The moment my feet came in contact with the wooden floorboards, a fire sprang to life in the fireplace. Above it, a kettle holding water began to boil almost immediately, providing me with warm water for my ablutions.
As soon as I checked every inch of the space and made sure I was alone, I took off my cloak.
Shaking my hair free, I muttered to myself as I pulled off my damp clothes. “How is it fair that no one questions if a male wears leggings, but a female wears the clothing of a male, and all of a sudden, she’s too ‘inappropriate’ for the city? I’d like to meet the male who decided that this was okay.”
Continuing to grumble to myself, I folded my clothes in a neat pile. I wasn’t an animal, after all.
My skin bristled as a cool breeze blew in from an open window, and I quickly pulled on a long, black silk robe as I walked over to the nearby wardrobe. Yanking the doors open, my eyes widened at the sight.
I had never seen so many dresses in one place. A dozen gowns, ranging from the palest yellows to the deepest blues, hung from a row of pegs. For a minute, I just stared at them. The colors were so different from the crimson red gowns I’d been forced to wear my entire life. I’d be happy if I never saw that red again.
After a few minutes of deliberation, I decided on a simple but beautiful dark green gown. Silver trim ran around the hem and the bottom of the long bell sleeves. The laces of the stays themselves appeared to be made of the same silver material, and the entire dress shimmered in the firelight.
Running my fingers down the dress as I laid it on the bed, I marveled at the softness of the gown. I had never been given clothing so fine to wear before in my life. The king had allotted me two dresses per year, and that had been it. This was an unexpected luxury.
Having picked my clothing, I shed the housecoat and walked around in nothing by the skin Kydona had given me at birth.
I used the warm water to wash the grime of this never-ending day off me before brushing my hair and leaving it in soft red waves that rippled down my chest and back. Glancing in the mirror, I saw the tips of my long ears poking out from among the waves. Shaking my head, I tried to tuck them away, to no avail.
I supposed it was useless, anyway. Xander already knew I was an elf, and he would probably tell the witch. There was no point in hiding.
Once I was no longer carrying layers of dirt on my skin, I rummaged through a nearby trunk and found a set of clean lingerie. Sliding on a linen shift and underwear, I pulled on three petticoats before stepping into the gown itself. It conformed to my frame as though it had been made for me.
Perhaps Nonna was a witch and a seamstress.
Looking down at myself, I couldn’t help but run a hand over the stays and down the fabric. Hidden pockets had been sewn into the gown, and I took pleasure in finding a home for both of my knives.
Satisfied that I had adequately hidden my weapons, I took a deep breath and descended the ladder. The main room was empty, but by the quiet murmur of conversation, I knew Nonna and Xander were nearby.
Holding my breath, I tip-toed across the room. I had overheard dozens of conversations in this manner when my guards and servants were too liberal with their voices outside my door.
“… Be careful,” Nonna whispered. “Are you certain?”
“I have to go into the city,” Xander said. “I need to get to The Opal Spoon tomorrow, and with her at my side, it’ll be easier.”
Nonna hummed as her voice lowered. She whispered something I couldn’t hear before raising her voice once more. “I know you heard me tell her your auras are intertwined, Xander.”
I stilled, pressing my ear against the door. There was that word again. Auras. I had no idea what it meant, but the witch kept bringing it up.
Xander laughed. Helaughed. It wasn’t just a chuckle, but a full-on belly laugh. The kind people made when someone told them a hilarious joke.
Bristling, I pursed my lips. Obviously, Xander knew what auras were, and he found the entire situation humorous. I huffed, crossing my arms. Everything this male did aggravated me.
“Nonna,” he chided, the laughter still present in his voice. “That… female is not my mate. Shestabbedme.And she’s an elf. You know that it’s rare that…”
His voice dropped lower, but I wasn’t paying attention anymore.
Mate.
The word clanged around in my mind. It shook something loose within me. Mate. I’d heard the word whispered behind closed doors when no one thought I was listening. Mates wererare. But then again, until a few minutes ago, I thought witches were nothing more than mentions that appeared in history books, so what did I know?