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I touch his shirt. “Sometimes, I forget you’re a fairy,” I admit.

It’s ridiculous to think this happens to me; there’s nothing about Des that’s particularly humanlike, but he has a disarming nature about him that makes me forget. It’s only now, when I see him dressed in his fae attire, that I remember.

“I know,” he says softly.

There’s so much in those two words that he leaves unspoken. Not for the first time, I wish he’d spill more of his secrets.

I pull away from him. “Will you help me put the dress on?” Now that I have wings, clothes are a struggle.

His hands slide down my back. In response, the clothes I currently wear slide off my body, leaving me in just a skimpy pair of panties. Of all Des’s magic tricks, I’m beginning to think this one is his favorite.

My dress lifts from the box to drift above me. All at once it slips downward, the material cascading over my body like water. I don’t even need to lift my arms; it settles seamlessly onto me.

Des’s hands smooth over the lacy material that covers my arms.

“Tell me a secret,” I say softly.

I hear the smile in Des’s voice when he says, “Greedy thing. I can see you won’t be pleased until you know all my secrets.”

I grin a little, mostly because what he says is true. I want to share every secret of his, simply because they’re part of him.

His hands slip down my arms. “Fine, here’s one for my demanding mate: normally, you’d have a retinue of ladies to dress and bathe you.”

“How is that a secret?” I ask, turning to face him.

“I eliminated that tradition the moment you came to my kingdom so I could tend to you myself.”

Wicked man. Not that I’m complaining.

But now that I think about it…

I raise my eyebrows and look over my shoulder. “You wouldbatheme?”

Des’s silver eyes deepen. The answer is written all over his face. “Would you like a bath?”

Jesus, I swear this room just got five degrees hotter.

I clear my throat. “Rain check.”

“It’s adeal.”

A shiver runs down my back. I forget this man will make binding agreements out of common language.

Des’s gaze lingers over me for another second. Then he shakes his head, takes my hand, and leads me out of his chambers. I stare down at my outfit as I follow him through his palace, Malaki and more guards joining us on the way. The tight, lacy bodice flows into a wispy floor-length skirt that trails behind me as we walk.

Those flowering luminescent vines that came with the dress now wrap up my wrists and forearms, becoming some strange cross between gloves and jewelry. The flowers blooming from them are the same ones I’ve seen across Somnia. I run a finger over the delicate petals. They feel real. More impossible fae magic at work.

We head out of the castle and across the extensive gardens, each one lit up by floating fairy lights and those glass-encased sparklers.

“Callie, there’s something I need of you,” Des says next to me.

“It’s going to cost you,” I respond without missing a beat.

He walked himself right into that one.

His eyes brighten. “You saucy thing. You’ve clearly learned my tricks.” He doesn’t look at all upset by this. “A bargain it is.”

“What do you want me to do?” I ask.