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“I hope you’re ready, because we’re going to need a ton for you. It’s colder, so we definitely need more coats, a good pair of boots, and snuggly sweaters,” I tell her as we wave goodbye.

“Don’t buy out the store!” Ayden yells, making me giggle.

“I’m glad he’s not coming, because he’d be bored quickly,” I tell Silla conspiringly.

“Oh, I’ve never really been shopping with anyone outside of Anastasia or my mother,” Silla frets, lifting her dress a bit as she goes down the stairs so she won’t trip. She’s in heels again, since she doesn’t have any other shoes.

“Can I ask a question?” Isaac asks as we follow her down.

“Mmhm?” she says absently as she breathes a sigh of relief when she hits the last step. I remember she said that the shoes pinch, and it makes me angry that Cinder wants to hurt Silla in every way.

“Where exactly are your sister and mom in all of this?”

“Oh,” Silla says, surprised as we walk outside. The breeze is frigid today, making us all shiver. Isaac made sure to call a ride share for today’s outing. It’s not here yet, so Silla thinks about her answer. “My sister, Anastasia, is married now, and Cinder helped them match. My sister loved the parties, but also wanted to know that someone would take care of her. She went to the parties to find a husband, and Cinder saw an opportunity to match her with someone who would reward my step-sister with something that she wanted. However, Anastasia’s husband lives in the kingdom, in a town outside of the main city. My mother kisses her step-daughter’s ass, and is civil, while ignoring my existence for the most part. Neither of them have had anything to do with me for months.”

“They sound terrible,” I mutter, wrapping my arms around myself for comfort. It’s so easy for someone to fall through the cracks when people don’t care.

“I’ve always been much happier when my mother’s attention hasn’t been on me,” Silla says simply. “The woman is depraved and horrible, and killed my step-father by using me to do it. So there’s utterly no love lost there.”

The car shows up as she finishes, and Isaac’s hand fists.

“Godsdamn truth bombs,” he growls.

Silla merely shrugs, and I know that she does this shit to bother him. I really wonder how Marcus Tremaine died. The man was a pretty shitty human, from what I remember of the gossip Sidney’s aunt would tell me. Before he married Silla’s mother, he was in the tabloids pretty often too. I loved the gossip of the royal families, so she and I would pour over them. It probably wasn’t the best topic for a preteen, but it was really fucking fun.

Getting into the car, I give the address for the dress boutique first. My phone buzzes, and I roll my eyes, knowing it’s my twin. Pulling it out of my purse, I open the text.

Ayden: I’m really partial to the pretty pink color that Silla turns when she’s turned on or embarrassed. Please find her a dress this color? I’ll love you forever!

You already do, dill weed. I’ll see what I can do.

My lips are spread widewith a smile. My brother is so ridiculous.

“What does your ridiculous brother have to say for himself?” Isaac asks with a smirk. He’s sitting between Silla and I, his tone at war with his face. It looks pretty savage, his gray eyes behind his glasses glittering with the force of his thoughts. No one enjoys hearing that Silla has been hurt, me least of all. Isaac takes it as a personal affront when he doesn’t have all the facts. He feeds on information, craves being in the know, because then less can hurt us.

“He’s sending me his requests for dresses,” I explain, showing the message to Isaac.

His smile is breathtaking as he glances down, and I’m glad I helped diffuse his anger a bit. I know he’s not mad at Silla, but at how hard she’s had things in her life.

“Yeah, that’s a really good color,” he grunts.

“What color?” Silla asks innocently.

“A dusty rose,” I explain immediately, being able to recall the color in my mind.

“Oh, that’s one of my favorite colors,” she says with a smile.

Ours too, baby girl.

The boutique isn’t far from where we’re staying, so a few minutes later we arrive, stepping out. People glance over at Silla in her clothing, and I see them walk quickly away from her. Silla braided her hair back to keep it out of her face today, but I’ve never thought that she looks particularly scary.

Pushing the thought away, we walk into the store.

It’s true that not many people in general in the kingdom wear heels outside of the Queen, unless it’s for a formal occasion. A lot of the time, people walk in the city, unless their commute to work is far. Even then, few people have their own cars, because one thing Cinder did was ensure that the public transportation was amazing. It always manages to run on time.

We have a lot of errands today, so the rideshare was the easiest, and still affordable.

As Silla walks on the hardwood floor, people’s eyes snap in her direction, and the whispering begins. Her dress is made of pretty and expensive material, but there are a lot of other noblewomen who also have pretty dresses. I swear my brain is broken, and I’m unsure why people look almost scared.