Page 156 of A Fate in Flames

“Uh… not yet.I was just… resting.”The words felt wrong in my mouth.I hated lying to her, but it seemed Tavrik had covered for me.

She didn’t pry.Instead, her face lit up like sunshine breaking through clouds, eyes crinkled at the corners as she clasped her hands together.

“Well, hurry up!Tonight, there will be music and dancing andlotsof drinking.”

Great.That’s all I need.

By the time I emerged, water still beading on my skin, Mira was already deep in her element.She moved with expert speed, the muscles in her shoulders bunched visibly beneath her dress.

She never rushed.Ever.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, twisting a loose thread around my finger.“I should’ve been ready.”

She glanced up sighing softly before returning to her work.

“No need to apologise.I just want you to lookperfect,and this will be my best look yet.”

She stepped back, a satisfied smile spreading across her lips.

I turned to the mirror and froze.

The black dress didn’t just hang—it flowed like liquid midnight.The gown wrapped around my throat before plunging into a deep neckline.Delicate gold chains cascaded down my chest, each link catching fire from the torchlight.

My back remained completely bare, exposed to the world’s hungry gaze.The dress split high along my thighs, silk sliding cool and smooth against my skin with every movement.Gold cuffs encircled my upper arms, squeezing just tight enough to remind me of their presence.

Mira had left my hair untouched, the wild waves tumbling freely over my shoulders and tickling my bare back.Dark kohl framed my eyes, sharpening them into emeralds.

I hardly recognised myself.

I look… beautiful.

Mira beamed, radiating pure joy.She circled me slowly, adjusting a fold here, smoothing a wrinkle there.

The door creaked open as Theo and Tavrik entered.

Theo took one look at me and twirled his finger in a circle.

“Turn around.”

I rolled my eyes but obliged, spinning slowly enough that the dress swished around my legs.

Mira practically glowed, her hands pressed together beneath her chin.“Doesn’t she look perfect?”

They just stared, jaws slack and eyes wide.

Heat crawled up my neck.Their silence was too much, heavy and suffocating and absolutely infuriating.I stepped forward and smacked them both upside the head in quick succession.

They blinked rapidly, shaking their heads.

Before I could revel in my small victory, Jasila strode through the doorway.

Something was different about her.She moved with an unusual lightness, and her shoulders had lost their ridged set.Even her fingers were uncurled from their usual fists.

But what truly stood out wasn’t her transformation, it was the way her gaze found Tavrik’s.

A smile ghosted her lips, transforming her entire face.Softening all her sharp edges.Tavrik was fighting his own grin, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

There was electricity in the space between them.