Page 27 of A Kiss From Death (Oath of Vengeance #1)

Three knocks ring out, and I hear Des stride over to my door, flinging it open.

“What do you want?” She spits the words at the stranger who’s now striding into my room.

It can’t be Winston, because those two are thicker than thieves, who also love to gang up on me with their silly little pranks involving oranges most of the time.

Gathering my dress, I step out from behind the changing screen at the same time as two sets of wide eyes land on me. The first is Des, who now looks like she’s trying to hold back happy tears at her creation. The second is the thorn I can’t seem to rid myself of: Aeron.

“Wow,” he says under his breath, and I can’t tell if this is another one of his snarky comments, or if he’s being genuine for once.

Cautiously, I narrow my eyes at him. “Get all your crude comments out now so we can be done with it before we get to the ball.”

“You look… I mean… Just wow. I think I might be speechless for the first time in my life. You look absolutely stunning.” Aeron smiles, a genuine, soft smile, one I’ve never witnessed on his face and doubt I ever will again.

“You’re being serious? Did you catch a cold that has turned you delirious? Des, feel his forehead and see if it’s warm.”

“Ha, ha, real funny. Can I not compliment a pretty lady when I see one?” he counters.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Not if your name starts with an A and ends with an N.”

“Well, then consider yourself lucky, because I’m feeling quite generous today. I came to ask if I could escort you to the ball. After seeing you in this dress, though, I think I would prefer to escort you home instead. That dress looks awfully hard to get off by yourself.” He winks.

Rolling my eyes, I add, “And there’s the asshole I know and loathe.”

He smirks back. “You know you love it when I talk dirty to you.”

“I feel like I’m disturbing whatever the heck is happening here.

I just need to add Nyxi’s finishing touches, and I’ll be out of your hair.

No ruining said hair or makeup until after she makes an appearance at the ball, though.

I’m not trying to lose my job.” Des glares at Aeron in her best stern look, but it still comes off cute and non-threatening.

I take in my reflection in the mirror above my vanity.

With a heavy suggestion from me, we decided to keep my hair down so my back would be covered.

I’m not in the mood to answer anyone’s questions tonight.

I know Des has seen my mangled back from helping me get dressed, but I appreciate that she hasn’t questioned me on it.

My long, thick natural curls bounce down my back, the front two pieces braided back and joined together with a red ruby heart gemstone clip.

Des also sprinkled mini red gems throughout my hair, making it glitter like the night sky.

The crown now floats just a breath above my head, and I can feel the weight of its magic looming above me.

Using her Luster magic, Des painted a black heart around one of my eyes to match the circus theme.

She lined the perimeter of the heart with tiny red gems, making my bright gray eyes pop against the harsh black.

The rest of my makeup, she kept mostly simple, wanting the dress to be the center focus.

She darkened and lifted my lashes, added a pretty blush to the apples of my cheeks, smoked out my eyes with black, and covered my lips in a bright red to match my dress.

Aeron wasn’t wrong about needing help getting undressed tonight. The dress took both Des and I fifteen minutes to slide on and cinch tight to my body. I can hardly breathe, but I keep reminding myself it’s like a firm hug from Theo.

Per usual, Des was correct—the corset has indeed pushed my breasts up, creating more cleavage than I thought possible for what I’m working with.

Des slides the jeweled snake up my arm, completing the look.

I’ve never felt more beautiful, and for the most part, I’m comfortable.

Besides the corset, the dress is smooth and soft against my skin, a black heeled slipper a cushion below my feet.

My lean legs are on full display, sprouting out from each slit cut high into the fabric.

“One last thing,” Des coos to me. Opening a drawer in my vanity, she pulls out a small black dagger, its handle covered in tiny red gems. “Beauty and death. The perfect combination.” She leans in towards me, aiming the tip of the blade at my chest.

I take a stumbling step backwards. “Woah, where do you think you’re putting that death contraption? I’m not in the market for losing a nip tonight. ”

Des releases a breathy laugh. “Relex, Sparkles. Do you trust me?”

I jab my finger towards her. “Not when you’re pointing the tip of that dagger at my goods.”

“ Sparkles ?” Aeron chimes in.

“I just like the way her nose scrunches up every time I call her that. Started when I dressed her in the diamond suit, and now, I can’t seem to stop. It’s just too much fun getting under her skin.” A sinister look has taken over Des’s face.

“Now that, I can get behind. I’d love to get under many things when it comes to her.” Aeron’s smirk could be seen all the way down in Fallout.

“Enough, you two. Can we get on with the show so I can enjoy what might be my last night alive?” I say it as a joke, but the air suddenly thickens.

I smile at them, trying to lighten the mood, and for good measure, I add, “And, if anyone’s getting under my skin tonight, it will be myself.

” I wiggle my fingers at them, which sends both into a howling fit of laughter.

Once Des recovers from her aggressively high pitched laughter and wipes the tears from her cheeks, she summons me with her finger. “Come here so I can finish you off and send you on your way.”

A small laugh tries to make its way up Aeron’s throat, but he catches it at the last second.

“Didn’t you hear her? She doesn’t need our help finishing anything off tonight.

She’s got that covered.” This makes Des gasp, realizing what it sounded like she was suggesting, giggling again as her cheeks redden with embarrassment.

“You two are no better than children, I swear.” I step up to Des, trusting whatever she has planned with the dagger will be safe.

Even though I told her I didn’t trust her, I do.

I know she would never intentionally do something to harm me.

Maybe unintentionally with her clumsiness, but that’s beside the point. “Go ahead, Des. I trust you.”

She takes one step closer and wedges her finger between my cleavage and corset, feeling around. “Ah, there it is.”

Peeking down, I notice a small pocket sewn into the underside of the corset, the perfect size to sheath a dagger.

She brings the tip of the dagger close, and even though I see the pocket there, I still tense in anticipation.

She slides the tip into the pocket, pushing it down until it’s sheathed all the way to the red, jeweled handle.

It’s a statement: an accessory, but also a warning.

I love it.

“Perfect as always, Des.” I pull her into a tight hug, which she returns with an even tighter grip.

“Can I have you as a handmaid too?” Aeron chimes in. “I got stuck with someone who has to be older than dirt.”

“Hanz?” Des and I question at the same time.

“How did you know?”

I bend over giggling as Des gives me an I told you so look. Aeron just shakes his head, confused.

“Well, are you ready, my little circus Vagrant?”

I stride over to him, appreciating his bright red suit for the first time tonight, and link my arm with his.

Standing together, we almost look like we planned matching outfits.

That is the last thing on my mind, though, as we make our way out of my room and down the long, winding hallways to the first, and probably last, party I will ever attend.