Page 107 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

I wrinkle my nose. “Something like that.”

Cescily and Makhoi chatter happily while I close my eyes, enjoying the weight leaving my neck with each snip—like I’m being freed from undesirable parts of myself that I’m desperate to shed. I’ve had long hair for my entire life and I crave to drop the youthfulinnocence that I now associate with the length; to let go of this old part of myself that is no longer relevant, no longer feels like me.

Perhaps Cescily is right. Perhaps I can be the same person, just a little different.

Two hours later, my hair is done and Makhoi is lining my eyes with a dark kohl, holding ready in his hand a golden tube of wine-red lipstick. “You are divine,” he whispers proudly.

When he’s finished, he turns the chair to face the mirror. I stare into it, taking in my new reflection. My hair is much shorter, barely brushing the swell of my breasts. Without the extra weight, it’s bouncier, fuller. The color is no longer chestnut, but a light shade of lilac. With my new hair and mature makeup, I’ve lost the last vestiges of childishness to my appearance, like I’ve stepped through a veil and emerged on the other side as something new.

Cescily beams while Makhoi watches my reaction with silent apprehension. My face breaks into an ear-splitting grin and he relaxes noticeably. He pats my shoulder and hands me a paper bag filled with the makeup he used.

“This is why you’re my favorite, Makhoi. Thank you, so much, for taking us on no notice,” Cescily says.

“Like you’d ever let me say no.”

“Come on, Elly. Let’s go find something to show off your tits!” Cescily says with contagious enthusiasm.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

ELLYA

Ican feel Alec when we return.

The energy of his aura begins humming—radiating towards me—before Cescily leaves me at the door with all my new shopping bags. She bounds across the courtyard, past the jade pool, and enters through a door of an adjacent residential wing.

Suddenly, I’m nervous as I start to walk down the hall towards the staircase. I’m half hoping if I move quickly, I might be able to avoid Alec and shut myself away in my room. But when I reach the open doorway to a downstairs sitting room, my feet stop in their tracks and I turn to face him.

There he is, sitting with one leg extended across the couch in loose black pants and a tight black shirt. Casual and comfortable. A piece of onyx hair is falling loose over Alec’s forehead as he focuses seriously on a book, tracing the tip of a finger through his beard.

My breath hitches; his nostrils flare infinitesimally.

Without looking up Alec asks, “Did you enjoy your time with Cessy, my clove?”

I’m about to answer when he barely gives me a glance, then quickly does a double take. Alec’s book slips through his fingers and drops to the floor with a softthump.

His eyes widen a fraction.

“What?” I ask innocently.

Alec swallows once and shakes his head. “Nothing.”

He scans me head to toe and swallows again.

He swings his leg over the edge of the couch and reaches to pick up his book, his intense gaze never leaving me. “Please, sit with me.”

My traitorous feet follow his request, as if he is their true master. I drop my ample bags to the floor and sit in the chair opposite him.

Alec swallows a third time before he looks at the bags I dropped, furrowing his brow.

“Did the guards at the door not offer to carry those for you?” I shake my head in denial. Alec sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. “Just more guards to replace,” he says under his breath.

Alec drops his hand, his eyes focus on my mouth, his pupils blooming wide. He tears his gaze away from my face and resituates himself on the couch, back to his relaxed position.

“I hope Cescily did not make you think you were obligated to spend time with her.” His eyes dance over my face.

“She didn’t. I had fun,” I tell him honestly.

“I am glad. She has been wanting to come see you for some time, but I did not want you to be overwhelmed. Cescily can be… intense.”