Wicked Deal (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 2)

“Just like in the human world.”

“Good point.” I’d seen some awful stuff, but it seemed worse when you added something like death magic to the mix.

The dresses flew closer, floating through the air like glittering, silky ghosts to swirl around us. The proprietress came back and smiled. “I think these would suit either of you very nicely.”

I couldn’t decide which of the four circling me I liked best, the sparkly gold, the silky white, the gleaming pink, or the velvet blue.

“Where is the dressing room?” I asked.

“Dressing room?” The woman frowned, though she still somehow looked impossibly beautiful.

“She’s not from around here.” Mac looked at me. “Just pick one.”

“Um…the gold one.”

The Fae flicked her hand in a complicated movement, her magic flaring brightly. A moment later, I wore the dress, my champagne glass still in my hand.

“Ohhhh, nice!” Mac said.

I looked down, surprised. “That was amazing.”

“One of the many perks of magic,” Mac said.

“No kidding.” It wasn’t like I got to shop much, but I hated the trying-on process.

A mirror appeared in front of us, and I admired myself. “I look good.”

“You’re going to look even better,” the Fae said.

I think you’re perfect just the way you are.

I turned back to Cordelia. The raccoon had become a little kiss arse since I’d bought her a kebab from the place below my flat. “I know what you’re doing.”

She smiled innocently, the empty champagne glass clutched in front of her.

We tried on the rest of the dresses in no time flat. I ended up deciding on the gold one, while Mac got a silver number that made her look amazing.

“And what will you be wearing this for?” the Fae asked.

Mac pointed to me. “She’s the one who needs the works.”

“The works?” I was still wearing the gold dress, since I’d be going straight to La Papillon in it.

The Fae woman smiled. “Will you be on an assassin job? Intelligence gathering? A robbery?”

“Whoa, what?”

“She’s going to enchant your dress, dummy.” Mac nudged me. “Tell her what you’re doing. Not all the details, of course.”

“There’s confidentiality within these walls.” The Fae leaned forward with a gleam in her eye.

I believed her. Not enough to tell her everything, though. “I’m going to a posh bar to find out information.”

“Ooh.” She tapped her chin. “Reconnaissance. Fun!”

She walked around me, humming to herself as she thought. Then she tapped my arm, and magic shot through the fabric, warming my skin.

“You can now have the strength of a heavyweight fighter,” she said. “Two or three punches before the magic wears out, in case you get in a bad spot and need to slug your way out.”