“I might know.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “Yes, but I can’t tell you here. I’ve found shelter for us in one of the hotels and made arrangements for our evening meal. I also found clothing for you. You’ll need to change as soon as you can. The armor makes you too easy to spot in a crowd.”
Again, reluctantly, I had to admit he was right.
“Follow me,” he said.
I hurried to catch up with him as we walked back the way I’d come—through the grassy area and back to the tower. After making it to the street, Maveryck led me down one walkway and then another. I followed him, keeping track of the landmarks in case we got separated.
The city’s streets had been constructed in a deliberate pattern. The tower sat at the city’s center and the streets fanned away from it, so finding my way back to it wouldn’t be difficult. Finally, we stopped at a large ornate building made of white stones and surrounded by decorative iron railings. Old trees with long, sprawling branches grew inside the courtyard, their limbs creaking in a quiet wind as soft white lights made their leaves shimmer.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“Our shelter.”
My mouth gaped.
“Maveryck, how were you able to obtain sleeping arrangements in a palace like this? It must have cost a fortune.” I narrowed my eyes. “Exactly how much money did you steal?”
He sighed, seeming annoyed. “I never said I stole it.”
“Then how could you afford this?”
“I have many talents. Not every situation requires theft—not when negotiation and tactfulness will work. Now, we really should get inside the hotel.”
He turned on his heel and walked through the gate overshadowing the courtyard. I watched him before following. He hadn’t answered my question. I was beginning to trust him even less, if that were possible. Plus, he was overly aloof and dangerously pretty—I was no longer sure either of us would survive this quest.
After entering the building, I tried not to gape at the marble floors, the wide, winding staircase with the gold-embellished railing, or the enormous crystal chandelier hanging overhead. I felt so small, and I knew every eye in the place was focused on me.
As Maveryck led me past a desk and up the stairs, I couldn’t help but run my hand over the gold-leaf banister. Was Maveryck used to such lavish arrangements? Although I’d been raised in the Wult keep, we preferred to use less opulence in our building construction.
In truth, the hotel reminded me of a palace I’d visited in the elf kingdom.
After finding a door on the third level, Maveryck led me inside a room.
I’d been doing an awful lot of gaping, but I couldn’t seem to stop. The room was decorated in gold and ivory with vases of white roses arranged on the small tables beside the bed. Soft lights illuminated the windows overlooking the tower.
“I realize it isn’t proper for us to share quarters, so I arranged to sleep in a room just down the hall. This room is yours. As is the clothing.”
He pointed to the bed, and for the first time I noticed a dress was laid out. I approached the garment cautiously, the way I would a rabid beast. I spied gauzy, white fabric, pearls, and a pair of high-heeled shoes. What had the man been thinking?
“What is this?”
“Clothing. This is the appropriate attire for women on this planet in formal settings.”
“I will not wear it. I refuse.”
“I’ve made arrangements to eat at the hotel restaurant where attire such as this is required. It would be unfortunate if they refused to allow you to eat because you chose to wear your armor.”
“I would rather wear my armor.”
“You’re sure about that?”
I glanced at my torso—the once-gleaming breastplate reeked of blood, and the gore had dried and tarnished the metal. It would take hours to polish. Even by Wult standards, wearing such soiled attire at an evening meal would be considered poor taste.
Taking a second look at the dress, I ran my fingers over the mirror-smooth silk. It had a heart-shaped neckline and a knee-length, flowing skirt. Ivory-white lace trimmed the sleeves and hemline. The fabric was so delicate that it would fall apart in a fight.
When I turned back to face Maveryck, he was studying me with those haunting gray eyes.
“I refuse to wear it,” I said. “Perhaps it would help me blend in, but it would not protect me in a fight.”
He took a step closer, and the rich, amber scent of his cologne enveloped me. “Heidel,” he said my name softly, “have you considered that there may be times when you do not need to hide behind your armor?”
His words made me pause.
“Meet me in the restaurant in twenty minutes,” he said.
“And I suppose I’ll have to wear the dress?”
The hardened edges of his face softened. “It’s your choice. I won’t force you to wear it. Should you decide to wear your armor, I will not stop you.” He gave me a small smile and then left the room, shutting the door with a soft click behind him.
I stood alone in the room, staring at the dress as if it were a venomous serpent. Across from me, a mirror hung on the wall. My reflection stared back.
Blood dried on my forehead, sticking to my dark hair. My braid had come loose, and strands of hair stuck out in all directions. I rubbed at the now-crusted blood smeared on my skin in an effort to clean myself up, but nothing but soap and water would remove it completely.
Was this really how Maveryck had seen me?
The thought horrified me more than it should have. Why was it that I couldn’t stop thinking about him and his pensive gray eyes, the shape of his lips, the strong curve of his
