The Priestess and the Thief Kindred Tales 30 - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,26

is going to lay a hand on her unless they go through me first.

And in the meantime, just because he had sworn never to bond a female to him, didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy her company. Which he was, very much, now that he was getting to know her.

I just want to spend more time with her, Roke thought, watching her lovely face as she sat across from him. There’s no harm in that. No harm at all.

Fourteen

“Oh no, Roke—I can’t get this! It’s much too expensive!” Elli looked uncertainly at the vivid crimson gown with its shimmering emerald and gold needlework. It reminded her of the humans’ Christmas colors—there had been a lot of red and green and gold decorations at their party.

“You’ll need something striking if you’re going to impress the Tenebrians,” the big warrior rumbled. “Go on—try it on.” He nodded to the fitting room at the back of the smart little shop, which was located down at the end of the Garment District.

The saleslady beckoned her over and Elli went uncertainly with her. She had seen the price tag on the gorgeous crimson gown—it was more than she would have paid for a really nice saddle back home.

I just hope he’s not expecting me to pay him back, she thought. Since I don’t have a credit to my name!

With a little help from the saleslady, she got into the gown and she had to admit it looked magnificent. The high-necked bodice hugged her hour-glass shape closely, revealing her curves, and presenting her figure to the best advantage.

“Is this the kind of thing Tenebrian ladies wear?” she asked the saleslady, who was a little old woman with bright eyes and a pair of thin, spidery spectacles perched on her sharp nose.

“Oh yes, my dear—out here they do, anyway,” the saleslady said, turning Elli this way and that to show off the shimmering waves of crimson silk which fell to her ankles.

“Out here?” Elli asked, looking at herself in the 3-D viewer. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, well everyone knows the Teenies have some strange customs amongst themselves,” the saleslady said. “We sell the kinds of clothes they wear when they come out of their palace, but I hear tell they dress very differently inside their Court.”

“Differently how, though?” Elli asked.

But the only lady only shrugged.

“Don’t know, my dear. It’s all just rumors. Do you want the dress or not? It looks fabulous on you.”

“I don’t know,” Elli confessed. “Let me ask my…let me ask Roke.” She still wasn’t quite sure what to call the tall warrior, though he had declared himself her ‘partner.’

“Your Heart’s Companion?” the saleslady asked. “That’s what the Teenies call their sweethearts,” she added, smiling. “I hear them all the time when they come into the shop. Well, go on—go ask him.”

Elli came out of the fitting room and took a spin in front of Roke.

“Well, what do you think?” she asked, looking up at her.

“Hmm…” His dark eyes were suddenly half-lidded as he looked at her. “I think you look fucking gorgeous, little priestess,” he murmured. “That color suits you down to the ground—I knew it would.”

Elli felt her cheeks getting hot. She wished he wouldn’t look at her that way—it made her feel nervous and flushed and reminded her of the way he’d kissed her and touched her at the Christmas party.

I have to stop thinking about that! she told herself firmly. I have to make myself forget it or I’ll never be able to work with him!

“It’s really expensive,” she said, making an effort to drag her mind out of the past and back to the present where it belonged.

“Mmm-hmm, but you’re worth it, sweetheart,” he murmured. “We’ll take it,” he told the saleslady, who nodded and smiled.

“But—” Elli started to protest but the big warrior only strode past her to pay for the dress without another word.

After the dress shop, Roke had another surprise for her. He took her to a men’s clothing shop on the other side of the Garment District.

“Are we going to get you an outfit for Court, too?” she asked as they walked into the cool interior of the shop which smelled like leather and expensive fabric.

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Roke rumbled. “But to be honest, I was thinking of getting something for you. Specifically, some trousers.”

“What? But I can’t wear trousers.” Elli was aghast. Her whole life on Torl Prime, she’d grown up in a society where women only wore skirts and