Damn it. This was getting ridiculous. Technically, she was our prisoner. Not our friend. I needed to remind myself of that.
And I needed to make her look like someone else before her presence drove me insane.
Imogen
Flynn refused to make me the prison doctor, who was the only person I could come up with off the top of my head. He wanted me to be a love interest. Fine. I’d make myself into whoever I thought his type was.
“Okay. Make me six feet tall. Tight black dress. Heels, obviously. Give me straight black hair. And bright blue eyes. Make my nose small, and like, buttony.”
He nodded and lifted his hands in the air. The moment the magic touched me, I shivered. It was like standing in front of an open window on a chilly day. “I don’t know what buttony means, so I’m going to do my best.”
“Big lips.” I pushed them out. “Sharp cheekbones. Pale white skin.”
His magic skimmed my face, making my lips tingle. “I think we’re done.”
“Nope,” I replied. “I want a bigger butt and for my boobs to go out to here.” I held my hands about a foot from my chest to show him. “So I’ll be your perfect girl.”
Immediately, his hands dropped to his sides and the scent of magic disappeared. “What the hell are you talking about?”
I put my hands on my hips. He glared at me, but not in anger. He seemed...hurt. “Isn’t this your type?” I asked. “Come on.” I dropped one hand and pushed out my hips. “Who do I look like?”
He studied me. “I have no idea.”
“Think about it, Flynn. What girl did you used to rave about to me?”
After a second, he burst out laughing. “You’re insane. That was decades ago.”
“Uh, I beg to differ. It was only a decade and a half ago, and you were obsessed with every movie she was in. How many times did I have to watch that one about the succubus who takes over her body?”
“That movie is fantastic.” His voice took on a snooty tone. “And, it could be argued, is actually a feminist cult classic.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”
“I’m changing the outfit.” It was like standing in a wind tunnel. My hair flew around my face as he made the changes he wanted. When I glanced down at my outfit, I cringed. “Tuatha doesn’t have team sports, Flynn. There’s no reason I’d be wearing a cheerleading uniform.”
“My crush, my outfit.”
“No one is going to fall for this. You might as well send me back to NP now.” I pulled the crop top to cover my suddenly toned and tanned stomach. Yuck. I hated glamours. There was nothing that made a girl’s self-esteem plummet faster.
Icy cold fingertips touched my shoulders and along my ribs. If I hadn’t been watching Flynn standing in front of me, I would have thought he’d actually touched me. Still, his magic made me suck in a breath and cross my arms over my chest.
When he was finished, I was wearing a more appropriate outfit. He’d also shrunk my chest to my actual size and put me in a shirt that covered all of me.
“Thanks.” This, at least, wouldn’t have every person in this place contacting the warden.
With his fingertips on my back, he guided me through a door that led into a wide hall. The walls were decorated with antlers and tapestries but managed to feel light and airy. I breathed in, catching the scent of magic. It was everywhere in the castle. I wondered if the inhabitants realized how much they used it on a daily basis.
“Ronan wants me to come to training.” Flynn pointed to a door at the far end of the hall. “Do you want to come?”
I stumbled over one of the worn stones on the floor. The tournament. I kept forgetting about that. “How is Killian?”
He glanced at me sharply, coming to a quick stop. “Why?” His tone was harsh, all the lightness and joking from earlier gone.
“Cheese and crackers, Flynn, because he used to be my friend. And you hinted at—”
He covered my mouth with his hand and shook his head.
I understood. Weaknesses would be exploited. I couldn’t mention anything about Killian where other people might overhear. We didn’t know who was on our side or who was spying for the other candidates.
Our side?
That wasn’t right. There was their side and my side. We weren’t on the same side.
“I’ll bring you to your room.” Flynn dropped his hand and gripped mine