Bat Out of Hell (Promised to the Demons #2) - Lidiya Foxglove Page 0,29

a little easier.

"I'm sending you to hair and makeup," Daisy said. "I have to oversee the festivities. See you at the ball. Don’t worry!”

I could only laugh nervously, and not that deeply either, in this outfit.

Chapter Fourteen

Bevan

I argued a bit with the servants who insisted that it was a matter of etiquette to wear faery-designed clothing to a faery ball and not the normal modern suit made from magic that I would rather wear. Well, if I had to wear a cravat and a coat trimmed in silver braid like some Prince Charming cosplay, I could only imagine what Jenny was dealing with.

I almost didn't recognize her.

First, I saw the sweep of her neck and shoulders, the nape with one stray bit of brown hair brushing her skin, while the rest was pinned up with jewels. A short cloak of white fur covered her shoulders and she was holding it close. That was the main way I recognized her from behind. She was always trying to keep her cleavage covered up.

I came up behind her and she lifted her head back to see that it was me. I caught her wrists in mine. She was blushing furiously, but her sweet heart-shaped face was still all mine.

“You’re too sexy,” I said. “Too sexy for this dress. So sexy it hurts.” She definitely wasn’t going to appreciate the reference to a song that came out around the same time I was born, but I couldn’t help myself.

“I’m…trying to enjoy it,” she said, lifting her chin a little.

"Considering who dressed you, it could have been worse," I said into her ear.

"I know. I've seen what Daisy's wearing."

I took in the rest of the scene, now that I'd found her. The hall was decorated with explosions of evergreens, even more than before, and candles everywhere. The air smelled of fir and beeswax. Musicians were playing delicate harp songs, and a girl was singing a love song about the ocean and a sailor. It definitely set the scene when we could see water from nearly every window.

The guests were generally dressed in dark colors and were involved in heavy conversation rather than dancing and laughing, so it still had a mood of nervous anticipation.

Daisy, wearing an outfit of cherry red flounces that swathed her arms in swishing layers but showed off far more skin than Jenny, was drinking wine from a large glass. She winced at me.

"All-mage guest lists aren't very fun," she said. "I forgot how old everyone is because half of them are still so pretty but this is more of a grandma party. They don't want to dance. They're practically having council meetings in front of my band!"

"Do you organize all the parties for the queen?" I asked.

"Yes. That's my job here, since I was given the diadem of Queen Mab,” she said proudly. “And I'm usually the life of the party, but my squad weren't invited. The queen didn't even want to invite Orson!"

"Well, he did fart during the presentation of the relics last year," Lord Larkin chuckled behind her. “The queen doesn't say so, but she's really pretty steamed over it.”

“He tried to hold it in,” Daisy said.

“Our Orson is rubbing off on you,” Larkin said, laughing.

“Having a baby that spits up on me and poops all the time is rubbing off on me,” she said, but with a slightly fond sigh.

“That’s true. A gruagach who ate too much cheese is tame compared to taking a nap with a sweet naked baby on your chest and waking up covered in…”

“Yeah, that was one of our more stupid moments,” Daisy muttered. “I thought we all looked so hot together.”

“Anyway, I’m sure the theatricals will perk everyone up. Your friend there was riveting in the rehearsals.” Larkin slipped a hand around Daisy’s waist, and I was still jarred every time I saw her sharing affection with a different mate, but they made it look easy and even…sort of nice. Daisy’s mates seemed to like each other as much as they liked her.

"Jameson?" Jenny asked. "I can't wait to see him!"

"Who is he playing?" Daisy asked.

"Ariel. I think he really identifies with the role. So cheer up, my love. I think it'll be a very interesting evening, either way…,” Larkin said.

"Do you know what the Tempest is about?" Daisy asked me as soon as he left. “For a hot minute I thought your boy was playing the Little Mermaid.”

"Me? No. Shakespeare is...not my thing,” I said. “Maybe I sound uncultured, but I like