Beautiful chateaus climbed up the hillsides in the distance, and I whistled low. “What a place.”
“Makes you want some wine,” Meria said.
“I know the perfect place to get some,” Eve said. “There’s a bar car. I saw it on my exploration earlier. The bartender said you can order anything in the world, and they can provide it.”
I pointed to the grape vines outside. “Wine from those grapes?”
She smiled. “I think we should find out.”
I nodded. “It will be a good place to scout out the new arrivals, I bet. Everyone likes a drink in the evening. And I bet they all want to catch up.”
“You’re right on that,” Eve said. “I’m not the only fae who loves gossip, and this is prime territory to get some.”
We’d already had dinner brought to our car about an hour ago, so we could head straight for the drinks. I stood and moved toward the door.
“Hang on, there,” Eve said. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I turned around. “To the bar car?”
“Dressed like that?” Meria asked, her brows raised.
I glanced down at my emerald-green trousers and the matching vest and billowy top that I wore. The outfit was similar to what I’d worn during the competitions, so when I’d found it in the closet in my room, it had seemed appropriate. I looked like a proper fae huntress and everything.
Frowning, I looked up at them. “It’s a no?”
“Definitely a no.” Meria stood. “Come on. I’ve got just the thing for you.”
I followed her to the sleeping compartment she shared with Eve, a space so tiny we had to squeeze in shoulder to shoulder. Meria pulled a sparkling sapphire dress out of a bag. When she unfurled it, the fabric flowed like water over her hands.
“Whoa, you had that in there?” I asked.
She nodded. “Did you not pack formal wear?”
“Uh, I don’t know. I didn’t pack. One of the castle staff did it for me.”
“Well, presumably you’ve got some in your luggage, then,” Meria said. “Until you unpack, I think you should wear this.”
“It’s not too much?”
“Did you see the ice queen this afternoon?” Meria asked.
“Fair point.” I took the dress, adoring the smooth feel of the silk in my hands. “What are you two wearing?”
“Something similar,” Meria said. “Red, though. Shorter.”
“Black,” Eve said. “Like my heart.”
I laughed. “You guys just have gowns lying around? I didn’t give you any notice for this trip.”
They both nodded.
“Of course,” Eve said.
“Yep.” Meria nodded. “We fae enjoy beautiful things, and we definitely dress to impress at events like this.”
I looked down at the cloth in my hands. “I’ll definitely impress in this, then.”
“Good.” Meria grinned. “Use your assets as a distraction, and you’ll be ahead of the game. Fae men are as simple as human ones when it comes to a pretty woman.”
“I hope you’re right.” I squeezed my way toward the door. “I’ll get dressed and join you. Not enough room in here for three.”
“Take these.” Meria shoved silver heels at me, and I took them.
“See you in the living room,” Eve said.
My sleeping compartment was at the end of the car, right next to Lore’s. There was a door that connected them, but I hadn’t dared open it. The space itself wasn’t much bigger than Meria and Eve’s had been, and it was filled with a two-person bed and two small chairs. A stack of leatherbound chests sat in the corner.
It had to be the luggage that the maid had packed for me, but there was no need to look inside it right now.
Quickly, I shucked off my clothes and pulled the dress over my head. It had thin straps that showed my shoulders and collar bones. The fabric flowed smoothly over my curves, draping down to the floor. When I turned around to look at my back in the mirror, I saw only an expanse of pale skin bisected by my bra.
I grimaced. “Well, there goes my bra.”
As I unhooked it—and thanked my lucky stars for my small chest—I couldn’t help but marvel at my life.
How the hell had this become my reality?
Magic and kings and gowns and trains through the French countryside. I’d gone from hustling in the gig economy in Seattle to this.
I looked out the window, surprised anew to see a rambling stone ruin only a hundred yards away. A castle or monastery, most likely. I’d never even seen a European ruin, and now I was doing so in a silk dress that had to cost more than my rent.