Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd

Author:Megan Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HMH Books

Chapter 26

As soon as December and the other Goblins got her to the penthouse salons, they gave her a bath, and then they began to work their magic. Pulling combs through her hair, casting whispers to smooth out the tangles, then styling it into a chignon bow at her nape. They swallowed June bugs and spat out tricks to erase the odd pimple here and there and bring a permanent blush to her cheeks. It took four of them to lower the wedding gown over her head, and when Anouk looked in the mirror, she was surprised to see that the downy feathers covering the train had multiplied yet again so that the wing effect was exaggerated; she looked like she was about to take flight. She tapped at her reflection in the mirror, almost expecting it to move independently of her.

“Stop looking so surprised,” December said. “We can make the ugliest duckling look like a swan. Er, of course, you were a nice-looking duck to begin with. Pretty, even. For a duck.” She grabbed Anouk’s arm in an attempt to change the subject. “Are you sure you don’t want me to ink some tentacles on your arms?”

“No, thanks. Really.”

“I could use pink ink. It would fit the color scheme.”

“This is fine as it is.”

“Just one little tentacle?”

Anouk shook her head. The Goblins exchanged looks. “Boring,” one of them whispered.

But Anouk smiled at her reflection. She was going to be a princess. From owl to girl to princess. Not many people could claim to have achieved so much. The only person who’d risen equally high was Rennar. Spell-scribe to prince. Now they were going to prove that those who started from humble beginnings were capable of great things. The greatest of all? Turning over their power and putting it back into the hands of the people.

A knock came at the door.

December opened it for Beau, who had also bathed and was dressed for the occasion in a black suit. He took one look at Anouk and swallowed, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He started to loosen his tie. “Are you sure you don’t want to run off together? We could go back to the Black Forest. Find that castle full of candy and grow fat together.”

She lifted the heavy train of the dress and waded over to him in a pool of feathers and silk. She placed a hand on his cheek. “First we save the world. Then candy.”

His soft eyes practically consumed her whole. “What about a kiss? When does that come in?”

She grinned. “Right now.”

She touched her lips to his. He smelled like fresh soap, and his skin was smooth and clean. He slid his hand around her back, crushing the feathers, and December gasped in horror and slapped his hand away.

“You beast!” December cried. “No touching the dress!”

His mouth curled into a grin over Anouk’s. He picked her up by the waist and swung her around in a twirl of feathers, out of range from December’s slaps, and kissed her again.

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