Queen (Thrall Book 3) by K.A. Riley

Author:K.A. Riley [Riley, K.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

Kith and I visit several more shops, and we both make an effort to shy away from talk of emotions. Instead, we banter about the Capitol, his friendship with my father, and life in the Citadel.

He’s proving to be a good friend. That’s exactly what I need right now—and it’s all I want.

At the last shop we visit before lunch, I find a display of floor-length gowns of thin, flowing silk. I’m not entirely sure why anyone would ever want one around here; all the Nobles live on the Isles, after all.

“Are there a lot of formal balls in the Capitol?” I ask with a snicker.

“Hopefully there will be soon,” Kith replies. “A celebration of our victory would be an excellent excuse for a ball.”

I crane my head and shrug. “Cheers to that.”

“You know,” he says, taking a red gown in hand and eyeing it, “back in the day, it’s said that there was an opera house in the Capitol, a symphony orchestra, and all sorts of plays and musicals. If our plans come to fruition, that will be our reality again soon.”

“Well then,” I tell him, “I suppose I’d better look for a dress, just in case.”

When I rifle through the rack and come to a beautiful, floor-length gold dress with a corset bodice, I let out a quiet gasp. In the vision Kith showed me—my supposed wedding day—I was wearing a dress exactly this color.

A smile curls my lips to think it could be the very thing I wear the day Thorne and I marry.

Not that we’re engaged. Still, there’s no reason we couldn’t have a Pairing ceremony and declare our love in front of a few honored guests…

Kith seems to confirm what I’m thinking, because he nods and says, “I know. I’ve seen it too, remember. Go ahead—try it on.”

The shopkeeper—a woman in her fifties—smiles at me from behind the counter and calls out, “It really would be lovely on you.”

“Really?” I glance first at Kith, then over at the shopkeeper, who nods enthusiastically.

“I’ll get a dressing room ready for you.”

“Fine,” I say with an exaggerated roll of my eyes, like this is some great inconvenience. Pulling the dress off the rack, I stride to the back of the shop, where I find a series of curtained dressing rooms.

“I’ll wait out here,” Kith tells me. “Shout if you need anything.”

When I’m tucked behind the small cubicle’s thick curtain, it takes me a few minutes to peel off my clothes and slip into the gown. It’s only after I’ve pulled the narrow straps over my shoulders that I realize I need help tightening the corset bodice.

I stick my head out through the curtain, looking for the shopkeeper.

“I think she’s with a customer,” Kith says. “Can I help?”

“I…”

Maude takes it upon herself to reassure me.

~You’re entirely covered, Shara, except for your back. He won’t see anything.

I’m not wearing a bra, I remind her. I had to take it off.

~You’re fine. He’s a gentleman, isn’t he?

Fine.

“Actually,” I tell Kith, opening the curtain.

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