Renegade Guardians 1 by Kyra Quinn

Author:Kyra Quinn [Quinn, Kyra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-02T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

City of Stars

I look like a harlot. I shifted my weight between my feet and tugged on the hem of the borrowed skirt. The tight leather fabric cut off only inches above my bum. A half-corset hugged my torso over a ruffled burgundy blouse. Aster swore the outfit fit with no magical alterations, but the icicles in place of my legs begged to differ. What woman with an ounce of modesty would dress in something so tawdry?

Aster kneeled over a book on the floor to my left. She hummed under her breath as she flipped through the pages. Her eyes flickered across the pages as she pursed her lips in concentration. When she found the page, her face split into a smile.

“Here.” She jammed a finger in the center of the open book. “This spell should put us outside of Starbright. The walk from there is manageable.”

“Do I have to wear this?”

“Oh, quit your bellyaching. It’s a great look for you. I love it.”

“Glad someone does,” I grumbled. “I’ve seen whores dressed with more humility.”

Aster threw her head back and howled with laughter. “Seriously? The corset makes you that uncomfortable? I thought all the proper ladies in Faomere still wore them.”

“The corset is fine. But what is wrong with these shoes?” I held up my foot to draw her attention to the sleek boots laced up to my knees. The soles sat several inches from the ground, the heel sharpened in a painfully tall point.

Aster shrugged a shoulder. “Beauty is pain. No one admires a lady for how intelligent she is or sensibly she conducts herself.”

The accuracy of her statement hurt almost as bad as the realization that even the most beautiful woman I’d ever encountered suffered from insecurities. I wanted to reach out and hug her, but the situation had enough complications without me making things awkward.

Instead I shook my head. “That can’t be true. I’ve met plenty of people who respect a woman’s mind as much as her figure.”

“They claim.” Aster scoffed. “How many men who say that marry a plain girl with a brilliant mind? I’d wager none. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with becoming a double threat. It makes me that much harder for a man to stop.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “The gentlemen here in Carramar must love you.”

“They think they do.” She winked and blew a kiss. “The ones worth having, anyway. The others have already discovered my preference for the fairer sex.”

My chest swelled with awe as Aster rose to her feet and sashayed across the room to her alter. In that moment I would have given almost anything to have half of her confidence. I tilted my chin to match hers and tried to mirror her proud stride. Whatever the secret to her success was, I wanted a piece for myself.

“Have you ever traveled by magic before?” Aster didn’t glance up from her work as she spoke. “What am I talking about? Of course you haven’t. I should warn you, this adventure comes with a few side-effects.

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