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trust you entirely.
Of course. He bowed his head again, though every
cell in Ric s body vibrated with fury. How dare she leave
him under that threat after he had accomplished his task?
But of course, Llyris wasn t going to answer. She
waved her hand, indicating that their private conversation
was finished and several of her ladies entered the room,
giggling and chattering.
Llyris arched one eyebrow at him and drawled, Play
something, bard. Never forget that your primary purpose
is to entertain me.
Cindy Spencer Pape 221
Meagan stood as still as she could while Sinead put the
finishing touches on her gown for the formal dinner.
Never mind that it was barely lunchtime in Meagan s
reality, she was about to be presented at a major court
banquet. This apparently involved dressing like someone
out of a stage production of Sleeping Beauty. She glanced
down at her cleavage, which was on blatant display.
Okay, maybe an X-rated version of Sleeping Beauty.
The clothes had belonged to some distant ancestor, but
since fashion here hadn t changed much since the Middle
Ages, it didn t matter. The exquisite confection of a dress
looked and even smelled brand new. Magic did have a lot
to recommend it as a moth and mildew repellant. It also
made alterations a breeze. Sinead had made no bones
about the fact that Meagan was far too short and chubby
for an elf, especially an elven lady, but Meagan couldn t
do much about her size. Sinead could and did, however,
modify the length and girth of the garment with a few
words and some waves of her hands. Once the clothing
met with her approval, she tackled Meagan s hair, which
she brushed and tugged and pinned until Meagan began to
fear she d show up at dinner bald. Finally, Sinead gave a
brief nod that seemed to signify, if not actual approval, at
least resigned acceptance that this was the best they were
going to get.
Sinead made a gesture at the wall and an ornate silver
filigree mirror appeared. The surface started out opaque
and cloudy, but slowly cleared till Meagan could see her
reflection. At least she assumed it was her. The face
looked familiar, but she d never imagined her hair could
look like this, not in a million years. And the cream and
gold, Cinderella-style ball gown accentuated her curves,
222 Motor City Fae
sucking in her waist and pushing her breasts up and out,
while the low neckline displayed them, right down to the
edge of her nipples. It was probably no more revealing
than a tank top, but even swathed in yards of fabric, she
still felt naked.
That amulet needs to go. Sinead s voice was bored
and condescending.
No! Meagan s hand flew up to grasp Elise s gift
before the other woman could remove it. She remembered
Elise s instructions to keep it on at all times, remembered
Blaine agreeing that it was a powerful charm. The
amulet stays.
It s all wrong with the gown.
I don t care.
Hmmmm& Sinead eyed it appraisingly and nodded,
granting Meagan a hint of a smile. I see. Tis warded.
Not a bad thing, that. Let s try a bit of camouflage.
While Meagan watched in the mirror, the black silk
cord changed into a fine golden chain and lengthened, till
the warm green stone disappeared into the bodice of the
gown, nestling between Meagan s breasts.
Much better. Sinead gave a crisp nod.
Meagan blinked. You can actually change silk into
gold?
Not at all. For a limited period of time, however, I
can convince the silk to take on the appearance and
properties of gold, Sinead corrected. When you wake
tomorrow morning, it will have resumed its natural form.
This is all way too Cinderella, Meagan muttered. It
got even more so when Sinead blinked in a jewelry case
about six inches square and four inches tall.
Most of what your society believes to be fairy tales
have some basis in fact. Sinead didn t bother to
Cindy Spencer Pape 223
elaborate. Now, for your first official function, you ll
need to wear the Rose family regalia. She waved open
the velvet box and withdrew an intricate, glittering crown.
Coronet. Sinead apparently read the word out of
Meagan s mind. The queen wears a crown. Each of the
noble houses, however, has a coronet.
Whatever. Damn, she really had to work on
shielding her thoughts. As Sinead placed the gem-
encrusted circlet on Meagan s head, Meagan was forced
to admit that it did make her look nobler. It was
magnificent and somewhat intimidating, made of yellow
and white gold, with red-gold roses woven throughout and
decorated with rubies, diamonds and pearls. When Sinead
placed it on Meagan s head, Meagan could swear the
reflection in the mirror actually started to glow.
Well, no one will be able to deny that you are indeed
the rightful heiress. Sinead s tone remained completely
devoid of expression. The coronet only re-sizes itself and
illuminates for its true wearer.
Peering into the mirror, Meagan saw that the circlet
had gotten smaller and daintier than when Sinead had held
it. It was now a much more feminine version of itself.
Sinead waved again and another case appeared. This
one was flatter and Meagan was unsurprised when Sinead
withdrew a necklace and clasped it around Meagan s
neck. It was a collar-style choker that matched the
coronet, with an impossibly large teardrop pearl
suspended from the center. The pearl felt warm where it
nestled right at the start of Meagan s cleavage and
Meagan couldn t help wondering what Ric would think
about making love to her in the necklace and crown. And
nothing else. Her skin flushed and she started to get damp
from thinking about it. She was saved from eternal
224 Motor City Fae
embarrassment only by the fact that she d managed to
throw her mental shields up before she d let her mind
wander. Sinead either didn t know what Meagan was
thinking about, or she was good at ignoring things.
Sinead kept up her steady stream of instructions as
they left the apartment and were escorted down the wide
marble-lined corridor to the queen s dining room. Two of
the queen s own guards led the way through the maze of
gilt and statuary, while Quinn, Liam and the two
wolfhounds brought up the rear. Meagan had to fight the
urge to grin at the thought of her own personal entourage.
The whole thing would have been a lot more fun, though,
if Sinead would have shut up for even half a second.
If she tastes a dish and nods, you may proceed. If she
frowns, ignore that dish and wait for the server to remove
it.
I heard you the first six times, Sinead. Don t eat
anything the queen doesn t like. Don t speak unless
spoken to, don t dance, don t laugh, don t play with
matches or run with scissors. I get it, already.
Fine! The elven woman s mouth pinched shut and
she glared down her nose at Meagan. My lady.
Meagan used every ounce of willpower she possessed
not to roll her eyes and snort. Remember Catholic school,
she told herself. You survived nuns with rulers. This
should be a piece of cake. Except, of course, that at
school, no one had been trying to kill her.
Chapter Sixteen
Dinner was well interesting. Meagan had never
seen so much opulent excess in her life. Not even on old
reruns of Dynasty. The only thing that kept her from
hysterical laughter was abject terror. As guest of honor,
she was seated right next to Her Majesty, of course. Ric
was playing on a small dais away from the table, Aidan
hadn t arrived and Sinead was seated at a different table,
so Meagan was on her own in the shark pool. Now she
wished she d paid more attention to Sinead s instructions.
I am pleased with your gift. The likeness to the folly
on my estate is remarkable.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I am also informed that you were able to transport an
object with no training whatsoever. Is that also the case?
Meagan kept her eyes fixed firmly on her plate and
nodded again. It was a life-or-death situation, Your
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