Soulbound

I spent too long a time being measured and going through different materials and designs for the dress. Beverly, I suspected, was dragging out this appointment so she could spend more time with her precious Grayson. It also didn’t help that while she kept poking my ribs with her needles because she was too busy passing Grayson flirtatious looks, he lectured me on etiquette. I was very nearly ready to shove the box of pins down Beverly’s throat after the hundredth poke.

“Ow! Son of a-”

“Ladies don’t swear,” Grayson cut me off, the muscles in his jaw working hard to resist smirking.

I glared vehemently at him and his amusement. “Fuck being a lady if this is what it’s like. Let’s see a man wear a corset--then we’ll talk about etiquette.”

Try as he might, a smirk broke out across his lips. I wanted to smack it off his pretty face. He was enjoying this far too much.

Beverly glanced at him then to me, suddenly scared to touch me. She should be. If she pricked me one more time. . . .

“That’s no way to talk, my lady," he scolded. His tone was serious--he had taken his role as my teacher very seriously--but there was a mischievous glimmer in his eyes that loved watching me break all the rules in his etiquette book. “I think you should apologise to Beverly. Properly.”

I’d never gone from liking someone to envisioning their murder so quickly in my life.

For the sake of the mission, I stole a deep breath, summoning all the patience the gods could grant me then smiled sweetly at the seamstress. “Please accept my apologies, Beverly. It’s not your fault Grayson is an asshole.”

He made a noise of exclamation, throwing his hands up in the air. “That’s it. We’re gagging you at the dinner.” He stood up abruptly and turned to Beverly, the epitome of composure when his cool gaze landed on her. “How long will it take to make the adjustments to the dress?”

Beverly glanced at me nervously, like I was some wild beast that might gobble her up at any second. “I’ll have it ready in a couple hours.”

He inclined his head respectfully towards her then offered me a helping hand off the pedestal I stood on. I gave him a look; I didn’t need help getting off a step. To make a point, I gave him direct eye contact as I shoved my hands in my pockets then marched out the store. It was a miracle I could open the door by myself!

He growled behind me, easily keeping pace with me. “You could at least try to take this seriously, Eva.”

We had been in the shop longer than I thought we were; the blue sky now held a tinge of purple and pink as the sun slowly began its descent. A man with a candle went from street lamp to lamp, illuminating the streets in a soft amber glow.

“I don’t understand why I have to behave like a brittle creature. It’s silly.”

“It’s tradition,” Grayson explained. He took the lead, herding me down a different street, which was just as busy as the last one we were in. Shops lined either side, with elaborate glass displays showing off the various goods they sold. The Vendor District, as he had called it, was so different from Vendor Street back home. There was a certain polish to it Brar could have never had, and there was a shop for everything, not just the necessities. It was marvelous, magical even, in its own way. I loved it, yet I couldn’t help but feeling I didn’t belong.

“Tradition is bullshit,” I grumbled.

He let out a tired breath. “Maybe, but if you’re not on your best behavior in Lexxis, you’ll disrespect King Renkon and the whole Kain family. Do you want that?”

I grimaced, biting my tongue. As much as I wanted to stick to my “improper ways,” I had to let them go. I lived in a different world now. I wasn’t a small town hunter anymore. I had responsibilities, and some of those responsibilities meant I had to meet with important people who may see my actions as an insult to them.

“No,” I gave in, feeling like I’d just lost a part of myself in admitting it.

He stopped and looked at me. The torchlight gave his otherwise dark eyes warmth; it was kind of like catching a glimpse of sun in the middle of a dark and dreary storm. Gods, he was handsome. “You don’t have to turn into a brittle creature to be a lady. Do you know what your biggest weapon is right now? You’re underestimated. If you traipse around, throwing cusses and acting like a stubborn child, Renkon see someone who’s easy to manipulate and take advantage of you. If you turn up with the decorum of an established young woman and make him second guess your origins, you’ll show him that you’re smart. You can adapt and will not be pushed around. Never change who you are, Eva. Stay true to yourself, remember where you came from--because your enemies will never forget--and rise above them.”

I swallowed, suddenly feeling the implications of this dinner--and how I presented myself. “I-I never thought about it like that.”

He offered a gentle lopsided smile. “I know. You’ve never had to think about politics and propriety. That’s why I’m here. I trained Jacob and now I’ll train you.”

This whole situation was intimidating. I liked it better when all I had to think about was how I was going to bring the biggest game home. When I thought that brute force was all that was required to beat King Sylus. It was becoming clear that was not the case. I couldn’t stop King Sylus by myself, even after I’ve mastered the powers Arkon gave me. I was going to need friends and allies. Thank the gods Grayson Smith was one of them.

A newfound determination coursed through me. I would do as he said. Adapt. Overcome. Prove to everyone that a simple hunter from a village no one had ever heard of could be someone to be reckoned with.

“No more grumbling,” I promised him. “I’ll take it seriously now.”

He exhaled, seeming relieved, then gestured to the building we’d stopped in front of. I hadn’t realised we had already reached our next destination. “We’ll see if you can behave in here first,” he teased.

As it turned out, it was a barber shop. Grayson instructed the portly man to tidy up my hair, which I took with grace, even when an alarming amount of ash-blonde hair puddled at my feet. The only person who had ever touched my hair was my mother--who the man behind me was very evidently not. He was bald, his scalp so shiny, I saw my reflection on it. His beard was neatly groomed, his moustache curling at the tips and making it look like he was smiling all the time. What I loved the most about him, though? His deep baritone voice as he sang and massaged my scalp.

When he finished, I shook my head, loving how easily my hair moved. I could play with it for hours if Grayson let me. Before I knew what was happening, a woman took Burt’s place, examining my face studiously. She raised a dubious eyebrow at Grayson. “You say she is a woman of King Renkon’s court?”

“In training,” he amended.

“Obviously. This girl’s never been groomed in her life.”

I scowled at her. Who was she calling ungroomed? “Hey. I took frequent baths in the river and Annalyse can’t get me away from my new tub.”

She was horrified. “There is much to do. Are you ready?”

“Um, sure?” What else was there left to do?

I quickly found out that she, indeed, had a lot to do. She started with my eyebrows, plucking them out of existence, then she moved on to my hands and feet, clipping, buffing, and grating until a set of new hands and feet appeared.

Grayson paid for their services with a straight face, but as soon as we stepped out onto the street again, his face split into a brilliant smile. “Why did you agree to having your eyebrows done if you were going to whine about it the entire time?”

I brushed one of my eyebrows, making sure she hadn’t pulled them off entirely. “I didn’t know what she was going to do.”

His chuckle turned into a boisterous laugh as we walked down the streets. It was much darker now, the sky had turned purple, all the streets were lit by lamps now. There weren’t as many people out; they had most likely gone home for dinner or to escape the sudden chill. With the sun disappearing, the temperature had dropped. I shivered, foolishly thinking we’d be back at the base before dark and not thinking to wear something warmer. Grayson noticed then shucked out of his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. It smelt delightfully like the air after a rainstorm.

I eyed the way his shirt outlined every fine muscle stretching along his arms, chest, and back and felt some of the heat the night had taken away from me rise up to my cheeks. “Oh, um, aren’t you cold?”

It would be safer for the both of us if he took his jacket back. He was dangerously distracting, flaunting his body like that.

He peered down at me, eyebrows popping into his hair at the high pitch in my tone. “It wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me to let you freeze.”

Curse chivalry.

I swallowed then tore my gaze away from him. “Where to now?”

He glanced at his pocket watch. “We still have some time left. Are you hungry?”

“I could eat a horse.”

He grinned, eyes alight with mischief. “Follow me. There’s a place I think you’d like.”

The place he took me to was the building with a glass ceiling and wall garden I saw from above on our way in. It was much, much bigger now that we were on the ground, and I couldn’t help gaping at the enormity of it. Ivy crawled along a metal sign that spelled “The Atrium” in an elegant script on the stone wall. The doorway was framed by lime green ferns and deep purple leaves.

Grayson opened it for me, allowing me to step into the wonderous land I’d found myself in. We’d seemingly been transported to a jungle. The air was warm and humid; I didn’t need Grayson’s jacket anymore, but now that were significantly more distractions, I didn’t feel the rush to give it back. Trees towered over us, broad-leaved bushes bristled around us in the gentle breeze, and vines dangled from the glass ceiling above. It was so colourful. So lush. Amazing!

Grayson smirked, a knowing look in his eyes. “I thought you’d like it here.”

“Like it? Grayson, I love it! We should have come here first.”

He tsked at me, wagging a scornful finger at me. “We’re on a mission, remember? We’re spending good Dragon Knight money here--there has to be a legitimate reason for it all.”

I scowled, instantly suspicious. “So what’s the legitimate reason for being here then?”

“We’re going to practice your etiquette. Let’s see how much of it you remember.”

A waiter followed the winding stone path and greeted us warmly. He led us down the path silently, allowing us to take in the splendor of the Atrium. For the sake of my learning, Grayson tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow as we walked. We might as well be taking a stroll through a mystical forest if I ignored the buzz of conversation further ahead; birds and butterflies dashed and fluttered in between trees. Beautiful flowers bloomed for all to see. The only thing I couldn’t figure out was how the place was lit. They had done well with the atmosphere to make it feel like we were outside, and the path was well-lit enough for us to find our way and see the wonder of the forest, but there were no lanterns or torches and the moon hadn’t come out yet.

When I brought it up with Grayson, he merely smiled and pointed at a cluster of glow bugs that flew past then to the vines which dazzled with tiny lightstones. Individually, they didn’t produce much light, but collectively, they gave us enough light to see everything. Ingenious.

At the center of it all, a large patio hosted several sets of tables of various sizes. A huge gazebo stretched over the patio, with colourful flowers and vines woven in between the wooden braces. Just by looking at the uninterrupted glass ceiling above, I imagined the gazebo was to provide shade from the immense heat of the afternoon sun.

At Grayson’s request, the waiter seated us in the far corner where a small stream trickling past by. He pulled out a seat and gave me an expectant look; it took me a moment to remember his rules. Playing along, I let him push the seat in as I sat.

The waiter left us alone with the promise of his return shortly.

I stared at the table setting--at the layers of plates and cutlery--then peered around the patio at all the other guests dining and laughing then I found Grayson and his soulful gray eyes. This place was a little intimidating, with its elegant setting and the sophisticated patrons, but he seemed to take it all away with just one look. He had an air of nonchalance and confidence around him that was infectious. I imagined doing this with Annalyse would have been a very different experience and I appreciated his demeanor.

“Thank you,” I blurted.

He blinked, surprised. “What for?”

“Everything you’ve done today. You’ve been patient and understanding with me, while I’ve been. . . well, you know. I just want you to know that it means a lot to me. I’m used to having to do everything by myself; it feels good to know that I’m not alone, you know?”

His features softened. Something warm and tender filled his eyes. “This is not your burden to bear alone. We’re all here for you. We’ll get through this together.”

All of us, Arkon promised silently. You will never be alone, Little One.

A lump formed in my throat. Getting emotional was not something I did often but when it did happen, it was difficult to keep it reigned in.

Grayson cleared his throat and lifted up the menu. “What looks good on here?”

Grateful for the shift, I glanced at my own menu, scanning all the delicious dishes. My mind was suddenly filled with food and the difficult choice I must face when the waiter came back. When he did return, we placed our orders, then Grayson gave me a breakdown on all the place settings. Whenever I slouched or made an unladylike remark, he corrected me, getting to the point where he teased about having to gag me at the dinner again. When the food arrived, he showed me the proper way to eat--yes, there was a proper way, apparently. I held my fork and knife as he did and kept my shoulders back, bringing the fork to my mouth. When I slipped into the habit of putting my elbows on the table, he tapped my shin under the table and gave me a look. A very Grayson thing to do, I was learning. The look said many things, depending on the context; tonight it was mostly, “Don’t make me repeat myself.” Unfortunately for him, I liked it when he gave me that look; it gave me a sense of accomplishment to know his intentions with just a glance. He was a difficult man to read, but piece by piece he was letting me see more of him; whether it was intentional or not, was a different question.

“Would you like dessert?” the waiter asked.

I refused to look at the menu, knowing there was a hot fudge brownie begging me to order it on there, and instead peered around at the emptying restaurant. Most of the patrons had left for the night, leaving behind the intimate couples and romantic candles on their tables, of which our table was no exception.

We had been here long enough for the dress to be done, and I was sure Jacob and Annalyse were looking for us. There was no more time for dessert. Even when my mouth watered just thinking about it.

“We’ll share the brownie,” Grayson decided before I could voice any complaints, as mad as they were for refusing a brownie.

The waiter smiled then left.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him. He caught me and frowned. “What?”

“I don’t think Hargin would approve of the brownie being amongst our expenses today.” What was I saying? I shouldn’t be complaining. The brownie was exactly what I wanted.

I looked over at a couple, sitting side by side on a bench facing the forest. They leaned into each other, watching the glow bugs dance in front of them. Their embrace was intimate, their hands laced together over their skirts, while one of them whispered in her partner’s ear, making her blush so deeply it was visible in the dark. As I looked around, I realised that the setting had turned very romantic--or maybe it had always been and I hadn’t seen it earlier.

Perhaps it wasn’t the brownie at all that made me apprehensive. Maybe it was the question as to why we were still here, ordering a brownie. I’d learned all I could from Grayson and felt confident I wouldn’t let him down this weekend. He had even said so himself that I would be fine at the dinner.

His frown deepened, eyebrows knitting together. I watched the gears turn in his head as he considered my tone. “You wanted the brownie, didn’t you?”

I flushed, embarrassed I’d been so obvious. “I, uh, yes. I’m a sucker for anything fudgy and chocolatey.”

A smile eased his features. “Then let me worry about the expenses. You’ve earned a brownie.” He winked. While it normally didn’t affect me, we were also in a dark restaurant with only a single candle between us; the gesture felt different in this kind of setting, and a rush of heat went straight to my core. I didn’t know what to do about it and because of it, my flush grew darker.

Just when I thought I’d have to excuse myself, a familiar voice unexpectantly called out to us. “Oh! Eva! Grayson! You’re here!” Jacob and Annalyse broke away from the waiter leading them to a table. Jacob beamed at me. “What a coincidence finding you here. You’re right, Anna. The Atrium was a good idea.” He pulled up a chair for her.

She sat down, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “We were going to start looking for you guys after dinner. This is the last place I’d expect to find you.” She cast Grayson a questioning glance.

“I’ve been teaching Eva table etiquette,” he said a little crisply. I didn’t blame him for being a little moody by their sudden appearance; I didn’t want to share our dessert, either. “Where have you been?” His eyes landed on the surplus of bags at their feet.

Annalyse tutted then poked his shoulder. “Don’t give me that look, Gray. While you set Eva up for the dinner, I grabbed her accessories--unless you’d rather buy her jewelry?”

His mood shifted immediately and he eased up in his seat, shaking his head. “Good point. Our mission was a success. You splurged, I hope? We did.”

Her laugh was diabolical. “If it’s coming out of the Dragon Knight account, you can bet I did.” She turned her attention to me. “How did it go today? Did you find a dress?”

“We did, and I think I’m worthy enough to wear it now. We’re picking it up after dessert.”

Jacob leaned over and swatted at my hair playfully. “Looks like you did more than get her a dress, Gray.”

Annalyse eye’s went round after she gave me a more thorough inspection. “Oh, by the gods! You look fantastic! You got your eyebrows and nails done too! How’d you manage that, Gray?”

He shrugged casually then slid a sly wink at me. “I have my ways.”

Dessert arrived. It looked heavenly. Annalyse grabbed a fork and dove right in. Seeing that I hadn’t moved for the second fork--the waiter had only brought two, since there had only been the two of us at the time--Grayson handed me the fork with that look I’d gotten used to. This time it said something that made me smile.