The Embassy didn’t stop us from entering.

  Vin peeled away to stable Nipper, then he was going to look for a date for the evening event. There was less than an hour before we needed to be at the theater, but Captain Lungali had sent a guard to make sure there was a table reserved for us.

  My brother had to use special accommodations because his very presence would disrupt the magical energy that was used to power the lights and appliances. There was a place for workers to stay in the barn loft, which would keep him from disrupting too many things.

  The Embassy had its own wing for the royal family to use, which was far nicer than any accommodations that I’d ever stayed in while traveling. Granted, I almost always slept on the ship, so even the local hotel was going to be better.

  Starna sent the staff away, giving us the whole wing to ourselves. Once we made our way to the second story where the three bedrooms were, I went into the second largest room and dropped Tempest on the bed.

  “Why did you bring her?” There was a hint of jealousy mixed with the concern in Starna’s voice.

  I dusted off my hands and turned to my Elf companion. “I know she attacked us, but…” I glanced at the unconscious woman before turning back to Starna. “If I would have handed her over, the moment that Quibbly woke up, she would have been outed, if not sooner.” I took her hand as we walked out of the room. “Instinct is a powerful thing and if she tried her luck out of self preservation, then I’d rather not have her be killed.”

  Starna’s brow furrowed. “What are you going to do to her?”

  “If she’s innocent?” I shrugged. “Let her go.” I wiggled my fingers in her hand. “If not, then there’s no reason to leave that dangerous of an enemy alive.”

  The tanned woman nodded, then pulled me towards the main room. “There should be a wardrobe here that has things to fit the royal family. Starna and I’ve never been here, but I should be able to fit into some of you aunt’s…”

  I stopped at the doorway, my fingers slipping out of hers as she turned around.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Flashes of memories came flooding back as I remembered coming to this room with my cousin. The crate of toy wagons and ships was still in the corner where we’d left it. There wasn’t a speck of dust in the room, so I knew things weren’t exactly like they had been when I’d been here fifteen years ago. I wouldn’t be able to remember the exact placement even if they had, but the flashes brought a tear to my eye.

  I wiped the water away and smiled at the woman whose face was starting to wear concern every time she looked at me.

  “Sorry, this isn’t the first time I’ve been here.” I blinked as I shook away the memory fragments. “Still getting used to being able to remember before Dad rescued me.”

  “Oh…” She glanced at the room. “Should we not be in here?”

  “It’s fine.” I walked over to the maple wardrobe and opened the doors. The scent of lavender washed over me. Dresses of every color were hanging on the left, while dark blue suits were on the right. I passed my fingers over the clothes, the tingle of magic altering me to the magic that was woven into some of them. Protective wards were useless around Vin, so I made sure to select one that wasn’t enchanted.

  Starna looked at the blue suit that I’d chosen, then she selected a strapless yellow dress with a slit in the side all the way up to the hip.

  “What do you think about this one?” She held it up to herself, but not so close that she’d get it dirty.

  “I think that even the most positive answer when complimenting a woman on clothes is a trap.” I smiled at her. “If you like it, then you should wear it, because any outfit will benefit from your beauty.”

  The tanned Elf blushed, looked down at the dress, then reached for a pair of black heels. She averted her eyes as she ducked out of the room in search of the washroom.

  I shook my head as I took my clothes and walked over to a door on the right. Memory served correct and inside was a large bathroom, complete with a shower, a separate hot tub, and more mirrors than I’d ever seen in a room before. I thought about calling out of the room, but I knew that Starna was still too shy to shower around me and there were bathrooms in each of the bedrooms, so she would find her own soon enough.

  Having to think about modesty was a new concept. Growing up on a ship full of demi-human men, we’d never had a need for it. But if it concerned her, I was willing to take up the exercise, for her sake at least.

  I turned on the hot water and laid out my clothes. I didn’t have much time to get ready, but I had a feeling that I could allow myself a few extra minutes to bask under the hot water. But only a few. The luxury of hot, running water wasn’t worth being even a few seconds late for the evening’s event.

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