The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses #1)(35)

“We’ll be there much, much later than that,” said Magnus, “because of our already very packed social calendar.”

“Of course,” said the dryad.

They headed down the steps and reconnoitered there.

“This is perfect,” said Alec. “We go to the party, we sneak away, we find the Chamber. Easy enough.”

Shinyun nodded agreement.

“You two think you’re going to a party?” Magnus asked. “Dressed like that?”

Alec and Shinyun looked at each other. Shinyun was wearing her power suit, which was expensive, but the opposite of party wear. Her samgakdo was at her belt. Alec was wearing a faded T-shirt and jeans that somehow had paint on them. Magnus had already added to Alec’s wardrobe in Paris, but they definitely didn’t have carnival masks or elaborate costumes, which as far as Magnus was concerned made for an excellent opportunity for one of his favorite things.

“Come, demon hunters,” he said grandly. “We’re going shopping.”





CHAPTER ELEVEN




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Masks


“I DON’T SAY THIS LIGHTLY,” said Magnus. “But—ta-da!”

Magnus had taken them to Le Mercerie for what he promised would be a shopping extravaganza. Alec had gone shopping with Magnus before, so he was pretty familiar with the process. He waited at each store with half a dozen bags as the warlock tried on nearly everything, from traditional suits to matador traje de luces to something that looked suspiciously like a mariachi costume. Every style and color seemed to work with his dark hair and green-gold cat eyes, so Alec wasn’t sure what Magnus was searching for. Whatever he chose, Alec was sure it would look good.

This outfit was no exception. Magnus was wearing black leather trousers, the material sleeking along his long legs as if the lean muscle had been dipped in ink. His belt was a metal snake, the links scales and the buckle a cobra’s head with sapphire eyes. His cowl-neck shirt was a waterfall of midnight-blue and indigo sequins, dipping low in front to show not only collarbones but a long stretch of skin.

Magnus spun, then regarded himself consideringly in the mirror, his back to Alec. The view made Alec’s mouth go dry.

Alec said, “I think you look—nice.”

“Any concerns?”

“Well,” Alec said. “Those pants would make it difficult to maneuver in a fight, but you won’t need to fight. I can fight for you, if it comes up.”

Magnus looked taken aback, and Alec was not sure if he’d said something wrong, until Magnus’s expression softened. “I appreciate your offer. Now,” he added, “I’m just going to try on one more thing.” He disappeared back into the dressing room.

Next he appeared in a collarless suit with a matching uneven short-cloak hanging carelessly from his shoulders. Shinyun appeared in what seemed to be a combination of armor and a wedding dress.

Five minutes into their first store, Alec had picked out what Magnus described as a frock coat, long and black with medium-length tails. It was flexible enough to move and fight in, and loose enough in the right places to store his stele and seraph blades. Magnus had wanted him to try on something with a little more color, but Alec had said no and Magnus had not pushed the issue. The shirt beneath it was silk and deep blue, the color of Alec’s eyes.

After trying on a few rather quiet dresses, Shinyun had seen Magnus parade out of the changing room wearing a gold suit based loosely on an Egyptian pharaoh’s burial chamber, and came out next in an elaborate peach-colored hanbok. Magnus offered several compliments, and the race was on.

Shinyun was competitive with Magnus. Maybe all warlocks were competitive with each other. Alec hadn’t met many, and wouldn’t know.

He was trying not to worry too much about Shinyun. Magnus clearly liked her, but Alec was awkward with strangers, and he desperately didn’t want to be any more awkward on their romantic trip. How were he and Magnus meant to get to know each other better with a third wheel always around?

Maybe not worrying was a lost cause. Alec was trying not to show he was worried, at least.

Alec nudged the wide-eyed sales attendant next to him. “Where did you get these costumes?”

The young woman shook her head, speaking in careful English. “I have no idea. I have never seen any of these clothes before.”

“Huh,” Alec said. “Weird.”

In the end, Magnus was sporting a shimmering white suit decorated with what looked like iridescent dragon scales, wreathing him in opalescent light. He wore an ivory cloak that hung to his knees, and the collar of his shirt was undone, pearly material curling against the brown of his skin.

Shinyun had decided to go big with an ornate black dress with massive ribbons looping around her hips. Intricate silver vines hung from her neck to the floor, and a fountain of flowers rose from behind her head.

They asked Alec to help them with their final mask choices. For Magnus, it was between a gold mask with a plume of orange feathers fanning out in a half circle, and a reflective silver domino mask that was almost too bright to look at. Shinyun’s two choices were either a plain full-face marble mask or a thin, naked wired mask that hardly covered anything, both ironic choices. Alec went with the silver one for Magnus and the wired one for Shinyun. She fixed it over her impassive face with a faint air of satisfaction.