You Are Mine (Mine #1)(62)

Does that mean the laws are different in Envado?

“See,” Katherine says. “You're only telling us what we asked for. Now, we can't do anything about him owning you, but we can make him glad he does, which should make things better for you. The closer you get to him, the less you'll be a possession.”

“We shouldn't make her if she doesn't want to,” Waverly says.

Katherine catches my gaze in the mirror. “What do you say, Serena?”

I lick my lips. “I suppose it wouldn't hurt.”

A grin spreads across her face. “Waverly, will you redo her hair? I've seen some of the things Envadi do with hair. Don't let her get away with this severe bun thing anymore. I'll grab some face paint.”





Chapter Twenty-Five





Fifteen minutes later, my hair is braided and twisted around the back of my head, with a few wisps left by my face. Not a style seen in Chardonia. My face paint is subtle, but makes my eyes look bigger, my mouth a little redder, and my cheeks as if I'm blushing. It looks good.

“Why don't you go out so you can see his face when she comes out?” Waverly suggests.

“Yes, all right,” Katherine says. “You can do this, Serena. Don't forget to smile.”

After she hurries out the door, Waverly says, “You really don't have to do this if you don't want to.”

Part of me really wants to and part of me is shying away. I shrug. “You've already transformed me. If I don't want to do more than that, I won't.”

Her lips tighten. “Be careful.” She opens the door and I follow her through the hall. When we reach the receiving room, she holds up a hand for me to wait and enters.

“May I present Serena, Master Zade.”

Does she know she broke protocol by announcing my name first? No corrections are forthcoming. At least not in front of everyone. I try to calm my nerves, but my hands start shaking. I paste a smile on my face like Katherine said to and step into the room. My sisters look at me, but I watch Zade. His expression changes to something I don't recognize. After a few moments, he scowls. As soon as he does, I want to scowl back, but decide to pretend like it doesn't bother me. Dressing up feels good, I don't have to let him ruin it.

Zade's hand bunches into a fist on his lap. “Have you drank that tea again?”

“What? No.” Where is this coming from?

“Then someone slipped it to you.”

“Zade,” Waverly says, “I've been with her and no one gave her anything. She didn't eat or drink while we were back there.”

His eyes never leave mine. “Is this true?”

“It is.”

“Then why is your face paint different, and your hair? Why are you smiling?”

The smile falls from my face. I made the wrong choice. I knew there was something awry with smiling. And the hair and face paint. Why did I let them talk me into it? Waverly hides her face behind her hands and Katherine chuckles. Them finding humor in the situation makes my muscles tense.

“Forgive me,” I say. “I was pleased with the new dress.”

“Oh.” His face pinks a bit and he sits back on the sofa. “Oh.” He stares at nothing and shakes his head. “You're never like this. The smile, never. And when you do, it's so rare and quick.” I rarely smile? “I thought...I'm a complete idiot.”

“No need to worry about that, Master Zade,” Waverly says.

For a moment his scowl deepens before lightening. “It's a nice dress. Your hair is good, too.”

“Waverly styled it differently.”

He grins at her. “I like it.”

I'm still trying to get over him calling himself an idiot again to think what their banter means, but a tiny knot forms in my stomach. Maybe he likes Waverly's styling, but not me trying it.

“Please, sit,” he says. “There's no need for everyone to stay on their feet.”

As Waverly and Katherine find their seats, I take my place back on the couch. I'm still overly aware of his presence next to me, but now it's charged with my failings.

“The dress really is nice, Miss Katherine,” Zade says. “It's good of you and Waverly to put a smile on her face. Sorry I was so surprised at it.”

“Thank you. It was a pleasure making it for her and Waverly has a hidden talent for doing hair.”

Waverly shrugs. “It's how we do hair at home, just what I was asked to do.”

“Well, it's good.” Zade leans toward her a moment, then seems to catch himself and leans back. The knot in my stomach multiplies. “Tell us, Miss Katherine, where do you get ideas for your dresses? I'm not overly familiar with women's fashions, but I can tell these are different from usual Chardonian dresses.”

“Please do tell,” Cynthia says. “I love what you've done.”

While she talks, I grab a biscuit and nibble on it

“There's not much to tell, I'm afraid. Most of my ideas come from mixing what the tarnished have with what the wives wear. More practical, yet still beautiful. A few things from other countries. Where ever I can find inspiration.”

“No one's done it yet, though,” Cynthia says.

“A few have tried. Not exactly like my designs, but similar. None have succeeded.”