Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Well, it’s kind of a long story,” I began.
“I removed the geas she’d been under all her life,” Lachlan said, stepping forward. He and Bran had been standing back in the shadows under the spiral stairway, waiting for me to get around to introducing them.
“And who are you two?” Avery demanded, giving the two tall Fae a skeptical once-over.
“The blond one is Bran,” Griffin remarked coolly. “I can tell by his scent. As for the other…I don’t know.” He frowned at Lachlan. “Who are you?”
“This is Lachlan,” I said quickly. “He’s going to be attending Nocturne with us. And he’s right—he removed the magic spell—the geas—I’d been under since I was a baby.”
“I called him from the Realm to help,” Bran said, stepping up to stand beside the dark Fae. “And I can vouch for him—Lachlan is my oldest friend. He can be trusted.”
“Well, welcome to the Norm Dorm.” Megan smiled at them both brightly and held out a hand. “I’m Megan and this is Kaitlyn and Avery and…”
After she’d made all the introductions and the guys were talking, I turned to Avery who was still staring at me.
“Emma,” he said, “You look like a Goddess. No, scratch that—you look like a Fae.”
“I know I do,” I said uncomfortably. “I, uh, can’t help it.”
“Well, you might not be able to help your pretty new face but you can certainly help those clothes.” He frowned at my baggy old T-shirt. “Did you go diving in the rag bag for that outfit or what?”
“None of my old clothes fit me anymore since I, uh, changed,”
I told him desperately. “Avery, I really need your help.”
“Yes, you do,” he agreed briskly. “Come on, let’s go into your wardrobe and make some alterations.
“Thank you!” I smiled in relief. Avery was a whiz at sewing and domestic magic, though he also had formidable powers. But I was certain he could help me with my problem by using what he called his “magic needle” which was the first spell he’d ever done as a kid when his powers manifested.
Sure enough, the minute Kaitlyn and Megan and Avery and I all got into the room where we girls slept, Avery opened my wardrobe and got to work. He called his magic needle into existence and it began to alter my clothes at once to fit me.
But doing what was really elementary magic for him, didn’t take much of Avery’s concentration. He had more than enough attention left over to grill me about my “new look.”
“Okay, spill it, Emmers,” he demanded as his magic needle moved on its own, hovering in mid-air behind him as it altered one of my uniform blouses. “What exactly happened to you and how did Bran O’Connor turn into such a hottie?”
“It’s a long story,” I began.
“We’ve got time,” Megan came to sit on the bed beside me and Kaitlyn sat on the other side.
“Well,” I began. “It all started when I was at work last night and Bran and his family came in for supper…”
“And now here I am.” I spread my arms to indicate my new appearance as I finished my long, strange tale. “It turns out I’m adopted and my mom doesn’t know who my real parents are—or were—and I don’t feel like myself at all and none of my clothes fit!”
“Not true,” Avery said briskly, as his magic needle finished work on my last skirt. “At least not about the clothes. They should work now—try them on.”
“Thanks, Avery!” I went into the bathroom and slipped into a uniform, relieved to see that everything fit me to a T now—although the blouse still seemed tighter across the front. But I guessed that any blouse I wore was going to seem tight now. Ugh.
I came out and all three of them embarrassed me by clapping and cheering. Avery even gave me a wolf whistle.
“I just can’t get over it, Emma,” Megan said. “You’re so different.”
“I feel different,” I said with a sigh.
“You don’t sound happy about it,” Avery said, frowning. “Even though you’re absolutely gorgeous.”
“I’m not really happy,” I admitted. “I’m so used to fading into the background and now I feel like everyone is staring at me all the time.”
“They’ll get used to it and so will you,” Kaitlyn said, smiling as she gave my hand a squeeze. “Transformations take getting used to.”
“Well you would know, little Miss ‘I’m-a-Drake now,’” Avery remarked, raising a sardonic eyebrow at her.
Kaitlyn made a face at him and they both laughed. I couldn’t help thinking of how shy and introverted she’d been back when she’d been scarred by the fire—before her own transformation—and contrasting it with how self-assured and confident she was now.
I wished my own transformation had made me feel more confident too, but I still just felt weird.
“You’ll be okay, Emmers,” Avery said, clearly seeing the unhappy look on my face. “And in time, you’ll realize that those of us who are extra beautiful get special treatment.” He mimed tossing long, invisible hair and we all laughed at him.