Chapter One

Drake nodded, passing a set of knives to Nico. "Try these. There's a fairly good swordsmith in town, willing to work quietly and not ask any questions."

"Ah, the best kind," Nico agreed, testing the weight of each of the blades with a critical eye. "These are fine too. Your smith is a good one. Did you manage to get anything for Riki?"

Drake grinned broadly and with a flourish, produced a bright red dress with yellow trim and enough frills to make Riki blink twice. It had a wide, tiered skirt, and a neckline that would scoop low over her breasts, but the sleeves would probably come all the way to the middle of her forearms, hiding the worst of her scars and providing some warmth. It was flamboyant, but beautiful, and Riki could barely believe it was meant for her.

Nico took it from Drake with gentle hands and walked over to the bed, sitting at her side. He draped the dress over her legs. "I want you to wear this, sweetheart. I know it's a little bright, but we're posing as Drake's cousins from the Jinn. Most of the Jinn women dress in very bright colors and it will help to camouflage you."

It touched her that he would worry over whether she liked the dress or not, but he didn't truly understand her apprehension. Somehow, she needed to make him understand.

"It's a beautiful dress, Nico," she said softly. "Neither the color nor style bothers me. It's just ... I've never worn something so pretty. Or so new."

Nico reached out and pulled her into his arms, rocking her close to his solid chest. "You will have rooms of new dresses an