The Golden City was beautiful after dark. A pity Corinne wasn’t of a mindset to appreciate it. All she could think about right now was her destination tonight.

She’d arrived this morning, stepping off the ship into a spaceport three times the size of the one in Tapti. It was a little overwhelming. She’d been taking it in when a man detached himself from the crowd and approached her, saying, “Nita Corinne?” At her nod, he passed her a small tablet before giving a quick bow and disappearing back into the crowd.

The tablet held a greeting from Frost, welcoming Corinne to Terris and extending an official invitation to the party this evening, with instructions that she should arrive early, and that clothing would be arranged by Lady Snow.

Corinne’s stomach churned in an uncomfortable mix of guilt, nervousness, and excitement. The fact that she was here at all—she’d sent a not to her mother explaining she was taking a few days off, right before she got on the ship to come here, so her mother wouldn’t have time to say no—was enough to create a churning weight of worry. But also, she was nervous about whatever Snow had planned for her. Nervous about whether she’d be able to enjoy it.

Information on the tablet had included details from Frost about the party, but also a hotel recommendation, a list of likely places for lunch, and a link to other entertainments happening in the Golden City over the course of the coming week. A truly thoughtful host.

Corinne was going to have to get herself sorted out before she made another fool of herself tonight.

At her hotel, Corinne locked all the bits of evidence in the hotel safe. She summoned the nima and wove protections around so she could be certain no one would disturb it. Then she sat down on the bed, stared at herself in the mirror, and tried to figure out how to approach this evening. How to face Frost and Snow and the rest.

As well as how to stay alert, how to keep her eyes open for anyone who could be dangerous without being so watchful, so suspicious, that she let down Lady Snow again. The idea of that, Corinne couldn’t bear.

Corinne obtained directions from the hotel concierge, and arrived at the house at her appointed time. It was beautiful, all sweeping arches and soft lights and windows. Nothing like the architecture in Tapti. Since this was the Golden City itself—Snow’s home, Corinne assumed—she wondered if this house actually belonged to Lady Snow. If this was what she considered ideal.

As before, Frost greeted her at the door. “Sur Corinne.” This early, he wasn’t yet masked. Not that his mask before had been anything but a gesture, so ephemeral that it had done nothing to hide his face.

Just like last time, he gave her a note-perfect bow, and just like last time, she reflexively returned it. “Frost.”

“Snow-más was so pleased that you decided to attend,” he said as he led her inside. Then, in a lowered voice, “She was in need of good news. So thank you.”

It seemed strange to be thanked for something Corinne had known nothing about. The admission surprised Corinne into a confession of her own. “I just hope I don’t…disappoint her.”

“To the best of my knowledge, you have yet to disappoint her,” Frost said with utter sincerity.

The house was busy with workers scurrying around rearranging furniture and decor. None of them seemed to pay any attention to Corinne and Frost as he led her up two flights of stairs and down a long hall to a lushly appointed bedroom suite. Through the sitting room, past a bathroom larger than Corinne’s entire apartment, and into the bedroom that included an ornate, tri-fold mirror and a huge four-post bed.

“Your outfit for this evening is in the closet. I’ll be right outside if you need anything.” With that, Frost withdrew.

Corinne went to the closet, flipped on the light, and sucked in her breath at the glittering material that hung all alone in the vast space.

Snow had taken to heart Corinne’s dragon masks. The costume tonight was an expansion on that theme. But it was so much more than Corinne ever would have asked for—more than she could have dreamed.

The centerpiece was a jeweled corset. As in, a corset made out of jewels. Something red—Corinne wouldn’t have known a ruby from a garnet from whatever else it might be to save her life, but she knew these were beautiful. Faceted on the front to glitter as they moved, smooth on the back, for comfort. The gems were layered closely for an effect like dragon scales. Held together with magic—Corinne felt the familiar tingle of the nima as she touched it—so there was literally no other material present.

Corinne held the corset up to herself. The top fit in just beneath her breasts; the bottom flared out over the curve of her hips.

Corinne had been raised in wealth and privilege, but this was a level of extravagance she couldn’t even imagine. The materials, the craftsmanship—had Lady Snow obtained this just for her?

The rest of the clothing—if it could be called clothing—was made up of thin, gauzy material with bright embroidery in red and gold. There was a flowing skirt, built in layered strips. Corinne flushed as she ran her hand along the material. It would cover her, but it would be an easy thing for a hand to reach in and part the layers. To expose. To touch.

For the top, a long rectangular piece of the same material. Corinne took instruction from the way it had been arranged on the hanger. It would tuck in to the top of the corset to cover her breasts, with the trailing ends left to hang over her shoulders and down her back.

Corinne stripped, left her own clothes carefully folded on the bed. She took the corset first, wrapped it around herself. As the sides met behind her, they fused into a tight, but perfect fit. Corinne took a couple experimental breaths. The scales moved with her, like they were a layer of her own skin.

Next the skirt, which was also perfectly fitted. Corinne twitched her hips to feel the material swirl around her legs. It was feather-light, and even the embroidery was soft where it brushed against her.

The scarf gave her pause. As it had been arranged, the gauzy fabric covered her breasts, but did nothing to actually hide them. As she stood before the mirror, she could clearly see the dark circles of her nipples hanging over the top edge of the corset. But if she wrapped it differently, layered the long piece over itself a couple times, it would leave her modesty intact.

Corinne was here to be daring, wasn’t she? She left the scarf as it was.

The final touch was the mask. A dragon head carved in porcelain and gold. As Corinne slipped it over her face, a centered sort of calm came with it. The woman staring at her in the mirror was no longer Nita Corinne. The woman in the mirror was a daring, exotic stranger, someone who belonged in this house, someone who was ready for whatever the night had to offer.

She returned to the sitting room, where Frost waited. He looked her up and down with cool consideration. There was no hint of a leer to his expression, which relieved her, but even so it was a little uncomfortable to be standing revealed, before this man who was a stranger to her, but who knew her real name.

But Frost was, in his way, a part of Lady Snow. That made it all right.

He approached her, his expression thoughtful. He lifted a hand. “May I?”

At Corinne’s nod, he untied and retied the loose knot of scarf at the back of her neck. He flicked at several pieces of her skirt, adjusted the top line of corset across her back. “There we are. Perfect.”

This room also had a mirror, and Corinne couldn’t believe how much of a difference those few little tweaks had made. She no longer looked real to her own eyes. She had been transformed into some artistic fantasy, like something out of a dream. She stood in reverie at her own reflection.

Until Frost’s gentle voice said, “If you’re ready, I can deliver you to Lady Snow.”

“Yes.” Corinne was ready.

The house had changed while Corinne had been making herself over. The lights had dimmed; the decorators had finished their work and disappeared. The voices of guests arriving floated up from below.

Lady Snow was waiting at the top of the stairs. Corinne felt the weight of her gaze as soon as she and Frost came around the corner that brought her into view.

As before, Snow was gowned and masked in a glittering confection of soft silks and bright jewels that gave the effect of fresh, untouched snow sparkling in the morning sun. She was radiant. She was magnificent. From the curve of her lips and the light in her eyes, she was more than pleased with the sight of Corinne.

“Well well.” Snow’s rich voice was as beautiful as Corinne remembered. “What do you think, Frost? Did I choose well?”

“You’ve never needed me to affirm the brilliance of your choices, Snow-más.”

Corinne felt Snow’s eyes moving over her. Her whole body warmed and her nipples tightened to very visible points.

Snow smiled. To Frost, she said, “Run along now, darling. Corinne and I will be fine from here.”

He gave another pitch-perfect bow and retreated down a different hall. Snow took a graceful step forward, closing the distance between her and Corinne. She reached out, her fingers skimming lightly down Corinne’s side, over the jeweled corset. “Perfect.”

Since they were alone, Corinne dared to murmur, “I brought the evidence, the things I found. We should—”

A finger against Corinne’s lips silenced her. “Not tonight. Tonight is for you to have fun. A night of pleasure before work consumes us.” She brushed the exposed lower edge of Corinne’s cheek with the back of her fingers. “Little Dragon. Are you ready?”

Corinne nodded, her lungs too tight for words.

“Well then, my dear. Follow me. It’s time to play.”