Chapter 0795 I groan, my hands locked firm on the wooden bed post, as Pippa tugs hard on the strings of my corset. "Pippa," I pant, trying hard to look at her over my shoulder, "are you sure this is necessary? I've already got a pretty small waist..."

"I'm so sorry, Ariel," Pippa says, the strings so tight in her hands that her fingers are laced red and white. "Gabriel's orders. He said he wants you turned out in the height of fashion and..." she shrugs, looking down at my elaborate undergarment, implying that this is indeed necessary.

I sigh and nod, knowing it's not her fault, and turn around, letting Pippa continue.

When she finally ties off the strings and I stand straight, running my hands down over the corset, I'm kind of...appalled at the bizarre new shape my body has been morphed into. My waist is so small, and there's all sorts of ridiculous padding sewn in over my breasts and my booty. God, I look like...some weird fantasy of a woman all covered in fabric. Not a real girl at all.

Which, I suppose, is the point.

"Ready?" Pippa asks, panting a little herself as she hefts yards and yards of grey-blue silk over towards

me.

"All of that?" I ask, pointing at it with wide eyes. "Is one dress!?"

She laughs a little, grinning at me, and nods.

over my head to drape over my body. Then she gets

dressing as a boy for months now, Ari becoming part of my identity. And neither Jackson nor Luca had complained once to see me without makeup, and in slacks,

got the impression with both that...it just never

Gabriel? Clearly...he

any questions I can answer, maybe to make things better?" I turn my head to look into her face,

the essence of goodness.

at all times to

kind.

sigh, shrugging a bit, hesitating. But then I let myself ask, truly curious and needing information. "Is he always like

intuits who

"He didn't used to

ife

she's aware that that news doesn't do anything to soften the meaning implicit in her words: that yes he's

that my newset mate

in confusion.

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