Or one more sinfully handsome. They finished with Piers in a cream-colored V-neck sweater that hugged his strong torso (she could see his six pack—possibly eight—practically waving at her from under the material), dark cargo pants (he really liked all the pockets), solid leather boots (he did not enjoy laces instead of buckles), and a navy-blue winter jacket they’d had to get in XL because nothing else fit Piers’s tall, muscular frame. Those arms and shoulders… Sophie had snuck so many looks her eyeballs were tired from all the bouncing back and forth.

She had to admit, Piers looked pretty darn amazing in the clothes they’d picked out for him, even though he definitely needed a shower. And probably a doctor. At the very least, some disinfectant. She’d dig a painkiller out of her purse when she could stop staring, although he’d probably refuse her “sorcery” and just look around for the next enemy to wallop.

Sophie hid her smile, especially because Piers didn’t seem all that comfortable in his new outfit. He kept plucking at his sweater and muttering about how formfitting it was. She wasn’t the only one gawking. The salesman was just as impressed with Piers’s physique as she was. The salesman wanted to be him, even with all the cuts and bruises. It was cute and funny. They got ten percent off, which was even better.

When they’d finished, Sophie paid, although Piers didn’t look at ease with that, and he really didn’t understand the idea of a credit card. She wasn’t sure she should be using her card with an evil genius like Novalight tracking her for the shard, but what choice did she have? It wasn’t as if she had oodles of cash stuffed down her bra. Besides, New York was huge. She’d stop at the nearest ATM to get money for a new hotel room and food, not use her card again for a while, and leave the neighborhood. Rinse and repeat, as necessary—or until her funds ran out. At least now, she had a bodyguard.

With Piers just outside in the now heavily falling snow—and discovering what waterproof meant for his new boots and jacket—Sophie pretended to have left something at the register and zipped back into the shop for another full change of clothing and some men’s underwear in what she hoped was the right size. Piers had saved her life. He could at least get two outfits and some boxers out of it. While she did that, he went through the revolving door three times.

“Mastered the door now, have you?” she asked with a smile as she joined him on the icy sidewalk.

Piers gave the storefront a last long look. “There are some very interesting things here in Apple. The Magoi must be extremely powerful, and you don’t even see them. I’m impressed.”