She glances up, a smile on her face that probably isn’t too far off from the one Satan must have worn as he wrapped his serpentine form around the Tree of Knowledge and offered Eve a single juicy apple. “Yes, Ana?”

Her voice is low and deep, and it makes me forget that I am a higher form of life, capable of language.

I watch, struck dumb, as she unearths a soft leather belt—from where, I don’t know—to hold the scabbard and wraps it around my thigh, right beneath the top of my stocking. She pulls it tight, and I almost pass out.

Then, she does the worst thing she has ever done to me. She gently lowers my skirts, covering the dagger and my exposed legs and all my other bits.

“There,” she says as she smooths the skirts back into place. “Now you’re armed.”

“I love you,” I say because my brain in its current state has the mental capacity of a lizard, and that’s all I can manage in this moment.

She stands, hands fussing with her own skirts. “I know.”

Before I can add anything, she steps away. “Now to gather my own … accessories. I’ll only be a moment.”

As sad as I am to not have her within touching distance, it’s probably for the best. We are preparing to enter the lions’ den. I need my wits about me if we’re going to survive the night.

As much as I hate to admit it, formal gowns may be terrible for maneuverability but, as it turns out, they’re excellent for hiding all manner of weaponry.

I twirl in the mirror, admiring my reflection. “Who knew all these miles of fabric were good for something besides being a pain in my ass?”

Kiki looks up from where she’s strapping a holster to her thigh. I try not to stare at the inches of exposed skin above her stocking or how nicely that skin contrasts with the dark brown of the leather belt she’s securing around the upper portion of her leg. I fail, quite spectacularly.

“I’ve been trying to convince you of that for several years now.” She pulls the belt tighter so it doesn’t fall, and I have to look away. I am not made of stone.

My eyes are firmly fixed to my own reflection once more as I tug at my sleeves for no other reason than to give my hands something to do. “Yes, but you know I hardly ever listen to anything you say.”

Kiki snorts as she lowers her skirts. I watch as she slides Alejandro’s silver pistol into her pocket. I expect it to pull the fabric down, but the line of the dress remains undisturbed.

When she sees me watching, she smiles. “I cut a hole in the pocket so that I can reach for the gun.”