32

“I’m not wearing that.” Anzi pointed at the door with a commanding finger. “The thought’s appreciated. But no, thank you.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’m talking about you saying you appreciate it. You don’t.” Letti planted her hands on her hips, eyebrows furrowed hard like two swords on the verge of a violent clash. “Why don’t you like it!”

“Because.”

“Give me a reason. A real one!”

“The list is so long you could make new dresses and wraps out of it for every girl in the harem. Take it as it is. I’m not wearing something that clumsy to the gala.”

Letti looked like she was going to explode. Her fabulous blonde ringlets bounced along her bared shoulders as if they had a life—and anger—of their own. “But I saw it! That man, the one with the wonderful back and beautiful chest, him—he said, he said he was looking forward to escorting you there!”

She hated how fate had arranged things. The woman had apparently been hiding around the corner when Kai had walked her to her ro