Chapter 79

Violet

I laughed as he started to shake his finger at me.

“You know I always had my doubts about you.”

I grinned at him, embracing him tightly.

“Hello, Master Remy. You know I’m always a little trouble, but never for you.”

Master Remy shook his head, feigning exasperation as we pulled apart.

“Lies. And don’t smile at me. Just like your mother thinking a smile and sweet face will get you off the hook.”

I kissed his cheek. “Better?”

He scowled and pinched my cheek. “Cheeky thing. And to bring this to my doorstep? A man? I thought we had an agreement about your suit shopping.”

My lips twitched, thinking of the last time I had actually come into the shop for a man’s suit.

It had been the one I buried my father in. He pat my shoulder.

“After I saw you in that designer nonsense last year, I figured I’d finally seen the last of you.”

Theodore’s lips twitched, and he glanced over at me.

“Trouble, huh?” he teased.

Master Remy’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he stepped forward, taking the measuring tape from Mr. Moreau. He offered his hand Theodore.

“Remy Lachance, at your service. I take it you’re new alpha everyone’s talking about.”

“Theodore Nightshade,” Theo said, shaking his hand. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”

Master Remy grinned. “Pleased my ass.” He pursed his lips and looked Theodore over derisively. “And what the hell are you wearing?”

He flushed. Master Remy looked at me. “What the hell is he wearing? Is this what your father foisted off on you?”

I snickered. “He is my second husband. I don’t believe they ever met.”

He grunted. “I was beginning to wonder if he’d taken something to grown a few inches.”

Theodore preened.

“Tell me there’s a brain in the pretty packaging?” His jaw dropped, and I snickered. “I’d better not be wasting my time.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t bring the last one for a reason, Master Remy. I would never waste your time with a man who knew nothing of combat.”

He hummed and looked up at Theodore. Mr. Moreau hung back, waiting for him to make a decision.

“Alright, we’ll see.” He rolled up his sleeves. “He looks like a spear thrower.”

Theodore’s brows furrowed, clearly thrown off by the sudden assessment.

“I... uh, thanks?” he stammered, clearly unsure how to respond.

“Long distance, one shot.”

Theodore flushed brighter. He looked scandalized as the man grabbed the little stool and sat down.

“I’ll do what I can with the bones,” he said. “Can’t promise anything, you know?”

I rolled my eyes. “He doesn’t need any help. He cleans up just fine on his own.”

The older man let out a cooing sound. “Oh, she likes you, eh? She’s nothing but trouble, you know.”

He drew the measuring tape through his fingers. It lit up under his finger tips and started darting around as he looked over him.

“Hmm, not bad. Got the right build for a suit, that’s for sure." He sighed. “Since you’re attached to my favorite little trouble maker, I’ll do you a favor and make sure the suit—”

“Suits.”

“You’re pushing it.” He scoffed. “They’ll have all the bells and whistles.”

“He needs one for a tea party. Soon. In a week.”

He huffed, waving his hand. “Don’t insult me. You can leave town with one today.”

Theodore’s eyes flickered to me, then back to the tape measure, watching it shoot up to his height and spit out glowing numbers that drifted to the tablet in Master Remy’s hand. It darted near his throat, threw out a number and kept going every few inches down his body.

“How stealthy can this suit get?”

“Stupid question,” Master Remy said.

“Be nice,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ll be armed and dangerous, and nobody will be the wiser. For tea party purposes… you’ll make a statement.”

Master Remy huffed. “Your father would kill over dead of shame.”

Theodore set his jaw, but I smiled at him, shaking my head. I’d explain later.

I watched with amusement and curiosity as Master Remy sent his tape measure darting and measuring across Theodore’s body. The stool he was on started to spin. It was always so cool to see him work.

“You’re a big fucker, aren’t you?” Master Remy asked. “Makes sense. Congrats on your nuptials. What can you wield?”

“Swords. I’m decent with an axe, but I favor daggers.”

“Daggers, huh?” he muttered, his fingers moving deftly as he made notes. “You like them close and personal, don’t you?”

“I… inherited a set. They’re first weapon I trained with.”

My heart softened. I would bet that the dagger set was from his mother. I took note to look through the book catalog on magical dagger techniques for him.

Master Remy grunted; his gaze intense. “Hmph. Loyalty. I hear that’s something the last one is missing.”

I chuckled as he leaned back and shook his head.

“Damn. The Goddess sure knows how to match them, doesn’t she?” He rose to his feet. “Alright, let me get a good look at you.”

The stand Theodore was on, dropped into the floor making them the same height. Theodore’s eyes bulger as Master Remy grabbed him by the face, his jaw in his hand and squishing his cheek. He was probably caught off guard by the man’s strength. I bit back a laugh.

He grunted again, his gaze piercing. “Old blood. Goddess’ Grace, she must have plans for you… Well, the least I can do is make sure you can face it in style.”

I rolled my eyes at the old man’s theatrics, but Theo seemed to tense under his scrutiny.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Theodore asked.

Master Remy let him go. “I’m a tailor not an educator. How many suits, little blossom?”

“Aside from at least one tea party? We’ll start with ten.”

“I’m insulted.” He scoffed. “Not a social butterfly this one, eh?”

“We’re working on it.”

Theodore set his jaw as the platform rose back up to ground level and Master Remy flicked a sheet of paper through the air.

“The tea party’s a wedding gift, brat. Now get out. I’ve got work to do, come back before closing.”

“Thanks, gramps!” I went to Theodore and took his hand, grinning as Master Remy left. We went to the counter and put down the down payment for the suits and out into the cool air.

“He likes you!” I said, nudging him. “That’s a brilliant thing.”

Theodore looked at me like I’d grown another head. “That’s liking me?”

I chuckled. “Well, he likes you more than he liked my father, and Master Remy refused to let him wear anyone else’s suits after he married my mother, so… yes.”

Theodore shook his head. “Cantankerous old man— wait, is he actually your grandfather?”

I shook my head. “We are related… in a roundabout way, but no. Not like that. And… for clarity, my father would die of shame from the dressing down Master Remy would give him about Lucas… and the fact that he likes you more.”

I beamed up at him. “He wouldn’t give a tea party suit as a wedding present if he didn’t.”

Theodore bobbed his head. “I’ll… get the hang of his demeanor.”

“Sooner than you think,” I said. “Ten suits might get you through to the end of the year.”

Theo blinked, clearly overwhelmed. “I didn’t realize it would be such a big deal.”

“He would say that a good suit can make a man look like he’s born to lead, and keep his secrets safe.”

“Here I thought it was just a suit.”

I laughed. “Master Remy is very much a man of his home country.”

“Suits are a big thing?”

I nodded. At the least, the concept of formal clothes being more functional than ceremonial was something they brought with them when the first immigrants came over the border, long before the country was established. As styles changed over here and formal wear started to become a separate thing than everyday wear, they blended the functionality of their clothing into general formal wear from suits to formal dresses. The gown I’d worn to the event and got blood all over hadn’t been made by Master Remy.

I… hadn’t actually had a chance or reason to wear the last formal gown that he’d made me. I was supposed to wear it to an event with my father before he died. It’s still in my closet in Darkmoon along with the suit he was meant to wear that night.

“Are you okay?” Theodore asked, drawing closer. “There’s this… grief.”

“I just… thought about the last dress he made me.” I dabbed at my eyes. “I never got to wear it.”

He narrowed his eyes. “We should find a reason for you wear it then… I’m damn intrigued.”

I sighed. “I’m glad that he hasn’t decided to just head back.”

“He’s… from across the border, right?”

I nodded. “So, you should expect the very best.”

I looked up at him. “We take care of our own.”