The Pharaoh's princess

shopping and the mirror

Renee – POV

After breakfast, my mom wanted us to get ready to pick out dresses for the fall formal. It was in two weeks. No one had asked me yet, but I had a strong feeling a certain someone would soon. Annavi, of course, would be going with Jacob. Getting her to wear a dress, however, was another story. She preferred dark colors and comfort over elegance, glitter, and pastels—basically the opposite of me.

We went upstairs to grab our money. Annavi kept hers in a purple safe—a precaution after discovering her mom had been stealing from her summer job earnings. My mom had offered to pay for both our dresses, but I refused. She worked so hard, and any expense I could take off her plate, I would. As for Annavi, she had a hard time accepting help. She always tried to handle her own problems alone. Usually, only Jacob or I could convince her otherwise. I admired her strength more than she knew.

Just as I was about to head downstairs, the mirror I had bought caught my attention. It was glowing. I picked it up, relieved that Annavi had already gone ahead.

Hathor appeared in the reflection.

"Hello, Renee," she said. "Take this mirror with you from now on. This way I can warn you of any danger. You are being watched by someone very dangerous. Though there is only so much I can do—even I must obey certain laws."

A cold shiver ran down my spine, but I nodded and tucked the mirror into my purse.

Downstairs, my mom, Elena, and Annavi were waiting in the car. We were headed to Willowick, known for its variety of boutiques—perfect for avoiding dress duplicates.

The boutique we entered smelled faintly of vanilla and lavender, with soft music playing from floating enchanted speakers that gave the shop a cozy, whimsical vibe.

Inside, I browsed through the fall collection, opting for something elegant but not over the top. I settled on a warm orange dress with a beaded waist embellishment. It was ankle length with a slit that rose just above my knee. The color flattered my brown skin perfectly, and the fabric shimmered under the light like candlelit silk.

After deciding on mine, I went to help Annavi. She had narrowed it down to three options. One was plain black and looked more suited for a funeral. Another was brown and equally dreary. But the last—a navy blue, sparkly number—was out of character for her.

She hesitated. So I handed her the blue one.

When she stepped out, I was speechless. It hugged her slender, athletic frame perfectly and featured a sparkly pin on the side.

"I know," she said before I could comment. "It's not my usual thing, but I want to impress Jacob. And maybe get his i***t friends to shut up about how much of a tomboy I am."

"Jacob loves you for who you are," I reminded her.

"I know," she said, nodding. "But it gets old—the way they act like I don't deserve him just because I like jeans more than glitter."

I chuckled. "Well, if this dress doesn’t shut them up, nothing will."

It was stunning. It showed off her toned arms, subtle curves, and yes, even the assets hidden beneath her usual t-shirts. I couldn’t wait for those jerks to eat their words.

As we made our way to the register, a chill crept over me. I felt someone watching me, the hairs on my neck standing at attention.

I turned around.

No one.

Unknown – POV

She has sharp instincts. I'd been trailing her through the store, waiting for a moment she might be alone. But that damn giraffe of a best friend was glued to her side, and now her mom and little sister were here too.

She was laughing, her long raven hair brushing just above her curves. Her presence hadn’t changed. Still radiant. Still kind. Still intelligent. Why wouldn’t she notice me?

"Stalker much?"

I turned, startled, to see Evelyn.

"Why waste your time on her when you could be with someone like me?"

I was about to dismiss her when a twisted idea sparked. Maybe I could use her. Until Renee was mine, Evelyn could be a useful distraction. And to be fair, she wasn’t hard on the eyes.

I smiled. "Didn’t know you were interested."

"I am," she purred, hands on hips.

"Be my date to the dance, gorgeous."

"Really?" she squeaked.

I nodded. She threw her arms around me, and I returned the embrace.

Like moth to flame.