The wedding preparations were going smoothly, and Eliza was brimming with joy at the sight. Her dream was finally coming true. She stayed by Rune’s side almost the entire morning, leaping between this decoration and that flower arrangement.

  “I can’t wait for you to see me dressed up tonight. It’s going to be like a fairy tale,” she gushed.

  He looked over the millions of flowers that his beloved had flooded the ballroom with, and smiled. “It’s perfect.”

  Ashley and Ariel came in to see the arrangements. Ash was impressed, but Ariel studied everything down to the minute details.

  “I like it. Maybe if there was a color palette, it would be more cohesive. Like all reds and pinks, or yellows and oranges, instead of every color,” she critiqued.

  Eliza flicked her tail excitedly, undaunted. “I couldn’t pick just a few.”

  “I think it’s wonderful, Eliza. I wouldn’t change a thing,” Ashley praised.

  “Oh, Rune, I need to show you the plans for the meal. Orion is spoiling us,” she said. “I’ll see you fillies later!”

  Eliza dragged Rune down the hall, leaving Ashley and Ariel alone in the ballroom. Ariel wandered over to one of the flower arches and gently ruffled the petals with a hoof.

  “Careful with those. She’ll have you for dinner,” Ashley advised.

  Ariel sighed. “I just want them to have a perfect wedding. They’ve been waiting forever. It’s only right.”

  “You know she’ll be happy no matter how it goes. It will be perfect, so long as it’s her and Rune’s day,” Ashley said.

  “I spent all of last night trying to find the right look. I don’t want to outshine her, of course, but I don’t want to be underdressed,” Ariel mused.

  Ashley laughed. “You can’t help but look good, Ariel. You’re you.”

  “I guess that’s true.” She scuffed her foot on the floor nervously. “I was wondering if you wanted me to do anything for you. To look nice for the wedding.”

  Ashley’s muzzle went red with the proposition. “Really? I’d been thinking of asking you, I just didn’t know how to say it.”

  “I’ll do anything for you. But I need a favor in return,” she said in a low voice.

  Ashley flickered her ears suspiciously. “What do you need?”

  “I want to dance with Marshall tonight.”

  “I am not doing that for you, Ariel! That wouldn’t be fair to Laci,” Ashley hissed.

  She crossed her arms like a brat. “Then there’s no deal. Come on, it’s just one night. He’ll be happier with me anyway.”

  “What’s Marshall going to think when he comes to? I’m not maintaining your charade past this wedding,” Ashley pointed out.

  Ariel sighed. “He’s going to fall in love with me, Ash. If you want my help, you’re going to have to pay for it.”

  When Rune proposed to Eliza years ago, Ashley felt like she was on top of the world. Her skin was tight and thin, her muscles were firm, and the sinews of her legs were strung like violins. The magic was still undercover; she was a riding horse behind a thin veil. Her husband would cradle her head in his arms every night and sing her to sleep, treating her like his queen just to earn her attention. Now, it all seemed so distant and unattainable. How could she be foolish enough to think he would stay with a criminal like her?

  Ashley looked at the ground, embarrassed. “I will do it, but if you mess this up, that is your own fault. I’m only using my magic as long as you use yours. As soon as my appearance changes back, you can expect Marshall to be himself again.”

  Ariel threw her arms around Ashley and embraced her tightly. Ashley was stiff as a board from apprehension.

  “You’re my favorite mare, Ashley. You’re like my mom, but better,” she said.

  …

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Laci splashed Sultan playfully with the ocean water. The beach had become one of her favorite places. There was nothing but water for miles, and a long expanse of sand made the greatest turf for a little gallop. There was no risk to practicing her magic here either-no one to come after her for burning down a forest or singeing the hem of a curtain. She trotted along the water’s edge, the wet sand making a delightful crunch when her feet struck it.

  Sultan seemed strangely on edge despite her carefree spirits. He watched the water tensely, snorting hard and pawing at every wave of water that dared lap at his feet. He paced the shoreline methodically, ears perpetually turning like radars.

  “You should get ready. Rune and Eliza are wed tonight,” Sultan reminded her.

  “I don’t even know what to wear,” Laci said.

  Sultan shivered his skin to flick off the little droplets on his coat. “I know some of Rhapsody’s belongings are still trailing around the mansion.”

  “She wouldn’t mind if I borrowed them?”

  Sultan laughed, squealing as he did. “When you are dead, Laci, there is little in the material world to worry about. I know she won’t mind.”

  He took her up the tallest tower in the mansion, reaching up so high she could see the entire garden and front courtyard from the balcony. Thin veil-like purple curtains drizzled down the walls, and all of the lamp stands were set with gold fittings. Rhapsody’s bed chambers spared no expense. She opened the wardrobe and various garments spilled out. She picked up the first thing that popped out at her, an amethyst purple cloak made of pure silk. It felt like butter against her skin.

  “She might be upset if you borrow that one in particular,” Sultan mentioned.

  He was plagued with the memory of Rhapsody in that favorite cloak. She would leave the front of it open for business, and carry a glass of champagne that made her look like somebody she wasn’t. She would stand in the castle halls, teasing him endlessly, hips swaying with every step she took. He could practically feel the cold water dripping down his thin skin, delicate hooves rubbing him down like a precious diamond. If it was just the palace walls that kept them apart, he might be whole.

  Laci put it back down. “Okay, then what can I wear?”

  She rummaged through color after color that did not suit her. Purple, green, and blue did not feel quite right on her. Sultan was eerily quiet, poking through her room, letting his hoof graze over her pearly knife.

  “Black Arabs. You know what they say? Black goes with everything,” he said.

  She finally found a crimson red cape that fit her like a glove. There were even little silver beads on the lining that complimented her beautifully.

  Sultan looked at the mirror from behind her. “I like it. You don’t need anything too ridiculous to stand out, Laci. Your coat does all the work.”

  She spent the next hour painstakingly braiding her multicolored mane. Sultan showed her how to section it evenly to make the neatest buttons, and tuck back every flyaway. They made her new topline muscles pop confidently.

  “How’d you get so good at braiding, Sultan?” she asked.

  “I practiced every day with a knife to my neck. You get very good at it that way.”

  …

  Marshall studied himself in the mirror. He looked sharp, he was sure of it. He had bleached the yellowing from his mane and tail, brushed every speck of dust from his coat, and was dressed to kill. The blue cloak he was wearing suited him perfectly. His long eyelashes winked at him from the mirror. Laci was going to adore it.

  Out of nowhere, his door opened and Ashley slid in. He was completely shocked and horrified, pinning his ears back. What kind of mare comes into a stallion’s room without knocking? She didn’t seem to care, and came closer to him as he backed away, until he was pinned against the wall.

  “Ashley, what the h-”

  She grabbed a lock of mane from the crown of his head, and he could no longer speak. “Shhh, shhh,” she quieted, trying to lull him.

  He struggled around in her grasp, feet scuffing against the floor, but his legs felt magnetically attracted to the position they were stuck in. He had no idea what her intentions were, but the situation seemed dubious at best.

  “Shhh, Marshall. Go to sleep,” she cooed, rubbing his neck with her hoof.

  Marshall could barely hear her voice anymore-it sounded like it was coming from miles away. His vision swayed, and his knees buckled. He felt the irresistible urge to fall asleep right there on the floor. The world went completely black in no time.

  The next thing he knew, he was staring at himself in the mirror again, with no idea that Ashley had even come into the room. He combed his mane down neatly, his mind trying to make sense of the false thoughts she had given him.

  I have to look nice for Ariel.

  He took the gold pin out of the front of the cloak and lowered it a few inches. Ariel would not care for a stallion who was afraid to show his chest. He smoothed down the flyaways on the crest of his neck with oil. Downstairs, soft piano music began to play. It was time to go down to the wedding.

  He strode into the ballroom, where Ariel was waiting for him, and took her hoof.

  “Are you ready to dance?”