Chapter 61

Her nose, ears, neck, hands, and pretty much every other part of her body were decked out in silver, crystals, or wooden jewelry, culminating in a giant necklace with five talismans embedded in it. She wore a partial mask on the left side of her face—the area mostly covered by her hair. It, too, was comprised of silver. Dakota couldn’t decide if the adornment hid an injury or just added to the overall aesthetic.

With her fingers interlaced and resting on the desk, Adelaide’s body disappeared inside folded robes of black and gray. Dark eye shadow—with a metallic overlay—mimicked the deep socket of a skull. Additional makeup on her cheek served to further the effect, ensuring that the bone appeared more pronounced. Her reddish lipstick looked almost natural in comparison, and her skin appeared warm and alive, despite her efforts to convey the contrary.