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always looked magazine perfect. But not like her best friend Krissy, a fashion princess whose clothing recommendations were uncomfortable and hard to move in. The Halflings looked great but still seemed like they could maintain a range of motion. Sort of important when your vocation includes handto-hand combat with demons and hell hounds.
    “What style do you like, Nikki?” These were the most—and the friendliest—words Glimmer had ever spoken to her.
    Who’d have thought she and Glimmer would bond over clothing? Nikki straightened. “Uh …”
    Three sets of golden eyes waited.
    Style of clothing? She didn’t know. Now that she thought of it, Vegan, Winter, and Glimmer did seem to have their own styles. Glimmer wore a set of white shorts, a stretchy top with some gold rhinestones on it, a gold-trimmed cotton hoodie, and wedge sandals that made her legs go on forever.
    Vegan wore faded jeans that were frayed at the bottom and a heathered forest-green long-sleeve T. Gold hoop earrings complimented the look.
    Winter had on a black shirt and skinny capri jeans. Very classy and elegant, almost like she could breeze into a country club and fit right in. And all three of the girls had those goldand-silver bracelets that looked like sheets of thin metal twisted together. She’d not seen anything like them.
    When she didn’t answer, Winter spoke up. “Something comfortable, but cool.”
    Vegan dropped the clothes and turned her full attention to Nikki. The bundle fell to the floor and the bed, and a few garments even landed on the tiny end table separating her bed from Vegan’s.
    Before she could protest, Nikki was being dragged from her bunk. Winter made a little twirl with her finger in midair, and Nikki obliged by spinning in a slow circle, arms outstretched.
    “Will’s going to undoubtedly be working on her martial arts skills, so she needs to be able to move easily.” Vegan’s eyes were scrunched in thought.
    So much concentration over textiles.
    Winter nodded and swiped her dark hair over one shoulder. “Exactly. Definitely pants with a little spandex in them.”
    “Jeans,” Glimmer said in a harsh tone that could end all conversation. “Nikki is a jeans girl. She won’t wear anything else. We have to find stretchy jeans, probably skinny, because she has those great legs. And we can give her some real style by choosing gorgeous tops and shoes.”
    Nikki blinked her surprise and left her arms out, though the scrutiny was over. She was overwhelmed. First, that they were that interested in helping her determine a personal look, and second, by Glimmer’s admission of great legs and the whole jeans girl thing.
    Glimmer put her hands on her hips. “And no more flipflops! You need proper sandals.”
    Winter lowered Nikki’s arms with the gentle touch of her ice-cold hands. Nikki tried not to react, but goose bumps spread over her upper body.
    Winter turned to the other girls. “Glimmer, we’re on a boat. She’s going to need flip-flops.”
    Glimmer brushed a hand through the air like a queen dismissing her lackluster court. “Fine, but only one pair and they aren’t to wear every day. Got it?” She pointed a gold-polished fingernail at Nikki.
    “Got it,” she mumbled.
    And with that, they were off to the mall to reinvent Nikki Youngblood.

Chapter 4

     
    I’m still a little unclear about the whole money thing,” Nikki said as they left the mall. Her arms were aching after lugging heavy shopping bags from store to store.
     
    “We have what we need, Nikki.”
    She raised her arms, bags dangling on each side. “I need these?”
    “Desperately,” Glimmer said.
    Winter slid a couple of bags from one of Nikki’s arms. “We serve the Throne. The Throne is hardly broke.”
    Nikki stopped in the middle of the parking lot. “It’s just weird, you know? Think about it. You serve the Creator of everything, and he makes sure to give you shopping money. Doesn’t that sound a little strange?”
    Each girl