Chapter Text
A new week, a new town, a new mark. A ball, being held at the biggest manor house Kremy had ever seen, affixed on top of a hill looking down over the lakeside settlement. Fancy types always had a vault or treasure room or the like, and a ball meant a reasonable distraction. The perfect setup for the Krew to slip in, rob ‘em blind, and slip out again, all under the cover of the party. Only one problem: it was invite-only, and the Krew were absolutely not the kind of folks on the guest list.
The solution had come, surprisingly, from Gricko.
“‘Ere, Kremy.” he’d shuffled up to Kremy after an afternoon of teaching Hootsie how to knock into people and steal their bags. The small owlbear was surprisingly agile, and usually people were so shocked at an unexpected monstrosity crashing into them that they didn’t realise she’d lifted their bags. “That couple wot Hootsie so skillfully pocket-picketed were here for that big shindig next equivalent-of-Friday. There’s a invy-tation an’ all in ‘ere.” He produced a gilded ticket from the bag, waving it around enthusiastically.
“Give that here.” Kremy grabbed the invitation between two claws and studied it. Sure enough, it was a ticket to the very same ball he had been trying to cook up a scheme to get into. He had figured they’d have to pose as waiststaff, an idea that was deeply unappealing to him. “Well done Hootsie, ya did a good job.”
Hootsie cooed at him affectionately, bumping her head against his hip.
“O’ course she did!” Gricko’s chest swelled with pride at the criminal antics of his sweet little owlbear daughter. “Hootsie is the bestest, an’ the cutiest, an’ the sneakiest li’l owlbear in the whole word, in’t that right Hootsie? Oh you are jus’ so cute when you steal fings for Papa and Uncle Kremy! Yes you are, Papa’s lickle thief, the first thing you ever stole was my heart, yes it was!”
As Gricko continued to heap praise on Hootsie, Kremy’s mind started whirring, putting together a plan.
“Two of us are gonna have to pose as that couple. Thank the Baron their ticket doesn’t have a name on it, so we can just use a decent alibi, no actually tryna pretend to be someone else. It ain’t gon’ be enough to just arrive at the ball in a week, mind. We gotta establish ourselves within the upper crust of this city, an’ we gotta do it fast. The sudden arrival ain’t too much of a problem, that couple was clearly travellin’ here for the ball, but we needa be smart about this. That means goin’ out together at the finest places this town has to offer, rubbin’ elbows with fancy folks, ingratiatin’ ourselves with ‘em.” Kremy ran a few calculations in his head, eyes flickering back and forth. “We gotta decide who’s posing as the couple, too.”
“Oh, me n’ Torbek will do it.” Gricko said breezily. “We c’n be a fine young goblinoid couple, ‘ere wiv our sweet lickle daughter Hootsie.”
“Gricko, there is no damn way Torbek is going to be convincing as a high-society fella. You’ve seen him, hells, we’ve all seen him. We only just got the stink offa him, an’ there’s no way he can learn all the etiquette these high-falutin’ types go in for in a few days.
“Also, Gricko, an’ I mean no offence here, you are a…rustic…kinda guy. You get that people wear shoes to this kinda thing? And suits and the like?”
“Wot’re you gettin’ at there, Kremy?” Gricko narrowed his eyes at him. “I can be very sophistimacated when the sitchyation requires it.”
“Well, see, Gricko, you’ve kinda just proved my point there. It’s ’sophisticated’ and ‘situation’. Ya go in there sayin’ stuff like that they’ll kick ya out like that.” He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
“Hmm…Well, I ‘spose if me n’ Torbek are out then it’ll ‘ave to be Gideon n’ Frosty then.” Gricko nodded with an air of finality.
“Now hang on, there is no reason it has to be Gideon and Frost. In fact, I don’t think it should be Frost at all — he’s smart, but he’s gonna go to pieces if he’s gotta act like a couple with Gideon.” Kremy shook his head. The thought of Gideon acting like a couple with Frost made his heart twist with dread — a sure sign that they wouldn’t be able to pull it off.
“Oooh are you sayin’ you would get all romantic-like wiv Gideon then Kremy? Ohohoho, how scandalous.” Gricko snickered and bounced his eyebrows at him.
“I’m sayin’ I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure this con goes off without a hitch. An’ I’m the most experienced in actually trickin’ folks. An’ I need Gideon there in case things go south an’ we gotta make a quick exit. It just makes sense, see?” Kremy explained. It was simply the best, most rational plan.
“Sure, if you say so, Kremy.” He smirked at him.
“I do say so, now go grab the others. I gotta tell ‘em the plan too.” Kremy huffed.
Plan disseminated, it was now time to put it in action. Kremy was a little sore about the amount of gold this plan was going to cost him, but he soothed the hurt with the thought at just how much they were going to lift from the stupid fancy couple throwing the ball.
First was the hotel. He and Gideon booked a room before Gricko, Torbek and Frost, making sure they didn’t interact in the lobby at all. Their rooms were even on different floors, although they’d swapped a key to each room so they could access each other’s if needed.
His and Gideon’s room was plush and opulent, with rich mahogany furniture, red. A red velvet sofa sat in front of a large fireplace, and a large four-poster bed complete with heavy curtains sat in the centre of the room.
Kremy dimly registered that the sofa was far too small for either of them to sleep on comfortably, but he filed that under ‘things to think about later’. For now, they needed to go shopping, make sure they actually looked the part.
He walked briskly through the streets, one arm looped through Gideon’s, trying to make sure they looked like a doting couple. Or, at the very least, a couple. He’d convinced Gideon to put a large black coat on over his usual henley and trousers to make him look a little more refined, and Gideon was grousing at him about overheating.
“What we lookin’ for, Krem?” Gideon asked. “We been past like three tailor shops, ain’t they good enough?”
“I’m sure they’re fine for most, Gid, but I need someone who’s used to lizardfolk. The suit won’t be cut right otherwise. You’d understand if you had a tail.” He sniffed. “Oh, thank the Baron, right here will do.”
He’d spotted a tailor’s shop with a bright green sign that read “Humbletoes’ Fine Clothes” in curling gold font which actually had a gatorkin mannequin in the window. Tailors that catered to his body type were few and far between in the landlocked parts of Avantris, but usually places near a swamp, lake, or sometimes even the sea usually had somewhere that he could get decent clothing from.
The bell above the door jangled merrily as he swept in, immediately dragging Gideon over to look at various bolts of fabric. He inhaled happily, loving the indeterminable scent all tailors had.
“Good afternoon!” A bright voice came from behind them. “Are you looking for anything in particular, or just browsing?”
Kremy turned to see a middle-aged halfling man climbing atop a stool behind the counter. He had bright, twinkling eyes and a shock of ginger curly hair atop his head, although it was beginning to thin on top. He was wearing a neatly tailored corduroy jacket and matching trousers in a mossy green, paired with a crisp white shirt and a brown sweater vest.
“Whattado there friend, the name’s Kremy Lecroux.” Kremy smiled his most charming smile. “My husband here, Gideon, and I are in the market for a few different things. We need as coupla things off-the-rack just for now, but we’re also lookin’ at commissionin’ two outfits. It’ll be a rush order, mind, we’re headin’ to that ball next equivalent-of-Friday. We’ll pay extra.”
“Wonderful to meet you Mr Kremy Lecroux and Mr Gideon Lecroux! My name is Terin Humbletoes, but please just call me Terin.” Terin beamed at the pair of them. “I, along with my lovely wife Adelaide, am the owner and operator of this fine establishment.”
“It’s, uh, it’s Gideon Coal.” Gideon scratched the back of his head, looking out-of-place.
“My apologies, Mr Coal.” Terin bowed apologetically. “Well, feel free to peruse our racks, and if you need help finding anything at all, do not hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you kindly, we’ll do just that.” Kremy inclined his head graciously at Terin, then went to look at the bolts of fabric. Would another purple suit be too much? He already had the one he was wearing, but he could get one in a different cut, a different shade…
“You’re a gatorkin, correct?” piped up a voice from near Kremy’s elbow. Looking down and seeing Terin, he simply nodded. “I thought so! My wife Adelaide is also. Creating clothes for her is the most wonderful challenge, I must say. Must be mindful of the tail, as you undoubtedly know. She’s particularly partial to a Galtican silhouette, and I have to say it is terribly flattering on her. It can cause quite the stir when she steps out in one of her gowns – no doubt you have noticed the rather, ah, conservative tastes of most of the residents here – but no-one can deny that she is the very picture of elegance.”
Kremy had noticed that the people here dressed several decades out of date, the women in high-necked, wide-skirted dresses and the men in dark wool suits. He’d already decided he would not be following their current trends, figuring that drawing attention as the outsiders that dressed scandalously would further draw the heat away from the rest of the Krew.
“I had. The fashions here aren’t quite to my tastes, I find myself preferring a more…Cosmopolitan look, myself. Your wife likes the Galtican style, you said?” Kremy kept his voice nonchalant, but he was already thinking about the plunging necklines and body-skimming silhouettes popular in the city. It would look very elegant, especially in that rich purple satin he could see among the bolts of fabric…
“Oh yes indeed! She isn’t here presently, but if you pop in tomorrow I’m sure she’d be happy to speak to someone as interested in fashion as she is. You’re actually very similar in stature, too, so running up something for you should be a breeze.” Terin clapped his hands together, beaming.
“Well, I’ll be sure to come by again tomorrow.” Kremy couldn’t stop himself from smiling. It would be a rare treat to chat fashion with someone who got it, and especially someone whose tastes appeared to be so close to his own.
“Excellent! I wonder if you would possibly mind doing me a small favour?” Kremy narrowed his eyes at Terin, who just looked at him with a friendly expression on his face.
“Depends what the favour is, friend.” he said, though he kept his tone light.
“Oh, I just was wondering if you would mind removing your suit jacket and stepping up onto this dias for me so I can get a good look at how your suit is already tailored.
It’ll help me get a better idea of the kind of cut you like, for when I’m making your garments for the ball.” Terin explained, gesturing to a small circular platform surrounded by mirrors tucked into the back of the shop.
“Oh, well, sure.” Kremy agreed, stepping up onto the platform. “Gid, come hold my jacket.”
Gideon wordlessly stepped over, taking the proffered garment.
“Alright, let’s see here…” Terin murmured to himself, circling Kremy. He pulled out a stepstool and climbed on top of it, inspecting Kremy’s waistcoat. It was cut with a long notch in the back, meaning there was room for his tail to poke out without obstructing the line of his jacket or trousers. “Very nice, very nice indeed. And would you possibly mind removing the waistcoat, too?”
Kremy did so without complaint, handing it to Gideon. He was pleased to see Gideon hold his arm out for his waistcoat even before he’d started to take it off. Gideon had been downright attentive lately, and while he was almost certain it was an attempt to convince him to part with the pocketwatch he’d previously denied him, he wasn’t complaining in the slightest.
Kremy’s slacks were cut high in the waist, with two straps securing them at either side of his waist. Just the back portion was cut into two strips, each one being secured at the waist on the opposite side, creating a neat V-shape that his tail sat snugly in. Then, there was the final buckled strap that sat over the top of his tail, creating the illusion of a complete waistband and securing his trousers firmly in place.
“Oh, marvellous, just marvellous! Did you get this particular suit in Agwé?” Terin asked, taking a small notepad and pencil out of his pocket and making a few notes.
“You got a good eye, Terin. I did indeed.” Kremy chuckled, feeling very much at ease. Oh, he and Gideon were going to look so good – Terin clearly knew his stuff.
“Well, I must confess I have studied more of Agwé’s fashions since meeting my beautiful Adelaide! And I will say, I find the men’s fashions out there to be particularly exciting. No dark woolen suits there, no siree! Ah, while you’re up there, I thought I might get your measurements?” Terin produced a tape measure out of one of his pockets. He waited for Kremy to nod in agreement, then started taking measurements across his body.
Terin worked quickly and silently, pausing only when he got to Kremy’s waist.
“I must say Mr Lecroux, if you’d permit me, that I dare say the women of this town tightlace their corsets with the intention of getting a waist as small as yours is with absolutely no enhancement.” He chuckled to himself. Kremy smirked.
“You should see how small it gets with a corset on.” He hadn't quite meant to tell this friendly halfling that he’d dabbled in wearing women's clothes, but he couldn’t quite resist the boast. He chanced a glance over at Gideon, who looked a little redder than usual. Perhaps he actually was overheating?
“Oh, I can imagine! My Adelaide is quite the same, although like I said she tends to prefer fashions that don’t require it. For special occasions, though…Shall I make a note for her to take you through our shapewear when you visit tomorrow?”
Kremy hummed noncommittally, considering his options. He could just commission a suit, but the thought of a dress, one especially designed to fit him, was deeply appealing. Plus, if he was posing as a female gatorkin, it would be easier for him to escape undetected if he changed back into male clothes post-heist. If he was going to pose as a woman, though, he would need a dress for tonight, too…
“Yes,” he heard himself say. “An’ I’d like to take a look at any dresses you’ve got that would fit me, if you please.”
Terin beamed at him, eyes shining even brighter than they had been when they first stepped into the shop.
“Of course, Mr Lecroux. Ah, Mr Coal, there is a small seating area just over there, if you would like to make yourself comfortable. I can fetch you a drink, also. Water? Tea? Whisky?”
“Uh, whisky, thanks. Krem, how long do you reckon this is gon’ take?” Gideon shifted from foot to foot, clearly restless.
“It’ll take as long as it needs to take, Gideon Coal. You just be grateful you got a husband who gives a damn what he looks like.” Kremy rolled his eyes. “But fine, howsabout you pick somethin’ out an’ get measured, then you can go back to the hotel an’ I can stay here as long as I need to?”
“Yeah, alright. Forget the whisky, then.” Gideon agreed. “Y’know ‘m no good with this kinda stuff, Krem,” he said, by way of an apology.
“You’re damn right I do.” Kremy huffed, though there was no malice behind his words. “Lets get you somethin’ picked out.”
It didn’t take long for them to find something suitable, Gideon actually having far fewer options than Kremy thanks to his sheer height and size. Kremy selected a deep midnight blue three-piece suit for him, pairing it with a black shirt and gunmetal grey tie, and gave Terin some notes on the vision he had for Gideon at the ball. Kremy saw the look on Gideon’s face, clearly put off by the sheer amount of layers he was going to have to wear, and shook his head at him.
“Do not start complain’ at me, Gideon Coal. Look, y’ can take the jacket off when we get in the restaurant, the waistcoat’s got a pretty linin’ on it an’ everything.” He cajoled him. “You’re gonna look finer than silk, cher.”
He really had to get a hold on calling Gideon ‘cher’. He didn’t even mean to, the term of endearment just slipping out. Gideon brightened at the compliment, though, and Kremy fought off an indulgent smile. He really was easy to please, just a little sweet-talking and he was happy as a clam.
“Y’ really think so?” If he didn’t know Gideon better, he’d say his tone was almost shy, but Kremy knew a fish for compliments when he heard one.
“Of course. Gonna be the handsomest man in the whole damn room. Now get outta here, I gotta try my dresses on.” He nudged Gideon gently with his tail, rolling his eyes good-naturedly at the flare in Gideon’s hair at the compliment.
It was over an hour later when Kremy finally left, bag swinging in one hand filled with a dress, gloves and even shoes for the evening. Terin had been a gem, pulling dress after dress for Kremy, each one finer than the next and all in the most impeccable style. He was looking forward to meeting Adelaide, who was clearly a woman after his own heart.
Once he got back to their room, he’d turfed Gideon out to go hang out with Torbek, Gricko, Frost and Hootsie before it was time for their reservations. It wasn’t often that he got the chance to really relax and take his time getting ready, and he selfishly wanted to be alone for it. A quiet, private part of him also wanted to prolong Gideon seeing the transformation, too. Of course, Gideon had seen him in drag before, but this was different. He wasn’t going to be Stiletta, or Silhouette, he was going to be Kremy Lecroux. He would just also be wearing a dress and makeup.
He had wanted to go for purple, as it was his signature colour, but then Terin had shown him this gorgeous piece in the same gunmetal silver as Gideon’s tie, and he couldn’t argue with the way it complimented his scales and matched his eyes. It was in the same Galtican style Terin had said Adelaide was fond of, but a little more reserved than the party dresses he’d pulled out for him. It was held up by thin, delicate straps, the neckline only dipping in a slight V down his chest. The back was much the same, with the dress itself cut to skim along his body and accommodate his tail in shape rather than via a cutout. It fell to just below the knee, far shorter than the other dresses he’d seen that day, but he didn’t mind making a splash. He was amphibious, after all.
He’d completed the look with black gloves, kitten heels and a fur stole. He’d slipped black stockings on, too, figuring that completely bare legs might be a step too far. And, if those stockings clipped into a black lace garter belt sitting snugly around his waist, and if he happened to be wearing underwear that matched said garter belt, well. That was a little secret just for him.
Lining up his cosmetics on the dressing table in the hotel room, wearing nothing but a fluffy robe and aforementioned lingerie, Kremy surveyed his face. Kohl, he thought, and flicked eyeliner. Silver eyeshadow to match the dress, a touch of shimmer on his cheekbones. A simple gloss for the lips.
By the time he was done fixing his face, Gideon was knocking on the door of their hotel room.
“Kremy?” he cleared his throat. “Look, I know y’ kicked me out t’ get ready but it’s gettin’ real close to our reservations n’ I don’t think these fancy places look too kindly on people being late.”
“Two minutes!” Kremy called back, slipping his robe off and hanging it over the back of his chair. He gently unhooked the dress from the hanger he’d placed it on and slipped it over his head, before pulling on the gloves and buckling his shoes. He grabbed his bag of holding and his stole, pulling the latter around his shoulders and tying it in place with its ribbon, and crossing to the door.
“Ready to go, Mr Coal?” he asked smoothly as he pulled open the door. He watched as Gideon took in his outfit, noting with satisfaction that his mouth had dropped open and his eyes had glazed over slightly. He also noted that Gideon looked just as good in his new suit as he’d thought he would, dark colours contrasting beautifully with his colouring.
“Holy hell, Krem,” Gideon blurted out. “Y’ tryna get that rich fella t’ leave his wife for ya or somethin’?”
“If that’s what it takes.” Kremy smirked. “C’mon, we gotta get to it. We’re gonna be late!”
Their walk to the restaurant had been uneventful, Gideon dutifully holding onto Kremy’s arm and helping him navigate the cobbled streets in his heels. There had been a few scandalised glances once they’d gotten to the restaurant, Kremy’s dress clearly standing out against the floor-length numbers all the women were wearing, but Kremy bore the whispers and glances with a sense of pride. There were as many admiring glances as there were admonishing ones.
When they sat down, however, things started to get a little off track. Gideon was fidgeting, first with his collar, then with his cuffs, then his tie, then he started picking at the smooth white tablecloth. He wouldn’t look Kremy in the eye, either, which was severely hindering their ability to look like the happy couple they were supposed to be.
“Gideon, stop actin’ like you’re covered in damn ants.” Kremy hissed at him
“Huh?” Gideon’s eyes shot to him, a slightly guilty expression on his face. “Sorry, Krem, I just- ‘M not used to places like this, I feel all…I dunno. Not right.”
Kremy pursed his lips. They really could not afford to fall at this first hurdle.
“Y’ want me to help with that? Magically, I mean.” Kremy kept his voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear and realise he had magic. It was much harder to convince people you were not affiliated with the magically assisted crimes when they knew you had the exact magic they were looking for.
“Shit, if you wouldn’t mind? I know we haven’t been doin’ that as much recently, what with- y’know. But, uh, it’d help.” He said bashfully.
“Gideon Coal, would you kindly relax,” Kremy said, acting as though he was brushing a piece of lint off the moment the word “relax” left his mouth, Gideon’s posture became much more open, a happy, hazy expression on his face.
“An’ would it kill you to start acting like my damn husband, too.” Kremy muttered under his breath, so quiet there was no way Gideon, who had started gazing happily at the light of all the candles around them, could have heard him.
“I meant to say before, y’ look beautiful tonight.” Gideon turned his smile on him, capturing his hand in his and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. Kremy’s breath caught in his throat as Gideon continued to press kisses along the back of his hand, pulling it closer so he could press kisses to the inside of his wrist. There was a glove between Gideon’s lips and his scales, but it felt electric nonetheless.
“Gid, please, we’re in public.” He breathed. It was a half-hearted protest, and it sounded weak to his own ears.
“So? I saw all the fellas in here lookin’ atcha as we came in. They’d be doin’ the same if they were me, n’ I bet half of ‘em would do more.” Gideon smirked at him, but he did release his wrist, trailing his fingers over his hand as he did so. Kremy shivered at the contact.
A waiter soon appeared, taking their food and drink orders. Kremy ordered for the pair of them, taking a quick glance at the menu and ordering the first things his eyes landed on, along with the second-cheapest bottle of wine for them to share.
For the rest of their dinner, Gideon continued to caress and compliment Kremy, who was honestly just surprised at Gideon’s acting chops. The fire genasi had never really been one for playing pretend the same way he was, but here he was, playing the part of a doting husband. Kremy was certain that by the end of their meal, the handsome new couple would be the talk of the town.
Gideon even kept the act up on their walk back, gallantly leading Kremy across the least uneven path so he wouldn’t roll his ankles. He even opened their hotel room door for him, gesturing Kremy in ahead of him. Kremy rolled his eyes goodnaturedly and walked in ahead of him, groaning as rolled his neck back and forth.
“I gotta get these shoes off,” He sighed. “I love wearin’ them but Baron knows heels kill my feet.”
“Let me,” said Gideon, kneeling down in front of Kremy and guiding his foot onto his thigh.
“Gid, what in the hell are you doin’?” Kremy laughed, head a little fuzzy from the wine they’d drunk.
“‘M bein’ a good husband, now lemme take yer shoes off.” Gideon started unbuckling one shoe, sliding it off Kremy’s foot. He guided Kremy’s foot to the floor, then repeated the same on the other. Once both shoes were off and neatly placed to the side, Gideon stood, reaching towards the tie holding Kremy’s stole together. Kremy held his breath as Gideon held his gaze, before giving him a minute nod, letting him know it was okay to continue.
Pulling the ribbon and undoing the stole, Gideon walked behind Kremy, running a hand gently down his neck and onto his shoulder. As he pulled the stole off his shoulders, Gideon began kissing down Kremy’s neck, onto the skin bared by the thin straps off his dress. Kremy couldn’t resist tilting his head to one side, giving Gideon better access as he sighed. Gideon’s mouth was hot against his skin, trailing sparks of electricity from his neck to his gut.
“Ah- Gid, what-” he couldn’t finish his sentence, each press of Gideon’s lips against his neck and shoulder inspiring a new noise to be pulled from him.
“I already tol’ ya,” Gideon mumbled, lips still firmly pressed against Kremy’s scales. “‘M bein’ a good husband.”
He wasn’t sure what happened to his stole, but it was gone and suddenly Gideon was running his hands down his body to the hem of his dress, rucking it up around his thighs. The motion meant that Gideon’s fingertips grazed the lace tops of the stockings he was wearing. A deep moan punched out of Gideon, who ran a thumb along the top of one of the stockings.
“Fuck, Krem,” he breathed. “Y’ get all pretty, just for me?”
Kremy could feel Gideon’s cock, hard against the small of his back. It would be so easy to say Yes, Gideon, all for you, and let him kiss him as well as every other time they’d kissed. Let him push him down in the four-poster bed, bring him pleasure with his hands and mouth. Let him fuck him, finally see what all those other girls had experienced.
But what about the morning after? What if Gideon just rolled out of bed and pretended like nothing happened? Kremy didn’t want to be just like all those other girls that had warmed Gideon’s bed in all the time he’d known him. He wanted to be more, to mean more.
So, instead of giving in to the want rushing liquid-hot through his body, he did what he’d been doing every time his feelings got too big and too scary to put a name to, when the white-hot desire running through his body felt like it was going to overwhelm him.
He stepped away, breaking contact between himself and Gideon.
He immediately missed the warmth of his fingers on his flesh, felt unimaginably cold without the heat of his body pressed against him, but he knew the temporary agony was worth not hurting permanently.
“It’s late, Gid.” he said softly, walking over to the wardrobe and pulling out the pyjamas he’d stored in there that afternoon. “I’m gonna go to bed.”
He didn’t wait to hear his reply as swept into the bathroom to get changed, although his heart dropped at the bereft look on Gideon’s face. He was just disappointed about being turned down, he rationalised. Just had too much wine, although he knew it took far more than half a bottle of wine to get Gideon even close to drunk.
He took his time in the bathroom, cleaning his face of all the makeup he’d put on for dinner, rubbing in the creams he used to keep his scales soft, and pulling on his purple silk pyjamas. By the time he made it back out, Gideon was in the bed, snoring gently. He easily could have taken up the whole thing, but he’d stayed resolutely on one side, leaving the other for Kremy to slip into.
As Kremy climbed into bed beside him, he wondered how much of the night had been Gideon acting, and how much of it had been real. Whether his snark about Gideon acting like a real husband had influenced his Suggestion. Whether everything he’d done in their hotel room had just been Kremy’s magic twisting his mind and behaviour.
It was only when he was drifting off to sleep that he realised he’d stopped concentrating on Suggestion by the time Gideon was looking at the candles in the restaurant.