Disguise

Ashton's pov 

I should tell her, just the word prince filled me with guilt. She deserves to know who I am, I just don't want her to pull away from me again. Whatever we have is complicated enough without adding in royal restrictions on top of that. I will tell her though, I have to before we find the scouts, most of them will recognise me. I just need to find the right way to do it. 
For now I'm trying to focus on the task at hand. Ava is tracking the scouts and we are catching up. We have come to the edge of a city and are planning our entry. 
Ava's tracking won't work here, there are less plants and trees here for her to tune into. I'm guessing the big fuck off gothic castle is where the scouts are heading to though. From the looks of the people here, we don't fit in. 
"We need to get a change of clothes" I say 
"How are we going to do that?" She asks 
"I will grab a guard and steal his outfit, you should find a maids outfit" I grin imagining her as a very sexy maid. 
"Oh please, real maids outfits barely show any skin and are more like rags than clothes" 
"I'm sure you could make it look sexy" I say still lost in my fantasy. 
"Ok so I will look for my outfit and you look for yours and meet back... At the church. We should be able to see the steeple and find it even if we have to wonder off a bit." 
I don't like the idea of separating, but it will be quicker. I nod and walk off towards the castle. I have seen several guards walking around but I need one who is alone. I try to stay out of the way and not draw attention to myself. Our clothes definitely don't fit in here, there are a lot of people dressed very formally, walking the streets in black tie suits and elaborate dresses. Even the lower classes look formal, not dressed as extravagantly but still better than you'd expect for a farmer's market. The guards uniforms themselves are definitely designed with more style than practicality in mind. They have all these pointless swirls and flares that I don't understand. 
After several hours of watching and stalking guards, I spot one alone. I check that no one is around and a quickly smack him over the back head with a boulder. Not my most chivalrous move, but a didn't want to make a scene. I move earth in the ground, creating a small underground room to hide us. I strip his clothes off and put them on. They are a bit tight on me and definitely uncomfortable, but it will do. I tie up the guard, but leave him with some water and bread in case I'm not back to release him soon. 
I return to meet Ava at the church. I have to loop several times, she is not there and I don't want anyone to question me hanging around the church. I'm starting to get worried that something has happened to her when I see her walking towards the church. I barely recognise her. I'm starting to understand what all the fuss is about this formal attire.

Ava's pov

Ok so these people do not dress like servants. I thought finding a maids outfit would be easy enough, but I was wrong. After walking around for a while I realised that no one here dressed like they were lower class or even practically dressed for work. I decided I'd need help so I went into a shop. Knocking someone out to steal their clothes would have been less intimidating. There were rails of clothes packed full with thousands of elaborate designs and patterns. I was overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. The woman looked me up and down with obvious distain. 
"Oh you poor child, what are you wearing?" She asked. 
Yep, definitely should have knocked someone out. "I'm new here, I have been wearing these to travel for days, but my luggage was stolen. I'm supposed to start work in the castle tomorrow, but I have nothing to wear. Can you help me please?" I try to sound distressed and give my best innocent and helpless look. 
"I'm not normally one for charity, but if the king finds out I let you leave in that, my reputation will be ruined. You can have your pick and pay me when your wages come in" she says.
"Thank you, em what would you recommend for work in the castle?" I ask hesitantly. 
Her eyes light up and she looks me over like I'm her new toy to play with. She shifts into a beautiful butterfly, but one the size of a hawk. She flits around the room and picks up dresses then drops them into my arms. I have a pile of about 10 dresses before she shifts back. 
"How did you do that? I thought shifters had to change to real animals." I ask
"My mother was a shifter, my father was Fae, I can shift and then use magic to enhance the form to an extent at least." She explains casually. 
"That's amazing" I say. 
"You must be a vampire to have been allowed to work in the castle, vampires always forget other creatures have talents too." 
Shit, now I have to pretend to be a vampire. I wonder if there is anywhere I can get fake fangs from now. I give her an apologetic smile and I walk to the changing room to try on the dresses. 
Each one is a work of art. Intricate and beautiful and not at all what I thought a servant would wear. I would buy them all, if they were not so impractical. I can barely breath in most of the corsets yet alone move to clean like I would at the pack house. 
I pick the one that is the simplest so as not to draw too much attention to myself. It is a dark forest green dress that is floor length and has intricate lace sleeves. The corset is a definite design flaw practicality speaking, but it does push my boobs up and displays them beautifully. As I twirl in the mirror, I barely recognise myself, this is the most feminine I think I have ever looked and I have to admit I'm enjoying it. I look at the last dress on the hanger, it is by far the most beautiful, but I couldn't even try it on because I knew it would catch every eye around and I didn't want more attention. 
I leave wearing the dress and the shop keeper actually smiles at me. "Much better. Now, we just need to fix your hair and clean your face and you will be presentable" 
"Oh don't worry, I can do that myself later" I try to leave the shop but she blocks my path. 
"When you wear my dress, you represent me and I will not be represented like that" she waves as my face. 
I'm a bit pissed off by this lady, but I just huff and sit down letting her treat me like a doll and style my hair and make up. After a while my anger simmers down as I realise she is actually doing a good job, my hair is beautifully curled and falling in ringlets around my shoulders, my make up is basic and simple but accentuates my eyes and lips and I have to admit that I look good. Like I have met my bitchy fairy godmother and been transformed into a princess. 
"Thank you" I say genuinely when she has finished. "But don't you think it's a bit much for work?" 
She tuts "of course not, if anything you are under dressed. Most of the women in the castle would wear a dress 3 times the price of this one and adorn themselves with so much jewellery that it's amazing they can move with the weight of it. I'm sure you will be back when you are paid and want to upgrade" 
"Yes, I will return with the money for this and maybe you could keep that aside for me, in case I am indeed underdressed" I point at my favourite. She nods and finally allows me to leave her shop. 
It's actually starting to get dark by the time I reach the church and I panic a little worried that Ash has left without me or been discovered. My panic increases as I see a guard walking towards me and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. 
The guard removes his helmet and I instantly relax seeing that it is Ash. He has this look on his face like he is under some kind of spell or in a daze as he walks towards me. He pulls me into his arms and leans me down pressing his lips gently against mine. It is gentle and sweet, not like the passionate kisses we usually share, but far more intimate. 
He releases me and I struggle to stand, feeling all fluttery. He looks at me with adoration and then several other emotions flick over his eyes quickly. 
"I need to tell you something"