before?” She kept her voice soft, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer but figuring it was safer to know.
“Dinner is not the time or place for private discussions. It’s for watching and building alliances. You needed to build one with the King. If you had been speaking with me, what do you think would have happened?” The whole time he spoke, he was pointing to different cards. To anyone watching, it was as if he were explaining the important aspects of each suit.
She nodded. “Okay. I thought it was because…” Because you weren’t interested is what she wanted to say, but she went with a safer option. “I have no status.”
“I have enough of my own not to worry about that.” He looked across the floor. “We have sat for long enough. Let me have the first dance, as I’m sure it will be the only one I get with you tonight.” He picked up the cards and placed them in his waistcoat; then he stood and offered her his hand.
“You don’t leave me any choice.” Yet dancing with Verden would be no hardship, except they would be watched. Were they watching her or him? She was sure he was only doing what was expected. Was she a chore or a pleasure? It was hard to tell when his expression rarely slipped.
She took his hand and let herself be led to the area used for dancing. Fortunately he didn’t drag her into the middle where the King and Queen were doing something that was stiffly formal, and even though they were both smiling, neither seemed to be enjoying it. Even from here, she could feel the tension between them. They hated each other and any goodwill was for show. How had everything gone so wrong?
“Just follow. The steps aren’t that hard,” Verden said as he lifted her hand and placed his other one behind his back. He waited for her to copy.
She looked at the other dancers and realized they were doing the same steps as the King and Queen, but not at the same time. People were at different stages of the same sequence, making it appear like madness at first, but it was really just a repeating pattern. She began to see and feel it in her body. Her palm heated in Verden’s hand.
“You feel it?” He stepped closer.
“Yes.” She did; the magic of the music was in her blood. When she looked at him, he was gazing down at her, heat flickering in his eyes. Right now she didn’t care if she got singed.
As he’d said, the steps weren’t hard. She copied his movements and followed, letting the music flow through her. Different to the mortal music she was used to, this was ancient and powerful. It wasn’t just her pulse she felt increasing; it was Verden’s, as if for the duration of the dance the magic was bringing them closer. They stopped with the music, toe to toe, her body only millimeters from his. One deep breath and her breasts would brush his chest. Her skin tingled. For a moment neither of them moved. He was looking at her with a look in his eyes that could only be called wild and untamed.
She risked that breath; their bodies touched for a moment, long enough to send desire spiraling through her blood. It was closely followed by the hard edge of reason and the sharper blade of danger. She knew why Verden kept his distance when people were watching. It was information that could be used against her…and him.
Verden closed his eyes for a second and stepped back. When he opened his eyes, the cool indifference was back. She knew she couldn’t raise a mask that quickly and wasn’t sure that was a skill she wanted, even though it was one she’d need.
“It’s been a pleasure.” He gave a slight bow. “Should you wish to…escape…for a little while tonight, my offer still stands.” He added in a much lower voice. “I can help you if you trust me.”
Then he released her hand and walked away. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that if they left together it wouldn’t be noticed or spoken about. She glanced at the King and Queen, now dancing with other people. But the
“Dinner is not the time or place for private discussions. It’s for watching and building alliances. You needed to build one with the King. If you had been speaking with me, what do you think would have happened?” The whole time he spoke, he was pointing to different cards. To anyone watching, it was as if he were explaining the important aspects of each suit.
She nodded. “Okay. I thought it was because…” Because you weren’t interested is what she wanted to say, but she went with a safer option. “I have no status.”
“I have enough of my own not to worry about that.” He looked across the floor. “We have sat for long enough. Let me have the first dance, as I’m sure it will be the only one I get with you tonight.” He picked up the cards and placed them in his waistcoat; then he stood and offered her his hand.
“You don’t leave me any choice.” Yet dancing with Verden would be no hardship, except they would be watched. Were they watching her or him? She was sure he was only doing what was expected. Was she a chore or a pleasure? It was hard to tell when his expression rarely slipped.
She took his hand and let herself be led to the area used for dancing. Fortunately he didn’t drag her into the middle where the King and Queen were doing something that was stiffly formal, and even though they were both smiling, neither seemed to be enjoying it. Even from here, she could feel the tension between them. They hated each other and any goodwill was for show. How had everything gone so wrong?
“Just follow. The steps aren’t that hard,” Verden said as he lifted her hand and placed his other one behind his back. He waited for her to copy.
She looked at the other dancers and realized they were doing the same steps as the King and Queen, but not at the same time. People were at different stages of the same sequence, making it appear like madness at first, but it was really just a repeating pattern. She began to see and feel it in her body. Her palm heated in Verden’s hand.
“You feel it?” He stepped closer.
“Yes.” She did; the magic of the music was in her blood. When she looked at him, he was gazing down at her, heat flickering in his eyes. Right now she didn’t care if she got singed.
As he’d said, the steps weren’t hard. She copied his movements and followed, letting the music flow through her. Different to the mortal music she was used to, this was ancient and powerful. It wasn’t just her pulse she felt increasing; it was Verden’s, as if for the duration of the dance the magic was bringing them closer. They stopped with the music, toe to toe, her body only millimeters from his. One deep breath and her breasts would brush his chest. Her skin tingled. For a moment neither of them moved. He was looking at her with a look in his eyes that could only be called wild and untamed.
She risked that breath; their bodies touched for a moment, long enough to send desire spiraling through her blood. It was closely followed by the hard edge of reason and the sharper blade of danger. She knew why Verden kept his distance when people were watching. It was information that could be used against her…and him.
Verden closed his eyes for a second and stepped back. When he opened his eyes, the cool indifference was back. She knew she couldn’t raise a mask that quickly and wasn’t sure that was a skill she wanted, even though it was one she’d need.
“It’s been a pleasure.” He gave a slight bow. “Should you wish to…escape…for a little while tonight, my offer still stands.” He added in a much lower voice. “I can help you if you trust me.”
Then he released her hand and walked away. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that if they left together it wouldn’t be noticed or spoken about. She glanced at the King and Queen, now dancing with other people. But the
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