The people in attendance were not the usual subjects—family members and those who were of the house court were nowhere in sight. Instead, the servants and courtesans danced around with one another. They laughed and drank, talking loudly and enjoying their freedom.
Oran lingered by one of the decorated pillars, fingers curling around a purple streamer with pale pink flowers sewn into it. He hadn’t noticed her arrival yet, for his eyes were fixed upon a certain princess that finally looked as if she were enjoying herself. Fiernan had hardly spoken a word to anyone in the royal family, from what Nymiria overheard, and she always looked frightened or angry at revelries.
The prince smiled as he watched his betrothed dance, her brown skin shimmering under the lanterns as she twirled.
Nymiria drew in a deep breath before stepping out of the darkness and into the light.Oran looked at her then, his smile transforming from one of secret admiration to friendly surprise.
“You look—"
Nymiria lifted her hand to stop him, shooting him a pointed look as she stepped into place at his side. “Don’t say a word. If you flatter me, it will go straight to my head and the last thing we need is for someone like me to be too confident.”
Oran chuckled, shaking his head at her remark before he turned his gaze back to Fiernan. With a knowing smile, Nymiria watched him look at her. His eyes were all too telling and if the Shidoshan princess had simply looked his way at that moment, she would have seen just how enamored Oran was with her.
“Why not ask her to dance?” Nymiria whispered.
The prince’s brow furrowed, jaw going tight as his eyes dropped to his hands. He was still nervously fumbling with that damned streamer. “She’s in love with someone else, Nym. She has a prince already, she doesn’t need another one.”
“And?”
“Andwhat?” He exclaimed. “I don’t want to be the man that my wife settles for out of obligation or duty. Despite what others may believe, I do think that real love exists and I think marriages should be between people who genuinely want to be with one another.”
“It’s just adance, Oran.” She arched her brow in his direction, watching as his mouth floundered up and down. “Go. Ask her to dance.”
He looked as if he wanted to argue his point further, but when she shoved at his shoulders, Oran merely shot her a look of disdain before awkwardly pressing through the crowd. The music picked up into an exciting tempo by the time he stopped in front of the princess. She looked up at him with a fearful look in her eyes. Oran extended his hand towards her and that look of horror shifted to a shyness that had Fiernan’s cheeks turning pink.
Nymiria turned away when they began their dance. She walked towards a group of people sharing drinks, only to stop short when she saw him emerging from the hazy darkness beyond the shrubbery.
Her heart gave a loudthudwhen she saw him—skin glowing, horns on full display, his usually pale hair now black as pitch. She watched in awe as the horns retracted, disappearing into his scalp, and as the darkened strands of hair slowly shifted back to white. When he stepped into the first break of light that fell over the lawn, he was as she remembered him.
Aziel approached her with the sort of caution one might use when dealing with a wild animal, his hands tucked behind his back and his eyes searching her own for any ounce of fear.
She felt no fear of his godly form. Butfear, yes, she felt it.
“Youarebrave, aren’t you?” Aziel laughed softly as his eyes moved over her body. “Not a single glamour in sight.”
Resisting the urge to cover herself or immediately raise a glamour, Nymiria nodded. “This is who I am. Felt a little silly to continue hiding it.”
Aziel took that final step towards her, closing the distance between them with one languid stride. Although she’d stood next to him more times than she could count, it never failed to amaze her just how much taller he was than her. In this moment, it made her feel vulnerable. Small.
Or, perhaps, it was the secret she carried with her. The one eating away at all of her defenses, threatening to spill from tightly sealed lips that desperately craved the delicate touch ofhis.
Nymiria shivered as his gloved finger trailed over a vine that stretched up her hand and curled around her wrist. The crooked smile he wore made her skin flush, her heart quicken so much that she felt breathless. “Who should I thank for convincing you to do this?” His voice was low, a dangerous rumble that she felt throughout her body.
“I convinced myself.” She stammered. Her stomach swirled when his eyes dipped to her lips, but before she could give him a taste of what they both desperately craved, he was looking into her eyes once again. Everything about him was perfect. So much so, she nearly forgot every thought that’d haunted her before this moment. “Dance with me.” She breathed.
He needed no further convincing, it seemed. With their hands joined, they approached the stone patio where the others were dancing. His hand fell to her waist, pulling her into an embrace that made the world feel as if it had slipped out from under her feet.
“Where did you learn how to dance?” She asked.
Aziel beamed at her. “Would it surprise you if I told you that killing is not the only talent I have?” Nymiria rolled her eyes. “My mother taught me how to dance. I’m also a good actor, believe it or not. I was actually cast in quite a few plays when I was younger. I can sing, play the piano, draw, sew, fuck—”
“I get it.” She snapped. “Good gods, I believe that you’ve become the insufferable one.”
He paused for a moment, eyes narrowing and head tilting to the side as he spun her out into the crowd. His fingers clasped around hers once she was within arms reach, and then he twirled her back into his chest. “I’ve never called you insufferable.”
“You never had to.” She grumbled. “I couldfeelwhat you thought of me when we first met. You hated me.”
“Only because I believed you wereevil.”
