I bowed my head to hide my panic. “You honor me, High Councilor.”
He stretched out two fingers and lifted my chin. His gaze was warm, if not a little playful. The faint lines in his skin hinted at a life of smiling. “When someone calls me that, I still look for my father. Please, call me Asher. I would like to get to know you better.”
I blinked. The rumors of his womanizing and expensive tastes were clearly not far off. But he also wasn’t quite the pompous fool I remembered. Apart from the one time he’d shown us his vault, I’d never interacted with him. He’d become the High Treasurer three years ago, taking over from his father.
And now I would have to steal from him.
A smile grew on Asher’s clean-shaven face. “Why don’t we start with your name?”
A few titters echoed around the alcove, and my cheeks warmed.
“K-Katerina,” I stuttered, cursing myself for not being prepared.
Another name. Another disguise. Another lie.
None of the dancers around me so much as frowned over my made-up name. Perhaps they also used other names.
“Katerina,” Asher said, pressing a smooth kiss over my fingertips. A few flecks of my paint clung to his lips.
I smiled. “Asher, forgive me, but you have some gold just here,” I said, tapping my own lips.
“Do I?” He released me to find more gold streaked over his fingers. He chuckled and swiped it over his jaw. “Luckily, it’s my favorite color. Perhaps I could take over for Melaena and play Arduen for my lovely dancers,” he said.
We all laughed and agreed. He was a bit ridiculous, but not unkind, at least.
He insisted we sit with him, ushering us to different cushions. He led me by the lightest touch to the cushion next to his. “Wouldn’t want to mar any more of that beautiful gold,” he said with a wink.
Melaena sat behind me with an encouraging smile. I tried to return it, but my nerves were back.
It was perfect. He sat so close to me. Close enough that I could see a thin gold chain among the ropes of other goldnecklaces. The key had to be dangling from that one under his shirt. Tantalizingly out of sight.
Act the sweet, playful admirer, and you could steal his very soul if you wished.
But I didn’t need to steal his soul—just the key from around his neck.
Chapter 23
Kiera
Asher pouredscarlet wine into a gold cup and handed it to me. “How long have you been withThe Silk Dancer, Katerina?”
I took the tiniest sip, still managing to leave gold paint on the rim. “Only a few weeks.”
His eyebrows arched. “Melaena must have quickly recognized your deep talent.”
“That and her drive to work hard,” Melaena said with a fond smile.
I relaxed a little. “At first, I thought my body would give out from the number of turns she forced me to practice.”
“I told you the torture would be worth it. You were lovely. You even remembered to smile.”
I laughed, and Asher leaned closer. “And even lovelier when you laugh, Katerina. I do hope you’ll stay on atThe Silk Dancer.I would love to see you dance again.”
A part of me wilted, while another part celebrated such an easy take. “Of course, if she’ll have me.”
“Friends are always welcome,” Melaena said quietly. “Please excuse me. A few of my patrons wish to speak with me.”
She gracefully rose and melted into a crowd of admirers.
