“Oh most definitely,” he says, his tone easy, as if we were discussing nothing more than the weather. “But unlike you, I can admit it.”
The words land with a weight that steals the air from my lungs. He speaks them so plainly, as if they’re a truth I should already know.
His hands guide me effortlessly, spinning me again, the edges of my gown fanning out in a perfect arc before he draws me back to him.
His touch, his scent, the heat radiating from him—everything about this man is undeniably addicting.
Or perhaps I’ve simply had too much to drink. The realization has me losing my balance, but his strong arms catch me, steady me.
“Nova, dare I say you’re a more graceful fighter than dancer.” It sounds like a joke, but there’s so much concern gripping his brow and his jaw feathers.
“Orilander powder,” I reply with a sheepish smile. Downing that second cup was probably not the brightest idea.
“Ah,” he says as understanding washes over his features. “Step on my feet.”
“What?” My jaw falls slack.
“If you cannot keep your balance, then let me dance for the both of us because as far as I’m concerned, this night has only just begun.”
With a smile that hurts my cheeks, I do as he instructs, and for what feels like hours, we dance. We dance until the floor begins to empty. We dance until my mind is consumed by only him. We dance until Theo taps Ryjax on the shoulder and whispers something in his ear that I can’t hear.
“When the song ends,” he responds then turns his attention back to me.
“You have to go?” I ask, my voice a bit whinier than I’d like, but like most things that have happened this evening, I blame it on the orilander powder.
“Soon,” he says, brushing my hair behind my shoulder and pulling me flush against him so my head rests against his firm chest.“But if I could, I’d dance with you all night.”
His words are so soft, so soft, I barely hear him.
“Hmm,” I hum. “What did you say?”
“Nothing, Nova. Just let me twirl you around for a little while longer.”
So I do, and every time he holds me tighter, I can’t help but feel a sense of home.
* * *
“Did you enjoy yourself this evening?” Theo asks as he guides me back to my room.
I hadn’t seen much of him since he left me at the drinks earlier in the night. Although, I can’t exactly say I spent too much time looking. Not with my attention more than a little occupied by his cousin.
“Very much,” I say, as blush warms my cheeks.
He chuckles, and as he does, the ground beneath my feet shudders. Tremors ripple through the tunnel walls, shaking loose small rocks from the archway overhead. I press myself against the side of the passage, and Theo does the same. The vibrations continue, subtle but noticeable.
An earthquake.
“Don’t worry,” Theo says. “It’ll pass soon. They happen sometimes.”
It’s not the first earthquake I’ve felt, far from it, but there’s a strange comfort in knowing they happen here, too. That even within the Imperial City, where people have all the water they could ever drink and all the food they could ever eat, the world still reminds them it’s dying.
When the tremors finally fade, we finish our walk in silence.
“Get some rest, Little Flame.” He dips his head before turning away.
Once inside, I exhale a long breath, the door clicking shut behind me. I cross the room, intending to collapse on the bed, but stop short when my eyes land on the letter sitting on my desk, the one Ishla delivered earlier when helping me get ready for the ball.
It’s a letter from Char. One I haven’t had time to read.
