Great. Her witnessing just how bad he was with children certainly wasn’t going to endear him to her. Nikias quickly tore his gaze away and hurried back to his seat.
Maybe she hadn’t seen much. He hoped she hadn’t seen much.
By the time he made it back to his seat, Aimilia had resumed dancing again.
But he could feel her gaze on him as she moved. Nikias didn’t see Konstantin, not until he looked back out at the dancers again. Konstantin wasn’t gone; he’d joined the crowd.
The man laughed and clapped in time to the music with the other dancers, looking lighter and freer than Nikias had ever seen him.
He and Aimilia joined hands for one of the moves, their lips moving, but Nikias couldn’t catch any of the hushed exchange.It probably wasn’t consequential, but he couldn’t help his curiosity.
There was no rush of anger or instinct to get Aimilia away from him. Even though the man had to be utterly miserable with his own wife, Nikias didn’t detect in him any interest in searching elsewhere for companionship. Well, other than maybe the fact that the poor man was just looking for a few friends. Nikias supposed that explained his fast attachment to Marcella.
But then something in the air shifted. Nikias spotted the door opening first.
And then she appeared.
Hypatia.
She simply hovered in the doorway of the house she’d exited. No one else but Nikias had seen her yet. She leaned on the doorframe and watched the dancers in silence. She had a cloak wrapped around her, and the pattern on it matched the pattern on Konstantin’s silver armbands.
Nikias waited, muscles tensed and ready to rush to his feet and intervene should she see Konstantin and Aimilia dancing and be enraged. Hypatia’s gaze never left them.
Nikias had absolutely no idea what the demon could possibly be thinking. Konstantin and Aimilia parted as the next couple started to come down the line. Nikias kept his gaze locked on Hypatia, but her eyes just followed Konstantin.
Nikias didn’t understand. What was she doing just standing there in eerie silence?
If she wanted his attention, all she had to do was step forward and call out. But he didn’t know why she would want his attention.
Nikias didn’t like this. Hypatia was always unpredictable, but this was something else entirely. She hadn’t even noticed Nikias was watching her like a hawk.
It reminded him a little of the banquet following Gavril and Marcella’s second wedding, but that time she had come out, yelling Konstantin’s name and not paying Nikias any attention. This time, however, she was perfectly silent and still, just watching as he danced with a large smile, his laughter filling the air.
Ever since Nikias had laid eyes on him, this was the first time he’d seen Konstantin truly enjoying himself. Then Nikias finally looked over at Aimilia again, and he saw her wide grin. A chord struck and reverberated through him.
Was that also true for him? Was Aimilia only happy without him?
The dance ended, and Aimilia pulled away before the next one started. She came and dropped into her chair again next to Nikias, out of breath and grinning. She said, “I don’t think I’ve ever had as much fun dancing before. Our dances are nothing compared to this.”
Nikias focused on Aimilia. If Hypatia wasn’t going to move, then he didn’t have to concern himself with her.
He said, “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
It was good to see her smile and laugh, and Nikias imagined she wouldn’t be doing much of that after they left.
“I am, but before I can do any more, I must catch my breath.” She reached over and grabbed Nikias’ arm. “When I have, you’re coming with me.”
Nikias blinked. “I am?”
Aimilia nodded. “You’re not going to spend the entire night sitting here by yourself. The least you could do to thank these people for their hospitality is enjoy yourself.”
“I think we’d all enjoy it more if I didn’t. I’m not a good dancer.”
Aimilia laughed. “That’s why I like their dances. You don’t have to be good. You just have to enjoy yourself.”
As she spoke, Nikias kept glancing over toward Hypatia, waiting to see if she would move. Finally, Aimilia followed his gaze and her breath caught in her throat. Konstantin had noticed her finally because at that moment, he reached her standing in the doorway. The two of them entered a hushed conversation.
Aimilia was still huffing for breath, but she pulled on Nikias’ arm and said, “Come on, let’s go. I’ll tell you the steps.”
