“I was in the city on business and ran into Bram,” Cethin gritted out, his stare locked on Razik. “He mentioned he’d escorted Wren to the two of you a bit ago.”
“And you are upset he did that?” Kailia asked.
Razik had to work extra hard to keep his lips from turning up in amusement as a muscle in Cethin’s jaw ticked.
“No, Kailia, I am not upset by that. I’m upset because?—”
“Wren, can you get everyone some water?” Razik interrupted, and Cethin’s head snapped to the other two females. Razik had assumed the male had forgotten they were even here, and he’d been right because Cethin’s features softened a fraction as he forced some of the tension to leave his limbs.
“Yes, that would be much appreciated, Wren. Thank you,” Cethin said with a tight smile. “And Madam Vera, thank you as well for generously allowing the queen to practice here. I trust you’ve been compensated, but I will add more to whatever has already been paid.”
The madam’s cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as she curtsied to Cethin, murmuring something about that not being necessary.
“Would you mind playing the song again?” he asked, and she skittered over to the piano, taking a seat on the bench. “Just give us a moment.”
Razik made to step back, but Cethin said with a low snarl, “Stay there.”
More than irritated with the command but unable to do anything about it in a public place, Razik’s feet stayed planted while Cethin’s attention returned to Kailia. He motioned her forward with a crook of his finger, and she slowly approached.
“You need to get the steps down. Then work on the touching,” he said, his tone a shade calmer with his wife before him. “Think of the dance like a hunt,” he coached, motioning for her hands. But he didn’t touch her. His hands stayed at his sides while one of hers went to his shoulder. Her other arm was raised in the air, and whether it was the lack of touch or simply his presence, her limbs weren’t as rigid.
Cethin nodded to the madam, and she began playing. Kailia stumbled through the first few steps, but Cethin didn’t falter. Instead of guiding her with his hands, his magic was there. Dark tendrils and wisps nudging her this way and that. Even the twirls were shrouded in the inky swirls, and his gaze never once left hers. Razik would never admit it out loud, but it was something to witness. A dark and haunting beauty to it all. The knowledge ofwhythe king was teaching her this only added to the moment.
When the last notes echoed in the studio, the quiet was heavy. Wren had returned at some point, a tray of water still in her hands as she’d stilled to watch the two.
And him?
Razik had this odd sense of uncertainty. Maybe Tybalt was wrong. Maybe Kailia didn’t have any ulterior motives in any of this. Maybehe’dbeen wrong because the way she was looking at the king in this moment showed no trace of a female who’d been forced into a marriage. If the goal was to be convincing, this was all they needed to do to show everyone at the Union Celebration.
Cethin was the first to step back, Kailia’s hands lowering back to her sides. Looking from her to Razik and back again, Cethin said in a low tone, “All either of you needed to do was ask.”
“I didn’t want to burden you with this,” Kailia said. “Razik was only helping at my request.”
“You don’t need to defend me to him, Lia,” Razik said in his usual bored tone.
Cethin ignored him, saying to Kailia, “I’ll see you for dinner.”
He bid farewell to Wren and Madam Vera, and then he was gone as quickly as he’d appeared.
“He is upset,” Kailia said, staring at the doorway.
“With me, not you,” Razik said, gesturing her closer.
“How is it your fault?” she asked, positioning her hands. “I asked for your help.”
“If the choices for a direction for his anger are you or me, it’s going to be me every time,” he said, moving as the music started. He actually had to concentrate on this. How had Cethin moved through this dance with his hands at his sides the entire time? He’d made it look effortless, and it was…not.
But that was how the next hour went, and by the end of it, Kailia was moving with the same grace she did everything else with. Of course, she couldn’t very well dance like this at theUnion Celebration. That would be something to tackle another day.
They left before the younglings started showing up for their lessons, the madam’s coin purse much fuller now. Bram was waiting for Wren, and Razik said nothing as he lightly touched Kailia’s arm to Travel them back to the castle.
Her rooms were empty, and wanting to leave before Cethin returned, he headed for the doors.
“Raz?”
Turning back to Kailia, he found her watching him curiously. “What?”
“The animosity between you and him? If you’re not jilted lovers, then…why?”
