“We?” she asked then flicked his cheek gently. “Or you?”
Even though the structure covered them in shadows, he had no doubt she could see the small stain tinge of color blossoming on his cheeks and ears.
“You know me too well.” He grimaced jokingly. “I know so little about you.”
Esi snapped her attention to his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You’re keeping secrets—which I don’t blame you for, since we’ve only known each other for a few weeks and are not married yet. But I want to know you.”
Esi dipped her head, but he caught her chin with his finger and lifted it. The desire to pry again about that burn mark was strong, but he pushed it back.
“What do you like to do?”
She shook her head. “No one has asked me that before.”
Strange, the way she talked about her life. From his point of view, it sounded like she never left her manor, never spoke with anyone. What type of life was that? He would need to speak to her parents and reprimand them for treating their daughter like property kept in a dusty closet.
“So I’m asking you,” he said instead, keeping his thoughts to himself.
She shrugged, backing away from his touch, as if embarrassed. “I’m not sure. I like spending time with you. I like your passion for your court, your desire to be a good ruler.”
“Although I appreciate the compliments, I want to know aboutyou.”
She tapped her chin, thinking hard. “I like dancing.”
“Why?” he prodded.
It was quiet as she thought again. “Because it’s a beautiful feeling to create art with my own body.”
In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to call upon an orchestra—perhaps that new up-and-coming one, led by a man named Izyk in the Lightning Court. For now, his hums would have to do.
When the melody came to him, Esi spun around. “What are you—”
But she didn’t have a chance to complete the question, because he brought her in close and started swaying to his tune. At first, she was awkward in his arms, but as he guided her, she loosened up. Then, she started leading him. He spun her out and back in his arms, pressing kisses to her lips and cheeks any chance he could.
It was a blissful peace inside the dome, one he never wanted to leave.
“It’s getting late,” she whispered in the quiet.
“You’re always trying to run from me.”
“It’s for your own good.”
As he let her go, she was already on her way out. He followed her, and the sight in front of him had the blood rushing from his face.
Iskra stumbled over her own feet. Esi and Bron were stopped in their tracks, both of their mouths wide open. Iskra’s heart stopped at the sight.
“What is going on?”
Jasyn’s words were a muffled blur in her ears. She could barely keep herself together, and the thought of turning around and seeing Jasyn’s reaction would make her faint.
“Kryth said you were back already,” Esi said, but no explanations would get them out of this mess.
Bron patted Esi’s lower back. “You should go. Iskra and I can handle this.”
He wanted to protect Esi—which Iskra understood—but it didn’t hurt any less that Iskra needed to be in the crossfire.
Esi made one step, but Jasyn shook his head. “She stays. You all tell me what’s happening, what the minister has to do with all this.”
