He grumbled but bent down to lay his hand on High Lord Zeiger’s shoulder. A blink and he was gone, returning a short time later, giving me a nod.
“You’re getting too good with these tricks I’m still struggling to master,” I whined. “It’s not fair.”
“If you work a little harder, you’ll find success.”
“I’ve worked very hard already.” But such was the way of the world. Some magic came easily; some did not.
Taking my hand, Lorant flitted us to the ballroom where we’d entranced the audience with a dance that for us was more like a duel.
“Care to spin around in my arms?” he asked. “I could hum to create music.”
“I’m not dancing with you again.”
He leaned in close, his words a whisper across my ear. “You will if I tell you to do so.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
He huffed. “Don’t test me. Your stubbornness doesn’t deter me. It’s an invitation.”
I leaned into him, curling my voice in a low purr. “I’m not testing you, sweetums. I’m trying to see how much of that arrogance you’ll trip over if I push you hard enough.” I turned away, letting that hang between us.
He flitted, putting himself between me and the door as I was reaching for the knob. “Sweetums?”
“It has a nice, light tone to it, doesn’t it? I believe I’ll use it all the time.”
“I dare you.”
“Do you really think I won’t do whatever I please?”
“What pleases you will also please me.” Dark amusement burned in his eyes. His voice dipped, low and dangerous. “You’ll find the view from underneath me quite enlightening.”
“Arrogant, aren’t you?” I reached around him to open the door and step out into the hall.
“You adore that about me.” His fingertips trailed down my spine. “I’ve changed my mind about these leathers.”
“Oh, you have, have you?”
We walked down the hall, keeping our voices soft to avoid being overheard.
“Wear them whenever you like. I’ll savor the view almost as much as I’ll enjoy slicing them off your body with your own blades.”
My body roared.
If I wasn’t careful, I truly was going to wind up beneath him, discovering what enlightenment he had to offer. It wasn’t easy, but I pushed the image from my mind as we took the stairs and started down one of the hallways leading to my suite.
We’d only made it halfway down the corridor when Lorant stopped short, his hand snapping out to lock on my arm.
Rolling my eyes, I turned toward him. “Don’t think you're going to talk me into?—”
I caught sight of his face. Tension radiated from him, and his jaw was set in stone.
The air shifted. A biting chill jettisoned around me, lifting strands of my hair, followed by the prickle of unseen eyes crawling over my skin. The hallway shimmered, the walls on either side bending and warping like reflections in turbulent water.
We pivoted and hurried down the hall. A blink, and we stood at the start of the hallway again, the stone floor and walls stretching and oozing around us.
“What—” We pulled our blades, the rasp a hiss in the too-quiet hallway.
“Go,” he barked, leaving no room for argument.
