“You’re not to blame for anything that happened, Anders. You were barely more than a boy. You did what you had to do to survive. And it was the right thing to do, because here you are.” Hans gripped Anders’ upper arms tightly, joy in his gaze. “Mother will be so pleased to hear you’re safe and well.”
The weight of all Anders’ worries and assumptions lifted and, for a single moment, he felt as though he were floating. And then he came crashing back down to the ground.
“We need to find a way out of this place, Hans. Will you help us?”
Hans raised an eyebrow. “Us?”
“The Golden Princesses are across the lake, looking for a way out. Their uncle is the one who trapped you here, the Duke of Cicera. We need to get everyone out before we’re stuck in here forever.”
Hans’ eyes widened, but he nodded firmly. “Alright. Tell me what to do.”
Together,they woke the other Princes and dancers, explained what was happening, and ushered them into boats to be ferriedacross to the other side, where Isadora and Livia were waiting. Once they were all standing on the same side, Anders and Hans joined Issy and Livia beneath the turret.
“Princess Isadora, Princess Livia,” Hans said, with a quick bow. “I see you’ve met my brother, Anders.”
Livia’s brows shot up towards her hairline in an almost comical expression of surprise. But Issy only smiled.
“I knew there was something odd about you.” She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, an unreadable expression on her delicate features. “I’ve never met a soldier who loved ballet or was as talented with charcoals as you.”
Heat crept up Anders’ neck and he looked down, hiding his smile. “I apologise for not being honest with you. When I was arrested at the theatre, I thought it would be safer to pretend to be a simple soldier than admit to being the younger Prince of the Northern Isle.”
“Arrested?” Hans asked, at the same time as Issy said, “Probably for the best.”
Anders grinned at Issy, and she returned it. A warm sensation was growing in his chest, but he pushed it away. There were more important things at hand, he could think about Issy’s smile and how it made him feel later.
“It’s a long story, brother. I’ll explain everything, I swear. Right now, we need to get out of this trap before—”
“Before Uncle Iago kills Father,” Livia interjected, her lower lip wobbling. Isadora put an arm around her sister’s shoulder and squeezed.
Anders nodded. “Exactly. I take it the entrance did not appear for you, either?”
The younger Princess shook her head. “But, Issy had an idea that might work.”
Anders raised his eyebrows at her, expectantly, and Isadora gestured vaguely with a hand. “It was just a thought really, butUncle Iago must have forced us to dance here for some reason. Perhaps dancing under his enchantment helped to keep the dark magic alive?”
They all nodded, listening intently as the Crown Princess spoke.
“It’s a good theory,” Hans replied, and Anders felt a small swell of pride on Issy’s behalf. “What is your idea, Princess?”
She glanced at her feet then, at the worn ballet shoes that had been new only hours earlier. But a moment later, she looked up, a renewed fire in her gaze. “I think we should dance.”
“Dance?” Anders had expected almost anything else, but more dancing?
Livia nodded enthusiastically. “Tell them why, Issy.”
Isadora licked her lips and unconsciously rubbed the sunburst locket between her thumb and forefinger. “If dancing under the curse keeps this realm in existence, perhaps dancing is the only way to destroy it. Choosing to dance, for light and joy.” She looked to Anders, then, a smile tugging at her lips. “For Maia.”
It had to be worth a try. Maybe dancing was exactly what they needed to do? They wouldn’t know unless they tried. No one was coming to save them from the shadow world, whatever they did they would need to find their own way out. And maybe, just maybe, it would work.
Anders nodded firmly. “Alright. Put us in position and show us what to do, Princess Isadora.”
Isadora and Livia instructed their fellow dancers, who each took a now-unmasked prince or lord by the arm and got into position, forming a line of couples along the shore.
“Anders,” Issy said, as the others fell into formation beside them. He looked down at her outstretched hand, his stomach flip-flopping inside him. “Can I have this dance?”
He swallowed and gave her a quick nod, unable to find the words. He gazed at her as she slid her hand into his rough, calloused palm and arranged his arms in the correct position around her.
This was ridiculous. He was a prince. He’d been dancing since he could walk, and yet somehow he had forgotten all of the steps and found himself incapable of smiling, or even thinking straight. The scent of mint and night-blooming jasmine filled his nostrils as he held Issy at an appropriate distance, his heart hammering inside his chest.
