Sighing, Seth adjusted his feathered circlet. “It was in fashion. And I’d joined a theatre troupe, briefly.”
Eleos snorted. “Ha! You did pick your name.Burgundy Rose.”
“For fuck’s sake. I was theirbodyguard. Not one of the actors.”
Phaedrus rolled his eyes. “Oh, enough grandstanding. Can we get on with it?”
“We can,” Cerys said, making the final line in her sketch. A frame drew itself to life on the wall before her, painting a simple portrait of a dirt road carving through a field of trees. “This will take you to a nearby alley. No one will know where you came from.”
“Perfect.” Seth glanced around at everyone. “My illustrious guards should take the lead.”
“Percy—” Seraphim lowered her helm’s visor. “Once we arrive, take up the rear.” Hoisting her glaive, she marched through the frame. I moved to follow, but Seth grabbed my elbow, holding me back.
“Good luck, Set,” Cerys said. “I’ll try to help you, if I can.”
“Be careful,” he said, watching her leave before returning his gaze to me.
He waited for everyone else to pass through the portal before speaking. “You look beautiful.”
“So do you,” I said, holding back a laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” Seth playfully rolled his eyes. “Save me a dance? Maybe we can find another shady inn with good music.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Lifting my chin, he kissed me deeply. I wrapped my arms around him, fingers digging into his shoulders, unwilling to let go.
Lips parting, Seth hesitated before kissing me again. He cupped my cheek, thumb stroking my skin while his other arm grasped my waist, pressing me to him.
I felt the same tension in his touch. He didn’t want to let me go, either.
Forcing myself to release him, I stepped back.
Seth stared at me longingly. “Pleasebe careful.”
“You’re in more danger than I am,” I said.
“It never seems like it.” Taking my arm, he led me to the portal. “One day I’ll waltz into a ballroom with you on my arm and show you off properly,” he promised with a wink.
We stepped through the canvas into a living painting. Unlike Cerys’ rushed drawings, this one matched the sketch I’d glimpsed, down to every last detail. A simple dirt path carved through sprawling meadows, leading to another canvas through which the others had already passed. Only Eleos remained, waiting by the exit.
Lifting my hand, Seth gently kissed it before leaving my side. He and Eleos exchanged a few quiet words. Glancing at me one last time, Seth stepped through the canvas and disappeared.
“Your prince has given me a task,” Eleos said, holding up a hand to instruct me to wait. The canvas slowly shifted around us, the trees brightened, and the frame the others had passed through waned before quickly reforming. “This way, Lady Aethra,” Eleos said.
“And what task is that?” I wondered, following him through the portal.
We emerged in a small pasture—the stench of horses struck me like a slap. Seth had left Athena in this little field near the edge of town, where a few other steeds were stabled. My gorgeous horse raised her head from the grass, shook her white mane, and trotted to our side. Eleos took her reins.
“You and I are arriving at the ball together,” he explained.
“Ah.” I raised an eyebrow. “To scour any doubt?”
“For once, I agree with Seth. Announcing to Eris that you’re together is a royally bad idea. So you’ll bemydate tonight.” Eleos knelt, folding his hands into a step.
Lifting my skirt, I accepted his offer, remembering the first time he helped me onto the horse.
Gods, it felt like a lifetime ago.
