The music changed again. I executed another left turn without tripping, and Solentine caught me.
“Get me out of here,” I snarled under my breath.
“Why are you here in the first place?” he hissed through his smile.
“Why do you think? I got an invitation, and I didn’t want to endanger the family by not coming.”
We circled each other, and I caught sight of Arvel. He was completely ignoring his partner. His body was making all the right moves, but his gaze was on me.
“How do you even know Arvel?”
“Not important right now. He’s watching me.”
“Yes. I know. Everybody here is watching him watch you.”
“It’s not my fault,” I squeezed out.
“How did you even manage this? Arvel views women as amusements or irritations. I’ve never seen him get territorial.”
Ugh. “Silveren just asked me the same thing.”
“We have a bigger problem.”
Solentine spun me the same way Arvel had, giving me a glimpse of the northern side of the room. Black smoke coiled around Everard. It was barely visible, but it was there, snaking around his chest and arms. His eyes were a bright piercing green.
“He’s smoking,” I ground out.
“I’ve noticed. No man wants Arvel as a rival.”
“They’re not rivals.”
“Does he know that?”
“Stop being clever and help me.”
“We’re almost there. After the next turn, walk with me. Don’t stop. Don’t say anything.”
We turned. Solentine locked my hand on his forearm. We slipped out of our spot among the dancing couples, and he steered me toward the crowd. People edged out of the way to let us pass. A moment and we were through the clump of nobles, right in front of a small arch leading to a narrow hallway guarded by a knight.
Solentine pulled me into the hallway, which was barely wide enough for the two of us to pass side by side. We speed-walked through it, turned left, and exited into a much wider hallway, with tall arched windows lining its opposite side.
“We need to run now.” Solentine made another left.
I grabbed my skirt, and we broke into a jog.
“A joedurar scroll comes out of nowhere, and you accept it?” Solentine growled.
“It was shot into our courtyard with an arrow, right after a City Guard Knight Captain invited me into his office trying to figure out my identity. I couldn’t refuse it.”
Ahead of us, Arvel stepped out of a side hallway, blocking our path.
“Shit.” Solentine stopped and I stopped with him.
“How?” I whispered.
“The castle is a maze. There is more than one way to get anywhere. He had to race to catch us. Congratulations, my sweet cousin. You’re the only woman in Rellas who can make Arvel run after her.”
Arvel started toward us, his steps measured and steady. Solentine watched him approach, his face unbothered.
