“Itisa dagger,” he says. I lean back as he lifts the lapel of his suit jacket, revealing a hilt peeking out.
“Oh.”Lugda, take me.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Garrick,” he says.
I narrow my eyes at him.
We resume dancing, and I start to get the hang of it, even if I’m relying on his guidance for every step. The song ends, and a slower waltz begins. I step out of Kilkenny’s hold.
“There, that should make Carys happy. I’ll head back to my seat.” I smile tightly and turn to leave the dance floor, but Kilkenny catches my wrist and pulls me back toward him. Quickly, he places both my arms over his shoulders and leans in, effectively capturing me as his hands rest on my waist.
“One more dance?” There’s a silent plea on his face that I can’t resist. I nod, giving in. He leans in close, his lips brushing against my ear as he says, “You’re braver than you give yourself credit for. Keep that fighting spirit, always.”
His voice is a soothing baritone, like warm honey, enveloping me in a cocoon of safety and familiarity.
“Whatever happens, keep being brave. Don’t break,” he adds with an intensity I’ve never heard before.
Heard… Wait a minute …
I blink once. Twice. Thrice. I try to step back, bewildered, but his hands tighten on my waist. I heard him.
I.
Heard.
Him.
As if he’s inside my mind. He still has me trapped, propelling my heartrate even faster. I shove my arms down between our bodies, slackening his grip, then duck out from his grasp. Just as he taught me.
I hoist up the hem of my dress and dash toward the lower ballroom entrance.
My feet scream at me from the level of torture I’ve put them through tonight. I don’t stop running, even as I draw odd stares from those in my vicinity, until I’m in the mercifully empty corridor. Panic surges through me. I have to get away from this Feast, from this castle, from the man or whatever he is who spoke to mein my head.
He’s a Mage … who can read thoughts. Like from the fairytales. Can it be true?
Does Carys know?
Of course she doesn’t know! If she knew, he wouldn’t be her guard. He wouldn’t even be working in this palace. A hand clamps around my forearm, and I turn, my left fist flying toward Kilkenny’s face. I hit his open palm instead and seethe over the smile that plays on his lips.
“Good one,” he says. “If you’d actuallymeantto hit me, you would’ve.”
“Get away from me!” I take a giant step backward, moving further down the empty corridor.
He holds up his hands. “Center, Garrick. Find your damn center or you’ll blow both of our covers.”
“What are you talking about?” I’m walking backward rapidly but Kilkenny follows.
“I can’t explain, but I need you to listen to me.”
“Get. Away. From. Me.”
“Garrick.”
I’m still walking backward, holding my hands up to keep him at bay. My family, my entire village, for so long we’ve been blamed for using magic. We’ve been persecuted for owning fairytale books because of the ridiculous fear that Paramount has against magic users—who have been considered extinct for years now. Yet, here is an actualMage, straight out of the fairytales, right under their noses.
“I’m not a monster,” Kilkenny signs. “I’m no different than you. Haven’t you wondered about your dreams? Likemydream that you happened to walk right into?”
My blood freezes in my veins.Hisdream?
