I smile for the one thing I do remember vividly. “Singing.”
“Ahh, really? May I hear it some day?”
My cheeks grow hot as I break our eye contact and instead focus on our clasped hands. “I am more than certain you’ve heard many more talented singers than I. Heard the best of the Dragon Lands.”
“I do not like to argue. But I will. Because I have yet to hear you.”
His sincere tone pulls my lips up into a quiet smile. “Perhaps someday, then.”
“I’ll take someday.” He smiles at me, dazzling and enchanting.
He pulls me in until my body is flush with his and turns me so we avoid the corner of the loveseat as we slow dance. “Could you see yourself living the rest of your life out in a castle like this?”
“I think anyone who would refuse to live in a place such as this would be foolish. I could live in the gardens on one of the courtyard benches and be perfectly happy.”
He chuckles again, the humor softening his otherwise hard features. “I’ve spent a night out on one of the benches before. I don’t think I ever experienced an aching back until that next morning. But the gardens at night are perhaps my favorite place to be on the entire castle grounds?—”
A slow grin splits his lips, and he cocks his head to the side, sweeping down his soft white hair. “Actually, perhaps it’s better I show you sometime.”
Out alone with him after the dinner bell?
The heel of my shoe hits the lounge behind me as I step back. My balance completely shifts out from under me. His grip on me tightens, and he lunges forward while tugging me into him so I don’t fall.
My body snaps with the movement. My head rolls forward and my nose slams into his chin. I gasp at the small pain spearing through my nose, and as I find my footing and he steadies me, his eyes frantically search me.
“Are you alright?”
My cheeks are red hot, my heart galloping in my chest. I let go of his hand as something warm dribbles down from my nose. When I pull my fingers away, drops of blood stain them, spreading out onto the bandages.
I quickly cover my nose, embarrassed at both my clumsy nature and the mess. “Y-yes I think so.”
“Lyra, I am so sorry. Here, let me see.” He desperately digs into a hidden pocket within his coat, pulling out a crimson handkerchief.
As I lower my hand when he steps closer to me, he tenderly dabs the fabric underneath my nose. His pupils are blown wide. Fear? Guilt?He’s had to have seen blood before…right?Or is he already so shaken by the repercussions of today’s trial that this only adds to the guilt? His wide eyes move from mine down to where I bleed. His hands slow, allowing the fabric toabsorb the gush of blood. Those widened eyes dull, like he’s being taken somewhere very, very far away.
With my non-bloodied hand, I grab his wrist, willing him to look at me. When he does, he takes a cautious step back. Dropping his hand with the blood-spotted handkerchief.
I touch my nose, finding it already dry. “See, already better. Just a little bump, is all.”
“Just…a little bump,” he echoes quietly. That distant look in his eyes as he slowly shakes his head and crumples the handkerchief in his fist.
I open my mouth to ask him what’s the matter. Seeing that glimmer of something else within the cracks. But he turns his face away as he tucks the handkerchief back in his pocket.
The music outside comes to a stop, and I turn to the door. “The last song is done. Perhaps you leave first, and I can leave a few minutes after? In the event they didn’t realize the two of us were in here…”
“Alone?” he finishes.
Biting down on the heat crawling up my throat reaching for my cheeks, I nod. Then slowly turn to face him as he walks for the door. Guilt covering every inch of his expression.
Once he’s within reach, I stretch forward to grab his hand. He freezes, lips parted as he looks down at me.
“Cyrus, you can feel whatever you want for me. But I ask you to not pity me.”
A small smile warms his lips. Fluttering my heart that he’s back to that soft expression.
He dips his head. “Of course.” When he shifts those white eyes back up to me, he whispers as he gently squeezes my hand, “But I will never stop apologizing for what these trials might put you through. Even if it’s not something I can prevent.”
He gently kisses the back of my bandaged hand. “Thank you for dancing with me.”
