“He stepped on my feet eight times!” she hissed. She settled next to Headmistress Blackiston, who patted her shoulder as she fumed. No handsome prince for Annalisa, the toe-mashing Baron’s heir was the best shecould get.
Grigory’s tall boots clicked on the tiles of the Great Hall as he approached me. He flashed a charming smile and offered mehis arm.
“I’m afraid I’m not much of a dancer,” he said, his voice both bright and smooth. “I have an old battle injury in my left leg, but I’ll do my best to give you agood time.”
Grigory’s wavy blonde hair was handsome, even though it was cut short in the military style. His steel House pin—a fox with its fluffy tail curled around its legs—gleamed in the candlelight as it secured his cape.
I took his strong arm and he led me to the dance floor. His calloused palm found my hand and a tiny shock went up my arm. Clinical sketches of nude men flashed through my mind until the music pulled me back into reality. Grigory found the beat and led me in the dance, but he faltered on his left leg afew times.
I peered around him to see who the new pairs were. Brietta danced with Myles, who was not adjusting well to a partner who towered over him, and Derrick had Camille. Camille desperately wanted to marry Derrick, but she kept her mouth shut—too shy to charm himwith conversation.
Relief washed over me and I turned my attention back to Grigory. Might as well try to make an alliance outside of the House of Hyton while I had him inmy hands.
My voice was as sweet and lush as the first bite of an apple. “I heard of your victory at Nordingaard. The House of Ravenwood is incredibly thankful for your featsof heroism.”
“My most glorious victory yet,” Grigory said with relish. “Now young Ravenwood ladies will feel safe going to bed atnight again.”
“Oh, I feelmuchsafer thanks to you. What was thebattle like?”
Grigory threw me into a faster spin than I expected. A belly-tickling laugh escaped my lips as the candlelight swirled around me. He caught me with a firm grip on my waist and gave me a flirtatious half-smile. He was showing off the strength in his arms, the only advantage he had over the other suitors. He did not need to impress me, but he still clearlywanted to.
Good. Prideful men were the easiestto flatter.
“Since I am from one of the Southern provinces,” Grigory replied with a gleam in his dark brown eyes, “I had only heard tales of the giants of the North, but they were much larger and more ferocious thanthe stories.”
“Really?” I asked, playing along like I knew nothing of the beasts who terrorized my province when the snow melted off Nordingaard each year. “Please, tellme more.”
Grigory’s face swelled with pride. “They were living chunks of the mountain with footsteps like thunder, but they weren’t so strong once I shot out their eyes. When we took out ten of them, the lastthree retreated.”
Flattery rolled off my lips as thick as syrup. “You must bevery brave.”
Grigory slung me into another spin, and when he grabbed my waist again, he dug his fingers into my back and pulled me close so my chest mashed into his. My cheeks burned—I had never been so close to aman before.
My heart thumped against my ribs. Did I like the closeness? Did I hate it? I kept my teeth tightly closed as I triedto decide.
Grigory’s voice dropped as his warm breath skated across my forehead. “Ravenwood was beautiful. I could almost believe the rumors that magic flows around the trees. I can tell by the ravens on your gown that you also carry a deep affection foryour province.”
My stomach dropped. I thought men did not noticethose details!
“How did you know the ravens were there?”I whispered.
Grigory flashed a small smile. “If my sight is sharp enough to land an arrow in the eye of a moving giant, I can certainly find the two ravens onyour chest.”
A chill ran through my body. I did not like this, notat all.
“What of the man you call ‘the Beast?’” I asked, quickly changing the subject. “I heard from Julietta’s letter that he killed thegiants too.”
Grigory’s smile fell. “He is the Beast for a reason—he’s a bloodthirsty monster. His family sent him to the military academy to try to tame him, but it didn’t work. Even General Hyton couldn’t break him, but he at least put him to good use—hurting those who deserve itfor once.”
I took a small sip of air, my chest pushing slightly against his in protest of how tightly he held me. My head started feeling light, but Grigory had piqued my curiosity and I needed toknow more.
“Is he really a half-giant?” Iasked quietly.
“He is,” Grigory replied. “He’s as tall as a house. He sleeps outside in a pile of hay because he can’t fit into the barracks. But the reason I know for certain he’sa half-giant?”
He leaned in close until his mouth brushed against my ear. He tightened his hold on my waist and locked me in place againsthis body.
“He has a beast’s heart,” he whispered. “He cannot feel or love, he canonly destroy.”
