The crowd whispered, swapping gossip about their predictions of the fate of the Thornebow and Hyton marriage as Grigory and Annalisa stepped into the ballroom. Annalisa showed off her dazzling Hyton smile and Grigory put on the same showman’s swagger he had at the victory celebration, even though he could barely walk from his drunkenness. A chill ran up my spine—they reminded me too much of Duke and Duchess Hyton, waving to the peasants in the city in a masquerade of contentment.
Before I could worry about Annalisa’s fate, Derrick and Brietta entered next, looking like a beautiful pair in their matching blue clothes. I clenched my fists again as I watched them promenade into the ballroom. I did not care if everyone agreed to annul our marriages, they looked too comfortable on eachother’s arms.
I scowled and crossed my arms. Brietta’s time as a Hyton was running out, she should be careful not to gettoocomfortable.
The three other pairs waited on the side of the dance floor while Grigory and Annalisa danced to slow, dreamlike music. Grigory stumbled on his bad leg a few times, but Annalisa kept hersmile on.
Watching Grigory and Annalisa swirl on the dance floor was making me dizzy. I glanced at one of the ballroom doors—I had made my mandatory appearance, maybe I couldsneak out.
Applause thundered in my ears and I looked back at the dance floor. Annalisa and Grigory had finished their dance and the whole ballroom cheered—except for the cluster of Annalisa’s beautifully adorned sisters. They stood near their father’s throne, sneering and muttering to each other. Grigory was clad in white, silver, and grey—as conspicuously “Thornebow” as possible. All six pairs of Hyton Blue eyes glaredat him.
“Now I want all the newlyweds to have the next dance!” Duke Hyton said with a flourish of his goblet, sloshing some wine onto Duchess Hyton’s dress. Duchess Hyton cut him a look and pulled her stainedskirt away.
I hid behind Mother as the pairs matched up on the dance floor, hoping everyone would forget I existed.
Riyan walked onto the dance floor and looked for me over the heads of everyone else in the crowd. He was also allowed out of his military uniform for the ball and wore a simple white shirt, black pants, and boots. He also wore his bright crimson cape over his ensemble which, combined with his massive size, made him impossible to miss in the crowd. I could not pretend I did not see him, but I could only hope that he could notfind me.
“Where is Madame Bloodstone?” Duke Hyton called. He left his throne and walked onto the dance floor, making a big show out of lookingfor me.
Mother pulled me out from behind her. “Go. You do not want to make Andersfind you.”
Her voice was gentle, but the underlying threat in her tone was so cold Inearly shivered.
I took a breath and started walking. I kept my eyes down as I walked out to the middle of the dance floor that was decorated with black and white tile like a game board. My hands shook as Iapproached Riyan.
Amused whispers pricked my ears as the crowd wondered how the half-giant was going to dance with the girl the size ofa thimble.
As soon as I saw the toes of Riyan’s boots on top of the black and white tile, I dared to tilt my head all the way up to look at him. Riyan neither smiled nor snarled, but looked down on me with an expression that I could only read asreserved caution.
The whispers turned more serpentine and some were bold enough to openly laugh at us. My face was on the same level as his hips. His knees were just below my waist. Dancing would be impossible—this was all acruel joke.
The music started up and I held my breath. Riyan leaned down, bending at his knees, and took my hands in his. I closed my eyes as he awkwardly swayed my arms. My cheeks burned as the laughter around usgrew louder.
“Come on, boy, you look ridiculous!” Duke Hyton shouted. A fist thumped into muscle. “Pickher up!”
My eyes popped open and I gasped as my feet left the ground, but then all the air was forced out of me as he shoved me into his muscled chest. Riyan had scooped me up in his left arm, supporting my backside with his forearm and his hand aroundmy thigh.
I was so scared, I could not even blush at him touching me where I had never been touched before. All I could see were his big blue eyes. I could not breathe. I was too high,too high.
Riyan took my trembling left hand and held it between his forefingers and thumb. I squeezed my fist around his thumb and dug the fingernails of my right hand into his shoulder muscle as he awkwardly danced the steps himself. He dodged one of the iron chandeliers as he danced, narrowly avoiding lighting his hairon fire.
The stench of wine fuming off his breath was nauseating. I looked down to keep him from breathing in my face but immediately regretted it. I could only see the tops of every head in the room. The light and colors of the ballroom started to spin and I let out a frightened whimper intoRiyan’s chest.
Riyan’s chin tilted down against my temple but I did not dare look upat him.
“I am not going to drop you,” Riyan said softly. “I promise.”
Maybe the low rumble of his promise against my cheek made my heart slow down or maybe it was just the wine, but I let out my breath and the worldstopped spinning.
I watched the other couples dance below us. Gerond danced sweetly with Camille. Myles awkwardly stepped around Dinah, who ledhimin the dance, but he had a relaxed smile on his face as he let Dinah take charge. My stomach tightened as Derrick and Brietta swirled around the dance floor in drunken bliss. They talked and laughed through wide smiles and I even caught Derrick glancing down at Brietta’s chest a coupleof times.
I looked away, but my stomach still knotted and jealousy burned behind my eyes. Whatever attraction they had was from Fraleigh’s enchantment, that was all. I needed tocalm down.
Although, was I only jealous because Brietta and Derrick shared an attraction, or was it also because I felt nothing for Riyan? The matrons might have lied about the sanctity of our marriages, but the blood bond was too painful for the magic to not be real.
I glanced down at the smiling couples on the dance floor for only a moment—the alleged magic attraction seemed real enough for them. Was I just too mean and cold-hearted for the magic to work on me? Is that why Fraleigh did not tell me I would be asatisfactory bride?
I pursed my lips. Give Riyan a chance, General Hyton had told me. Fine. I could put the annulment plan on hold for a few minutes just to see if any magic could crack my granite heart.Nothing more.
