He laughed. “Calm down, you act like I bit you!”
Those two married my classmates and thought they could just kiss me?
Just as I was about to slap Myles, Gerond grabbed my wrists and forced me to keep dancing. “Do you not know? You kiss all the brides in your Selection class for good luck!”
Myles took my hands and spun me. “Just to make sure you have no hard feelings.”
“Because we did not marry you,” Gerond added.
I furrowed my brows. If anyone had hard feelings, it wasthemfor not getting to choose a bride first.
“We had to land one on you while the half giant was gone,” Myles said as he danced. “We just have Lady Hyton left.”
Gerond shoved me across the dance floor to the other side of the line. A woman caught me and weaved me into her group, but my head spun.
Gerond and Myles kissed me. Lady Hyton was next. Lady Hyton was…
Brietta.
I caught a glimpse of auburn hair on the other side of the ballroom. Brietta wore a golden diadem and Hyton Blue fabric that cascaded from her shoulders. She walked behind the line of dancers, her head higher than anyone else’s in the crowd. Her brown eyes met mine right before someone threw me into another spin.
My throat went dry. I had not expected to see her so soon after entering the palace. I did not even reply to her last letter because I was so angry with her for consummating her marriage with Derrick when we had agreed to annulments.
Though after the Man of the Mountain had shown me what had really happened…the magical pull of the blood bond must have overtaken Brietta and Derrick. They did not have a choice.
But I could not take back what I had screamed at her when I was blinded by rage. Our friendship was over, I just had to manage the situation the best I could.
During the carriage ride, I rehearsed the inevitable meeting with my former best friend. I would keep it cordial, letting Brietta think I was no threat and hopefully she would stay out of my way.
I moved further and further down the lines of people as I danced. The violin music grew louder. Brietta followed me, her brown eyes never moving away from me.
Pale yellow curls and a large golden crown appeared at Brietta’s side before I spun again.
What was Duchess Hyton doing talking to Brietta?
The ballroom swirled around me as my feet found purchase on one of the white tiles. My hands were free. My legs were still. I had finished the dance!
I could have run to the beginning of the line to begin again like I was supposed to, but the notes of the violin traced my ears and held me still. I turned toward the music and found the man playing the lively tune.
Tall. A golden coronet atop his dark curls. A Hyton Blue cape down his back.
Derrick.
His eyes were closed as he played. I stepped closer and my chest warmed. Maybe the faerie wine was hitting me.
Derrick took in a breath and his dark lashes fluttered open. He caught sight of the hem of my crimson dress and his beautiful blue eyes snapped up to my face.
He lowered his violin as his smile slowly grew. “Finally, a wish that came true.”
His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing against my jaw. Heat flooded my cheeks and I could not breathe. A tiny speck of warmth in my heart blinked to life.
Oh, the wine reallywashitting me.
Before I could take a breath, someone crashed into me and I fell to the floor. Warm liquid ran down the front of my chest and soaked my belly. I pressed my hand against the wet spot and withdrew it—my palm was stained red.
I froze. Had someone stabbed me? Did I reveal myself as a sorceress? Was I about to be dragged away in chains?
“My, how clumsy of me!” said a familiar voice.
