‘Ember had her lesson today, so I got stuck with our trainer.’
‘And how’d that go?’
‘Oh, just excellent. He fell asleep midway through telling me this story about the time he won a three-headed lizard in a duel.’
‘A three-headed lizard,’ I repeat. ‘And what, exactly, did your trainer do with this three-headed lizard?’
‘That’s the thing,’ says Flint, ‘I never found out. He didn’t even make it to that part. I practised some flame flinging, stared vacantly out the window for a bit. Eventually he woke himself up with a particularly loud snore and told me I could go.’
‘Do youeverstop talking?’ Sheen mutters.
‘I’ll stop talking when you crack a smile,’ Flint tells him cheerfully. ‘Though something tells me that day will never come, which is lucky for me, as I do love the sound of my own voice.’
I can’t help laughing, and I feel the tight knot in my chest begin to unravel. We’re soon joined by Elaith, Spinner and Zeph, who are deep in discussion.
‘If Amaryllis had any sense, she’d cry off.’
‘She can’t just refuse to fight him, Elaith. That’s not how it works.’
‘Do you think he even wants to be king?’
‘Of course he wants to be king. Why wouldn’t he?’
‘It just seems a pretty big adjustment is all. To go from travelling the world for six years to sitting on a throne in the Grove, deciding taxes and entertaining ambassadors.’
‘Well, why don’t you go ask him how he feels about it?’
‘Shut up.’
I try my best to ignore their conversation. I don’t want to think about the Earth Cleaver. Because if I do, I’ll think about that kiss.
Just then, Spinner nudges me in the side. I follow her gaze to where a dark-haired figure is striding through the parting crowd. Ripples of silence spread unevenly around the room as he makes his way across it, straight towards me. I tense up as he approaches, guilt and longing battling one another, wrapping themselves tightly round my heart.
Hal holds out his brandhand. ‘May I have this dance?’
I look at the prince. Raven eyes, fair skin. So unlike his brother. But it was dark in the maze, I remind myself, and Fox had been wearing a mask shaped like the wings of a bird, and everybody had been dressed in gold, and Cole had just tried to burn me alive, and I wasn’t thinking clearly, and everything had happened so fast and … and …
Elaith prods me hard in the small of my back.
I sink into a curtsy. ‘I would be honoured, Your Imperial Highness.’
I let Hal guide me out into the very middle of the dance floor. At once, courtiers begin following suit, couples streaming along in our wake. Music starts up, slow and dreamlike. My feet find the rhythm as Hal’s other hand moves to cup my waist.
‘Thank you,’ I say softly. ‘For asking me to dance.’
‘I wasn’t sure whether you’d want me to.’
Panic jolts through me. What if he’s heard something? What if Fox and I were seen together in the maze? ‘Why not?’
But Hal just smiles. ‘I know you dislike attention.’
I feel myself relax. ‘Is that why you come to my rooms to see me?’
‘Why else?’ Hal glances down almost shyly at our joined hands as we change direction. ‘You value privacy. As do I. And I prefer it, speaking to you away from all the chaos, no Eyes hanging on our every word.’
I glance around. Everywhere, people are watching us. Even the other dancers crane their necks to get a good view. I catch sight of Ember in the crowd, wearing an expression that seems to sayOh, cousin, if only you’d break both your legs.
‘You disappeared the other night,’ Hal says. ‘I searched everywhere, which I assure you was like looking for a needle in a very large, very gold haystack.’
