“Just follow my feet…” he said reassuringly.
While he wore no expression, he could not hide the ache that crept into his eyes at the sight of whoever’s face I wore. Whoever it was that he truly desired.
“Remember, listen to my voice,” I reminded him. “I’m sorry if I step on you. I’ve never danced before…”
Emmerick seemed like an excellent dancer, but maybe he was simply an excellent leader. He did not allow me to stray too far or stumble over myself. His traveling steps were hard to keep up with, but I kept thinking of the quadrille in the square, the laughter, the joy.
“Do you want to tell me about her, Em?”
He smiled and swayed me closer and away from him again. “That’s what she calls me. Em.” His tone revealed a hint of sadness.
“Focus on thedifferences,” I warned.
Interesting that I not only adopted a new face but some mannerisms that weren’t my own.
He nodded. “Your voice is much raspier—stronger—not in a bad way. Hers is sweet, smooth. Unless she’s provoked or angry, then it can turn from honey to daggers. She’s loyal, and she can be ruthless if those she loves are threatened. Swears like a damn sailor in private.”
He turned me into a spin. I enjoyed the dizzying feeling of it. My impulse was to keep spinning until the events of the day were just a blurred memory.
“Do you often find yourself a recipient of her anger?”
He threw his head back gently with a chuckle. “Yes.”
“What do you do to deserve it?”
He contemplated that as he took my other hand, and we began to move in the other direction; the grass tickled my ankles, and I admired the moon glistening off the lake over his shoulder as he continued explaining.
He answered, “I have a habit of being overprotective. She hates being coddled. I know I shouldn’t compare you, but she’s like you in that way—fiercely independent.”
How wrong he was. There was no independence within the Sisterhood. I wouldn’t have been able to navigate this world without him and Fen for the past weeks.
I was trained to be a concealed weapon, hidden away in that tower. A tower I would have to return to tomorrow in order to travel to the only Egress left in the Central Corridor.
What if the Sisters were waiting there for me? Would they bind me there before I could make it to Luz?I shuddered.
“I think you would like her, is all I mean,” he said carefully.
The dancing grew dizzying, but my mood grew lighter with every step, spin and sway—it was fun.Have I ever had fun?Surely, as a child. But I couldn’t think of a time recently when frivolity overtook me.
When Emmerick stepped in a circle, his palm against mine guided me to turn with him. I looked into those golden-brown eyes that now shone with life, laughter and a glimmer of happiness and familiarity.Hope.
His smile was wide—eyes creased. Then he tripped over an upraised tree root, nearly falling into the lake. I barked out a laugh. It was a guttural, uncontrolled sound that surprised me.
I held his hand still, helping him regain his balance, but was buckled at the waist in laughter. Emmerick matched my laughter’s intensity as he regained his balance.
In the reflection of the lake below, the woman laughing back at me was petite, with honey-colored curls. She had large, green eyes and a smattering of freckles over her nose.
When Emmerick let go of my hand, it was only a moment before my face was my own again. My pale, sharp features and long dark braid cascading down to my waist returned.
“Well,Asterie.”He made a point not to add formality. “Now you can say you have danced. It has been my honor. But, of course, you’ll have to do a lot of dancing in the Court of Luz, so I hope you enjoyed it.”
“I like dancing,” I acknowledged, surprising myself.
He took in my changed features. I was glad he did not look dazed. “I need to send a hawk to the Queen about our arrival. Can you make sure the warlock gets to the inn without trouble?”
I nodded. “Of course.” He was already walking away.
“Em”—at my words, he looked back—“thank you. I needed that. And whoever she is, she’s lucky to have you.”
