Someday, anyway,I wished to the Stars.
“I fear your efforts will be wasted upon me,m’lady,” I said over the rim of my crystal goblet. “I am spoken for.”
“Our king has a special lady?”shegasped, placing her spare hand over her heart in an act of dramatics.
When Ididn’treact, she chuckled, dropping her hand back to her side and smiling slightly.
“You can’tblame a female for trying.” She shrugged. “You are the most powerfulfaein the room right now, after all.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, examining. Analyzing.
Indeed, there seemed to be much morethanmet the eye when it came to thefaestanding before me.
“What is your name, stranger?”
“Valenia, or Val, Your Majesty. At your service.” I watched as she curtsied perfectly, even with the glass of wine still held in her hand.
She dressed the part of a perfect lady, and couldevenact as one, and yet there seemed to be more to her. Aside from the calluses, I could also see soft muscles rippling beneath the skin of her upper arms and the faint outline of a small blade hiddeninher top.
She had the tellings of a sort of warrior—not that of a noble, like her attire suggested.
Slowly,so as not to concern her with any sudden movements, I took the goblet from her hands, placing both hers and my own on the table next to us.
“Care for a dance?”I glanced toward the dance floor as the current song came to a close.
“Your Majesty?” Her voice gave away her surprise at my sudden offer.
“Don’t you trust me?” I asked, meeting her gaze and quirking one side of my mouth up into a smirk. I held out my hand.
“Not in the slightest,” she responded in the same breathasshe placed her hand into mine.
My smirk grew at her response as I led us out into the middle of the floor, close to the musicians. The crowd parted as I walked through, all eyes on Valenia and me. The whispers and chatter began almostimmediately, so I stole a glance at the female beside me.
To my surprise, her face gave away nothing of what she felt beyond confidence.She almost appeared comfortable.
Wordlessly, we took our place on the dance floor and listened as the crowd overcame their shockwhenthe next song began. This one was slower than thelast, andcalled for close contact to perfect the moves.
Her hand found mine,placingthe otheron my shoulder. I looped my other arm around her waist, resting my hand on the small of her back as I pulled her close to me. With our bodies nearlyflush, we began our dance.
“So, little warrior,” I said into her ear over the music playing so close. “What brings you to my castle tonight? Because I knowyou’renot here just to chat and dance.”
I felt the way her breathinghitched atmy accusation while in such an intimate position. Myziriliumpounded through my veins, but I did my best to block it out. Nobody there besides Hugo knew I evenpossessedany abilities—and I intended to keep it that way.
Besides, I had to focus.
I needed to know why she was there.
She drew her head back to meet my eyes, her expression showing a hint of the surprise she must have felt. Her grip on my hand faltered, but I held on tight.
“How—”
“You’re not as slick as you may think you are,” I offered, not deigning to explain further, though I could only assumeshe’dcome here with bad intentions.
As we spoke, we moved in time with the music, performing one of many traditional Northern dances. To my surprise, Valenia knew every step to take and did so at the exact right moment. Whoever she was, she wasimpressive.
I spun her, our arms outstretched, before pulling her back to me, forcing our bodiesflushagainst one another again.
“Alright,” she responded, ever so slightly breathless. “You’vecaught me. Nowwhat?”
