Page 169 of Blood of the Fairest

Then again, he would've had questions—and what good would any of it do, when he still hasn't popped back up again?

His absence is really starting to bother me.

As my new dance partner and I take up the waltz-like position, he tilts his head. "Looking for someone in particular?"

I focus on him. "Hmm? Oh, no. Well—yes, actually, but I don't know what they look like."

"How enigmatic."

The song begins, and I'm immediately relieved that this man also knows exactly how to lead so I don't have to pretend I know this dance.

In fact, he's so graceful that I find myself enjoying the steps and spins for a spellbound moment.

I smile up at him. "So, I see you're not afraid of the queen of Isenmere."

"Why would I be?" he scoffs. "Besides, the gossipmongers profess that you're a reformed woman."

"All hail gossipmongers, then. By the way, who are y⁠—"

My question cuts off when a fucking terrible screech of a violin cuts through the air. The orchestral music stops abruptly and shouting ensues. I stop dancing to look over my shoulder.

Two of the violinists have gotten into a fistfight. A crowd is already watching, people murmuring as the other musicians try to hold the feuding musicians back. Aurefeldan guards are swift to grab the two irate men and escort them out of the ballroom.

Although the music sounds fine enough when the other musicians resume a second later, and people begin dancing once more, I frown.

"What was that about?"

"Who knows? Such cheap tempers fall prey to anything."

He resumes dancing, guiding me easily. Still, I can't help peeking over my shoulder one more time at the orchestral stage, scanning for green.

"He's not there."

I look back up at my dance partner. "Pardon?"

"The Pied Piper. You must be searching for him, unless the gossips are wrong about the moment you shared."

I grimace. "Fuck. They're calling it a moment?"

"A queen and a piper, gazing into one another's eyes in public?" he points out dryly. "Don't underestimate how starved Aurefeldans are for entertainment. They'll spin anything into a scandal—although, they may be onto something this time. You plainly enjoyed the piper's performance. Enough to weep, even."

"Weep? It was barely two tears, and—" I abruptly stop our dance again to squint up at him. "Wait. Have you been watching me?"

"There's that Isenmerian vanity. As I said, the gossipmongers are paying close attention to you."

"And you're clearly paying close attention to them," I point out, peeved.

"Not as close as the attention you got from the Pied Piper. Or so they say." The man tilts his head again. "The piper's music was unexpectedly…captivating. A beautiful gift, don't you agree?"

Recalling the joyful music that made me forget my thirst and ache for my past self, I nod.

"Yeah. Really beautiful."

Speaking of beautiful, someone rushes past us in one of the most stunning dresses I've seen tonight, which is saying something.

My attention is temporarily pulled from my mysterious dance partner as I watch the full, luxurious silver skirt billow away, the gold floral-embroidered tulle on top refracting the lights of the chandeliers overhead.

"Anyway, that's enough about the piper and me," I say, glancing back up into this man's dark amber eyes. "I still don't know—fuck!"