Page 151 of In Violent Waves

Lyra bit her lip and tore her gaze from the gracefulness in the center of the room.

“I don’t know how,” she murmured.

Maelys was spun around by Ridge. His dark skin complemented her evergreen and floral gown. Like the gown itself had been made as the female equivalent of him.

“I’ll show you,” Wilder replied, tugging her to the dance floor.

Lyra’s heart rate increased, and her palms became damp. She had dreamed of this moment for most of her life, and it was finally happening.

They strode through the crowd arm-in-arm. Elves stepped out of the way and threw snarls at her. But she didn’t care. She was getting to dance on a holiday, something that was strictly forbidden for females.

Her attention was solely on the dance floor ahead of them.

Wilder grazed his hand across her waist before settling it low on her back. Her other hand was gripped in his. He looked down at her feet and then back up into her eyes.

“Just take a breath and follow my lead.”

He scooped her up, and her feet hovered above the ground before he was twirling them in line with the other dancers.

Lyra felt a wave of happiness from the top of her head to the tips of her toes as she flew around the dance floor. A smilestretched wide across her face, and a laugh bubbled up between her lips.

Wilder leaned back to look at her as he swept them across the floor, and an answering smile bloomed on his face.

“Enjoying yourself?”

Lyra blushed and squeezed his hand. “I have always wanted to do this.”

Wilder nodded. “I know.”

Her brow arched, and her smile dropped away. “You did?”

He nodded and spun her around. “You told me.”

Lyra frowned, not remembering such a conversation. “When?”

“At the cottage.”

She remembered that it was when they had been cooking their first meal together. A flood of memories from the cottage, the willow, and the swamp tormented her.

“Oh.” Her voice was quiet, and Wilder frowned.

“Why do I feel like you’re upset?”

Lyra shook her head, and her auburn hair shuddered with the movement.

“Then what’s the matter?”

The music was drawing to a close, and in a move that surprised her, Wilder swept her higher off her feet before dropping her parallel to the ground. His face lowered to hers, and his eyes were on her lips.

Her heart pounded against her ribs.

“What was that for?”

“It’s the end of the dance. It’s called a dip.”

Lyra sucked in a breath as he tilted her upright. The music took off once more, but they stood still, staring at each other.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, tucking a wayward strand behind her ear.