Page 17 of Wings of Ice and Steel

‘If you’re sure?’ The High Lord looked Nieve up and down, eyes narrowing.

Ariadnne’s mirroring glance shone with relief, which made angering D’avant completely and utterly worth it.

‘I am.’ Miming a bow, Nieve pulled Ariadnne into the crowd, D’avant’s eyes scalding her neck.

‘You’re making a habit of helping me.’ Ariadnne’s breath tickled Nieve’s earlobe.

‘You needed rescuing, and I happened to be in the vicinity...’

Ariadnne huffed a soft laugh. ‘I’m glad. Melixanthe promised I’d only have to dance with him once—’

‘— and I’m sure that was one time too many.’

Ariadnne’s laugh sent a thrill up her spine.

‘So, what does Lucius want?’

‘Nothing.’

Ariadnne’s mouth curved. ‘Good, Lucius would be unbearably smug if I obeyed a summons from him.’

It was Nieve’s turn to laugh. ‘It’s hard not to notice the way he looks at you—the way Regulus does, too.’

That thought was accompanied by another unwarranted pang of jealousy, and Nieve couldn’t help but ask, ‘So, you and Lucius?’

‘What about him?’

‘Are you two…’

‘Gods no!’

A look of horror passed over Ariadnne’s face. Nieve’s relief was liberating.

‘Do you want to get some air?’

The ballroom’s glass doors opened out onto a balcony, towards which Nieve wove. Dancers jostled and a drunken spriteling staggered into her side, requiring a firm shove. Stepping from the midnight forest into balmy afternoon sun, Nieve released Ariadnne’s arm, walking to the railing to gaze at the city below. A warm breeze ruffled her hair, and she turned to enjoy the view of Ariadnne standing nearby, arms tucked tight to her sides but still elegant, somehow, in that dress.

‘The High Lord didn’t manhandle you too much, did he? He seems like a piece of work.’

‘Hmm? Oh… I’m fine.’ Ariadnne offered Nieve a small smile. ‘He was quite restrained, all things considered.’ She sighed and looked out over the balcony at the city’s rooftops. ‘The view’s quite something, isn’t it? Did you get a chance to visit?’

‘I did. It’s a beautiful city.’

Ariadnne peered wistfully at the people below.

‘I’ll show you.’ Nieve stepped closer—close enough to breathe in Ariadnne’s honey-spiced scent—and pointed to a cluster of pointed, blue rooftops. ‘You see those buildings there? With the high roofs? They make up the temple district. Dianea’s temple is exquisite, surrounded by gardens and dainty little archways. Opposite is the temple of Ra’Tel. As you’d expect, the tiger god’s house is all harsh lines and sharp edges.’

A soft, reflective smile twisted the corner of Ariadnne’s mouth. ‘I wish I’d seen it.’

‘Maybe you will. Maybe I’ll take you.’ The words escaped Nieve’s mouth before she could think, and her cheeks flushed at the surprised way Ariadnne’s brow lifted. Of course, Nieve would never be permitted to take Ariadnne into the city. She wasn’t even a member of her company.

She ploughed on. ‘You see there?’ She leaned a little closer and pointed to a large square. ‘That’s the market district we walked through on our way here. It’s home to the largest market on the continent. They say if you can imagine it, you can buy it there.’

‘There’s a lot I’ve imagined.’ Ariadnne said quietly.

Nieve’s stomach flipped at those words, that tone, even if Ariadnne hadn’t meant it the way Nieve wanted.

‘Then you’d be there for a while.’ Nieve stumbled over the words and Ariadnne lapsed into silence, posture taut as she clung to the railing.