Page 120 of The Shadows Between Us
“Indeed.”
CHAPTER
26
Hestia leaves my side once Lord Paulos arrives a short time later. She offers to stay with me and chat, but I shoo her away.
Just because my man is ignoring me, it doesn’t me she should ignore hers.
“You look lovely tonight, Lady Stathos,” comes a voice at my back.
Lady Zervas hasn’t bothered to match my theme. I suppose it would be stranger if she did. I doubt there’s anyone in the world who bears more ill will toward the late queen than the other woman who competed for the king’s heart. The woman who lost.
“You’re not in costume,” I respond, taking in her simple emerald-colored gown that doesn’t bear any added ornamentation.
“I wore green, didn’t I? What says ‘garden’ more than that?”
I have nothing to say in response.
“I was surprised to receive your invitation,” she says. “I didn’t think you particularly liked our last conversation.”
“I didn’t, but who could use a ball more than cranky old spinsters?”
She laughs at the jibe—a response I hadn’t expected. “I like you,”she says. “I think you will make a fine queen. I only thought to tell you how to protect yourself when last we spoke.”
“It’s too late for that,” I say, more to myself than to her.
She nods, as though understanding what I mean completely, before walking on.
THE BALL IS INfull swing, and my friends couldn’t be happier. Hestia and Lord Paulos share a dance. Rhoda and Galen are in a corner, talking and giving each other light touches. A few judgmental stares are eyeing them, but Rhoda is blind to them. I’ll have a thing or two to say if anyone tries to interrupt my friend’s happiness.
Petros has a new lord in his arms, and the two are the most elegant dancers in the room, I’m convinced. Meanwhile, Rhouben is eyeing a lady over the rim of his wineglass. Even Leandros has found a dance partner, a pretty girl in lavender.
The guards are quiet sentinels at the edges of the room. All weapons have been checked at the entrances.
And Kallias—
Kallias is still on his throne, watching me. Not participating, but present. As he always must live his life.
I sigh and turn away. I suppose this is about to become my life full-time. Might as well get used to it. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy my own ball. Rhouben still hasn’t worked up the nerve to ask the lady to dance, so at the next lull in between songs, I start to stride over to him.
A gentle hand comes down on my shoulder, and I turn.
“Dance with me.”
Kallias pulls me into his arms before I can answer, holding me right there for the whole world to see. The song strikes up, and he moves us in time to the gentle thrumming of the violins. He lets his shadows swirl about his face, to let any onlookers know he is still in full control of hispowers. But his arms are tangible for our dance, so he can spin me, lift me, clutch me against him. His gloved hands move over my back and arms as he leads me through the steps.
I’m unprepared for the sudden sensation of being on fire. Everywhere his gloves touch burns. I can barely feel my feet—I even trip once—I’m so aware of where his body touches mine.
Damn him.
“What are you doing?” I finally manage to get out. “You don’t get to ignore me all evening only to dance with me now!”
He leans forward. “You’re so beautiful it hurts.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“I kept my distance to keep myself from doing something stupid. Something like this.” He pulls me so close it’s indecent as we go through the next steps.
