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“I do have a lot of important best-man duties.” Xander shrugged. “But I think I can pull it off. Plus, I had the chef save me some of the khalika.”
“Khalika?”
“Right — I see you around here so much, I sometimes forget you aren’t Aenicean. Khalika is that pudding we had for dessert.”
“Oh, my gosh.” Maisy pressed a hand to her heart. “I love that stuff!”
“Right?”
They grinned at each other. Just then, the door opened and the real Niko emerged onto the balcony. Maisy dropped her hand from her heart. For some reason, she felt guilty, like Niko had caught her doing something she shouldn’t be. But there was no reason to feel that way. She and Xander had just been talking.
“Hi Maisy, Xander. Maisy, the crowd is begging for another dance. Would you do me the honor?”
“Of course.” Maisy extended her hand, and Niko took it. As he led her toward the ballroom, she cast a glance back at Xander. “Bye!”
“See you later.” He waved, then turned back to lean against the railing. Maisy was a little jealous that he got to stay out in the fresh air and enjoy the stars, but that was the benefit of being a younger brother. He didn’t have the same duties as she and Niko did. It was the same with Lily, who was now dancing with the handsome son of a Greek businessman and smiling like she was on top of the world.
Niko and Maisy assumed their positions and began another dance, falling easily into the rhythm of their steps. As they danced, Maisy wondered if this was how their life would be — a companionable friendship, a life as choreographed as the steps of their dances. It wouldn’t be so bad, really. She could get used to the idea.
It was all going to work out.
CHAPTER 2
XANDER
Xander stood on the balcony for a long while, breathing in the cold, fresh air and watching the stars. He felt a strange kind of heaviness on this, the eve of his brother’s wedding. Xander couldn’t quite put it into words. He’d never been jealous of his brother, not for being two minutes older, and not for being first in line for the crown. Ruling wasn’t something Xander had ever found appealing.
And he wasn’t jealous of his brother for marrying, either — not exactly. Xander could have married, too; several of the women he’d dated had strongly implied that they’d be happy to receive a ring from him. But Xander wasn’t interested in marriage. Not really. There was nothing particularly appealing about a life with a random woman.
No, it wasn’t jealousy that Xander felt. Not exactly. It was just… heaviness.
If he were being honest with himself, Xander knew that he felt some kind of… spark… for Maisy. They’d met a few times during her courtship with his brother, and their conversations had always been marked by wit and repartee. But that spark wasn’t something Xander ever let himself think about too closely. This time tomorrow, Maisy would be his sister-in-law — and that, for better or worse, would be that. Anyway, it wasn’t like the spark could possibly be mutual. It was better to ignore it.
Though telling himself this didn’t alleviate any of the heaviness he felt.
Xander stayed on the balcony longer than he should have, relishing the fresh air and the peace. Eventually, though, he would be missed, despite his status as the free-spirited younger brother. He needed to return to the ballroom and make an appearance.
The moment Xander stepped back through the double doors, he caught sight of Maisy dancing with Niko. They were a well-matched pair. Maisy’s flowing green gown hugged her feminine curves and perfectly highlighted the forest green of her eyes. Her slightly curly chocolate-brown hair had been partially pulled back with a series of intricate silver pins adorned with tiny emeralds, while the rest cascaded freely down her back and swayed as she moved. Her cheeks were slightly pink with the exertion of the dance. She was gorgeous.
Not that Xander was thinking about how gorgeous she was. Not at all.
“Xander!”
Xander quickly turned from the sight of Maisy dancing, feeling a little like a young boy caught stealing candy, and saw his mother, Queen Karina. She was in her usual ceremonial outfit — a long blue gown and a modest silver tiara.
“Hello, Mother.”
Karina held out an arm, and Xander escorted them both to a collection of chairs near the edge of the room.
“How does your brother seem?” Karina asked as they took their seats. Xander glanced up at Niko, who was swaying with Maisy.
“He seems fine.”
“Hmm.” Karina tilted her head to the side. “I think he might be having cold feet.”
“Why would he be?” Xander regretted the words as soon as they came out, but his mother didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.
“Just… keep an eye on him, would you?”
