Page 272 of Of Masks and Fury

I let myself sink into the warmth of his arms and the steady beat of his heart against mine. Magic hummed between us like a song only we could hear.

The music swelled and Trew spun me out, then back against his chest. My laugh came bright and unguarded.

His smile in response held everything. Pride, possession, and a tenderness that still caught me off guard.

When the song ended, he didn’t release me. He held me close while applause rippled through the ballroom and musicians discussed their next piece.

I tugged on Trew’s hand, pulling him toward where Lexie and Derren stood near the far wall. “Let’s go before a lord corners me to discuss livestock.”

Lexie spotted us approaching and her face lit up. She looked stunning in a deep red gown, her dark hair swept up in tight braids that formed an intricate crown on the top of her head. Her skin glowed in the torchlight.

Derren stood beside her, clearly uncomfortable in formal clothing that strained across his shoulders. But his eyes softened every time he looked at Lexie, and his hand remained on the small of her back.

“There they are,” Lexie said, pulling me into a hug. “The king and queen who keep trying to escape their own celebration.”

“We’re not escaping. We’re mingling.”

“You’re hiding from Lord Erradorn.” She grinned. “I saw Trew steal you away. Very subtle on his part.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” Trew’s expression showed complete innocence. “I simply wanted to dance with my wife.”

Derren snorted. “You looked like you were staging a rescue operation.”

“Because I was.”

We fell into easy laughter, the kind that came from shared battles and survived horrors, plus the simple comfort of friendship that had been forged in blood and fire.

“So.” I looked between them, noting the way they stood slightly closer than before, the new ease in how they touched. “Anything you want to tell us?”

Lexie’s grin went incandescent. “Derren proposed yesterday with the most beautiful speech about wanting to build a life together.”

“It wasn’t that beautiful,” Derren said, his face flushing. “I mostly stood there sweating while trying to remember the words I’d practiced.”

“You told me I was your home.” Lexie rose on her toes to kiss his jaw. “Your safe harbor. The person you wanted beside you through every storm.”

“That’s…” My throat went tight. “That’s perfect.”

Derren’s blush deepened. “Planning the actual ceremony is much more terrifying than the proposal. Lexie wants a formal event with witnesses and seating arrangements.” He gestured helplessly.

“You fought Skathes without hesitation,” Trew said, clearly amused. “But seating charts undo you?”

“At least I know how to kill a Skathe. Charts make no sense. Why does it matter who sits where?”

“It doesn’t,” Lexie told him. “But watching you try to figure it out is adorable.”

“I’m not adorable. I’m a warrior.”

“You’re both.” She kissed him properly this time, and Derren melted into it.

We stayed with them for a while longer, discussing wedding plans and laughing at Derren’s ongoing confusion about wedding traditions. I was sure half of his distress was made up, but his grin grew wider whenever Lexie burst out in laughter.

Trew guided me to where Kerralyn stood with Nia near a refreshment table.

Kerralyn wore a pale blue gown that complemented her auburn hair, which she’d left down in soft waves. Nia stood beside her in deep blue that made her dark skin luminous. They weren’t touching, but they stood close enough that anyone with eyes could see the connection between them. Their relationship had become public about a month ago.

“Chief Historian.” I greeted Kerralyn with a smile. “How goes the work of preserving truth?”

She rolled her eyes at the formal title but couldn’t hide her pleasure. “Exhausting. Do you know how many mistakes were written into the official records? I’ve been correcting errors for weeks.”