Page 93 of The Faceless Queen

Any sensation of guilt he felt was gone, replaced by a strong and sudden desire. If his mind had wandered to Samara before, or any other woman he had known, there was no doubt that he was completely present with me now.

“Better?” he asked.

I nodded, my stomach fluttering. Our gazes remained locked.

A few of the dancers near us began to clap and cheer, and it seemed to break the spell between us. He pulled me against him, his arm firm against my back, his hand taking mine, our fingers threading easily together.

The low notes of the mandolin shifted into a slow song, and all the dancers on the floor returned to their original partners, swaying as they began the new choreography.

Brennan pressed his cheek to mine, the scent of him overwhelming me, as I could swear I felt his heart pounding against mine. Then we started to dance again.

I closed my eyes, inhaling him in, savoring his touch, and allowing myself one moment to just be there—to be with him. I loved this song. It was one we played in Azeal. I used to have to beg Thomas to play it. As a rule, it worked poorly for my typical kind of performances at the tavern. But tonight it was perfect, and I could truly take in the beauty of the music the way I used to. I let my hips sway as my body moved freely, unhurriedly, matching the sensuality of the tune until I lost myself in the dancing. Being held by Brennan. Only when the song ended was I reminded cruelly of who I was, where I was, and who was still watching me.

Jaron.

“I could use some fresh air,” Brennan said. But there was a question in his eyes. An invitation.

“May I join you?” I asked.

He took my hand in his, kissing my palm. Shivers ran through every limb of my body. “I thought you’d never ask. Come, we must earn leave from the king.”

We walked before King Tirian, finding Jaron already there.

“Ah, Cousin,” he said. “Perfect. Might I ask you some questions concerning the hunt?”

Brennan looked at me apologetically. “I’ll be just a moment.”

My pulse pounded. The hunt. The hunt for me, for the demonos. I took a step back, watching them carefully, but then a swarm of noblewomen encircled me, cutting me off from hearing their conversation.

I spent several minutes, anxiously attempting to keep up with the absolute absurdity of their discussion. It was mainly a critique of every woman’s dress at the ball, how she wore it, and if she had accessorized properly or not.

Just beyond them, I found Cecelia again, standing off to the side, looking shy, her hair over her face, covering the scar on her cheek.

“Excuse me,” I said, and marched over to her, one hand on her arm, guiding her into a darkened corner.

“Your-Your Highness,” she stuttered and curtseyed low.

“You’re a wonderful dancer,” I said quickly, praying Jaron did not notice. “I’m most impressed with your skill. I have not seen such wonderful talent before, save for the top dancers in Spartva.”

“Truly? I did not know of Spartvan dancing. Thank you,” she said, looking genuinely stunned.

“If I were to give you a bracelet of gold and gems, would you trade it for fare to board a ship to Spartva? And use the rest of the barter to start a new life there?”

Her eyes widened. “I-thank you, Your Highness, but I couldn’t. That is too kind.”

“You could do it if you wanted,” I said, quietly slipping one of the bracelets from my wrist into her hand. The back of my neck heated. I was being watched. But I was in too deep. Jaron already knew I had an interest in Cecelia—this was the only way to stop the problem. I watched her stare in awe at the bracelet, then, just to be safe, I slipped her another.

“Think of it not as kindness, but as a command from your future queen. A queen who wants to ensure that art continues to flourish in her home country.”

Cecelia’s mouth fell open, but I could see her furtively glancing around the room, her gaze pausing and darkening on Jaron. Then she pressed her lips together, her expression determined.

“Go,” I said. “Before anyone here can stop you or question where the bracelets came from.” There was more force in my voice than I’d meant to use, but I wanted her gone, away from Jaron. I wanted her safe, and if I had to scare her to make it happen, then so be it.

She curtsied, and then began making her way out of the ballroom, just as Brennan rejoined my side.

“You were speaking to the dancer?” he asked. I looked quickly past him, trying to find Jaron, to see if he’d noticed, but he had his arms around another noblewoman and seemed otherwise occupied.

“I was offering her compliments on her skill.” I smiled shyly.