“A bit ominous,” Ariah says.
Deean comes over with two glasses in hand and Benny beside him. “How long are we giving this? I don’t have a good feeling.”
As he lifts the glass to his lips Ariah stops him. “Don’t drink that.” She looks around to make sure no one is nearby. “Sky went around this morning dropping things into the wine bottles and anything else he could get his hands on. Something about making people drowsy so they sleep longer tonight.”
Deean lets out a hefty sigh. “Great. Drinking is out too. We need to move this along then.”
“I have a bottle of silver rum in my bag,” Benny offers him an alternative.
Deean smacks his lips as if he can taste it already. “We’ll be back.”
“While you’re gone, go to Sky’s workshop and see if he needs any help. He’s still trying to wake Chana and Esha,” Ariah instructs.
“Yes ma’am.” Deean gives her a wild grin and he and Benny slip away.
I’m prepared to ask Ariah to dance when Vera swoops in. The tulle of her russet brown dress sweeping over my shoes.
“I hope you don’t mind me stealing her for a quick dance?” Vera asks.
“The lady does as she pleases,” I say in surrender. “As long as I get a dance eventually, I have no apprehensions.”
“I’m sure you would get a dance and then some if a plan was not in motion,” Vera teases, and Ariah slaps her forearm with the back of her hand.
The two women disappear into a sea of people doing some sort of group dance, and I spot Marcel reaching for a glass of wine.
“You might want to skip the wine tonight,” I say, approaching the table.
He continues to pick up the glass. “Vera warned me. Thought I’d play along though. Make it look like nothing is up.”
I nod. “Smart.” And reach for a glass of my own.
“I hate balls,” he grumbles, pretending to take a sip. Now that I think of it, most of our family dislikes them.”
“I know I do. Deean and Mother seem to enjoy them though.”
He smiles. “Mother does. Deean just likes the drinking and women that come with such a show. He’d enjoy those in any setting.”
“True.” We laugh. He seems to be in an odd mood. A good one, but that’s odd for him. It’s been years since he and I have joked with one another. “Thank you, for letting me escort Ariah.”
He meets my eyes. “Of course.”
Immediately, I find Ariah in the crowd and watch the joy pass between her and Vera. If they’re pretending it looks real enough. Eventually, the girls drag Marcel onto the dance floor with them. It kills time and every new song pushes us closer and closer to departure.
I’m a bit winded and a few beads of sweat roll down the back of my neck when the music takes on a new rhythm, a slower one. I swoop Ariah in my direction before anyone else can claim a turn. My left hand finds the crook of her back and the right holds her hand up.
“You know,” she begins saying as we twirl about, matching the pace of those around us, “I just discovered that last night was not the first time you’ve slept in my bed.” She can’t see my forehead pinch between my brows, but she continues anyway. “My mother wrote to me, saying that two Saden princes showedup in our lowly village of Foxhead. The community wasn’t very kind, so she offered to let the two men stay in our home.”
My neck jolts back slightly as memories about the room surface. There had been a headless mannequin in the corner and scrapes of fabric on the ground. “I thought you looked familiar when we first arrived. You take after your mother.”
“I do.” She smiles. “And you should be happy to know she likes you. I’m sure my father does as well.”
“They were very kind. Nice to know I don’t have to agonize over meeting your parents anymore.”
On the other side of the room Queen Cayleen fixes her gaze on us. The mask hides her expression, so all I have to go off of are her piercing eyes.
Suddenly, she gets up from her throne and leisurely walks in our direction.
Before she can interrupt us there is something I’ve been wanting to say to Ariah all night. Something I’ve been contemplating and have questioned over and over again.
