Page 66 of Tides of Shadows

Then I saw him. Aidenar stood by his mother. Cassandra cold and perfect as ever. He was without a smile, without his frivolity, just looking at me. For the first time since the accident, he noticed my existence. Velena was speaking to him, but I knew he didn’t listen. The music stopped and a new melody began to play, pulling me from my thoughts. Dricus extended his hand to me.

“May I?”

I agreed. It was better to dance than stand alone like a wild exhibit for people to judge. His energy greeted me quietly as we stepped onto the floor. Dricus studied my face, likely noticing the scratch from the accident.

“You never told me you have been helping him.”

“Someone had to,” I replied.

“He might have killed you. Idiot,” his face grimaced.

“Do not overstate it,” I sighed. “You know how difficult control can be when you are just learning. I have done worse things myself.”

He looked at me, surprised. I wanted to change the subject. “Dricus, are you having strange dreams?”

He lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

“Figures in black. A man. Does he speak to you?”

A shadow crossed his face and fled at once as we moved across the floor. “I dream of many things. Beasts, flames, war. Nothing clear. And you?”

“I have visions. Odd ones. Perhaps it is this city.”

We danced on as though nothing had passed between us. Dricus held me close. I felt his trained body beneath the black coat. But his power remained behind a wall. He would not let it out. Just as he locked away his feelings. Always closed, always guarded, always in complete control. Maybe this was how it had to be. Maybe no one could save him from that loneliness.

When the music ended, we stood a moment longer. I curtsied to him gently. Dricus kissed my hand.

“My Lady.”

But I was not. I belonged to no one.

After the dance I went in search of wine. The only remedy against the court’s ceaseless scrutiny. I threaded between tables, past couples and knotty groups of lords, until I reached the fountain at the square’s edge. Among the crowd I saw Velena Salvadore, her gown set with diamonds, topazes flashing at her throat, her hair arranged in intricate curls. She smiled as if she already had a cutting remark.

“Fortunate you have the power,” she purred as I passed. “Pity your Family must still beg for scraps and service.”

Fury rose hot within me. I had had enough. It was time to show Velena her place. I gathered saliva in her throat until she seemed to have no air to breathe. Her eyes widened, perhaps she understood what was coming. I felt her begin to gather power from her stones as if to blast me apart. I couldn’t wait. I was already reaching for the water from the fountain. I’d had enough of her games, she wanted to see what I was capable of, then be my guest.

Before she could do anything, something choked her power, and I let her breathe. I turned around and saw Aidenar standing right behind me. He gently grabbed my arm.

“She is not worth it. Be above this,” he said, looking at Velena with the contempt one reserves for a misbehaving child. Then he walked away toward the gardens, calm as if nothing happened.

I couldn’t take it any longer. His coldness. His indifference. I followed him.

We walked through the garden alleys, the same paths I knew from our training. The wet earth smelled of herbs and moss, the lamps cast warm circles of light. I approached him quickly.

“Is that it?!” I shouted as the music faded behind us. “Are you going to ignore me forever?”

He halted, turned slightly, and something in his profile both angered and disarmed me.

“It will be better for us both,” he said quietly, and turned to go.

“Asshole!” I shouted, unable to pretend any longer. I ran after him. I couldn’t let him leave without an answer. It wasn’t a wise decision but I hadn’t come here for common sense.

When I caught up with him, I stopped his body with water. An unpleasant, accentuated feeling, for I rarely used my powers this way. He groaned with pain. I stepped around him until we faced each other.

“Look me straight in the eyes,” I said, trembling, “and tell me you want nothing more to do with me. Tell me you took what you wanted and I am nothing to you now.” I released my power from his body “Say it!”

He was silent so long the night held its breath. He looked around the garden and laughed to himself.