Page 71 of To Fight and To Fold

He had to know the Tethereds’ patience would run out eventually. They could not live like this forever. Or at least… she couldn't.

"Maybe we'll just have to have more of these celebrations." He leaned closer. "Give myself an opportunity to dance with you again."

The distance between them was polite, and yet the breath Aaryn drew in wasn't nearly deep enough anyway. She managed not to frown as anger struck, maintaining a neutral expression, though inside she felt anything but.

Why would she want to dance with the man in charge of their imprisonment? No matter how innocent his intentions.

"The conflict is not any closer to resolving?"

Aaryn met his gaze as she asked him, and she noticed the lines around his eyes, the tension held there. They seemed to tighten. "I do not wish to discuss matters of war tonight."

War?

At his sharp dismissal of the subject, she wanted to—why she wanted to push him away! To shout and scream at him and ask where he got the audacity, to part her jaws and let loose a breath so fierce⁠—

The world around her seemed to stop as Aaryn recognized this bone deep rage not as her own.

Oh Starspark, she wanted to cry.

"As you wish," she replied emptily, and let the prince dip her.

As she was suspended above the floor, she caught sight of the crowd milling about the room, the stares locked on the prince… on her, the woman in his arms.

The attention filled her with dread, and her head spun just like the room as the prince pulled her back to standing.

She gripped his hand tightly to steady herself and they swayed to the ever-changing music. Her wristlet was sharp enough to outweigh the dull ache blooming in her temples, to narrow her focus.

Aaryn was sure women dreamed of the prince's cologne, but just then, the note of it seemed too much for her sudden sensitivity.

As soon as the song came to an end, Aaryn stepped back and curtsied to the prince.

"Thank you for the dance. I think I require just a moment to myself if we're to continue. You'll wear me out," she added, smiling, and she hoped it showed none of the cracks she felt, none of the fury she harbored.

"Of course, Tethered Aaryn," he said, and bowed. It felt stiff coming from him. Good.

Aaryn excused herself, and made for the doors to the garden. Lit with torches and oil lamps, flowers and shrubbery trimmed to perfection gleamed in the night. Her steps clicked softly against the stone pathway.

The last time she'd run through these gardens, it had been the night Starspark was taken.

Her long dress fluttered around the toes of her shoes, and she was grateful the walkway had been cleared of dried leaves. Everyone would have enough to gossip about after her dance with the prince; she didn't need to drag leaves and a twig back into the ballroom to provide further entertainment.

It was quieter out here, the low chatter and string music spilling from the wide doors absorbed by the night. The cool air dried the sweat beneath her fringe and on the back of her neck as she walked, she calmed. And as she came back to herself, she picked out the ire she’d become so familiar with. It was tangled, a part of her in the same way she was a part of Starspark during her visions. This was what Starspark felt.

Aaryn turned sharply in front of an impressively tall hedge wall to gather herself at the revelation. It made for a bit of a maze, and therefore the perfect hiding spot.

A young apple tree that had yet to fruit branched out in the corner, and she leaned against the bark to catch her breath.

Her mind whirled, thoughts spinning as though she were still trapped in the prince's arms.

A familiar voice hissed her name. "Tethered Aaryn! Where did you go?"

It was Runa, and for a moment Aaryn considered stepping out into the walkway to let her guard know where she had gone. But she just wanted a moment to herself, one that she had chosen, and not been chosen for her.

She was in the damned gardens of the castle. That was safe enough.

If anything was even a danger to her.

Aaryn held her breath and hid behind the tree as Runa hurried past the alley. The curses she muttered almost made Aaryn feel guilty, but she would smooth things over later.