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I pause, pressing my lips together as I think. “Not quite what I expected.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know. I just thought I would feel different.”
Nolan doesn’t question me any further. We watch as my father presses his thumb to Lorea’s forehead and a wave of aether rushes over her. When the magic settles, he summons the next adept.
Eliya is the last to be called to the dais, and once all ten of us have sworn our oaths and been marked by his magic, my father bangs the end of his crystalline staff against the floor.
“Incipiret!”he booms, and aether surges forth.
The magic swirls through the hall, twinkling like thousands of tiny stars. My father’s spell reaches the instruments in the far corner, and their enchantment resumes, strings vibrating of their own accord.
People start to dance at the center of the hall. Their colorful clothes form a rainbow as they spiral and sway across the polished tiles. The chandeliers high above sparkle with violet radiance.
Nolan extends his hand to me and bows slightly. “Would you care to join me for a dance?”
The corners of my lips twitch into a light smile. “Of course. I would love to.”
I place my hand on his, and he leads me to the center where everyone else is busy dancing. Nolan’s arm slips around my waist, and our fingers weave between each other’s, interlocking in an unbreakable embrace. I’m not sure what to do with my spare arm, and trying to decide is difficult with the dizziness sweeping over me. Standing this close to him is always intoxicating, and I’m unsure whether I welcome or fear the way he makes me feel.
In the end, I settle for resting my free hand on his shoulder, but it feels rather limp and useless there.
We step back and forth, flowing in the same gentle rhythm as all the other couples around us. I relinquish my wariness and allow the music to guide my every move.
A flash of crimson hair appears to my right as Eliya waltzes past with Koby. He must have asked her for a dance like usual, though it appears Eliya is taking the lead rather than him.
“You look lovely tonight,” Nolan mutters, pulling me from my thoughts of Eliya and Koby.
I arch a brow at him. “You said the same thing last night.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my lips. Though I tried to make my tone lighthearted, I worry it comes out a pitch higher than I intended. And far too accusatory.
But it seems my concerns are misplaced since Nolan chuckles, not at all flinching at the unintentional sharpness in my words. “Did I? My mistake. I can’t help it that you always look so bewitching.”
I flush and have absolutely no way of responding to that. When I dare to tear my attention from my clumsy feet and glance up at him, I notice his emerald eyes are scanning over my face, as if he’s trying to soak up every detail.
I recall how his fingers brushed over my cheek. How he kissed me.
Then all I can think of is his lips on mine, and I take a wrong step, almost tripping over his feet. He steadies me and smooths out the movement. I doubt anyone around us will have noticed my misstep.
“Thank you,” I breathe.
Nolan smiles, and his eyes continuing to sweep over me in long, lavish strokes. I try not to redden and focus on each next step, rather than the intensity of his gaze.
I’m not sure how long we dance, but I am the one who stops first. We take a break at the edge of the hall and sip on the wine served by floating silver trays. It is red wine—maybeSanguilus—and not moon-blossom wine. The Arcanium could never afford to give out this much moon-blossom wine for free.
“Shall we dance again?” Nolan asks, leaning against the large arched window behind us. Condensation hazes the panels, and I imagine he must feel the glass’s icy chill through the fabric of his deep blue doublet.
“What else would we do other than dancing?” I reply, setting my empty goblet on a tray as it drifts past.
Nolan’s gaze flickers down to my lips and remains there for many moments. Long enough for my heartbeat to elevate, and then I feel as flustered as I did while we were dancing.
But instead of my lips, he takes my hand and kisses the back, just like he did last night.
“I would very much like to resume where we left off last night,” he says softly.
With his fingers curled around my wrist, I wonder whether he can feel the wild tempo of my pulse.
When I don’t respond, his shoulders stiffen. “If that was too bold, then I sincerely apologize.”
