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While I braced for impact my body found a way to tighten up even further. My muscles ached from the intensity of it. Instead of shattered glass, crystals cutting like blades, and hard, heavy metal, I felt Dace slowly let go of me.
The scene started to come into focus as I took it in and realization flooded through my senses. Voices, startled and worried, filled the room with a buzz. Gems skittered across the floor, pieces sliding against my heels. Around us, the air smelled burnt, and I could taste ash on my tongue.
It wasn’t me under that chandelier, nor was it Dace. The faces that had surrounded us moments ago were now across the room. I could hear my heart beating inside my head.
“Did you just…?” I stuttered, examining my body for any fault that may have occurred during his travel manipulation.
“I,” he squeezed my shoulders, blowing out a shuddering breath, “I guess, I was just motivated enough. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said over the commotion of incoming guards. They were already crying for their king to follow them, in a desperate attempt to protect his life from further threats.
“Don’t worry, it’s going to take more than a fucking light fixture to take me out.” He rolled his eyes.
I turned to look around at the crowd, some of which had already dispersed, not wanting any part of the mess that was made. My attention snagged on navy blue hair. Torrance frowned heavily, his cup was empty though he still tried to drink from it. His silver eyes met mine and his frown melted away to a relaxed but slightly annoyed expression.
Dace was stepping forward, his hand out in the air attempting to calm the guards as they tried to whisk him off. I pulled away, weaving through people. Someone had set this up. Someone like Torrance. Torrance watched me heading toward him. Fluidly, he put his empty glass in the hands of a woman next to him and turned and walked out of the room, with me following closely behind.
The hem of my skirt had tangled up some shards of the crystals and they scattered on the floor behind me. The noise followed us out of the turmoil of the first room and into the hall.
“Why are you following me?” Torrance spat from where he leaned on a wall outside, a ways off from the door.
“Why is it that you appear for this party that you shouldn’t be attending and someone tries to harm the king? Am I supposed to believe that to be a coincidence?”
“You think I’d show up if I was behind this?”
“Maybe that’s what you want us to think,” I hissed, lifting my skirt off my ankles as I paced before him.
“You’re an idiot.”
I didn’t bring my eyes up off the ground as I thought. Torrance was Dace’s new sworn enemy. It wouldn’t work well for Torrance with Dace being crowned king and having a vendetta against him. What else could he do but make an attempt on his life?
“Then why come today? Really? Not some made up bullshit about seeking my advice on women.”
Torrance stood still as stone. His cheeks turned shades of red and purple. I felt his anger at my accusation coming off of him in tidal waves of heat. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve come to apologize. Formally.” He gave me a quick fake smile before his lips fell back down. “I’d rather take the hit to my pride than face the gallows for what I’ve done.”
Loud footsteps sounded behind me, the clamor of armor shifting following them. I didn’t turn away from Torrance where I had stopped to listen to his half-assed excuse. Someone had tried to hurt Dace, and consequently me, and they were going to pay for it.
“Miss Avery?” a guard said. “The king is being taken to a private room for his own safety and has asked that you be brought along as well.”
I glanced back. The guard offered me his arm as an invitation to walk with him, his features softening as he saw the rage that contorted my face.
“Wait,” Torrance said. He peeled himself off of the wall, but he wasn’t looking at me. His lavender eyelashes brushed his cheeks as he blinked, then squinted at the guard. “I’ve never seen you here before.”
“I’m new.” The guard swallowed, then gave a shallow smile.
“I don’t think they’ve hired on recently. Even with the need for additional security from the unfortunate attack on the castle, King Dace hasn’t had time to open up positions in the guard.” Torrance turned toward me. “Dace and I practiced with the guards all the time. We know them all by name and face. I don’t recognize him. Let me walk with you.”
Do I trust a compulsive liar?
I leaned around the guard to peer into the room. Most of the guards were gone, except for a few who remained watching anyone who had bothered to stick around. Dace had disappeared. There was no one in this court I could readily trust.
The sound of the gems on my dress scratching across the floor as I turned filled the silence. I took a moment to look at each of their faces, trying to get a gut feeling.
“Ma’am, I can assure you that I am a well-trained member of the royal guard. I serve humbly, and only wish to escort you, on the king's orders, to a safe haven.”
Torrance’s eyes were wide and full of alarm, but I saw his demeanor shift. He relaxed his shoulders, tucking his arms behind his back, but his eyes never changed.
“Maybe I do know you. It must be my mistake, but now how can I take back my offer to escort this young lady?” His arm was stiff as he offered it to me, flicking his gaze from my face to his arm in a silent plea.
