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“Well, then I must thank you for such wonderful music. Hearing it is often the best part of my day.” Wren was surprised at the honesty spilling from her.
“It seems as if you two will get along just fine. I will leave her in your capable hands, Borno,” said Malaki matter-of-factly.
Wren turned to him, suddenly alarmed. “You are leaving?”
He looked at her, a glimpse of uncertainty in his otherwise confident face. She could see what he could not say out loud. He thought to do her a kindness by leaving her, knowing how his very presence made her feel ill.
Strangely, Wren noted that she had not felt sick in their walk over here. She also knew that with Borno and Hector watching, she could not say anything that would give away the truth of their relationship.
Seeing something in her expression, a flash of disappointment crossed his face. “I have some things to see to. Should you need anything, I will send a guard to wait outside for you.”
Wren scoffed inwardly at that statement. A guard to watch her, not to aid her. Still it would seem there was nothing else to delay his departure so she merely nodded. He seemed about to say something, but instead turned to leave.
Before his tall form could make it more than a step, Borno called out, “Actually, Prince Malaki, if you had some time, Hector and I have just finished a composition. It would mean a great deal if you might hear it before we debut it at tonight’s dinner.”
Malaki turned smoothly and narrowed his eyes at Borno. Even Wren was taken aback by the abrupt request given that Malaki had just announced his departure. She was even more surprised by the fact that he nodded slightly in agreement.
Borno’s face lit up in a smile, making his dark eyes nearly disappear. He mumbled something to his son who could not have been more than sixteen causing him to jump and gather two chairs. Wren accepted the chair and settled herself into it, smoothing her green dress nervously.
When she and Malaki were both seated, Borno took up positions in front of them. She was surprised to see Borno take out the same instrument Wesley had played and her heart leapt at the thought of hearing its haunting notes once more. Hector pulled out an instrument that had a small wheel on the end, but also a series of keys on the side of it.
“Of course, there will be more of us playing tonight, but you will get the idea of it with just the two of us.” Borno smiled reassuringly.
Borno nodded to his son and they picked up the tune. Wren watched as they meticulously worked their instruments to coax beautiful sounds from them. Borno’s violin was just as beautiful as she remembered Wesley’s to be. They plucked at the strings and pressed the keys of their instruments until their notes blended with each other, and when not in sync with each other, built off each other to create a succinct and beautiful chorus.
Wren closed her eyes, feeling the music wash over her and grow into something strong and firm at the pit of her stomach. Her feet twitched and she knew what the ache in her bones was for. She opened her eyes and was surprised to find Malaki studying her openly.
She felt her cheeks flush, but the call of the music was something she realized she would never be able to ignore. She stood up and held out her hand to him. There was surprise written in his narrow face for a brief moment, but he recovered quickly and took her hand, standing smoothly. She took a steadying breath and offered her other arm.
His lips quirked as his hand landed on the small of her back so that she could place her hand on his arm. She noticed he maintained a few inches between them as he always was careful to do so. She raised her brows at him as he stood motionless. and he huffed out a small laugh. Then he was moving, giving her body what it craved at the first sound of music.
By now, they had learned each other’s movements after so many nights of dinners and obligatory dances. As much as they failed to connect, their bodies knew how to dance together, anticipating each step of the foot, each glide, each twirl.
Borno’s music filled the room and soon they were moving faster in response. Wren’s breath was coming fast with effort, but her heart raced with a different sort of exhilaration. The music collected in her soul just as it rose in the notes from the instruments.
She closed her eyes, knowing her body would follow Malaki’s as he led her across the stone floor. She wanted to be part of the music to know what it was like to be infinite. Malaki spun her and she opened her eyes, surprised at the unexpected movement.
When she twirled back into his arms, she was laughing at the way her body thrummed with the pleasure of the dance. The music that had built upon itself slowly took away each block until it was falling down, causing their performance to slow in response.
Wren closed her eyes once more, knowing the beautiful sounds were about to fade, but wanting to savor each note that remained. When Borno’s last string plucked, Wren and Malaki came to a halt, and she breathed heavily from both exertion and happiness.
Wren opened her eyes and was surprised to see Malaki peering down at her, his blue eyes alight with something she couldn’t say. As her chest heaved, she realized the distance he was always so careful to maintain had faded into nothing.
Wren stepped away from him, and she saw his jaw tense as if he had noticed his mistake as well. Wren tucked errant hair behind her ears and took a deep breath turning to Borno and Hector. Needing to focus on anything other than the prince.
“That was beautiful, Borno. And you as well, Hector.” Wren’s words were breathless, but she hoped they understood the very real gratitude she felt towards them. Borno bowed low to her as if to say that he was also grateful.
“Thank you, Borno,” said Malaki from behind her, and she felt more than saw him turn to leave. Wren whirled around to his tall, dark form leaving.
Wren turned back to Borno and Hector and smiled. “Thank you so much, both of you. I apologize.” She hastily left after Malaki, who had already left the music room. She had to pull up her dress to run after him, and, as if he heard her coming, he stopped suddenly.
A familiar anger rose in her. “Are you incapable of being polite?” She shot the words at his back.
He did not bother to turn around and face her. “I did not want to inconvenience you by forcing my presence on you.”
Wren wasn’t sure what she had expected him to say, but that certainly had not been it. She fought for the words to respond and managed to breathe out, “I askedyouto dance.”
He spun around then, hearing the anger in her voice. They agreed to try to communicate, to be something other than cool disdain and conflict, but he always had to be difficult in some way. “I didn’t recall asking for your pity,” he said coldly.
