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“Dance,” the older man said. He came to his feet. “What styles are you familiar with?”
Kerrigan knew nothing of their customs, but she could dance. She’d been an expert back home. She had always thought that was why the fighting footwork came so easily to her.
Danae cut in. “She’s unfamiliar with the Domaran styles. We should start from the beginning, Fardun.”
Fardun looked dubious but relented. “All right. Everyone can benefit from a refresher of the basics, can’t we? Callisius, continue to partner with Miss Pallas to show Miss …”
“Cruse,” Kerrigan filled in.
Danae’s eyes widened at the lie that wasn’t quite a lie.
“Miss Cruse. If you would please step up beside Miss Pallas here, we’ll begin.”
Kerrigan released a breath and came to Danae’s side. Danae nodded with an encouraging smile, and then they got lost in Fardun’s instruction.
The Domaran styles were wildly different than what she was used to back in Kinkadia. Though she had no prior knowledge of the dances, Fardun was impressed by how quickly she picked them up. In fact, within a few hours, she had outstripped Danae’s abilities. Danae didn’t seem bothered by it.
“I’ve never been much of a dancer,” Danae admitted. “You clearly have a talent.”
Callisius was as stiff as ever, bowing properly at the waist, as if she really were a Doma in his presence. “My lady, may I have the next turn?”
“Sure,” Kerrigan said.
Fardun took up the beat with his reed. The more time spent in her presence, the wider his smile grew. As if having a student who enjoyed the dance had brought him back to life.
“Yes, watch the step on two. Not on one,” Fardun said.
Kerrigan corrected it on the second pass.
“Very good. Now, the turn.”
She whirled in place as Callisius stepped expertly around to her back. He was thin and light on his feet. His hands were sweaty and had clearly never seen a single day of labor. He was a good partner, if a little meek. Not her best, but not her worst. She could have had just as much fun without him. Especially since he was supposed to lift her here and swing her around. He was so slight that he’d only managed to move her a quarter step. Not entirely his fault since no one expected her to be built of solid muscle.
“Now, the lift,” Fardun encouraged.
Kerrigan released a breath, trying to make herself as light as possible for Callisius to be able to lift her. But at the first grasp of his hands around her waist, something was wrong. This wasn’t Callisius’s dainty grip. This was a man’s strong hands gripping her sides with all the force to swing her completely around.
She gasped, landing on the floor a full turn later. Callisius had moved off to the side, his face wide in wonder.
“No,” she growled.
Then, she grasped the hand that was on her waist and moved on instinct. Her muscles were warm from the hours of dancing. Adrenaline flooded her system, and her reaction time was crisp and clean as she dropped her body and slung the figure over her shoulder.
Constantine landed unceremoniously with a loud thunk onto the hardwood flooring of the study they had been using as a dance hall. He groaned softly at the abrupt hit to his body and ego.
Kerrigan jumped back a step. Danae looked astonished. Callisius terrified. Fardun let the beat drop and came slowly to his feet again.
“Sir, are you injured?” Fardun asked, his voice shaking slightly.
But Kerrigan just stared down at Constantine with anger still broad on her face. She shouldn’t have been able to get the jump on him. He was at least a foot taller than her and solid muscle. He hadn’t been expecting her. He’d underestimated her. And best of all, her training had proven everything she’d already known when she watched his men. She was better than them.
Constantine rolled and came swiftly to his feet. “What was that for?”
“I told you that footwork needed work,” she said with a raised eyebrow.
Constantine ground his teeth together. “You made your point.”
“I’m not sure I have.”
“Father,” Danae interrupted.
But he held his hand up. “Not now.”
He looked half-ready to lay into Kerrigan for her. And she was just as ready to fight back tooth and nail.
Instead, a commotion sounded at the front of the house and the yell of, “General,” went up from his fighters.
Constantine grumbled, “What now?” under his breath as he tore from the room.
Kerrigan looked to Danae in question, but she just shrugged, and both girls dashed after him. They came through the open foyer and back to the entrance of the estate. Constantine stood with the men who were on duty. Sparks crackled at his fingertips, and he scowled deeply at whatever was being said.
“What’s going on?” Danae demanded, stepping into the fray.
Constantine’s face blanched at her appearance. “Get to your room. Now.”
