The Court gasped as the black marble became a night sky.
Not reflected. Revealed.
Ash dulled the shine of the floor, but light rose from beneath it anyway, silver points appearing one by one under the dancers’ feet. Stars scattered through the marble in impossible depth, some bright enough to cast light over shoe leather and gown hems, others faint as memories nearly lost. The old banners overhead stirred though no wind moved. Candles bent inward toward the center of the hall. The slow music faltered, one violin continuing a few trembling notes after the rest had fallen silent.
Sera froze in the final shape of the dance.
Valerius remained before her, one hand still holding hers, the other still at her waist. Their bodies were close enough that she felt the pause in his breathing when t
