Queen of Secrets

10

My eyes kept darting back to the man standing on the side of the wall near me, whose gaze followed me no matter where I went. He stood like a statue and still had a formidable presence even in this elderly form. Though Garon didn’t look like himself, the knowledge that he was there gave me confidence and security throughout the night.

As Nial spun me around and dipped me, my mind returned to the kiss Garon had given me only a few hours ago. I’d never imagined I’d share a kiss with him ever again, nor hear him tell me he loved me. When tonight was over, I was determined to find a way to be with Garon for the rest of my life. I didn’t care if I had to get on my knees and beg my brother for his blessing, or run away and live as a commoner in another kingdom, but I was going to marry Garon somehow. I should have insisted upon it three years ago, but I young and foolish then. If we survived this night, I would not back down—not when I knew he still loved me as much as I loved him.

When the song ended, Nial and I stepped back and bowed to one another. His eyes caught sight of someone behind me, and then he gave me a quick apologetic smile. “Thank you for the dance. I must say hello to Queen Elsap, but I do hope you’ll save another dance for me later tonight.”

“I will,” I said, though I suspected there would be no other dance. I was tempted to pull out my concealed dagger, draw his blood, and make him tell me the truth in front of all these people…but what if Garon had heard wrong? I couldn’t risk sabotaging our alliance with Andaria until I had more information, and I’d seen nothing from Nial to even hint that he wanted my life to end tonight.

As the next song began, a hand rested on my arm. I turned to see the face of Lord Lixon, but smiled because I knew the man behind that elderly face was Garon.

“Care to dance?” he asked.

“I would love that.”

He swept me into his strong arms and held me close as we swayed to the music, a slower song this time than the one I’d danced to with Nial. I closed my eyes to ignore the illusion of an elderly man in front of me, and trusted my other senses: his masculine smell, the way he felt in my arms, his powerful body moving against mine.

“We’ve never danced together at one of these before,” his voice said at my ear.

“No, but we watched plenty of balls from the balconies when we probably should have been in bed.”

“They looked a lot more fun than this ball is turning out to be,” he said, as we moved across the floor together. “Then again, there was no impending threat hanging over us then either.”

“That only makes this even more fun,” I said, with a smile. “These events are usually so boring. I’m glad you could be here with me for this, at least.”

His arms tightened around me. “Me too.”

The song ended and I was reluctant to leave Garon’s embrace, though I knew it was unlikely I’d be attacked while dancing with him, and we had to draw the Ravens out somehow. As Garon slipped off to the sidelines to keep watch over me, I noticed Nial had been dancing with Queen Elsap of Rodor, a beautiful dark-skinned woman about ten years older than me who had just lost her husband to illness. I turned away, only to be confronted by another Queen—Casnia of Ilidan. Our greatest enemy and an uninvited guest.

Shadows still swirled around her and her family from their teleportation into the ballroom. Like Balsam, Casnia had married a wizard for love, or so the rumors had told me. He stood at her side, a tall, severe black-haired man with the amber eyes common in Korelan. Their five-year-old son Prince Raith stood between them, looking every bit as stoic as his father with the same black hair, though he had his mother’s gray eyes.

“Princess Dahlia,” Casnia said with delight. “It is wonderful to see you again. How many years has it been? Ten? Why, you’re all grown up now.”

Before I could answer, Balsam rose off his throne and stormed toward us, his eyes a piercing ice blue. “You have some nerve coming here.”

Casnia flashed my brother a charming smile. She was about double my age, but still one of the most beautiful women in the room, with a presence that commanded attention and respect. “I simply came to give you my best wishes for a healthy child and an easy labor for your wife.” She gestured to the black-haired child at her side. “Please let me introduce my own son, Prince Raith.”

“An honor, your majesty,” the young prince said to Balsam.

I wasn’t sure what Casnia’s intent was in coming here, but she knew we would never harm her with her son beside her. We were at war, but we weren’t monsters.

Balsam barely spared the young boy a glance. “I want you to leave. Now.”

“Already? A pity. I hoped we could discuss matters between our kingdoms in a cordial fashion over a glass of wine.” She glanced at Fellina, who was hobbling toward us, and another smile lit up her face. “If your child is a girl, perhaps we could arrange a marriage between her and Raith.”

“I will never give up my heir to you,” Balsam practically spat.

“No, of course not. Perhaps your second child then?”

Fellina rested her hand on Balsam’s arm and said to her, “Thank you joining us tonight and for the offer. We will certainly consider it.”

“I hope you do.” Casnia gestured toward her husband. “We’ve brought you a gift to show our blessings for your family are sincere.”