Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(57)

Music started playing.

“We’re dancing?” I asked as he led me around the table.

I glanced back at Dyter, who was scowling after us.

“Yes, would you like to?” the Prince asked.

“Do you always ask later than you should?” I asked through my fake smile.

He turned, expression sheepish.

As he opened his mouth to speak, I held up a finger. “Your apologies are beginning to lose meaning.”

Kamoi nodded, a grave expression on his stunning face. “I will do better. I’m not used to asking, but I see it is important to you. I’ll do better.”

“That’s a very princely thing to say.”

He led me into a cleared area just past the tables. The band, a duet, consisted of a Phaetyn with a wind instrument that looked like three wooden flutes stacked on top of each other, and another with a harp that was twice his height.

Kamoi spun me in a circle, forcing my attention from the band to my feet.

There wasn’t anyone else dancing yet. I dropped his hand and put distance between us, but he simply eyed the space and stepped toward me.

“That’s not how we dance in Verald,” I lied. I couldn’t tell if Kamoi was aware of how this looked. Maybe this was a normal occurrence for him, what with being the prince and all. But I didn’t want to strengthen any of the rumors about us binding. I waved my hips and stomped in a circle.

“This is how you should dance.” I held my elbows in and slid to the side and then shook my hands as though flicking off water.

Dyter better not be laughing over there, or I was busted.

“This . . . is how you dance in Verald?”

I kept my expression smooth. “What? You don’t like it?” I bent in half to touch my toes and then waved my arms at either side, flicking my hair back. I closed my eyes and swayed. “Feel the music, Kamoi.”

“Feel the music,” he repeated uncertainly.

I opened my eyes and saw he was replicating my arm movements. Laughter burst out of me, and I doubled over as I gasped for air.

“You were jesting!” he accused.

I glanced over at Dyter to see he was slapping the table, heartily ignoring the queen and her mate who had turned to glare at him.

Kamoi joined in my laughter. “Thank the realm; I thought you were serious.”

I waved a hand in the air, walking back to the royal table.

“You no longer wish to dance?” he asked, following me.

I gestured at the corset. “Can no longer breathe.”

It was partially my fault that he looked where I’d gestured, I supposed.

“Yes,” he gulped. “I see that.”

I blushed and then yelped as Kamoi lunged at me, jerking me out of the way as a flying fruit skewer soared past my cheek.

His face hardened, and he pushed me behind him, shouting, “Who threw that?”





23





The prince drew his sword and held the hilt in two hands, head turning as he scanned the now-milling Phaetyn at the party. His voice was low and menacing as he asked again, “Who threw that?”

Who cares? It was a bit of fruit on a little metal skewer. No harm done. I stepped to the side of Kamoi, trying to put distance between us for appearances. Tensions were high; I didn’t want to cause any further problems with the Phaetyn.

Kaelan was storming toward us, and I alerted Kamoi with a fleeting touch on his arm.

“How dare you make a mockery of us,” Kaelan snapped, his eyes flashing more indigo than violet. He marched past the next table, stooped to pick up another fruit stick. “You are a disgrace—”

“Father—”

Was he for real? “Hey,” I said, bringing my hands up as he threw the fruit skewer. My block worked, and the fruit fell to the ground. Yay for Drae-reflexes. “I meant no offense. We were just dancing.”

Kaelan drew his sword, his face twisted and his lips white with fury. I was more than familiar with this look now after my visits with the trees. Odd how hatred looked the same on Druman, Kings, and Phaetyn.

Kamoi stepped in front of me as his father advanced. In a whisper that was heard throughout the clearing and with a dazed expression, he repeated, “Father.”

Kaelen halted his thunderous approach, but his eyes were mere slits as he looked at me. “Move son, or I will move you myself.”

The prince didn’t budge. “No, this isn’t right. She’s not to blame for what’s happening here.”

“Very well,” Kaelen said. Holding his blade in the air, breathing hard, he said, “Round them up!”

The royal guards in purple and silver aketons stepped from behind the trees with swords and spears at the ready. Some of the seated Phaetyn screamed, and they began to scramble from their tables, turning the gathering into a chaotic stampede.

The royal guards in the clearing drew their weapons.

Dyter yelled from the other side of the struggling Phaetyn, “Rynnie!”

My heart froze along with the rest of my body.

There was an odd moment when the air seemed to still as though all of Zivost, trees and Phaetyn alike, held their breath, and then Kaelan yelled, “Now.”

Guards descended on the Phaetyn. Weapons clashed in a blur. Kamoi threw his sword in front of his face, both hands gripping the hilt to parry his father’s strike.