water all day—a villager fumbling around the palace of Thessen.”
“You know, I lived in a village once.”
“Did you really?”
“Truthfully, I don’t remember it,” she said. “I came to the fortress when I was very young. But my mother told me stories of what it was like back home. Her attempt to keep me grounded, I suppose.”
Tobias smiled. “Your mother… What’s she like?”
Delphi wavered. “She was kind. Incredibly intelligent. Didn’t tolerate shit from anyone.”
“Was?”
“She passed. A while ago now.”
Tobias’s face softened. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yes, well, you know how it is.” Her gaze became warm. “What of your father? Was he an artist, like yourself?”
“A metalsmith.”
“A different kind of artist, then. My mother was a midwife.” She gestured toward the splendor around them. “Before all this, of course.”
“Then one fateful day the two of you just wandered to the palace?”
Delphi hesitated. “Something like that. Sure.”
The dancers around them shifted. Next position. He spun Delphi in a circle—she raised an eyebrow, impressed—then wrapped his arm around her, trying to manage the balance between close but not too close, friendly but not too friendly.
Delphi cocked her head. “What’s that smile for?”
“I like this. Speaking to you as we are. As if there’s no worry of danger.”
She tutted her tongue. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. Don’t let the grandeur fool you, there’s always the promise of danger here. But we can pretend tonight.”
A swirl of black flitted in his periphery. The dancers had formed a line on either side of them with Leila just a short distance away, snug in Raphael’s embrace.
“Look who’s next in line,” Delphi said.
“I’m trying not to.”
“Oh? What for?”
Tobias lowered his voice. “We got quite the lecture on wandering eyes this morning. As it is, I’m fairly certain I’m breaking countless rules just engaging in this conversation with you.”
“Well, fortunately for you, all eyes are on The Savior tonight. I don’t think anyone will particularly notice where your gaze lands.”
“You’ll get me into trouble saying things like that,” he said.
“Nonsense. If you get into trouble, then likely so will she. And I would never let that happen.”
“Didn’t you say that there’s always the promise of danger here?”
Delphi rolled her eyes. “Tobias, it’s just a dance.”
Another shift traveled through the line—the final hold—and he brought Delphi in closer, still watching Leila out of the corner of his eye. They danced together in silence, until Delphi chuckled, following the path of his fixed gaze.
“Rid yourself of your worries for tonight, love.” She winked. “Have fun.”
Without another word, she floated down the line, and the most captivating vision appeared in front of him.
Leila.
She held out her hand. “Dance with me?”
Tobias’s heart thumped hard, ready to burst free from his chest. He took her hand and bowed. “It would be an honor.”
The dance began, though the steps were of little consequence. Leila looked even more beautiful up close, and he took the opportunity to gaze over her dress, her hair—anything but her breasts, a hard feat to achieve, as they were right there. After a moment of silent awe, her eyes locked with his, piercing in a way that made him laugh.
“What?”
“You’re very, very bad,” she said.
“Have you found fault with me already? We’ve only just begun to dance.”
“Earlier, while we were seated.” She raised an eyebrow. “If you stare at me instead of the dancing girls, you’ll draw attention to yourself.”
“What dancing girls?”
“Very funny.”
“You’re in no position to criticize. I caught you staring when you came in.”
Leila opened her mouth to speak but said nothing, her cheeks bright pink.
“What?” Tobias laughed. “What’s that look for?”
She smiled. “You look very handsome.”
“Is that so?”
“Like a king. An honorable one. The drape suits you.”
“Look at you, all red in the face.”
“Don’t tease me.”
“You look stunning, Leila. The only woman in the room as far as I’m concerned.” He playfully waved her away. “But that’s nothing new. In fact, I’m rather bored of you being so beautiful all the time. I wish you’d surprise me. Grow a hunchback, maybe spoil your teeth. Keep me on my toes.”
“You’re in awfully high spirits.”
“I’m clean, I’m fed, and I’m with you. I’m especially excited about one of those things in particular.”
Leila wedged her lip between her teeth. Wrapping his fingers around hers, he brought her into their next position—closer, but not close enough, and he found himself wishing the dance would progress quicker, that he could hold her against his body.
A soft giggle sounded. Pippa danced with Orion nearby, gazing up at him with stars in her eyes as