Page 127 of Kingdom of Dance

That did bring the hint of a smile to Obsidian’s face. “You’re not lying, which means you actually believe it. But I’m not sure I do.”

Zinnia gave him a mock glare, still not sure how she felt about the revelation regarding his core magic. “You were a bit of a scoundrel to keep that secret from me, you know,” she told him.

“Scoundrel?” he challenged. “Or dark, brooding soldier with a haunted past and a heart full of secrets?”

She laughed in spite of herself. “Is that what your heart is full of? I suppose it does fit the image. That’s why Basil called on you specifically, isn’t it? Because of your particular ability. Did he ask you not to tell me?”

“By implication,” Obsidian admitted.

She sighed. “Then I suppose I can’t be angry. I’ve already acknowledged that it’s right for your first loyalty to be to him.”

Obsidian searched her eyes. “I swore to you once that I was unswervingly loyal to your brother and the kingdom,” he told her seriously. “But I’m no longer able to uphold my oath wholeheartedly.”

“Why not?” Zinnia asked with a touch of anxiety.

His face softened. “Because my first loyalty is to someone else now. And no, my heart isn’t full of secrets. I find it perplexingly full of something—and someone—else.”

Warmth rushed up Zinnia’s neck, and she stepped forward with a slight saunter in her step, raising a hand to toy with the simple tassels that dangled from the front of Obsidian’s tunic. He usually wore it laced more tightly than was the fashion in Entolia, but the exertions of the day had caused it to come loose, and she found the look very appealing.

“And what something is that?” she asked, tilting her head up to stare provocatively into his eyes.

His expression was utterly serious as he looked down at her. “Dancing,” he said. “I’ve discovered a veritable passion for dancing. I’m horribly jealous of your sisters, attending a fabulous ball every night.”

It was impossible to maintain a sultry air thanks to the snort of laughter that burst from Zinnia’s lips. “I don’t need any kind of special magic to know that wasn’t an honest answer.”

Obsidian grinned. “I wasn’t that bad a dancer, was I?”

“You were acceptable,” she informed him brutally. “Now stop dodging the question. Don’t you know that in my family we’re uninterested in pretty words? We value the blunt, unvarnished tru—”

“I love you, Zinnia,” Obsidian cut her off, his voice earnest now. “I want you tobemy family. You already have my heart, and I—”

Zinnia didn’t let him finish. Grasping the flapping edges of his tunic, she yanked him down until their lips crashed together. Elation raced over her as his arms closed around her waist, tugging her closer, his lips eager against hers.

Gone was the misery, the frustration, the pain. She was free of Idric, and free of the secrets she’d never wanted to keep. There was an irony in the fact that she’d lost her heart just as she’d gained her freedom. But it was a sweet irony. As sweet as her dark, brooding soldier had turned out to be.

Epilogue

Zinnia glanced over her shoulder to ensure no one was following before she slipped into the internal courtyard. To her delight, a dark figure was waiting for her, partially concealed behind an artistically displayed wheel from the helm of a retired ship.

“Obsidian!” she cried softly, her hand stealing out to grasp the fabric of his tunic, as she was so fond of doing.

Her betrothed didn’t seem quite as overjoyed to see her. “Can you please explain to me why we’re meeting clandestinely when our relationship is fully supported by everyone of importance in both our lives?” he asked dryly. Unlike her, he made no attempt to lower his voice.

Zinnia flashed him a grin. “Because it’s exciting.”

Obsidian gave her a look. “I thought you said you wanted some peace and quiet for a while.”

Zinnia waved a hand dismissively. “It’s been three months since all that. How long did you think I needed?” Her face split in another grin. “Besides, my darling husband-to-be, even at the time you astutely observed that I was deceiving myself to think I wanted a boring life.”

Obsidian cracked at last, clearly unable to hold his smile back any longer. “I don’t imagine life with you will ever be boring,” he told her. He drew her close, lowering his head so that his breath warmed her ear as he added, “I like the way husband-to-be sounds.”

Zinnia laid her head against his chest for a fleeting moment, reveling in the warm stability of him. Then she pulled back, her tone turning businesslike.

“That’s the real reason we’re meeting in secret, of course,” she admitted. “Because the wedding is tomorrow. Apparently it’s some tradition that we’re not supposed to see each other the day before, but I wanted to know how your meeting with your grandfather went, and I somehow doubt it will be uppermost on our minds tomorrow.”

Obsidian let her go with a sigh. “It went as well as can be expected,” he said. A scowl crept over his features. “I’d still like to know who told him I’d decided to undertake formal training.”

“Don’t be sore about it, Obsidian,” said Zinnia lightly. “Such things are always bound to leak out. Surely he can’t have expected you to agree to train with him after his role in Lorne’s attack on your mother.”

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