Page 22 of Kingdom of Dance

So far, neither Reka nor Dannsair had shown any sign of sensing Idric’s enchantments at all, let alone trying to break them. And their status as dragons had made no difference whatsoever to the internal prohibitions which prevented Zinnia from speaking.

She tried not to dwell on it, because it scared her to realize just how powerful Idric was. What kind of magic could disguise itself even from dragons?

Zinnia looked up at the reptilian faces above her, their expressions curious but placid.

“My apologies,” she said quietly. “I didn’t intend to subject you to the unpleasant taste of bitterness.”

“Having done so, why don’t you tell us the source of your bitterness?” Dannsair suggested.

I would if I could.Even those words the magic wouldn’t let her say. She supposed it would be too telling to reveal that she was unable to say what she wanted to say.

“Let’s speak of something else,” she said instead, as lightly as she could.

She glanced around. Briar and Magnolia had wandered a short distance away, probably intent on exploring the rock pools to be found a little farther down the shore. Violet still stood beside Zinnia, although she’d kicked off her shoes and was burrowing her feet in the sand.

Following her example, Zinnia removed her own slippers and hiked up her skirts. Wading into the shallows, she climbed onto a protruding rock between Dannsair and Reka, settling herself cross-legged. The position was neither dignified nor princess-like, and she couldn’t resist sending a wink to the stodgiest of her guards. The middle-aged man—whom she knew to be a strict father of three daughters—pretended not to see the gesture, but she saw the way his posture stiffened, and his habitually disapproving expression seemed to set on his face.

It was the little wins that kept her going. Chuckling, Zinnia turned back around to find both dragons still watching her curiously.

“I don’t wish to speak of something else,” Reka said simply, and it took Zinnia a moment to remember her earlier words. “I wish to speak of your state.”

“Well, that’s very…kind,” said Zinnia uncertainly. “But unnecessary.”

“I don’t think Reka is being kind,” said Dannsair, with no hint of emotion. “I think he is primarily curious. As am I.”

“Dannsair is correct,” Reka confirmed. He paused, considering the matter. “Although I do not seek to beunkind. If we can better your state without problematic repercussions, we would wish to do so.”

“Now thatiskind,” said Zinnia, quite touched by the unusual sign of the closest thing a dragon could come to affection. “If I was in a position to receive your help, I would be incredibly grateful for it.”

“What are you helping Zinnia with?” Violet had waded through the water, clambering up onto the rock beside her sister. Zinnia flashed another look at the guard as Violet copied her posture. His face was stonier than ever.

“Nothing, apparently,” Dannsair answered Violet. “She appears not to consider herself in need of our help.”

Zinnia wanted desperately to deny that, but of course she couldn’t say a word.

“Well, you do seem different from how you used to, Zin,” Violet said frankly. “But I don’t know how a dragon could help.”

“Different how?” Zinnia asked, a touch defensively.

Violet considered the question before answering. “Our family life has always been a little intense, and I always knew you were chafed by it sometimes. But you always seemed…yourself, underneath. Like your duties were suffocating at the moment, but the unburdened version of you was still bubbling along underneath, just waiting for the time when it could be released to live its own life. Now you seem…”

She trailed off, but Zinnia had no trouble finishing the thought. “Like I don’t actually believe I’ll ever be free.”

Violet nodded, and Zinnia felt a flicker of mingled surprise and pride at the younger girl’s astuteness. She’d never thought of it in those terms herself, but it was an uncomfortably accurate assessment of what had changed inside her.

“Yes, that rings true,” Reka commented. He leaned forward and gave Zinnia an experimental sniff.

She didn’t fear Reka in the least, but the association with Idric’s experiments was so strong that she couldn’t quite stop herself from flinching at his approach.

The dragon pulled back, considering her in surprise, and she could feel Violet’s confusion beside her as well.

“I’m no expert in human health,” the yellow dragon commented after a moment’s awkward silence, “but you don’t seem entirely well.”

“I’m tired,” Zinnia said defensively.

“Perhaps that’s all it is, Reka,” interjected Dannsair, laying her head on her crossed front feet with every sign of comfort. “It’s not as though her essence is different. Her spark is as strong as ever.”

“What did you say?”

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