Page 51 of Kingdom of Dance

Obsidian could practically smell the curiosity pouring off the princess in waves, but all she said was, “It’s Lieutenant Obsidian now, actually.”

“Is that so?” Obsidian’s grandfather couldn’t quite keep his lip from curling. “It seems I must offer my congratulations.”

“I don’t want your congratulations,” Obsidian said darkly. “You’re no family of mine, as I believe I’ve made perfectly clear.”

The older man eyed him with disfavor. “Do I take it you have been summoned to the castle on a military matter, then? I was led to believe that you were here to provide the crown with assistance of a magical nature.”

Obsidian said nothing. After a moment, his grandfather looked to Zinnia instead, and she gave a small nod, apparently feeling the need to break the standoff.

“Ah, so I wasn’t misinformed,” said the enchanter, rubbing his hands together. “Obsidian, my boy, I’m delighted to learn that you are at last embracing your birthright. There is so much I can teach you now you are pursuing your magic with the devotion it deserves.”

Obsidian found himself on his feet, although he had no memory of deciding to stand. “Don’t call me your boy,” he said, his whole body shaking with anger. “I want nothing to do with you or your magic. I’m not interested in anything you can teach me.”

“Don’t be absurd,” snapped the old man. “When will you get past this ridiculous blockage? Surely your own reactions must demonstrate to you how right I was in my plans for you. Your father wasn’t fit to raise you—he taught you to be afraid of your own magic! But he’s gone now, Obsidian. There’s no more need to hide.”

Obsidian took a step forward, his hands balling into fists. A red haze had descended on his vision, and for a moment he really believed he was finally going to do what he’d dreamed of for years, and punch his grandfather in the face.

A light touch on his arm pulled him up short, reminding him of where he was, and in whose company.

“Perhaps we should all take a step back,” said Zinnia mildly.

“Your Highness, please allow me to apologize for this unseemly display,” said the enchanter crisply. “My grandson is—”

“It was most enlivening to meet you, Master Enchanter Lleuad,” Zinnia cut him off flatly. “But I think it would be best if you left now. I imagine you have many pressing demands on your time, and we wouldn’t wish to keep you from them.”

The enchanter looked between the two of them, his brows drawing together with displeasure. But at her clear dismissal, he had little choice. Bending fluidly into a bow, he turned and strode from the room.

Obsidian stood rooted to the spot, still shaking with anger. All the things he wished he could have said to his grandfather raced through his mind, but the imagined insults did nothing to release his tension. On the contrary, he was growing more wound up by the second.

And, inevitably, with the unbridled emotion, power blossomed. He could feel his magic building inside him, barely contained, unformed and without any definable purpose.

He hadn’t even realized that his fists were still balled until a firm hand closed around one of them. Without his permission, a flare of raw magic was released at the contact, and he felt the princess jerk with pain as his power shot into her.

“Your Highness!” he gasped, in a horrified apology.

She just shook her head, looking entirely unconcerned as she maintained her hold on his fist. He was rattled by her imperturbability. He’d felt the potency of the power that left him—that would have hurt. But she’d barely reacted. She looked calmly into his eyes, which were still smoldering with impotent rage.

“I know the feeling,” she told him solemnly. “Come with me.”

Chapter Eleven

Pulling Obsidian by the hand, the princess took off into the corridor, running with undignified haste through the halls of the castle. Still feeling completely unmoored by the unexpected confrontation with his grandfather, Obsidian abandoned any hesitation. He ignored the stares and startled protests of the servants they passed, surrendering himself to the reckless mood that emanated from the princess beside him as he kept pace with her easily, his long strideseating up the floor.

She led him along several corridors, pausing only when they reached the top of a staircase. It spiraled away below them, disappearing into darkness. Two guards stood to attention on either side of the opening. They watched the princess and her companion curiously, but made no move to bar their entry. Obsidian could see a sign at the top of the stairs, but he didn’t even try to read it, his vision still blurred around the edges.

“Do you dare to follow me down?” she asked in a theatrical whisper. The effect was somewhat ruined by the fact that she was panting for breath after their run.

Obsidian just gave a mirthless laugh. At that moment, there wasn’t much he wouldn’t dare. Taking his response for agreement, the princess jumped down the first two steps. She had a shawl wrapped around her arms this morning—the first time he’d ever seen her wear one—and her wild energy almost caused her to lose her balance as her foot slipped on the trailing garment.

Fortunately, she still held Obsidian’s hand in hers. He’d been jerked forward onto the first step by her sudden motion, but had managed to keep his footing. As she teetered, he reached out his other hand, grabbing her arm and pulling her back toward him.

For a moment they stood silently, Zinnia once again balanced as she stood on the step below him. Her arm was pressed against his chest where he’d yanked her back, and she was staring up at him with the same reckless abandon that had sent her running through the corridors. There were no coherent thoughts in Obsidian’s head, but he could feel his heart pounding at double speed.

“Thanks,” Zinnia breathed, a sudden grin spreading over her face. “It would be a bit of a complicating factor if I broke my neck falling down the stairs.”

Without another word, she pulled her hand free of his and ran lightly down the spiral. Obsidian followed, wondering whether the princess had lost her mind. If so, it seemed to be catching.

The light grew dimmer as they descended, and both of them were forced to slow their reckless steps. They’d been moving for a few minutes when Obsidian suddenly ran into Zinnia’s back, not realizing she’d stopped.

---