Page 83 of Kingdom of Dance

Zinnia turned haunted eyes on her little sister, who was impatient for the festivities. If only she could.

Although…she could, couldn’t she? Idric had said she had a choice. She’d been so sure she was strong enough to resist the offered reprieve, but she had no strength left. She didn’t even want strength anymore. She wanted to sink blissfully into the happy oblivion that her sisters enjoyed. What was the point in retaining her right mind? It was true that she’d learned a great deal from Idric’s rants, but it was hard to see the use in that when she couldn’t tell anyone what she knew.

Spinning around, she hurried down through the trapdoor, hearing the sound of her sisters’ descent behind her. When she reached the bottom, the crystals were glowing from the sounds of the princesses’ chatter. Zinnia’s little boat was clearly visible as it approached. She stepped into it without delay, watching her sisters all do the same.

When little Wisteria hopped into hers, it wobbled so violently she was almost tipped out.

“Careful, Wisteria!” Zinnia called, in unison with Lilac.

“It’s not my fault,” complained the four-year-old. “It just tipped, and it’s still wobbling. I think something’s wrong with it.”

“I don’t think boats powered by dragon magic exactly break,” Violet said impatiently. “Now sit down so we can go.”

Still grumbling, Wisteria complied, and the boats sped forward. Zinnia found that her body was unconsciously tensed, in anticipation of the attack to come. She forced her limbs to relax. There would be no attack tonight. At least, there would be, but she wouldn’t feel it.

When she stepped out of her boat onto the stone platform, Idric was waiting. As soon as the other girls had drifted off into the center of the cavern, Zinnia turned to the dragon.

“I want the delusion,” she said, trying to ignore the part of her that was screaming that this was a mistake. “I want to see and feel what they do. I’m tired of fighting.”

“How intriguing,” breathed the dragon, sounding indulgent. “And you claimed you would never break. What was it that tipped you over the edge, I wonder?”

“You said the offer still stands,” Zinnia snapped, ignoring the question. “Give me the delusion.”

“The delusion, my foolish child, is all around you,” Idric said coldly. “As I have indicated before, you have the power to embrace or reject it. It is entirely in your hands.”

Zinnia frowned. “I don’t understand what that means,” she said impatiently. “I don’t know how to do it. I can’t do enchantments.”

“The magic is already provided.” The dragon sounded bored now. “It coats everything and everyone in this space, and it only leaves you untouched because you have chosen to reject it. I thought it would be an interesting experiment to put it in your hands.” His lips curved in a thin smile. “And I was certainly right.”

Zinnia thought this over. “You mean, like a key?” She’d heard of the magical concept. “Is there some phrase I say, or some action I do to trigger the magic?”

“Humans and your crude imitations of true power,” the dragon growled, smoke curling from his nostrils. “I do not need anything so artificial as a key. I wove the limits of my choice into the magic. Notriggeris required.”

Still confused, Zinnia glanced around. Her will was the controlling factor? Well, she’d made her choice. She wanted to enter the peaceful delusion.

Instantly, the cavern filled with light. Zinnia gasped as a magnificent castle appeared before her eyes, glinting in the glow of a thousand candles. Seeming to be made of glass, or perhaps crystal, it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She moved toward it in a trance, her booted feet traversing a path lined with bushes that glittered as if covered in gems instead of leaves.

Enchanted, she walked through a massive doorway, the wooden portal flung wide. Instead of an entranceway, she found herself immediately in an enormous and ornate ballroom. There was no furniture—beyond a few tables of polished wood, which sagged under the weight of a feast more lavish than anything Basil had ever hosted—but all the fixtures were of gold.

The room was filled with color, her sisters’ dresses fanning out as they danced, and the space filled with other people Zinnia didn’t recognize. Violet swirled past, led by a pleasant-faced stranger who danced as elegantly as a prince.

Somewhere underneath her wonder, Zinnia realized that it was fake. She could feel deep within her, somewhere in her core, that she still had the power to control the delusion. As the thought crossed her mind, she felt a flicker of pain, and she stopped trying to think. She didn’t want the reality of Idric’s assault on her spark. She wanted to dance the night away in this sparkling castle.

As she moved forward into the happy throng, her hand was instantly claimed by a tall man with a slightly vacant expression. He spun her around, propelling her effortlessly into the dance. Zinnia abandoned herself to the motion, not attempting to think, just enjoying herself.

As soon as the song ended, another figure appeared, and Zinnia turned to dance with him without hesitation. She didn’t know how long passed in that way, but she wasn’t conscious of any tiredness. The five-year-old twins were in the center of the ballroom, holding hands in a circle of children their age, all laughing as they spun round and round. Little Wisteria was peacefully asleep under one of the banquet tables.

And still Zinnia didn’t feel weary. It was as though her normal physical limitations didn’t exist down here. It was wonderful! No wonder her sisters looked forward to Idric’s balls so much. It really was kind of him to put on such festivities for them.

A frown flickered across Zinnia’s face as the thought drew her up. No, that wasn’t right, was it? Idric wasn’t kind. He was evil, and traitorous, and—

A wave of pain hit her, so intense that she doubled over, gasping for breath. Recklessly, she pushed all thoughts of Idric’s true nature aside, once again embracing the delusion. At once, the pain ceased, and she straightened up.

“Are you all right?” Her current dancing partner had a look of polite concern that didn’t quite touch his eyes.

She nodded, but before they could recommence the dance, an enormous form approached. It made no sense for the dragon to fit inside the ballroom, let alone to have been out of sight in the confined space until that moment, but she didn’t worry herself over sense.

“Enjoying the ball, Your Highness?” Idric asked, smiling in a friendly way.

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