Page 84 of Kingdom of Dance

“Very much,” said Zinnia fervently. Her thoughts from a moment before niggled at her mind—something to do with Idric and his intentions—but she didn’t let them gain any purchase. She had a vague sense that doing so would be extremely unpleasant, and she wasn’t here for that. She was at a ball—the only point of it was to enjoy herself.

“I suppose you’re used to such lavish affairs, as a princess,” Idric said politely. “Human royalty seem to love big events.”

Zinnia nodded sagely. “Oh yes, royals love to make a fuss,” she acknowledged. “We’re not as silly with it in Entolia, but some of the other kingdoms are simply ridiculous.”

“What happens when the different kingdoms come together for a celebration?” Idric asked curiously. “Do your customs offend? Or don’t the kingdoms come together for events?”

“Of course we do,” Zinnia informed him. “But there’s no offense. Whoever is hosting the event—wedding, christening, coronation—sets the traditions, and everyone else is happy to respect that as guests.”

“Do the royals come together often like that?” Idric’s voice was all light curiosity.

Zinnia shrugged. “Not all that often. It’s custom to invite all the monarchs to such events, but usually everyone’s too busy to go. I think the upcoming wedding might be an exception, though. I suspect every royal family will send at least one representative, given the strength of the alliance being formed.”

“Upcoming wedding?” Idric asked. “Perhaps I could come. Dragons often attend such events, and I’m so curious to observe human traditions.”

“I’m sure you could,” Zinnia informed him happily. “Although it’s not really for me to invite. Thankfully I avoided that fate, although only by a hairsbreadth, I’d say. But I’m glad it’s not my wedding.”

“And whose is it?” Idric asked smoothly.

“Crown Prince Amell of Fernedell is marrying Princess Aurelia of Albury,” Zinnia told him. “That means that all six kingdoms have marriage alliances, all in the one generation. It’s quite something, isn’t it? Bansford and Listernia, us with Mistra thanks to Basil marrying Wren. Now Albury and Fernedell. It’s quite the event! I’m inclined to think we’re heading into a period of greater peace in Solstice than we’ve ever known. Basil’s done a good job of drawing together all the royals in our generation. And I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find that all of the royals our age attend.” She paused. “Except my sisters and me, though. We can’t all go. That would just be ridiculous.”

“Butyoucould, surely,” Idric urged her. “You wouldn’t want to miss out on such an event.”

“I’m not sure if I want to go,” she admitted. “There’s so much occupying me here in Tola right now.”

“Oh?” Idric asked politely. “What precisely is occupying your thoughts so much that you have no taste for a journey?”

Zinnia found herself struggling for words, but she had no opportunity to respond, anyway. A new figure was approaching, and her heart seemed to stop as she recognized that short black hair, the scar like a spiderweb across his jaw.

“Obsidian?” she breathed. Idric had somehow disappeared again, but she had no thought to spare for the dragon and his mysteries.

Obsidian bowed low. “May I?”

Breathlessly, she took his offered hand, and he swept her into a dance. Again, some part of Zinnia knew his presence should have been impossible, but she’d surrendered all thought to the sensation of movement, and she wasn’t going to stop now. Obsidian’s arm was strong around her, and the ceaseless rhythm of their dance was like the ebb and flow of the waves on the shore.

Zinnia looked up into his eyes, and a jolt went through her at the unnerving sight. They were the same dark brown as the real Obsidian’s, but at the same time, they were nothing like. They looked back at her with the politely vacant expression worn by every other partner of the night. There was no wit, no mysteries, no humor, no pain from a troubled past.

No spark, she realized. Idric created all these counterfeit humans in the princesses’ minds, but he couldn’t emulate their spark. It was beyond his reach, little as he could accept the limitation.

The delusion faded, and Zinnia found herself standing in the middle of the cavern. Obsidian was gone, as were all the other ball goers except her sisters. Her body felt suddenly weak, the usual ache of Idric’s experiments combining with the exhaustion she was belatedly feeling from having danced for hours. She had a vague memory of speaking with Idric, but she couldn’t remember what they’d talked about. One mercy was that the evening seemed to be over. Idric had disappeared, and the boats were bobbing gently against the bank.

As she carried a still-sleeping Wisteria back to her little boat, Zinnia couldn’t help asking Violet the question burning in her mind.

“Who do you dance with at these balls?”

“What do you mean?” Violet frowned, stifling a yawn. “It’s different people every time. I can’t imagine where Idric finds them all.”

Zinnia frowned. “So it’s never anyone you…you recognize?”

“Never.” Violet raised an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”

Zinnia shrugged, uncomfortably aware that her sister’s curiosity was tinged with amusement. She had a horrible suspicion that Violet knew exactly why she’d asked.

Chapter Twenty

Obsidian barely made it into the last boat, wincing as it once again rocked violently. The youngest princess was still fast asleep, lying right where Zinnia had placed her, and he reached out a steadying hand, keeping her in place until the boat bobbed back into a normal position.

His mind was reeling, but he couldn’t say he had many answers. Certainly not enough to satisfy him. It was clear that there was a dragon involved as he’d feared, but the beast hadn’t seemed to be doing anything sinister. In fact, none of the princesses were harmed at all, as far as Obsidian could see. On the contrary, they’d danced the night away in a fabulous castle.

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