Page 98 of Kingdom of Dance

“Was it awful?” asked Dahlia, in a small voice.

“Yes,” Zinnia said shortly.

Obsidian, who had been standing silently since his interjection, shifted beside her.

“What did it feel like?” Ivy sounded equal parts horrified and fascinated.

Zinnia sighed. “Like he was trying to rip me out of my body, I guess. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, let alone my sisters. I just couldn’t bring myself to expose you to it. If I was wrong, then I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’d do it differently if I had to choose again.”

There was a troubled silence as everyone considered these words.

“Was that where our injuries came from?” Jasmine asked, in growing realization. “When we had scratches and didn’t remember how we’d gotten them?”

Zinnia nodded. “Sometimes Idric would pierce our skin to test our blood. He was frustrated that the royals from all the other kingdoms had managed to throw off the curses he’d helped orchestrate against them. He wondered if the inherent magic of royal blood—the power that binds us to our land—might have some protective quality.”

“Does it?” Violet asked hopefully.

Zinnia shook her head. “Not that he could identify.”

Her sister frowned. “He didn’t do anything like that tonight, though, did he? He just wanted information.” She glanced at Dahlia. “He was interrogating you for a while, Dahlia. What did he ask you?”

The seven-year-old scrunched her face in concentration. “I don’t really remember,” she said apologetically. “Something about Prince Amell? It’s all a little hazy.”

“Yes, he was very interested in why I was relieved not to be marrying Amell,” Zinnia said.

“That’s right!” Dahlia brightened. “I told him how Father had planned for you to marry Amell, even writing to the king of Fernedell about it.”

Zinnia ran a swath of her gown’s gold fabric through her fingers compulsively, trying to think it all out. “I don’t immediately see where he’s going with that, but I don’t like how interested he is. He told Violet and me that his plan was set, and he was just messing around with the details.”

“Well, he didn’t exactly say that,” Violet pointed out. “He said that there was only one piece missing.”

“Yes, never mind that right now,” Zinnia said over the top of her. She could feel Obsidian’s gaze on her, clearly realizing she was hiding something. But that was a conversation she’d rather have without her sisters listening in. “One thing is for certain,” she hurried on. “Idric is much too interested in Amell and Aurelia’s wedding for my liking.”

Obsidian looked at her sharply. “Do you think he’s planning something for the event?”

“He must be.” Zinnia winced. “Now I think about it, I’m pretty sure I prattled on to him about it last night, when I was under the delusion. Something about how it marks the final kingdoms to form marriage alliances, and how most of the kingdoms will probably send royals to attend.” A rush of cold went over her. “Why didn’t I think of it before? It’s the perfect event for him to cause the maximum damage.”

Obsidian frowned. “But if he attacked the royals at the wedding, that would hardly be inconspicuous. I thought he had to keep the other dragons from discovering his activities.”

Zinnia shuffled her feet, not quite meeting his eye. “Yes, well…I don’t think he plans to do the attacking himself, somehow.”

“What do you mean?” Obsidian pressed.

She glanced at her sisters—the younger girls looked terrified, their eyes as round as coins.

“I think that’s enough general discussion for tonight,” Zinnia said decidedly. She gave the oldest two of her sisters a pointed look. “Lilac, Violet, can you please help the girls get to bed? I need to speak with the lieutenant for a moment.”

Not meeting Obsidian’s eyes, Zinnia seized his arm and began to haul him toward the door into Violet’s suite. She’d intended to make a hasty departure before any of her sisters could protest, but she wasn’t quick enough to miss the smirk that crossed Violet’s face as she raised one eyebrow.

Apparently even a dragon-fueled crisis wasn’t enough to stop her from needling Zinnia about her love life.

“Hang on,” Lilac said, outraged. “I have about a hundred more questions.”

“I know,” Zinnia said impatiently. “We’ll talk later. But I really do need to talk to Obsidian.”

“Talk to him where?” Lilac demanded. “Why are you dragging him from the room?”

“We’ll talk in my suite,” Zinnia said. Her eyes flicked meaningfully to the five-year-old twins, who were clutching each other in a touchingly pathetic way.

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