Page 40 of The Mirror and the Curse

“We flew to a magical meadow and ate enchanted apples,” Eddi admitted in a rush.

Kammy smiled. “Now that’s what I like to hear. You haven’t requested my advice, but I’m handing out free samples tonight. Eddi, give love time. You’re so young! I matured a lot during those years apart from Tor, and so did he. We lived our separate lives, and the wait turned out to be a good thing.”

“But how can you know it’ll turn out right?”

“You can’t know. Trust me, it wasn’t easy to wait and go on with my life, but I’m so glad I did.”

“So, what should I do now?” Eddi asked in sudden desperation. “I mean, I’ve been chasing Fidelio for nearly a year . . .”

The siren’s abundant black hair in a glossy chignon drew attention to her perfect shoulders, which she now shrugged. “What do you reallywantto do, girl?” Without waiting for an answer, she gave Eddi’s arm a quick squeeze. “Me? I want to drag my handsome scientist out on the dance floor and have fun.” With a challenging smile and wink, she left Eddi at the table and efficiently broke up the conversation between her husband and Fidelio.

Moments later, Eddi floated over the dance floor in Fidelio’s arms. He was decent at the waltz, yet her feet cringed now and then at near misses. “Are you enjoying your first Summer Ball?” she asked.

He grinned. “I am. Especially right now. Except, I miss seeing your pretty face.” He let go of her hand long enough to flick a feather wafting from her mask.

“I’m going to ditch the mask and wings. Maria probably won’t even notice. You could ditch your mask too.”

“I would if it belonged to me, but I can’t risk losing it.” He pulled her a little closer. “I keep seeing you dance with all these other guys. That rhumba you did with Carlo made me want to punch my little brother.”

Eddi laughed. “He’s like a little brother to me too.”

“He’s a few months older than you,” Fidelio reminded her. “And he wasn’t looking at you like a big sister, trust me.”

Eddi shook her head. “That’s all show. He teased me through the whole dance. Nothing romantic between us, but he’s fun to dance with. I get too tense with some of those sultry dances, but Carlo helped me relax and enjoy it.”

Fidelio gave a little snort. “If I hear syncopated music start up, I talk instead of dancing.”

Eddi chuckled. “Probably wise of you.”

“Yeah, I might break more than feet. Especially in these shoes.”

Nevertheless, no more than five minutes later Eddi saw him attempt a cha-cha dance with Raquel, wearing that besotted-puppy expression again, his attention fixed on his lithe, graceful partner.

That did it. Eddi glanced around the ballroom. Many guests sat at the tables on the margins; others clustered around the buffet tables. Searching for anyone was difficult with her height disadvantage, and her prey was no taller. Eddi set her jaw and went on the hunt like a bloodhound.

She found him a good quarter-hour later, just as he entered the ballroom through a service door. “Hello, waiter,” she greeted him in her everyday tone, though she felt nearly giddy with a rush of adrenaline. “You’re looking sharp in that penguin suit.”

“Thanks,” Kai said without looking directly at her. “Would you like a drink? It’s nonalcoholic punch.” Was it the lighting, or were his ears suddenly pink above his white shirt collar?

Eddi accepted a glass but bent closer to ask, “Meet me at the gazebo in fifteen minutes?”

His hooded eyes popped wide open. Eddi felt her face burn under his stare, but maybe her mask concealed it?

“Why?” he asked, his voice huskier than usual.

“To dance?”

Holding her gaze, he said, “Staff aren’t allowed to dance with guests.”

She blushed harder. “I need a friend.”

His dark brows drew together. “You’ve danced nearly every dance tonight, and there’s generally a queue of hopeful men waiting their turn. You’re the girl with too many friends to count.”

Her heart suddenly felt crowded in her chest. He’d been watching her. “I need arealfriend, Kai.”

His face went blank. “Your siren friend is here.”

“I already talked with her. She doesn’t know me as well as you do.”

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