Page 43 of The Mirror and the Curse

“Eddi?” a deep voice called across the lawn. “Are you out here?”

Eddi froze, and so did Kai. Her back brushed his chest, his arm still circled her shoulders, and his quick breaths stirred her hair. His fingers gently squeezed hers. If she leaned back even slightly . . .

Eddi’s thoughts zoomed in every direction, bouncing off each other. Why did Fidelio have to show up right then?

But . . . she couldn’t let him find her with Kai!

As if he’d read that last thought, Kai released her hands, slipped his arm away, and stepped back. Regret crashed over her, and she whirled to face him.

Although that dance had been slow, he breathed as hard as she did. A floodlight near the deck switched on, making her blink. Its indirect light mostly backlit Kai, but their eyes met, his intently questioning, hers hoping, fearing . . . dithering. Did he . . .? How could she know? If only he would speak! Was this sudden high-voltage attraction only on her side?

“Eddi?” Fidelio called again, then spoke to someone else. “Did you say she headed toward the gazebo?”

A voice answered, too far away for clarity. “Thanks,” Fidelio answered. “No, I’ll find her.”

There was no way to sneak out without being seen.

Prince Fidelio was coming to the gazebo. She’d chased him for a year, and now he’d left Raquel to come in search of her . . .

“Eddi?” he called. “Are you out here?”

But . . . Kai! He simply watched her. What should she do? What did shewantto do?

If only she knew!

Feeling doomed, Eddi sucked in a deep breath and called, “I’m here.” Her voice was low, almost gruff. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m in the gazebo. Be right there.”

If Kai would just say something, anything! But what could he say? He was her hired trainer and three years older. He’d been kind to a silly young princess, and now he probably guessed she had a massive crush on him. How humiliating!

“Thank you. That was so much fun. I . . . You’re an amazing dancer. I—” Her voice quit. She swallowed hard. “Kai?”

“Thank you for dancing with me.” His voice sounded huskier than usual, making her heart do strange things.

Then Fidelio climbed the steps. “Eddi, what are you doing out here?” When he stopped halfway up, Eddi knew he had seen Kai. “Oh.”

“It was hot inside, so I talked Kai into dancing out here,” Eddi told him bluntly, her voice too high and quick. “Where’s your mask?”

“Where’s yours?”

Backlit as Fidelio was, Eddi couldn’t be sure where he was looking. She pointed toward her abandoned mask, wings, and shoes on the bench. “Right there. I’ll likely get fined for littering after all the feather fluff I’ve moulted tonight.” She laughed, then could have kicked herself for sounding, forbeing, so inane.

As if she hadn’t spoken, Fidelio addressed Kai, “I thought staff members weren’t allowed to mingle socially with guests. Are you trying to steal my girl?” His tone made the question into a joke. An awkward, ill-considered joke.

Shock stole Eddi’s breath. While she floundered for words, Kai spoke, sounding formal. “I made an exception to the association rule, Your Highness, since the princess seemed to be in need of a friend.”

Fidelio looked toward Eddi. “I would have danced out here with you if you’d asked me.”

At his defensive tone, Eddi’s pride rebounded. “You weren’t around.” She turned to Kai. “Thank you, Kai, for being there for me. If you do get in trouble for this, I will gladly take the blame, since dancing out here was my idea.”

Kai bowed slightly. “No need for that, Your Highness. I’m sure it won’t cause a problem.” He shifted his gaze to Fidelio. “If you would escort the princess safely to the castle, I shall return to my duties.”

“Of course I’ll escort her back,” Fidelio snapped.

When Kai bowed before Eddi, her heart skipped a beat in rebellion, but before she could protest, he said, “Your Highness, dancing with you was an honor and pleasure I shall remember for a lifetime.” He turned to Fidelio and bowed again. “Your Highness.”

“Kai—” He was down the steps and had vanished into the night before Eddi could speak another word. She wasn’t even sure which direction he’d taken.

Fidelio approached her, offering his hand. “Wow. You look amazing in this lighting, Eddi. Your skin almost glows, and your eyes . . .” A sultry melody drifted across the dark lawn. “I like your hair that way too. Dance with me?” he asked, his voice deep and soft instead of cracking and diffident.

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