Page 190 of A Dance of Water

Bastian led her way. Vale noted the way her shoulders curved inward in fear, how her eyes darted around.

Her lips parted, but she was unable to speak because Vale had ordered her silence.

Instead, she did something foolish…

Luella ripped her hand away from the vampire. She did not falter as she peered out at the crowd. Her roving eyes paused. Vale followedher gaze, finding the demon tucked in the corner beside the cloaked Graves and smug Tharen.

Azgorath’s chest heaved with angered breaths as he stared.

Luella looked away…

Toward Vale.

And whatever she saw on his face made her stumble. Bastian used the momentary falter to pounce, wrapping his hand around hers tightly and pulling her out of the room.

Luella’s neck craned, staring at Vale until the doors closed behind them both.

Such bad manners.

Vale knew the crowd expected her to be punished. An invisible, collective sigh swept through the room—lamenting at her utter disrespect—broken by harsh whispers.

Vale let his eyes sweep over the crowd. "Rejoice! Drink! For it is the fourth night of the Winter Solstice, and the Chosen’s journey has only begun."

The King ignored the increasingly raucous cheers of the crowd and quickly skirted the edges. They soon forgot about him, wrapped up in the charge of pleasure in the air. Wine flowed freely, mingling with the sweet scent of Rys. As Vale passed the shadows, he did not look toward Graves, Tharen, or Azgorath. They had discussed this beforehand, knew they were to time their exits accordingly to not raise suspicion.

In the darkness of the vacant halls, his pace quickened, desperate to see her.

Felt her, the tug of thethreadinside him—such a unique sentiment for their bond; he found he liked it.

Threads.

They were tied together, after all.

61

LESSONS TO PLEASE

LUELLA

Luella’s palm tingled with the urge to slap the vampire before her.

He had ordered her to cause a scene, whispering into her mind that she must do something to make Vale angry.

And now, the King’s anger was upon her.

"Princess Luella." Smoke leaked from Vale’s nostrils as he stared at her.

Bastian’s hands tightened on her.

The doors to Bastian’s room banged open, making her jump and revealing Az, Graves, and Tharen. The mage wore a smug smirk as he stared at her, and she looked away, touching her throat with quiet anger.

"Let her speak," the demon seethed. "She can’t talk because of your order."

A pause.

"You may speak," Vale said.

The invisible weight on her tongue disappeared, and words spilled free. "Are you g-going to punish me?" she stammered.

---