Page 64 of Compass Points
“Rose, we don’t quite know what is going on with you and Luc. He hasn’t been particularly forthcoming about your relationship, but, whatever it might be, he certainly cares deeply for you. We hope you know that,” Andrew finished.
Rose nodded, not quite finding the words to respond. Thankfully she didn’t have to as Luc extricated himself from his nephews and reached out a hand to Rose.
“Dance with me, Rose?”
The music had been playing softly in the background, but the dance floor was empty at this particular moment. She laughed a little. “No one is dancing, Luc.”
“Then there is plenty of room for us.”
She couldn’t help herself. His smile was infectious, and in the chaos of the evening, she wanted to be surrounded by his warmth for just a few moments. He swept her into his arms as they moved across the floor.
If having his hand on her back sent fire dancing through her veins, dancing with him was a shock to her senses. She’d thought she’d become desensitized to him with all the time they’d been spending together, but she was acutely aware of every point at which their bodies touched. He pulled her closer as they toured the dance floor.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“Who knew that the fearsome Suden Point could move so gracefully.”
“They say dance lessons help prepare one for sword fighting.”
“Who says that?” she wondered aloud.
“Well”—he laughed—“maybe it was just what my mom told Aaron and me to try and stop us from fussing too much about the dance lessons she forced us into.”
The revelation caught her off guard, and she couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her.
“I love hearing your laugh,” he whispered, pulling her body closer to his as they continued their movement.
The fire of their connection was more than she could take. Ignoring any worries of Norden and Suden Points and the uncertainty of their future, she leaned forward, intent on pressing her lips to his. She’d been dying to feel that connection to him again since their kiss in the market. Luc’s eyes went from surprised to devious delight within seconds.
She couldn’t mask her dissatisfaction as she heard an assertive cough next to them, interrupting her progress.
“May I cut in?” Aiden stood before them.
Rose was surprised to see how much the dance floor had filled out. When they’d started, they had been the only couple, and now dozens of pairs whirled around them. While she’d been able to ignore Aiden’s offer to escort her into the ballroom, declining his public request for a dance now would look rude.
She took a deep breath, leaning in to kiss Luc’s cheek. “Hold that thought,” she said.
“I will remember this.” A teasing smile lit his face while she was still close enough that they shared breath—a delicious tension hanging there, unfortunately, and completely doused as they separated. Luc’s cool mask was in place as his hand slipped from her waist and he walked towards the crowd’s edge.
She took Aiden’s offered hand, her gaze going straight to his eyes. The bright blue gave her little comfort as she stepped into a formal position with the man who had killed her family. The man who had tried to kill her. The man who had stolen her rightful place as Norden Point.
“You surprise me, Rose,” Aiden said, a smile plastered on his face as he made eye contact with guests over her shoulder.
“What? That I’m alive? Yes, I guess that would be a surprise to you after trying to kill me.”
“Such a wild accusation,” he replied too calmly for her liking. “I believe the caretaker and his family perished in a tragic fire on the property.”
She turned her face to meet his, anger rushing through her. When she saw his face, a cold rush ran down her spine. His eyes had turned an ageless grey.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
“What an astute question. I always knew you were too smart for your own good.” He shook his head slightly. “Aiden always tried to say you weren’t a threat, but I knew better. It was one of the many reasons you needed to go.” His fingers on her waist gripped her body tighter, caging them together for this conversation.
She fought to remain calm. He couldn’t try to kill her so publicly, could he?
“That doesn’t answer my question,” she said, letting her anger at the man who killed her family fuel her words. She wouldn’t succumb to the fear of not knowing what monster inhabited Aiden’s body. “Are you Zrak?”
He chuckled at her question as one laughed at a small child’s antics. “I see I don’t have to worry about your friend telling you too much. How very like him.”
