Page 104 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
The drum started a soft beat, and they both took a step into the music, which carried them up the hall with the other couples. Her body fit against his, and shefollowed his lead without hesitation. She smelled like the forest, a compliment to her soft green coloring. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction that they were wearing matching outfits … and wondered how he could add green accents for next time.
Not that there would be a next time, but as the duke, it was perfectly acceptable that he accompanied her as a representative of North Sumbria in future events.
He already knew she had an invitation to the Fall Ball and the Winter Feast.
“After the dance is over, let’s slip away.” He pulled her closer for a moment, and Gerda looked up at him with enquiring brown eyes. “I have a private room set aside.”
“Okay.” She nodded. Her movements were a bit stiff. It took a few steps for her to relax, and he dipped them into a turn at the end of the hall. They circled back the way they came, moving around the dance floor. At the other end, Julian lifted one hand to send the troll spinning out. Her long green hair lifted in an arc, and her skirts brushed against his tights. He brought her back into an embrace, then continued their dance back down the hall.
Her breath caught, and her cheeks flushed against white freckles. Despite the threat of danger, Gerda was smiling openly, clearly enjoying herself. They were able to go another turn around the floor, and by the end, he was fighting a grin as well.
When the music signaled a close, he spun her dramatically into his embrace, catching her and stopping with the final note of the song.
“That was fun.” He promptly dropped his arms and took a step back. He adjusted his vest, pretending like his heart wasn’t pounding wildly.
“Yes.” She snapped open her fan and fluttered it for a cool breeze. “It was.”
They’d stopped close enough to the exit he was aiming for, and it was a short walk to the open doorway. The hall beyond had a number of break rooms and the washrooms at the end. Julian had claimed one of the private rooms for his own as soon as he’d found out that he was going to be escorting his bridge troll.
He was thankful he did.
Pushing open the door to a small lounge with a couch and table, there was a jug of fresh water infused with mint and cranberries on a table with a few crystal glasses at the ready, and a tray of light snacks.
Julian tapped his foot on his shadow thrice, letting John know that he would go in alone.
[I’ll return if I get word.]
John sent the message over [Shadow Chat], and then he was gone.
Julian closed the door and immediately went over to pour himself a glass, downing half of it while Gerda took a seat on the couch. She shook her headwhen he lifted up a second glass to offer her some as well, continuing to fan herself.
“Before we go on,” Julian said, taking a seat next to the troll, “there’s something that I’m curious about.”
“What?” She stiffened but didn’t pull away.
“It was the way you explained your prophecy earlier …” He hesitated. “You said that if you weren’t my partner, then I would get shot.”
“Yes?” Gerda snapped the fan shut and lowered it into her lap. “And?”
He searched her eyes. “You were already my partner when you got the notification … So why did you think the prophecy assumed otherwise?”
CHAPTER 59
A Very Handsome Wallflower
Gerda
One of the things I enjoyed as Madame Potts was a degree of separation between myself and the story.
I could change things; I could make a difference … but always from the comfort of my kitchen table.
Even when I was interacting with the main characters, Gerda the Bridge Troll wasn’t a character that showed up in the storyline, and she wasn’t accounted for in the scenarios. The times I’d come close to a scenario before this could be counted on one hand: the time I’d helped rescue the Dark Lord in distress, and recently, when I’d rescued Julia.
The bridge battle didn’t count because it, again, had been in response to an oracle. Fate had seen fit to show me the assassination battle in the eastern woods, so I’d decided to hold off the army. I’d acted entirely on my own accord to stop the army in their tracks on my bridge, without Fate to guide me.
And I’d rocked it, if I did say so myself.
Which was why it took me a second to really think about Julian’s question.
