Page 89 of Ocean of Ink
“Are you fond of dancing, Wren?” he asked.
Wren tensed in her seat, gripping her spoon tight. Castien wanted to throw something at his cousin, likely his fist. He was playing games when he didn’t know her. No one here did, not like Castien. There was a part of him that relished in that fact, but the other wished he could clue his cousin in so he would stop making a fool of himself.
“I confess it is not my favorite,” Wren replied quietly.
“Perhaps I can change your mind. People say I’m the best dance partner in all the Seven Havens,” Finn said with a winsome smile.
“No one says that,” Kierana deadpanned across the table.
Castien bit back a smile. Wren ducked her chin to hide her own.
“Judge for yourself when the music begins. I will dance with Wren first, then you may have the honor of dancing with me,” Finn said.
“No,” Eindar growled.
Castien’s brows lifted. Finn looked taken aback. Kierana seemed amused more than anything. She looked at Eindar.
“I may dance with whomever I please.” They shared a look that felt more charged than a swordfight.
Then, “Fine. One dance.”
A slow smile crept across Kierana’s face.
“So then it’s settled, we will have each other’s second dance,” Finn said.
“No,” Kierana said, still smiling at Eindar. “I only want to dance with Eindar.”
Eindar narrowed his eyes at her, but the corner of his mouth was lifted.
“In the future, do not drag me into your odd manner of flirting,” Finn grumbled.
“The way that you do with everyone else?” Wren said, surprising Castien.
His cousin smirked. “Precisely.”
The ballroom was growing smaller by the hour. Wren felt the walls of emotion pressing in on her. What was once a tolerable wave of giddy excitement was now a dizzying concoction of jealousy, joy, desire, hurt, and more. She had made it through dinner, but soon she would be required to dance. Her heartbeat thudded in her ear. She hid her shaking hands beneath the table.
“Students of Obsidian Academy,” the headmaster raised her voice from the center of the room. A hush blanketed the crowd. “I am pleased to welcome you all to Adira’s ball. Tonight we mark the fall of her star, the end of Eventide, and the beginning of a wonderful journey together.”
Wren smoothed her damp palms down her skirts and hoped they would not leave marks on the delicate fabric. She felt Castien’s gaze on her, but she couldn’t meet his eyes for fear he would see through her.
“Queen Adira was a fine, noble woman. The only true love of King Arcturos, though she was lost too soon in their marriage. Her heroic sacrifice during the Great War of the Tides made the Seven Havens what it is today. As you dance the evening away,remember her, and ponder what it is to be a servant of those whom you lead.”
Headmaster Acanthia gave a slight nod, and the musicians got into position. Students and staff stood from their tables and reached for their dance partners. Wren’s stomach turned.
Finn stood and buttoned his coat, then presented his hand. “Shall we?”
Again, Wren felt Castien looking at her. She knew without a doubt that if she turned, she would see his dark, knowing gaz,e and she would break. Her fragile composure would shatter. That couldn’t happen. She needed to be strong.
She willed her hand not to tremble as she placed it in Finn’s. He led her onto the floor as the first notes filtered through the air.
Was that? No, it couldn’t be.
Finn stood across from her in a row of men. Women in exquisite gowns lined up on either side of Wren. Their anxiety built upon her own in a way that made her nauseous. The music grew louder, and Wren’s blood turned cold.No, no, no. Not this song. Anything but this song.
All around her, hands lifted to prepare for the first step forward. Wren’s movements were slow and clumsy as if she were in water. She blinked and she was no longer in the ballroom, but in a shadowy music room.
“Come, sit and play with me,” the monster said with a warm smile.
