Page 16 of Death and Desire

“It was the truth.”

They took a few turns to the music, allowing silence to fall between them. She admired how quickly he became accustomed to the dance. The first awkward steps had morphed into something graceful, almost bewitching.

“Since you know so much about me, perhaps you can tell me your name?”

He regarded her for several heartbeats. Violet felt each acutely as she waited for his response.

His grip tightened on her waist as he spoke. “Khalid.”

Violet repeated the name, smiling when he nodded at her pronunciation. “How lovely. What does it mean?”

“Eternal.”

She laughed, and the sound made him scowl.

“Why do you laugh?”

“I thought your name would mean something more...terrifying, given your demeanor.”

His harsh expression disappeared, leaving the absence of emotion on his handsome face.

“I’m Violet.” She beamed, hoping to break his facade.

“What does it mean?” he mimicked.

“It’s a type of flower.”

“A flower?” He sounded confused by the statement.

“Yes.” She stifled a laugh. “Do you know what a flower is?”

His lips twitched again. “Of course I know what afloweris, but I have never seen a violet.”

The music came to an end.

“Now you have.” Violet reluctantly relinquished her hold on him.

With a stiff bow, Khalid turned and left the dance floor, his gait determined as he vanished from the room. Air left her lungs in awhoosh, as though she’d just run a mile. Blood raced through her veins, her heart pounded.

Was it her impetuous action that left her in such a state or his sudden departure? She pressed a hand to her chest where it ached.

She missed him already.

That wasinsane. She knew nothing of this stranger other than the odd feeling she’d met him before. Who was he? How did they share this strange connection?

She shook her head, willing her thoughts to clear.

“What are you doing standing in the middle of the dance floor alone?” Isaac’s question startled her.

“Oh, I...uh...never mind,” she stammered before snatching him by the arm and dragging him to the bar.

For the rest of the evening, Violet searched the shadows for any sign of Khalid, but he was gone. And that night in the comfort of her room with an open window overlooking the garden, she slept in peace, without a single dream.

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