Page 11 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

The High Consul clenched his jaw, and though he had slowed his graceful steps, he still spun with her as he awaited a response. Unblinking eyes peered into her soul.

The words spilled out of Vita’s mouth, no matter how desperately she tried to contain them.

“Praetor Amulius has threatened me. He has put his hands on me and made vulgar suggestions. I’m frightened, but I cannot leave. I have nowhere else to go.” Her eyes widened as she spoke, unable to stop herself.

She swallowed a surge of energy as her hands grew warm. Please, not now.

The High Consul just hummed again. His eyes darted to her cheek, and he cupped her face with a slender hand, thumb running along the scar.

The music was gone, though Vita was unsure whether the musicians had stopped playing or if her heart was beating too loudly to hear anything else. His touch was cold, and yet it filled her with a pleasant warmth. What did he want from her?

He grasped her hand once more, then picked up the pace, every move precise and confident. She was stiff as she tried to contain the roar of power surging under her skin. She needed to get out of here.He spun her once more, then suddenly dipped her low, one hand supporting her back as the other circled behind her neck.

Vita’s chest heaved as he gazed at her, his lips just inches from hers. Was he going to kiss her? She grasped for his arms, gaining purchase on his lithe upper body. Time seemed to stand still as he held her until the smirk reappeared and he raised her from the dip.

All eyes were on Vita and the High Consul.

She took a shaky step back before giving him a deep curtsy. The surge was threatening to overtake her as she rushed away, searching for a place to hide, any punishment for this breach of etiquette far better than what would happen if her magic was revealed.

Vita stumbled out a side door, propped open to let in the warm night air. The full moon gleamed overhead, and she realized she was in a rose garden. She rushed through the arched pergola, leading her farther into the tangle of flowers, hoping she would be alone.

Rows upon rows of roses lined the walkway, golden yellow and blood red, some as pink as a kitten’s nose. The scent was almost sickly as she hurried by, hands warming in the familiar way as she waited for the surge to pass. Vita saw no one, though she couldn’t be sure she was truly alone.

Sweat clung to her brow as she tried to breathe, holding her hands out to liberate the contained magic. Illusory butterflies and flower petals rained down from the sky, surrounding her in a glittering swarm.

Oh, thank the Gods!

This one had happened before, just once. Fanciful butterflies and flowers were much preferable to burning any item she touched, or to some unknown magic she hadn’t seen before. She enjoyed the show as they fluttered around her for a minute until dissipating into the dark night. That definitely could have been worse.

The skin on the back of her neck prickled, and Vita whirled around as she realized she wasn’t alone in the garden. There he was, the High Consul in all his glory. Had he seen the illusion? No, it seemed not, his expression betraying nothing but cool indifference.She hid her hands behind her back as if a residue of magic still clung to them.

“Are you enjoying my rose garden?” he asked, his voice lilting and endlessly expressive.

Vita curtsied as he approached, keeping her eyes on the ground.

“Yes, High Consul, it is lovely.”

“I wish I could take credit for it, though that would be my dear Aurora.”

He stopped in front of her, but still, she kept her eyes on the ground.

“I apologize for my hasty retreat. I was in desperate need of fresh air.” She hoped the half-lie would suffice, would explain her impertinence.

A finger grazed her chin, and the High Consul pulled her gaze up to meet his.

“I thought I had offended you in some way.”

Vita took a gulp of air as he studied her face, pausing on the scar once more. He ran a thumb across it, sending an icy shiver down her spine despite the humid night air.

“Now, what are we going to do about the Praetor?” Though his voice was calm, she could sense the threat behind his words as he mused.

“High Consul?” Vita’s brows furrowed in confusion, mouth clenched in a tight line.

The full moon illuminated his pale skin so that it glowed with an ethereal beauty.

Time stood still as he held her, just as it had before, fireflies flitting about their heads like twinkling stars. The hum of crickets thrummed all around them, rose scented air breezing against their faces.

His eyes were glowing as he pulled her against his chest and Vita’s heart was beating fast, certain he was going to kiss her this time.

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