Page 43 of Lord of Dance and Desire

Andrei canted his head, his smile winsome.

Yup. He’d murdered Xavi. And the luudthen had definitely destroyed the body.

Mathen came forward. “You'll do very well tonight, Anali.”

We walked out of the house toward the coach. Philea, also in an evening gown, fell in step. She was plainclothes security tonight and would mingle with the crowd.

I darted her little looks, because if I'd never noticed it before, she was stunning. It was a quiet beauty, easily overlooked when she spent most of her time in armor with a forbidding expression on her face. There was something about how she gleamed that now made me wonder if all along she'd been wearing a dampening glamour.

“Your eyes are going to fall out of your head,” she said without looking at me.

“As well they should,” I muttered. “I’m glad I’m not the jealous or competitive type.”

“Oh, you are,” was the cheerful, ruthless reply, “you just channel it all into ballet. Praise the Darkness.”

I stewed in my nerves while traveling to the theater, fidgeting so badly Andrei dragged me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me in an attempt to get me to be still. It was probably just an excuse to drag me into his lap, though.

It wasn't until the coach—and this coach wasn't the everyday, slightly scuffy blend into the traffic coach—pulled up to the venue that my nerves faded away.

Showtime, the inner succubus whispered, and took over as she usually did when the spotlights came out.

After the gauntlet of the grand foyer and milling crowd of rich and influential Cassanians, I left Andrei and his luudthen and escaped to the dressing room to change into my costume and apply my stage makeup.

I was applying finishing touches when the sole remaining Ninephene dancer among us spoke up.

“Hasannah, come help me with my makeup,” Coralene said. “Somewhere quiet. I'm already getting a headache from all the chatter. Bring your bag.”

“All right.” I rose from my dressing table and joined her as she led me to a darkened corner of the room stacked with used vanities and chairs.

“It's almost impossible to get you away from your hellhounds,” she murmured, handing me a pink makeup pouch and taking mine. “There's a datagem in the makeup bag. We'll switch. Do my lashes.” Her expression was indifferent as I coated her lashes with the black cosmetic.

“Find somewhere private and memorize the information, then speak the keyword ‘delete file’ and it will go dark. It’s a relay of people contracted to smuggle you out of Casakraine should the need arise. There are supply caches arranged in case you have to go underground but can’t get out of the city right away.”

“Thank you.”

“Memorize everything, Han, the sooner the better. I won't record the information a second time. This is already a risk. Does your Lord search your belongings?”

“Not my makeup or dance bag. He's on a nail polish expansion kick this week and hasn’t been able to decide on the exact right palette of neutrals that will take me from rehearsal to evening.”

I knew this because he’d discussed it with me, at length, in his cultured High Court voice. Meaning I’d sat on the bed and drifted as he talked and painted my nails with various samples. I had the sneaking suspicion he was having a collection customized for me. I guessed it would keep him out ofsometrouble—like murdering more of my rivals.

“Good,” Cora said. “I crafted it to mimic a low-grade music crystal, and it's keyed to you so even if he does go through the pouch, unless he's checking for malfeasance, he should ignore it.”

I blinked. “How did you key a gem to me? Doesn’t that require DNA?”

“You shed a lot of hair when it's not in a bun. You might want to consider that for the future.”

“I definitely will. Thank you again.”

She took the mascara wand and put it in my makeup bag; they were the same. Pink and nondescript, slightly scuffed and coated with years of makeup dust.

“Remember, if he catches you, you will die. So don’t run unless staying would also mean death.”

“I hope I never have to use it.”

Coralene paused and looked at me. “And Han, these arrangements do not account for a child. Do you understand?”

I recoiled. “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on having children any time soon.”

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