Page 37 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“Some of the Cassanians are eyeing us like prime rib,” Samuel whispered.

Perhaps the High Lord had a legitimate reason for concern other than his fussiness.

“They know why we’re here,” I said, a little worried for my friends.

“A few seem like genuine ballet fans,” Taima said, sounding too dubious to believe her own words.

Samuel sniffed. “Most of them are bored, wealthy, powerful, and want their pick of human toys to play with.” He grinned. “Lucky for them, I’m pretty and willing and plan on making a name for myself.”

“Don’t let them think you’re desperate,” Cora said, voice pitched low. “Think of this ballroom as quicksand, and they’re the predators waiting for you to take the first wrong step.”

Not for the first time, I questioned the dark side of this program.

What choices would I have had if I'd come here alone tonight, still near starving and clinging to hope? I might not like admitting that Andrei had saved me—but in a way, he had. I wouldn't have to accept a shady offer for the sake of survival anymore.

“This wouldn’t be an issue if the Cassanians paid their dancers and athletes salaries rather than selling them to patrons,” I said. “It’s a weird system.”

Coralene shrugged. “The patrons finance you, you dance for the company, the company rakes in money and pays dividends to the patrons. . .it works.”

“It’s convoluted.” I lifted a hand. “Wait, I got this one. Salaries are boring. Why pay people when you can make a chess game out of it instead?”

Cora sipped her wine, and smiled.

There was an informal buffet rather than a sit down dinner. Samuel and I made a point of wandering with overflowing plateslooking happy and enthusiastically well-fed before we ditched them.

A handsome Fae man with a lazy smile sidled up and claimed Samuel for a partnered dance, but I must have had that keep away sign on me Constin had referenced—or it was the dress.

I was good with that.

I sipped on a glass of fruit infused water until the music changed to a selection of modern orchestral Cassanian dance club hits.

Then I hit the dance floor.

Samuel passed by with his partner, throwing a wink in my direction that said he planned to ignore all good advice as they headed out of the ballroom.

I smiled, and let the music take me. At a pause, Coralene tossed me the slippers I'd set aside and the crowd stepped back.

“Dance of the Night Blooming Flower,” she said. “The abbreviated version.”

I narrowed my eyes as she gave me a sly smile. The abbreviated version was more challenging and also included a series of leaps and turns technically only possible if you were Fae, with an affinity.

Little did she know, her people were full of manure. I'd become competent in the abbreviated version so I’d have showcase options.

I'd planned on keeping my cards close to my chest, but the showcase was coming up. I could give them an early taste.

We danced, and when it came time for the affinity powered leaps where Coralene would rightfully expect me to demur to the human version. . .

I leaped, pulling on the satin in my blood that rose whenever I called it.

Not full strength, but enough to meet her at just a hair beneath her own innate skill.

The final note faded and we came to a standstill, hands arched in the air.

Chapter

Twelve

“You've been keeping secrets, mortal,” Cora said in my ear. “I don't like secrets or surprises, they turn my luck. I'll return the favor.”

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