Page 22 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“He told me you’d say that,” Lego—Constin said. “Do you want me to tell you what he said in response?”

“No. Because he’s not theeffingboss of me.” Neither of us had to specify the he, of course.

Constin laughed. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun. You’re the trouble that boy deserves.”

Mathen slid in the chair next to me and smiled. “A little, Lady? And how about a salad to go with it? I can mix an olive oil and vinegar dressing.”

I gave him a sideways look. “That sounds nice. Thank you.”

“So she can cooperate,” Constin muttered. “Shock me dead.”

“Or you could let me leave,” I muttered back.

He slammed a sauce pot on the stove.

“Why are you so agitated?” Mathen asked him. “We didn’t expect her to go along with this easily. There’s no cause for your temper.”

Constin stilled, and I heard him take a deep breath and release it. “You’re right.” He turned halfway to glance at me. “My apologies. We’re all a bit off balance right now. Andrei is at Court without me, and I don’t like that either.”

“Why aren’t you with him then, Constin?” I asked, ignoring the word Court.

“Well, Hasannah, because I’m babysi?—”

“It is our Lord’s will,” Mathen said. He rose. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

“I don’t drink,” I said. Paused. “Yes, please. Thank you. You know what, maybe bring the bottle?”

We ate, Mathen keeping Constin and I from each other’s throats, though I kept my hostility confined to polite passive aggressiveness. I wasn’t actually trying to provoke a fight. I’d lose, since walking away wasn’t an option. For now, I had to bide my time.

“When will he be home?” I asked for the fifth time, glancing towards the hallway. We’d moved to the living room where they watched me pace.

No response. I was learning they wouldn’t answer the same question more than twice.

“I have rehearsal in the morning,” I said, my agitation growing. “Am I going to be confined then too? What if he doesn’t come back tonight?”

“I will escort you to the Arts building,” Mathen said. “I promise you aren’t a prisoner, Lady. Why don’t you try to sleep? You rose early.”

“I don’t want to sleep.”

This wasn’t in my plan. Attracting the notice of a High Lord, agreeing to a. . .whatever this was devolving into, getting kidnapped. If he could get away with this, what else could he get away with?

I turned back to Mathen, widening my eyes with a plea. “Mathen, please?—”

Constin turned toward me slowly, eyes silver steel. He’d been staring out at the courtyard, arms folded. “Lady Hasannah. Begging is pointless and beneath the dignity of a High Court consort. Andrei is our Lord, and we will not disobey him.”

Ugly anger rose in me. “If he told you to—to chop off my feet, would you do that too?”

“Yes.”

I reared back. He continued watching me, and some of the flatness in his eyes softened. “This is not Earth realm. This is?—”

“I know where I am.” A sharp quality in the air warned me he was reaching the end of his tolerance. Ihadbeen curt, and they were only doing their job. I lowered my head. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t your fault. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

A moment of silence. Mathen said, “It’s difficult for you, Lady. Don’t trouble yourself.”

I nodded, not looking at them. “Can I go outside? In the courtyard?” I couldn’t sleep, so I’d do the next best thing, dance.

“Yes,” Mathen said.

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