Page 26 of Caged By Dance and Desire

I was pretty certain they had their own wing but were being discreet because they understood you had to ease the human into this life one surprise at a time.

Though walking in on a shirtless Constin in the kitchen making breakfast while Andrei played with his blond braid and conversed quietly more or less had that cat out of the bag. Constin was too comfy for a man just spending the night a few times a week.

No, he lived here, and they expected me to fuss about it so employed one of Andrei’s strategies—waiting on me to bring up the subject.

Andrei might just be my match in strategic avoidance, though I wielded mine with a broader brush and he used fine bristles.

“What do you think of your chances?” Coralene murmured in my ear. “Feeling lucky?”

I glanced at her, wary of her narrowed eyes. Only a sliver of the icy blue showed, the expression on her face indifferent. A little too indifferent.

“Good enough,” I said. “I don't need a favor, Coralene.”

She shrugged a shoulder and flashed a half grin. “You're already in my debt anyway.”

“For what? Oh, never mind.” She’d offered information regarding Lord Andreien and Lord Ethaline. Information which had been more useful to me than she’d realized. “I didn't agree to the favor beforehand.”

“You didn't deny it either,” she said. “A lack of immediate denial denotes acceptance.”

I blinked at her. “That wasn't in?—”

“What have I told you—” she rolled her eyes “—about the quality of that orientation?” She flicked her fingers. “Don't worry. It's a very small debt you owe me. I may just hold it for now and stack it. You’ll come to me for a real favor eventually. They always do.”

I shook my head, wondering if she was pulling one over on me, and returned my attention to Vargas when she began to call out names.

Coralene. . .of course. . .Taima, Samuel, six other names and then finally, Hasannah.

I couldn't contain my grin. Taima was squealing and Samuel, standing closest to me, grabbed me in a do-si-do, of all things.

“Are we done?” Mistress asked, a sour note in her voice. But her lips twitched. “Dismissed.”

I skipped my solo session because I needed to rush home. . .well, to Andrei’s home. . .and prepare. Not that there was much to ready since the outfit I'd brought from the human realm with me was black, and simple. I’d decided on the classic cocktail dress hoping the timeless style would disguise the fact that it was from Marshalls.

“Lady,” Mathen said, stepping smoothly to my side as I entered the hallway. I didn’t know where he skulked while I was in classes and rehearsals, but whenever I emerged he was there.

His presence didn’t go completely unnoticed—Coralene emerged from the rehearsal room and gave me a long, considering look after a hard glance at Mathen’s green-and-gold leather armor.

She grabbed my arm. “Why,” she began after hustling me into the nearest solo practice room, “are you attended by a high-ranking House?—”

I plugged my ears. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Coralene yanked my fingers out of my ears, the grip on my wrists unbreakable, her glacial eyes boring into my face.

“Ignoring the problem willnotmake it go away. The exact opposite in fact, with less manageable results, you unlucky mortal.”

“Just let me pretend for a little while longer.”

“I’d feel sorry for you, but that would require I care.” She cared, or she wouldn’t bother. She just didn’t like to admit it. “Shall I offer you a word of advice in spite of my better nature?”

I opened my mouth.

“For free,” she said, cutting my denial off. “You’ll take the advice whether you want to or not, because I don’t believe you’re a deliberate fool—you seem to stumble into it honestly.”

Coralene released my wrists.

I’d have bruises.

“Good. I like that about you, Hasannah. You know when to shut up and listen. Don’t ever make the mistake of caring for your guard. Our history is littered with how that particular turn of events goes spectacularly wrong. There’s one feasible reason I can think of that you’re attended in this fashion byhim, and it’s because you ran afoul of the only useful piece of advice they gave you in orientation.”

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