Page 56 of Caged By Dance and Desire

I expected him to walk past but when he stopped and pivoted to face me only one arm-length away, I still wasn't alarmed.

He returned my stare, his curious.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I’d be pleased to accept aid.” He looked down the street to either side of me then glanced over my shoulder, lifting his hands out of his pockets. “Is this the Sahakian Center for the Arts?”

I didn't point out the visible, well lit sign on the building. “It is. You’re very observant.”

He smiled, expression relaxing, still maintaining a casual but thorough scan of our surroundings. “Excellent. And you’re Lady Hasannah.”

Something was wrong.

Andrei!

Chapter

Sixteen

He wasn't one of Andrei’s; the High Lord had introduced me to each of his guards over the last several days and made me memorize faces and names, voices and the cadence of their individual gaits.

He’d begun to work with me on how to recognize them by scent, touch, and breath in case there was ever a situation in which they had to alert me to their presence without noise.

I’d thought it was a little paranoid, but Lords were like that.

I knew I must look startled, but tried to morph it into confusion without giving away alarm.

“You have the wrong person.”

Andrei, I think I’m in trouble.

His smile didn't change. “That's unfortunate. Because that would make you a thief as well as a skin changer.” His gaze skimmed my face and dress to make his point.

Where are you?he asked. Emotionless.

What should I do? I couldn’t think of any reason why a strange Cassanian would walk up to me—and how had he known where I was, and why?—and recognize me by name and face. No good reason.

I couldn’t outrun him. The moment I moved, if he was up to no good, he’d be on me.

Stall. And lie.

Sahakian Arts.

“I’m sorry, but if there’s nothing I can help you with then we can go inside. My boyfriend is grabbing my bag, he’ll be out soon and I’m sure he can help? And if not, his friends are with us too.”

He shook his head, raising an arm.

Time was up.

I blasted everything I knew through the fragile bond I didn’t understand except to know it was real.

What do I do?

The man touched my cheek and my body froze, my mind blanking.

Hasannah!

I tried to form the words in my mind, but it was as if a white filmy layer separated me from the physical world and my mind as well.

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