Page 32 of A Dance of Shadows

They’re looking after me the ways they still can, even this far from familiar territory.

For the better part of an hour, I lean back, soaking up the sun and the spectacular views from the deck. It’s possible I doze a little, lulled by the mix of summer warmth and refreshing sea breeze.

Then Lady Cristal glances over at Lady Jazmina across me. “We should see to that luncheon the servants were supposed topack. I think there are still some preparations before it’s fit for an empress.”

They get up and head toward the low protrusion of the cabin in the middle of the deck. As they disappear down the stairs into the room below, Lorenzo must be able to release the illusion he’s cast over them.

He relaxes into his own seat even more, taking a couple of minutes to recover. Then his illusionary voice, soft but resonant as always, slides into my head.

“You go on below with them. I’ll make sure your guards think you’re still here.”

I restrain my head from ticking toward him with surprise and move my hand where our observers won’t see my signs:Are you sure?

“We can’t pull this off without me focusing on my gift. This was always the plan. I’ll be happy just knowing they’re taking care of you the way you deserve.”

A faint flush crosses my cheeks at the thought of what that “taking care of” will likely entail. I curve my fingers through one more sign.I love you.

Lorenzo doesn’t look directly at me, but his lips curve into a brighter smile. He returns the hand signal.I love you.Now go.

I ease off the seat tentatively, my mind not quite accepting that the guards won’t notice. But as I walk toward the cabin stairs, one continues gazing over the water while the other’s watchful stare scans the deck, passing over my real form as if I’m invisible.

I suppose to her eyes, I am. An illusion of my lounging body remains on my seat—that’s all she can see.

The small door at the bottom of the steps opens as I reach it. Bastien, looking only like himself now, beckons me inside.

I duck through into a small but tidy room, the ceiling so low Raul could bang his head on the hanging lantern. A bench thatmust also serve as a bed is built into one wall, a table and seating at the other, a cabinet at the back. A tart woody scent permeates the air.

Then Raul tugs me into an embrace, and all my senses are flooded withhim.

“How have you been?” he asks, his voice gruff with emotion. “With Marclinus dragging you all over and rocks falling at your head—if I find out someone sent that boulder tumbling toward you on purpose?—”

His words cut off with a strangled growl. I can’t imagine how much it pained him watching me come so close to harm and having to put on a disaffected front yet again.

I grip him in return, leaning into his massive frame and reveling in how solid he feels despite the rocking of the boat in the waves. “I’m all right. We already knew getting through the tour was going to be hard. My guards will be even more vigilant now…”

Bastien slips his hand around my waist from behind. “Which doesn’t work in our favor in some ways.” He kisses the side of my neck. “I know we can’t risk staying down here for very long… but Marclinus can’t keep us completely apart. We’ll always find a way to be here for you.”

The determination in his voice lights a heady glow in my chest. I turn in Raul’s arms and touch Bastien’s jaw to draw him into a proper kiss.

As our mouths meld together with heated passion, Raul strokes his fingers down my sides. His voice drops low with promise. “You belong with us, and we belong to you. No matter what that prick does.”

The glow expands, melting away an ache I’d barely noticed anymore, it’d become so constant.

I can keep going; I can handle whatever this journey throws at me. Because I’m not alone.

I turn between the two men again, pushing up on my toes to kiss Raul and then grasping the fronts of their shirts. “I love you.”

Raul makes a rough sound and skims his fingers along the base of my upswept hair. “We can’t mess you up, but we can still see that you’re properly loved in return.”

A gleam lights in his pale blue eyes. He catches Bastien’s gaze. “Let’s show her just how well we can hold her up.”

An avid grin crosses Bastien’s face in answer. His domineering tone comes out. “Get on with it then. Let’s see you put those shadow powers to good use.”

Raul reaches into the darkness between us, and all at once my feet are rising from the ground. He’s firming the shadows beneath and around my feet, shaping them into a surface that lifts me until we’re at eye level.

He’s raised Bastien a little as well so the shorter man isn’t left behind. Mischief flickers in his gaze. “I figured you could use a boost too.”

Bastien rolls his eyes. “Of course you did. But she’s hardly ready yet.”

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