Page 59 of The Ballad of a Bard

“It’s true, you do.” He admitted as his fingers crept along her arm. He guided her through the dance, and she would have looked like a complete fool if he hadn’t. She didn’t know any of the steps, and had no reason to. There were no balls in the Bronze Gate.

“So there. It’s settled. I look marvellous in red, and there was nothing else. Let’s leave it at that.” Crimson stomped on his foot, entirely on purpose and hard as she could.

He hissed and dropped her wrists, letting her flee before he could assault her with any more questions. Her skirts were longer than she’d ever been used to, and as she gathered them in her hands, a second male whisked her into the crowd.

Moonlight on water and stardust filled her senses.

“West!” She gasped as he ushered her away from the dance floor, towards the back of the room. “Thank the Saints.”

“I do like it when you thank me.” He was flabbergasted, unable to conjure up anything to say. But then a muscle in his jaw twitched and he opened his mouth. “I can’t deny that you look stunning, Heartstrings. But perhaps something a littlemoreobvious?”

Her lungs fainted, or at least that’s what it seemed like as he gazed upon her with those stunning eyes. Her heart pinched her, grew wings and flew away.

“Not too shabby yourself.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “And blame Osira. She’s the one who dressed me like a porcelain doll. Insisted, truly.”

“Oh, I do blame her.Fully.”He let out an amused sound that turned his lips upwards. “But she does a wonderful job of taking already stunning things, and only adding to them.”

“You think I’m stunning?” Crimson refrained from biting her lip. The red paint there would smear on her teeth if she did.

“Of course. Anyone would.” West swallowed, turning his head away from her. “Especially in that gown.”

Her hand found his, lacing in between his fingers.

He looked down at it, startled.

“People are looking.” Crimson whispered.

But that wasn’t the reason she held his hand, not even close.

“So they are.” West tightened his grasp on her hand, letting all see. “Then I suppose we should continue this charade.”

A sizzle crackled inside of her, licking her veins, winding around her bones and making her heart feel as though it would burst. Crimson giggled, going one step further. They were in public after all, she would need to sell the thought of them as a couple.

But she couldn’t deny, that this next part was mostly for herself. She rose up on her toes, and kissed his cheek.

Twenty Four

She was still trying to calm her racing heart after lifting herself on her toes and gifting West the kiss, even if it was nothing more than a chaste one on his cheek. But with the pulsing music that pulled her in deep, it was hard to ignore the temptation to make it more. To urge him upstairs and leave the party behind as they danced together, in another way.

There was so much to look at with the glistening chandelier with a hundred candles, the ocean theme that was echoed in everything that Muse spent weeks planning and the costumes that the folk wore graciously. And yet, there was only one thing that she focused on, one thing that shealwaysfocused on.

Crimson blamed it on the sole fact that he was a Saint, and nothing else. He was as dazzling as a radiant star, as alluring as a complete moon and as beautiful as the creeping shadows that created the midnight sky.

He might hate the glinting shade of gold- clear by the scowl hidden in his eyes that only those who truly knew him could see- but it only added to his glorious essence.

And it seemed as though Osira could sense her turmoiled thoughts.

Because the beautiful woman-Saint, floated over to her in an air of elegance. A chalice of white wine was in her hand and half drained, studded with sapphires.

“He’s always detested the shade.” She laughed softly, the chime of bells sounding within it as West plucked a loose strand off his collar, flicking it aside with a grimace. “Even if it suits him well.”

Crimson took another look before responding. “Blue suits him better, but the gold makes him glow.”

People danced around them whilst others looked for food and drinks. A few snuck off into secret alcoves and others giggled with their friends as the ball progressed. There was music and light and yet she couldn’t take her focus off of the captain who scurried off for a moment with Rook to discuss security. He hadn’t uttered a word to her after she’d kissed him, his face turning nearly the shade of her hair, which she enjoyed immensely.

“I’ve always adored him in blue.” Osira sighed, as if lost in a daydream. But Dream was over by the punch bowl, polking Imp in the side as they tried to swat her off like a cat. “I know that Imp always likes to joke about how West’s name never suits him, nor how his powers match how he looks but I think he’s rather fetching.”

“I agree. He’s probably the most attractive man I’ve ever seen.” Crimson said before she could stop herself. She clapped her hand over her mouth, biting her tongue before anything else could slip out.

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