Page 46 of Beholden
When I was only steps away, Gabriella glanced up, saying something to her partner but then halting as she caught sight of me. Her beautiful blue eyes widened and filled with both wonder and surprise.
Her lips rounded as if to question my presence there, but I quickly cut her off. “May I have this next dance, my lady?” I couldn’t chance her questioning me about the mine pits and how I happened to escape.
I wasn’t yet sure if news of the revolt had reached the capital city. But it would erelong, if it hadn’t already. When the word spread, I had no wish for anyone to implicate me—at least, not until I had the chance to save Gabriella and kill Grendel.
Before Gabriella could accept my offer, I reached for her hand, clasped it with mine, and then fitted my other hand at her waist. As if on cue, the music began again, and I moved in the steps of the dance. Though I liked the lively traditional dancing of Scania better, Mother had introduced the more elegant dances of the Great Isle into court, giving me no choice but to learn them.
Now as I led Gabriella, I was thankful to my mother for imparting her customs that allowed me to fit in to the gathering.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered, staring up at me, still wide-eyed. “How did you get away—?”
I quickly bent in and brushed my lips across hers, hoping to muffle her words from anyone dancing near us. I hadn’t planned on kissing her, hadn’t even thought about what I was doing until my lips meshed with hers.
She responded immediately, almost eagerly. And though everything within me longed to press in and keep on kissing her, I broke away and shifted my mouth to her ear. For several heartbeats, I couldn’t speak, too overcome by her nearness. Finally, I managed a whisper. “Don’t say anything about the mine.”
She nodded imperceptibly.
As I pulled back again to a proper distance, I glanced around to see who might have observed our interaction. The queen, still standing on the balcony above the dance floor, seemed occupied in conversing with two men with tonsured hair rings and long brown habits. I guessed they were monks, perhaps the priests who helped the queen decide which of the maidens would best meet the qualification for her alchemy ingredient?
When I returned my attention to Gabriella, I caught her gazing up at me—at my mouth—with such longing I had to close my eyes and fight the urge to kiss her again, this time thoroughly.
I took a deep breath. I wasn’t here to indulge my passions. I’d come to save her life, and that meant I couldn’t afford to make a single mistake.
“I cannot believe you are here,” she whispered. “I feel as though I am in a dream, and I have no wish to wake up from it.”
I opened my eyes to find she was smiling a small, gentle smile. Up close, I could see that her skin was perfect, her features flawless, and her hair gleaming. Yes, she’d been pretty, even in her ragged condition in the mines. But here, now, she was a vision of radiance. This was the way she was meant to be, the way she ought to be from this day forward.
“You look too good to be true.” This time she examined me more openly.
“Ty did his best to make me presentable.”
“He made you incredibly handsome.” The moment the words left her lips, she blushed, and her lashes fell, hiding her eyes.
“It was no easy task.” I tried to keep my tone light to put her at ease.
“’Twas likely no trouble, since you are already so good-looking.” Her cheeks flamed brighter. “I love your eyes most of all.”
As our gazes collided, I wanted to revel in her praise, but I suspected her tongue was loose because she believed her end was near. The imminence of death oft had a way of breaking down reserves and making one say things otherwise hidden.
“Now that you are here, I shall dance with no other.” She slid her free hand over my heart and held it there.
Something in the depths of her eyes told me she cared as deeply about me as I did her. Dare I express myself? What did I have to lose? If her tongue could be so loosened, then why not allow mine to be just as loose? “I want no one else but you, Gabriella.”
Her long lashes fanned up, making her even more beautiful. “And I want no one but you.”
I didn’t care if she’d responded in kind because she didn’t believe we would have any tomorrows left. Regardless, I let her words flow through me, sparking a new plan and giving me the fortitude to do what I knew I must. Though I might not be able to find a way to take her out of the castle, I might be able to stand in her place and sacrifice myself in her stead.
Chapter
16
Gabriella
Vilmar was here,and he wanted me. I tried not to think about how his impassioned words could lead nowhere and that we had no future. Instead I focused on tonight, these dances, this closeness. I would cherish every single second together until the end.
I didn’t care that I was staring at him and memorizing each of his ruggedly handsome features. I didn’t care that I’d gushed over him and revealed how much I adored him. I simply wanted to stay in the circle of his arms, with my hand resting against his heart, feeling his strong and steady lifeblood and letting it lend me his strength.
Yes, I was curious how he’d escaped the mine. Somehow he must have been able to arrange an early release. Had he come here specifically to see me? Had he figured out my plans?
