Page 39 of A Waltz with Lord Death
His usual slim black clothing flattered his figure far more than the loose-fitting styles today.
“I must say I prefer you in your outdated garb. Seeing as you are from another time altogether, I think it suits you much better.”
He chuckled before soundlessly holding out his hands to offer a dance. “Allow me to teach you a dance called the waltz. Betha said it would be invented five hundred years from now.”
Her heart trilled like a harp string reverberating within her soul. She followed his lead by stepping close to him and placing one hand on his shoulder, the other hand in his hand. Tingles raced up her spine at his touch, and her heart refused to cease its frantic flight against her ribcage as he elegantly spun her about the room in this foreign yet intimate dance. Despite how close she danced to him, neither of them cared about anyone else in the room and what they thought of it. Dark gray eyes captivated her in their hold, as if he gazed through her heart to her very soul.
The room disappeared, the music and laughter and bodies slowly melting away as she gazed into his eyes. It was as if she felt his soul too, burning hot and bright and coursing through her bloodstream. A flicker of his power touched her, caressed her, teased her.
The magic between them broke when she spoke, the entire room crashing back into focus. “I was worried about you. I didn’t think I would see you here tonight.”
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dance with the loveliest woman in the room.” He gripped her hand tighter, the contact sending a flutter of butterflies loose in her stomach. “Besides, a beautiful lady deserves to be romanced.”
She laughed. “I thought romance wasn’t your strong suit.”
With a grimace, he leaned a little closer and furtively motioned with his head to the decaying refreshment table. Servants were quickly trying to replace the rotting sweets before someone noticed. She covered her mouth with her hand to try to disguise her amusement.
“It’s not,” he answered. “I miss the days when I didn’t destroy everything I touched. As much as I am enjoying this dance, I am worried I might accidentally bump into someone. There’s no quicker way to ruin someone’s night than to fall over dead.”
For the first time, she noticed how carefully he maneuvered them around the dance floor. They remained close to the outer shell of the twirling skirts, never once venturing toward the middle.
Curiosity led her gaze back to his. “Where did you learn how to dance?”
His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he whisked her out of the way of a woman who tripped on her partner’s toes. “Betha taught me this dance. But when you’ve been immortal for as long as I have, sometimes you long for a little more excitement in the mundane every day. Barret and I would mingle with mortals, acting as if we belonged. Women flocked to him as if they were elated by his power.” He chuckled as if recalling an amusing memory.
“I learned pretty quickly when I had nothing to do but dance with the remaining ladies not enthralled by my friend.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I apologize. I forget he is your father. I suppose you do not want to hear about all of his romantic pursuits.”
Meira pursed her lips and stared at their feet moving together in sync to the music. “How many…” She bit her lip and slowly lifted her gaze. “How many romantic pursuits have you had?”
His grip on her tightened for a moment as he swooshed past another couple to avoid stepping onto their path. “Jesmond. Millie. Joanna. You. Jesmond almost killed me. She was the chief’s daughter, if you remember, when I had been mortal. I killed Millie and Joanna. Though it was not on purpose. Nothing ever happened after the first kiss except me awkwardly and tearfully escorting them across the bridge to the afterlife. I stopped my romantic pursuits when I realized they would always be fruitless. Until I met you.”
Within his arms, she couldn’t stop her heart from beating erratically. She had not realized the extent of his heartache and loneliness. It was any wonder he hadn’t jumped on the offer Betha had made him earlier. Yet, he had taken a chance on her.
“Do you think our time together will be fruitful?” she whispered, her voice both hoarse and she didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing their conversation.
“That depends.” He paused to search her eyes. “You said you would give me your answer tonight.”
“I will. But let us enjoy this moment first.”
They continued their dance in silence, at least until curiosity prodded at her side and she could not stop herself from asking, “And what about Millie and Joanna? Did you see their timelines but still choose to kiss them anyway?”
His reply came in the form of a long, drawn-out sigh. “I did not always pay attention to death dates when I should have. Now, I always pay attention.” As if he wanted to change the subject, he looked her over and commented. “Your dress is very beautiful.”
“It was a gift from the king. Do you like it?”
His eyes hardened, and a brief flicker of darkness passed across his features as he turned his head to glare at King Armand where he danced with a lady of the court. “A gift? A man doesn’t just gift something like this to a woman without a reason.”
She laughed and ran a hand down the length of his arm. “Are you jealous, Death?”
“Very. You should stay away from him.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Worry and aggravation mingled in his expression as he stared earnestly back at her. “There is a reason my hounds keep sniffing at his feet. They smell death just around the corner. The king has been infected with the plague for five days already, yet he still shows no symptoms. He will die in a week from today. Meira, youmustleave the city. You are in danger of not only the plague, but of the king’s wrath.”
Words fled her mind as she met his gaze. Her heart picked up its rhythm, this time from fear. “Death, do I have the plague?”
“No.”
