Page 30 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
Leilani’s dress floated around her as she moved gracefully with her chosen partner, who was red in the face and probably half in love with her by now. Freesia wasn’t doing much better, trying, and failing, not to stare at the king as they danced together. My steps became less stilted as I relaxed into Zion’s left hand around my waist, his right fingers entwined with mine.
This was … fun.
“Faster!” cried Leilani, and the musicians complied. The steps were pretty basic, which was absolutely necessary as the speed increased. I gave a small yelp but held onto Zion for dear life as we jumped and stepped forward, back, only to do it all over again. A grin split my face as Zion skipped the jump and picked me up instead, twirling me around in the air and sending my skirts whirling around me like I was a true princess. The diamonds scattered the light and bathed everyone nearby in its reflection. I laughed with the sheer joy of it all, never in my life having taken part in something so frivolous.
I gave Zion’s hand a squeeze, suddenly thankful for the opportunity to be here. He grinned at me, then pulled me close against his chest, stopping our movements. The other dancers continued to move around as if we were the center of the universe. My breath caught as those silver eyes tinged with green caught mine.
Time slowed.
He leaned forward, his lips inches from mine.
“Stop!”
I crashed into Zion as I leaned forward and he didn’t, my nose colliding hard with his chest. He caught me with one hand and pushed me back on my feet, his gaze angry and fixed toward the queen. I didn’t need to look to imagine the angry expression on her face. I should have known anything that made me happy would make her furious. Especially when it involved her son.
“You keep getting me in trouble,” I muttered.
His face pinched. “She has overstepped her boundaries. I am supposed to be running these trials, not her.”
I snorted uncharitably, remembering the cruel and invasive ‘exam’ I had barely escaped from. “Then why don’t you? Unless you find her cruelty amusing?”
He leveled a glare at me, equal to his mother’s. “I must obey her.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask why, but I didn’t get the chance.
“Everyone will cease these foolish antics. I want to see Freesia perform,” the queen ordered, sitting down imperiously on her throne. The king kissed Freesia’s hand and gave it a pat, urging her forward. The rest of the nobles and girls drifted back to their spots like mice scattering when the pantry door opened.
“I am supposed to be running the games,” Zion angrily repeated as we parted.
I whipped my head back toward him. “Then run them,” I grumbled quietly before taking my seat on the steps. Leilani reluctantly bid goodbye to her dance partner, and the nobles gathered back on their side of the hall. Leilani’s face was flushed, but oddly pleased as she sat down on the end of the line. She’d performed well.
Freesia stayed in the center, still looking a bit rattled after dancing with the king. Oddly, the queen didn’t seem angry at her forthat.
Whatever.
She opened her mouth and with no kind of accompaniment sang.
ChapterTen
My mouth dropped open. Heather’s voice had been pleasant to hear, but she had absolutely nothing on Freesia. Her voice was simply … otherworldly. She reached notes I didn’t think were possible and all with a tone and sound so pure it didn’t seem real. She didn’t even sing words, but just let her voice soar up and down. The king stared along with most of the court, while the queen leaned back in her throne, smirking as she rapped her red nails on the edge of her arm rest.
Zion’s attention was rapt on Freesia as well.
I didn’t enjoy the music as much after that.
Why bother going through with all of this nonsense if the queen already knew who she wanted? Was Zion content to let his mother pick his wife for him? He could insist he was in charge all he wanted, but everyone knew who really held the strings.
My heart ached at how useless it all was. We’d had custom outfits made for this event, and the nobles stood in their finest. There was a mountain of food spread around the edges of the hall that no one touched. It would have been enough to feed everyone in the mud quarter for a week.
The waste made me sick.
Focus on your task; get close to the prince, find out the truth about the dragon and kill it.
My nerves settled, and the nausea faded. I could do this. I had to do this. Otherwise, I was just Marigold Mudthrice, another dirty girl born on the third street of the mud quarter.
After what seemed an eternity, the last note from Freesia’s vocal cords hovered in the air for a moment, her eyes closed as the sound dissolved into silence.
I jerked as thunderous applause erupted, first from the queen, then the king, Zion, and the rest of the nobles that were gathered. Numbly, I brought my hands together as the other girls cheered as well. Freesia may be a frigid bitch, but that bitch could sing.
