Page 72 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
I sighed, tired of it all. “Fine. Just—”
Her shoulders fell with relief. “Oh, thank goodness! I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Berthold. He was just dying to meet you!”
My jaw dropped as Freesia produced a man so quickly at her side it was as if he’d appeared from midair. He was tall and handsome and with blond hair that was more golden yellow opposed to Freesia’s white locks. His eyes were blue and watery, his smile strained, but I couldn’t find any other faults with him.
“Uh … husband, you said? When—”
“Last night,” Freesia interrupted, locking arms with him and giving him a small smile. “He just couldn’t wait to have me, he said.”
I’ll bet,I thought viciously. Freesia was the queen’s favored and likely the most sought after girl. This man no doubt wanted to stake his claim before anyone else could. Smart. Ambitious. I’d have to monitor him.
“Nice to meet you,” I managed, giving a slight nod of my head. I turned and shuffled away on my death-trap shoes as quickly as I could without seeming rude. A small crowd was gathering, eyeing me hungrily. My throat closed up and my mouth went dry.
“There you are. You thought you would sneak away before dancing with me?”
My savior grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him. I took in the blue sash across his jacket with its gold embellishments, finally landing on the ornate crown on his head, noticeably smaller than his mother’s.
“If you value your feet, you’ll reconsider,” I warned Zion, pointing at my heeled shoes.
As if anyone from the mud quarter had ever learned how to do anything as frivolous as dance.
“It’s easy,” Zion assured me, every inch the pompous prince today. The crowd shrunk away, giving us room. I could breathe again.
“Thanks,” I muttered reluctantly.
“When I step, do the opposite. So if I step forward like this,” he paused and put one leg in between mine, “you do … that. Wonderful.”
I brought my leg back to match his, stepping behind me.
“Just do that … over and over again. You’re naturally coordinated.”
I let the compliment roll over my back, trying to relax into the moves. It was like fighting: don’t think too much, just go with it and move.
Except everyone was watching me—no, waiting for me to fail. I forgot to step with Zion and stepped on his toe. He grit his teeth in pain, his grip on my hand crushingly tight.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
He shook his head, smiling the next moment. It was odd how he was so calm and collected when playing the perfect prince, but out of control with his dragon and emotions in private. Zariah was his exact opposite—wild and spontaneous in person, but in control with his dragon.
They’d both drive me insane.
Zion jerked me to the side unexpectedly, and I tripped over him, nearly falling on my face. I couldn’t dance. I wouldn’t embarrass him or myself like this. I’d rather face the hordes of people.
“I-I need a drink,” I begged him, letting go and running (well, hobbling) through the crowd. People pressed in around Zion with no shame in taking advantage of my absence to snag his attention.
I made it to a table with drinks and kept to the wall behind it, hoping the dim lighting and the shadows would give me a moment or two to breathe. I pressed myself into the darkness.
“Mari! Mari? Oh shoot, I thought I saw her come this way.”
Leilani paused at the table in front of me, worry in her eyes. Her white dress was stiff and puffy, but suited her light, bubbly personality perfectly. Brightly colored embroidered flowers dotted the hem and her sleeves, snaking down her chest and around her collar. Wooden shoes on her feet gave her added height.
I almost stepped out of the shadows to greet her, but a man followed behind her, a satisfied smirk on his face. I hesitated, not feeling up to meeting another ‘new guy’ just yet.
“Well? Where is she?”
His red hair was a beacon in the ballroom, bright orange instead of the usual dark red hue I’d seen on other nobles and Azalea. His face pinched, and lines crinkled around his eyes. He looked much older than her and me.
Leilani flinched, but smiled brightly. “I’ll keep looking; don’t worry. She’s my best friend! She’ll want to see me.”
