Author's note: While I really enjoyed this sequence, I wanted Nirel to be less damsel in distress over a forced engagemet to Corvin. In this draft, the love triangle almost doesn't exist. Corvin is a JERK. While I love Nirel's last line in this chapter, I adore how torn she is from actually caring about both men in the current version. :)
Senator Vesta approached with a handsome man I hadn't been introduced to yet. His face bore many of Jase's features, from the way he carried himself to his broad smile. I put aside my plate and rose to greet him.
"You must be Senator Hridaan!"
He stopped and blinked, then a grin overtook his features. His eyes wrinkled around the corners just like Jase when he smiled.
He approached with outstretched arms. "Nirel! So good to see you, my dear!"
Forgetting Corvin’s demand for a moment, I accepted Hridaan’s embrace. Perhaps I was being too familiar, but I felt like I knew him already. I felt the steady rhythm of his heart as a warm spicy fragrance filled my nostrils.
“I’m so happy to meet you,” I said, beaming, as I pulled away.
“Are you sure we haven't met before?” asked Hridaan with a quirk of an eyebrow.
I shook my head. "I would remember you if I had. Were you not at the feast last week when Jase returned?"
Hridaan shook his head. "I was returning from Kerulen from a short political trip. I missed all the fun of your arrival and my nephew's return."
He hadn't been in the capital? I wondered if that had anything to do with Corvin' success at forcing our engagement.
The musicians began to play jolly music.
“It's time to dance!” the lead musician called out.
Senator Hridaan held out his hand, “May I have this dance?”
Anthony's lessons were even more special now.
I nodded. “I'd be delighted to dance. I will try very hard not to step on your toes.”
The steps weren't hard, and my muscles remembered Anthony’s instructions. Senator Hridaan glided through the movements. Every step looked like second nature. My mind reveled at how similar he was to Jase and I wondered if I was staring into the future. My heart lurched and my left foot trod over his right.
“I'm so sorry!”
He laughed and pulled me back into the rhythm. I focused on the footwork.
Senator Hridaan leaned closer, “Do you love my nephew?”
I lost my footing, but he held me up and kept the flow. My eyes flit to his soft brown ones, so much like Jase's.
“Yes,” I whispered.
The dance ended. Senator Hridaan bowed and kissed my hand with a wink, then led me back to Senator Vesta. They exchanged knowing nods. They were up to something and I could only hope it had to do with my freedom.
I looked for Jase. More wine passed on a platter and I grabbed a glass. The bubbles tickled my throat all the way down.
“Will you dance with me?”
I turned around. “Jase, I thought you’d left.”
“I couldn’t leave without dancing with you. They’d have to drag me away.”
My heart filled with happiness, even if this would only last a moment. He held out his hand and I accepted it.
A new dance started. I set my glass aside on a table and followed Jase to the center of the floor. This rhythm was slower, so I could follow the steps.
“You look so beautiful. Your dress is perfect,” said Jase.
I smiled. “Thank you.”
I decided not to tell him that it was a gift from Corvin.
“I missed you,” I said softly.
He sighed. “Every day without you has been torture,” he murmured. “I had hoped things would go differently when we arrived. I asked the King for your…”
“Mind if I cut in?” asked Corvin.
How did such a huge man appear out of nowhere like that?
Jase reluctantly stepped aside. I forced my fingers to uncurl from holding his hand. Since Corvin was my intended, he could steal whatever dance he wanted. Jase had to yield.
Jase! I wanted to cry, Don’t leave me again!
Corvin took my hands with a smug look on his face. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced my feet to follow the steps even as I watched Jase retreat into the crowd.
“Don’t forget who you belong to,” Corvin said in my ear.
I glared up at him and grit my teeth. “I don’t belong to anyone. I’m a person, not a pet, in case you’ve forgotten.”
One of his eyebrows popped up. “Sometimes I forget how feisty you are.”
I rolled my eyes, then nearly lost my balance when I missed a step. Corvin held my waist steady.
While I appreciated not falling on my face in front of everyone, his touch sent shudders through me. He led me through the next few steps.
“You’re angry with me.”
My cacophony of mixed emotions spilled out as laughter. It seemed the better option. I was sick of crying.
He shook his head and pressed his hands harder into my waist. “Don’t laugh at me,” he whispered fiercely.
I sucked it back in and blinked back tears. Did he prefer me to fear him?
He leaned closer as we danced. "He doesn't deserve you."
"And you do?" I asked. Bitterness laced the words. My throat constricted as I tried to control the urge to bite my lip, cry, and laugh all at once.
Corvin tilted his head. "I thought we were making progress. You like the dress, right? You wear the bracelet. You speak to my sight. Does all that mean nothing?"
"No, it’s not nothing." I watched my steps to avoid stumbling again. "But I don't have a choice either. You made sure of that."
His smooth fingers gripped my chin and arched my face up towards him. "You refuse to see the truth despite the intelligence within your stunning face."
I took in a shuddering breath. “For all you see, you’re blind to the real me.”
The dance ended and Corvin released me. I ran towards Senator Vesta and a group of ladies munching on sweets.
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