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Chapter 9

The last person Imogene expected to see coming around the corner of the main barracks of the Imperial Mage Corps two days after the ball was the vanishing son of a duq himself.

Dressed in imperial black, brows drawn down as though contemplating something unpleasant, he didn't look as though he was expecting to see her either. But when he did, his face broke into a smile that chased away the regret she'd been trying to ignore since their evening had ended so abruptly. A sensation that was both pleasant and somewhat...alarming.

"Lieutenant," he said. "This is an unexpected pleasure."

"Major du Laq." She saluted—they were, after all, both in uniform—wrestling her expression away from the tickle in her cheek muscles that wanted to smile right back at him.

The sight of him instantly lifted her mood, but she didn't want to let him know that just yet. Not after he'd failed to reappear at the ball.

She'd waited for him for almost an hour, lingering around the edge of the dance floor, pretending to sip more campenois and watch the dancers while fending off offers from other men. But as the time had stretched, she'd begun to think perhaps he wasn't returning. Then Chloe had found her, armed with an invitation to continue on to a smaller gathering.

She could hardly refuse to go. Friendship trumped new flirtations. Besides, she'd had no idea whether her flirtation was coming back. A fact her body had lamented even as she'd left with Chloe and her friends.

"So formal, Lieutenant," Jean-Paul said. "Does this mean your disappearance from the ball indicated a sudden change of...heart?"

Imogene glanced around. They weren't inside the barracks, but this wasn't a conversation she would be keen for her fellow mages to overhear. By a strict reading of the rules, there was no issue with an officer in the mages being involved with one from the regulars, but it wasn't encouraged. Not that she was planning on being involved with the man, but his rank was an added complication. One she'd forgotten to think about back there in the ballroom with his hands on her waist and those storm cloud eyes making it hard to think.

They were making it hard to think now. The man was no less handsome out of his evening clothes. Perhaps even more so. The sleek lines of the uniform suited him better than the frippery of court dress. But no, she had to think not of how good he looked but whether she still wanted to encourage him at all.

"I'm not entirely sure this is the time and place for such a conversation, Major," she said. "I have to report for duty."

Not duty exactly. Generally officers were granted a week's leave following an extended foreign mission unless the army had urgent need of their services. She'd submitted all her reports, so her time was her own. But Colonel Ferritine had sent a note to request her to come to headquarters. Given he was the one who would decide whether she would be allowed to bond a sanctii, she wasn't going to keep him waiting.

"Is Colonel Ferritine your commander?" Jean-Paul said. "I'll walk with you. I have an appointment with Major Perrine."

He did? She felt her brows rise. The cavalry didn't usually cross paths with the Imperial Guard unless the emperor was going somewhere beyond the city. The guard protected their turf zealously when it came to asserting authority over the emperor's safety. But a lieutenant didn't ask a major why he was meeting with another senior officer.

"Very well."

"But before we go, Lieutenant, I wondered if you might like to try dancing with me again? There is another ball at the palace in three days’ time. It would be my pleasure to secure you an invitation. If you haven't had that change of heart I mentioned earlier?"

That was clear enough. He was interested enough to pursue the matter further. Though she wasn't sure how clear to be in return. Or if it was the wisest move to accept his invitation. The man was handsome, and his touch had made her breathless, but her career was at a delicate point. But surely just one night couldn't hurt. She could even bring Chloe to lend respectability to her appearance at another ball. "Just me?"

He frowned. "Is there someone else you would like to bring?"

"My friend, Chloe Matin," she said quickly, wondering why she was so keen to correct any misapprehension of his that she might have a man in mind.

"The Maistre's daughter?" His expression eased, and he nodded. "That would present no problem. Though is she likely to take it amiss if I monopolize your time?"

She smiled up at him. Chloe had managed herself well enough at the ball. She had known more people there than Imogene, in fact. "I'm sure she will not."

His smile matched her own. "Then, Lieutenant, I will have an invitation delivered to you. Now, let us walk. I wouldn't want to make you late."

* * *

Imogene's mindwas still half on Jean-Paul as she walked into Colonel Ferritine's office. Which was why, perhaps, she came to a less than graceful halt when she registered that both Major Fontaine and Captain Brodier were in the room. She gathered her wits long enough to snap a salute. Honore flashed her a quick encouraging smile before her expression turned back to a more professional calm one.

"Don't look so alarmed, Lieutenant," Colonel Ferritine said. He gestured to the plain wooden chair beside Honore. "Take a seat." The colonel had short gray hair and lines in his face that spoke of his years of experience. His bright blue eyes looked friendly rather than annoyed, so Imogene hoped that was a good sign and she wasn't about to be hauled over the coals by all three of her commanding officers. Not that she could think of anything she might have done that would warrant it. Attending a ball wasn't forbidden. Still, she settled herself fast and stayed silent, waiting to find out why she was there.

"I believe you spoke to Captain Brodier about sanctii the other day," Colonel Ferritine said. "Have you thought more on what you discussed?"

"I have," Imogene said, keeping her voice steady. She folded her hands in her lap as her pulse sped up a little. "I know it's not a decision to be taken lightly, but it is something I am interested in pursuing, if it would help my work." There. That sounded like she was being a good little soldier rather than one enticed by the idea of having a sanctii for more selfish reasons.

The three officers exchanged a look. Imogene clasped her hands tighter, unsure what that might mean.

"It is not a choice you can make lightly," the colonel agreed. "But at this moment, there may be a case for making it quickly."