Page 31

D EAN F ARIS ADJUSTED HER SATIN GLOVES, THEN CAME TO STAND BY Kidan. “Quite the show.”

“Thank you.”

Her sharp eyes bore down as if she could read Kidan’s thoughts. “And you will dance with Susenyos to show this newfound… trust, yes?”

“Um, I don’t know the dance. Maybe next year.”

Kidan tried to get away, but Dean Faris stepped closer, dropping her voice. “Kidan. Susenyos didn’t hide his anger well, and there are many who noticed. You will dance with him, show us this was a choice , or I’ll be forced to investigate just how he lost his fangs.”

An investigation into this wouldn’t bode well for either of them. Who would Dean Faris believe?

Kidan’s throat went dry. “He left.”

Dean Faris pointed down a hall to where two black-clothed vampires stood guard. Silver swords gleamed at their waists, and moonlight daggers were strapped to their thighs. Sicions. The only ones allowed to carry silver weapons openly.

“They’re down there,” Dean Faris said. “Go fetch your dranaic. We’ll wait.”

It was remarkable, the power this woman wielded. Fighting a grumble, Kidan crossed the hall that spilled into a small art gallery.

“You have to dance with her.” Iniko’s calm voice traveled from the side door.

Kidan froze.

“I’m going to pull out her black heart.” Susenyos’s voice sounded burnt, much too guttural. “Get out of my way.”

There was a fighting sound, grunting, as if they were trying to control him.

“If you leave now, they’ll think she overpowered you,” Iniko continued. “But if you dance with her, they’ll see you two are serious about being companions, that you chose this. It’s not unheard-of.”

“Unheard-of? She dangled my fangs like a fucking trophy .”

Another wild tussle of a fight. Kidan’s lips twitched.

“You need to calm down.” Taj sounded like he had a knife in his gut.

“You allowed her to.” Iniko’s voice tightened. “Everyone knows she could never take them without your permission. We all know, Yos. Pretend like you wanted it for your own sake.”

“Wanted it? Wouldn’t it be easier if I knelt and lapped at her feet?” he snarled, making Kidan’s smile grow.

Yes, that would be easier.

Taj spoke through labored efforts. “If you’d let me give her my shirt—”

“I dare you to finish that sentence.”

Kidan flinched from the bite of those words. Yet there was no way she was going to miss this. She kept approaching, keeping her feet light.

“It’s only a dance,” Taj implored.

“Don’t let them think you’re weak, Sagad,” Iniko added. “Remember what you’re fighting for. Why we’re all here. She’s just one person.”

Two words pushed through his closed teeth, promising violence. “She’s here.”

The door wrenched open, and they loomed over her like gods of wrath. Her bravado nearly buckled at the expressions on their faces. If she was ever going to die, this was the time.

Susenyos seized Kidan’s hand in a bone-crushing grab, drawing a cry from her, and dragged her across the polished floor.

“M-my hand!” she half shouted. “What are you doing?”

“Let’s dance, little bird.”