Page 107 of In The Dark
“Your Majesty,” I say, cautiously eyeing the duke.
“Ekrin Highcrest, this is Sensa Blackwyth, niece to Kiev and Selphira of Eldryn. And this is Ren Demaris, our current captain and her assigned personal guard during her stay. Sensa is currently visiting the castle for the next few weeks and has never been to the Aurorafest. I’d love for you to show her around,” Elion says, clasping Ekrin on the shoulder and gesturing toward me. “Please, get acquainted!”
King Elion meets my gaze before leaving to greet the other dukes and duchesses approaching him nearby. I give Ren a nod and he steps back to hover behind us.
I face Ekrin with a soft, convincing smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard many wonderful things.” I extend my right hand. He gently lifts it to his mouth, inhaling as he places a soft kiss to the top of it. He eyes me, slowly releasing my hand, then gives me a charming smirk.
“I doubt that, but I am interested to hear exactly what you heard. Care to walk with me?” His voice is smooth like honey, and I quickly understand the allure to him.
A soft laugh slips free as I wrap my hand around the inside of his elbow. “You’re right, I’ve heard many wicked things, but I think you might have to pry them out of me.”
He chuckles. “Tell me, Lady Sensa, what brings you to Alvonia?”
The ballroom walls are lined with arched windows, draped in shimmering cream-colored curtains that lead into the courtyard. Housemaidens glide around the room with practiced ease, passing out drinks to guests who continue to mingle. There’s a palpable energy to the room—a blend of excitement and curiosity.
“Well, Duke?—”
“Please, just Ekrin.”
“Well,justEkrin.” I grin, and he returns it with an amused gleam to his eyes. “We received an invite to the Aurorafest. King Elion offered to allow us to stay for a few weeks, but as you know, Eldryn makes it very hard to visit. I begged my mother and aunt Selphira for so long they finally agreed to let me visit until the spring. Childish, I know, but it’s stifling there, and I couldn’t wait to visit any longer.”
“Mm.” He hums his understanding. “And your family couldn’t visit with you? I would have loved to meet the infamous Duke and Duchess of Eldryn.” He chuckles, leaning into me. “And no, it’s not childish. I understand all too well what that’s like.”
I glance at him, then sheepishly avert my gaze. “They couldn’t stay, not for that long anyway. Once coming down from the mountains, it’s almost impossible to travel back up in the dead of winter. Kiev and Selphira needed to stay in Eldryn, but I’ll be back up there in the next few weeks once the ice melts,” I explain with a sigh.
He pauses our walk. “And you don’t want to go back?”
“Gods, no.” I laugh, tucking the loose strands behind my ear. Ren stands a few feet behind us. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my family very much, but we remain isolated in the mountains. It’s beautiful here and much warmer than the freezing temperatures up north. I’m afraid I’ve been struck with the incessant need to stay in Alvonia.”
“I see,” he mutters, then quickly grabs us both a glass ofwine from one of the housemaidens passing by. “Here’s to running away when life sucks.” He holds up his glass, handing me mine.
His brazen words catch me off guard, and before I can stop myself, a genuine, carefree laugh escapes me. With a grin tugging on the corners of my mouth, I raise my glass and clink it against his. His eyes widen slightly, watching me with curiosity. A flicker of something unreadable passes through them before he takes my empty glass and hands it off to another passing housemaiden.
“Would you like to dance?” He scans my face, extending a hand for mine.
A nervous look is thrown over my shoulder, finding Ren’s annoying smirk from behind me, and I clench my jaw as he gives me a curt nod. He’s clearlynotsaving me from what’s going to be a catastrophic embarrassment on my part. I finally turn to face Ekrin, who patiently waits for my answer.
I sigh. “I’m going to be honest—I haven’t danced in a long time. I’m afraid I’m not very good.” He only grins and grasps my hand anyway, tugging me behind him as he walks toward the center of the ballroom.
“I’ll teach you. I won’t take no for an answer,” he says over his shoulder.
He elegantly twirls me, and I quickly end up in his arms while he clasps my hand, the other resting on his chest as we fall into an easy rhythm. The music is soft, yet loud enough so that others can’t hear our conversation should they pry, which I gather they’ll do given how many are staring.
“I hope this isn’t too forward,” he mutters, gazing down at me. “But… you’re incredibly beautiful. Especially your eyes—they’re mesmerizing. It’s no wonder your aunt and uncle hide you in the mountains.”
A genuine flush reaches my cheeks. “AndI’msure you’ve said that to many of the ladies in Alvonia, but don’t think I haven’tnoticed how you’ve hardly even spoken about yourself. What’s it like being Duke of Alvonia?”
His brows lower, a grave expression settling over his features as he thinks about his answer.
“Honestly?” he asks, and I nod. “I hate it. My parents had me toward the tail end of their life, and after they died, the title was immediately passed down to me. It was a responsibility I knew was coming but secretly hoped wouldn’t.”
I frown, suddenly finding myself thinking about my abrupt responsibility to Aurelia. How I’ve had this unwavering feeling of wanting to flee in every direction, but also toward it. It’s been a struggle, knowing I should go while also having this urge to remain in Elderheim… until recently. Now the feeling of wanting a life with Rydian tugs at me, even if it means claiming Aurelia as mine.
“I know the feeling,” I mutter. “How do you do it? How do you go into something you’re unsure you want but know people are counting on you to claim it?”
“I don’t. Not really, anyway. I manage by tucking myself away in my studies with my head down, doing as King Elion wants,” he says and spins me again. “I thought you said you weren’t good at dancing.”
“You make it easy.” I smile, realizing that he’s right because I haven’t tripped once. “Is that why you haven’t married, because you’ve been busy with your studies?”