Page 42 of To Touch A Silent Fury

I shook my head. “I am not some moonstruck boy. I find them quite distasteful, in fact. No offence, of course.”

She barked out another laugh. “My son will be called worse in his time.”

“Speaking of,” I said to her, and nodded across the room to Septillis, who watched us from afar. “I believe your son has noticed your arrival.”

She did not turn, only pursing her lips. “Quite,” she said. “A true moonstruck, that one.”

I forced another laugh. “You would kill your son’s childhood love?”

She didn’t even flinch. “Of course. For the good of Droundhaven.”

I nodded sombrely. I felt my aunt’s attention slip, and I knew she would soon leave to speak to her son, or any number of the nobles. I had to do something.

“I have a favour to request from you,” I said, before I had truly thought it through.

She narrowed her eyes. “What is it?”

“One day,” I blurted, before composing myself. “Give me tomorrow to Break her Fate my way. Not just killing her, butsending a message to the realm. I promise it’ll be more satisfying than a dagger to her heart.”

When I was twelve, my aunt had struck Chaethor with a whip. She was a young dragon, then, barely a child. I remember her yelp. She hadn’t even considered biting Derynallis or retaliating, only pushing her confusion onto me. Without pausing for thought, I had told my aunt that she wasn’t allowed to hit Chae ever again. I told her I had read it in a book that pain makes dragons less strong, that whipping would domesticate her and make her less useful.

The same look my aunt had given me then, she gave me now. A discerning assessment, searching every part of me for a tell of a lie. I had long since learnt how to fake a tell, and how to remain entirely natural under her golden glares.

Whatever she looked for, she did not find it now. “You can have your day. If the girl’s Fate is not Broken by nightfall tomorrow, I will end her life.”

“Well,” I said, with a wide smile. “I best dance with the belle of the ball while I still can.”

Princess Derynallis smiled back. “It would only be polite.”

I swept into a deep bow, and made my exit, dropping my cup on a tray and clenching my fists to keep my hands from shaking.

Chaethor’s voice burned into my head, angry and confused.What was that?

I’m trying to save her life,I replied.

Great,Chaethor purred.And just how are we going to do that?

I crossed the dancefloor, heading straight towards the beautiful woman who had captured all of my attention without meaning to. Tanidwen breathed heavily from her recent twirling, a tiny sheen of sweat glistening on her brow. Her white eyes darted to mine as I approached.

I have no idea.

12

Tani

My heart pounded as Langnathin closed the gap. His fist was clenched at his side, and his whole demeanour agitated. I resisted the urge to step back, holding my ground even as he strode towards me with lethal purpose.

His red silken shirt was looser now, and one lock of his hair had come free at the front, falling against his forehead. Even with his mouth pursed and his face lacking any warmth, he was still one of the most striking men in the room. He exuded power, even as he passed much broader and taller men. It wasn’t surprising, given he walked with the assuredness of a man with the most indomitable bodyguard there could ever be.

Why was the Dragon Prince coming to speak to me? If Thread Ersimmon had done as I asked, then he should have fled the room just as Duc de Fleur had.

He didn’tlookrevolted.

I searched the room for any sort of help, but the Thread had his back to me at the buffet table, and Seth looked even moreterrified than I did, with an older noblewoman approaching him just as firmly.

Even Prince Brascillan seemed engaged, discussing something in a low voice with another competitor, but at least his eyes were on us. The Dragon Prince could not try to kill me in cold blood with so many spectators.

Langnathin swept into a deep bow before me. I performed my best wobbly curtsy in reply, grateful that the elegant dress masked what I lacked.