The crowd quieted again. I took a deep breath, centering myself in the moment. I needed my wits about me. I forced myself to focus on the blue and gold decorations and the tables of food and drinks on the outskirts of the room. In the center stood a hollowed-out wooden sculpture of a rearing horse.

Razel spoke. “Welcome. I’m sure everyone is eager for the party to begin, so I won’t waste your time. Let the first dance in honor of Prince Ericen and Princess Anthia’s engagement begin beneath Rhett’s watchful eye.” She stepped aside.

I was still inspecting the room when Ericen held out his hand to me. For a moment, I simply stared at it. Then I lifted my gaze to his, surprised to find a smile on his lips. It was encouraging and terrifying all at once. Something about him still looked wrong.

I took his hand. It was warm and calloused and so much larger than mine. A soldier’s hand. Would he one day stand across from me on a battlefield?

He led me down the stairs, and the crowd cleared a space for us. The prince faced me, and my eyes found his. “Do you even know what you’re doing?” I asked.

He smiled. “Just keep up.”

The music began, a quick, harsh sound. A wingbeat later, we were moving across the floor, the music quickening. Ericen kept me in a rigid hold, as the dance demanded, one hand on the back of my shoulder, the other clasped in my own. I’d done the dance before, but it was his sure-footedness that kept me steady throughout.

I matched his every step, my dress furling around my hips, my movements sure and swift. Two weeks of training had paid off. Though my muscles protested at first, the movement eased the stiffness of days of vigorous exercise, and it took some time for my breathing to quicken. It satisfied me to note Ericen’s had as well.

The music accelerated and so did our pace, until the faces and colors around us blurred. My breath rattled in my chest. Ericen’s grip on my hand tightened to keep from slipping. Then the music erupted and fell silent, and the dance ended.

I didn’t even notice if people were clapping. Ericen’s bright-blue eyes stared down at me with a look of slight perplexity, as if he didn’t understand what he saw. Then they cleared, and he leaned close. I nearly pulled away, thinking he meant to kiss me, but he only lowered his lips to my ear.

“You look beautiful tonight.” His breath was warm on my neck, his voice a low rasp. Before I could respond, he’d drawn back and was already clasping hands with several Illucian nobles.