Chapter 8: The Dance

Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart raced as she felt his gaze linger on her. She had never been approached in such a forward way and found it off-putting. She said to him in a strained voice, “I’m sure you can find someone much more suitable than me. I would only embarrass you.”

Azim smiled, revealing his straight, white teeth, “I doubt that. As Duke Reign’s daughter, it stands to reason that you are well-versed in courtly etiquette,” his voice held an edge of amusement.

“Yes. I know the steps and can move my body in time with the music.” She paused and twisted her fingers, her eyes shifting as she thought, “It’s the dancing with a partner that I’m not so good at. I can never predict when their steps will change direction,” She sighed, her shoulders sagging with frustration.

Azim chuckled, understanding why Wren hadn’t seemed threatened by him dancing with his mistress. Wren assumed that Khari’s missteps would make him look bad in front of everyone. Taking her slender hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze, he said, “We’ll just have to rely on touch instead.” With that, he led her out to the dance floor. The music started, and the crowd of onlookers held their breath, watching as Prince Azim took the first steps of a dance since returning from war.

“Touch?” she asked, intrigued, as he pulled her along. His warm, rough fingers interlaced with hers, sending electric sparks up her arm.

“Yes,” he said, sliding his hand around her waist and letting it rest on her lower back, drawing her closer, “When I tap here.” He said, giving her lower back a strong strum and sending a jolt through her body, “Move back. Get it? Tap on back, move back?” He said, drawing a chuckle from her. “Then,” he said, raising her hand and grabbing hold of it. “When I squeeze here,” he said, gently squeezing her hand. “Move forward. Okay?”

A grateful smile spread across her face at his efforts to include her in the celebration. He was nothing like the malicious tales the mistresses told about him, “Got it,” she nodded, looking satisfied.

As the music called to them, they began to dance. He tapped her lower back, signaling her to step away; then, he squeezed her hand, beckoning her back. They moved in tandem, their feet keeping time as they stepped inward, then outward, forming a box as they glided across the dance floor. The crowd watched in awe as their movements synchronized in a mesmerizing swirl of colors and steps. As they twirled and dipped, she asked him, “How did you know I was Duke’s Reign daughter?”

“I may have asked people about you tonight,” he replied, giving her hand a squeeze, and she stepped forward on cue, “I hope you don’t mind.”

“You’ll find that not many people engage with me,” she said, her voice quivering. She gave a hollow, humorless laugh before continuing. “They don’t want to endure Prince Wren’s wrath,” her lips curved downwards in a sad, resigned expression.

The muscles in his jaw twitched as he spoke, “Well, count me out of the group of people who are scared of my brother,” he said with a determined voice.

She smiled, “You’re the first.”

As he scanned the room, he noticed everyone’s eyes were glued to them. The faint murmuring and hushed whispers among the crowd. He could feel his brother’s influence was strong here, nobody stepping out of line or offering so much of a smile. Did his brother really stop anyone from interacting with her, or were they all just scared of displeasing him, so they imitated his actions and avoided her altogether? “Here comes a twirl!” he said before spinning her away from him in a wide arc and then yanking her back into an embrace. When he looked at her face, he could see that his spontaneous show had put a massive smile on her lips. “You’re happy,” he said softly.

“Very much so,” she said, her laughter bubbling up from deep within. “I’ve never really danced with anyone—not successfully, anyway. But now I understand how it feels.” Her smile widened with a newfound confidence radiating on her face. “It’s a lot of fun.”

He couldn’t help but stare at Khari. She had managed to grab his attention so quickly and completely. He was in a room full of people but only had eyes for her. He was utterly enchanted by her. The court’s rules weighed heavily on him. He wanted to pursue her but knew it would be impossible since she was his brother’s mistress. Despite the obstacles, he couldn’t help but wonder how long that would last. He was an experienced military man who was accustomed to getting his way. It wouldn’t be long before General Azim would replace Prince Azim in this internal skirmish. As the final strains of the music began to fade, he looked into her eyes and said softly, “I’m glad I could make you smile.” He pulled her close, and they finished their dance in a gentle embrace.

It's true. She thought. She hadn’t smiled this much her entire life and owed it to him. She felt as if her face would crack with the force of her grin. She was amazed by how much joy he had brought into her life, and she wanted him to know it. “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

“Anytime,” Azim spoke the two words softly and smiled before a cacophony of hoots and hollers filled the spacious ballroom. Azim gestured towards the audience with a graceful bow while Khari dipped her head and swayed her shoulders in a deep curtsy. As they both stood upright, their hands lightly grazed each other’s, sparks radiating between them. The rest of the crowd seemed to have disappeared, leaving them in their own world.

The two were locked in an intimate moment but were yanked out of their reverie when a group of court officials swept in, their heavy garments of velvet and silk rustling against the marble floor. “Wonderful Prince Azim,” one of the dignitaries said, bowing low. “It’s great to see you still remember the ways of the court after being on the battlefield for so long.”

The people around Khari were so caught up in praising him that no one noticed when she slowly backed away and slipped into the garden. She immediately took in the heady scent of flowers, breathing deeply of the cool night air. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment of peace, before raising her head towards the sky. The moon was full and shone brightly in the dark night, illuminating the stars that seemed to twinkle and dance for her alone. Her dull eyes lit up with excitement as she watched the magical sight before her, and her silver irises glimmered in the moonlight. She grinned widely, her gaze tracing the constellations of stars twinkling in the inky night sky. She inhaled deeply, savoring the moment. “That never gets old,” she whispered, feeling more connected to the universe than ever before.

The thicket of maple trees rustled in the wind, and a twig snapped in the distance. She stopped mid-step and spun around, her heart pounding. Through the dim light of the moon, she made out the silhouette of a muscular figure walking towards her, crunching the leaves beneath his feet. “Khari?” he whispered.

Her eyes widened at the sight of him, “Prince Azim!” her voice was a gasp, and she stood frozen.

His face contorted with surprise, and his eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. His voice wavered as he asked, “You can see me?” His body language betrayed a mix of emotions - indignation, confusion, and disbelief as he closed the gap between them.

She craned her neck up to catch a glimpse of his imposing figure. His sparkling brown eyes, flecked with hazel, gazed down at her. Though he was Wren’s identical twin, his chiseled face and scar that crossed his right brow distinguished him. He wore his military uniform with pride, the fabric blending well with his muscular physique. His hair, straight and thick, was half pulled back in a knot while the rest fell down his broad shoulders. He stood tall and strong, a symbol of valor and courage that had been won amidst the battles of the war.

He stared into her silver eyes, which twinkled with an intensity that seemed to draw all the light from the moon toward them. His anger raised with every heartbeat. “You’d better have a good explanation for why you deceived my family and... me.”