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The fresh air was much appreciated. Leaning back against the balcony railing, Perri took a sip of mead, staring at Brandth, who was likewise leaning against the railing, looking relaxed, a smile lifting the edges of his lips. “What? You thought I was going to throw you down on the chaise and have my sinful way with you without even giving you a drink first?”

She was being a ninny, where was her backbone? “I should imagine more than anything you needed a few minutes to recover after climbing all those stairs. How’s your leg?”

“There’s my haranguing healer. What shall we drink to? This glorious night? Your beautiful blue eyes?”

Perri looked down at the firelit paths below, the colourfully clad crowd meandering aimlessly, laughing, chatting, unaware that far above them on a darkened balcony two figures were about to engage in a dance as old as time. “How about we drink to momentary mayhem, the good kind.”

“There’s a good kind of mayhem?”

“Very much so, according to my Great-Aunt and she’s had four… no, five husbands. Mary maintains that societies rules are too binding, too rigid, too constricting. She advocates, every now and then, throwing off the shackles and indulging in a little mayhem.”

“Include me on the manifest. To mayhem.” Brandth held his glass high. Perri echoing his movement before they both drank. “Mayhem? I like it.”

“You do understand that it’s a passing dalliance with mayhem. That once the moment… the evening is over, the participants do not speak or refer to it again.”

“Even with each other?”

“Especially with each other.”

“Huh, considering the terminology, you would think a bout of mayhem would have less… rules associated with it.” Mused Brandth thoughtfully.

Perri took another sip of mead, wondering how one kicked off a night of seduction. Was she supposed to say or do something? Brandth was no doubt more familiar with such things. But she could hardly baldly ask him. Yet the man wasn’t saying or doing anything but continuing to lean against the rail, his eyes glittering darkly in the shadows, solely focused upon her. She liked that, his gaze, it felt weighty and full of… promise.

Without being aware of it Perri placed her goblet on the railing and closed the distance between them, coming to a stop beside him, so close she could feel the heat of his body only inches away.

Looking up at him, the words came and she could not stop them, didn’t want to stop them. “You’re a very beautiful man.” He didn’t protest. Or leer. Though she did note his breathing had deepened. “It’s a silly thing, beauty. It’s prized, coveted and revered. Yet essentially it’s worth nothing, although can prove to be the only thing of value a woman might have. It can’t be bought. Or stolen. However, there are ways to fool and trick onlookers into believing beauty exists when it does not.”

“Now I feel like I should apologise for some reason.”

Perri’s finger came up to press against those soft warm lips of his. “When beauty is false and the smoke clears to reveal the reality… many people would say that’s the greatest betrayal of all. It takes a while to trust in beauty again. And I wanted you to know that I’m not here with you this evening because of the way you look… perhaps despite it, if truth be told.”

A little frown now marred Brandth’s forehead. Bemusement lurking in his shadow darkened eyes. “Is that a compliment? Just asking on behalf of my ego.”

Laughing under her breath, Perri leaned in closer, moulding her lower body to his, placing a hand on his warm chest, feeling the fast beat of his heart under her touch. “The packaging is pretty, and it took me a while… a good long while to see past all the misdirection and glib charm you lay on so thickly when you wish to obfuscate. To peek behind your curtain if you will.”

“You don’t say.”

“I thought you were the player, but now I realise you’re the stage director, who manipulates, cajoles and manages everyone around him. Yet at the same time, you care, you listen, and perhaps more importantly I think, you empathise with the marionettes you control.”

“Again, if these are compliments, they continue to confuse and bewilder me.”

Slowly, Perri reached up, pulling on the drawstring keeping his shirt together, parting the material and very deliberately placing her hand over his heart. His muscles taut under her touch but his bared skin surprisingly velvet soft. She heard the slightest catch in Brandth’s throat, making her feel decidedly powerful. “I’ve never seduced anyone before, perhaps I’m doing it wrong. Would you like me to stop?”

“Gods no. Carry on… consider me happily at your mercy. This is a fresh and surprising perspective, that is all.”

“I’ve been thinking about seduction rather a lot over the last few days. The intricacies involved. More and more, it struck me as only equitable that I do my fair share, when it comes to the seduction.”

“And do I have your permission to start contributing?”

“Not just yet. First, I thought we should discuss the rules of our dalliance with… mayhem. I will not be removing my mask.”

“I have no issue with that, right at this moment it’s not the article of clothing I wish to start peeling off of you.”

“And we’re in agreement? Once the night is over, once we leave this room, we’ll not discuss it again?”

“You have my word as a gentleman. Anything else?”

“Just that I should warn you.” Slowly, Perri slid her hand across his heated bare flesh, her fingers dancing down his side, trailing over each of his ribs. “Given my extensive medical background, I believe I may have an unfair advantage this evening. Do not be discouraged if your… limited background has you at a disadvantage.” Perri’s grin was broad, taunting.