The commander did not flinch as Mirquios stepped between them. “I believe I mentioned she’s a fiery one.”
“Indeed,” Luxuros replied, a spark of something within his eyes Astra didn’t recognize. They dropped to her fingertips, an implication that enraged her.
Not here, Ameera beamed as a flicker of light against her palms died. Just get through this evening, Astra. I’m right here. Every sentry in the palace is here. He can’t very well attack anyone within these walls. He’d be a fool.
Where is Lunelle? Astra asked as she sank back into her hip, tilting her chin. We can’t let him out of our sight.
I’ll keep my eyes on her, you keep your eyes on him. The second this is over we’ll get a plan together.
Astra pressed her shoulders back. “Do you dance, Commander?”
“Not of my own volition, no.”
“Make an exception for your future queen?” Astra held her glass out to Mirquios who eyed her skeptically, a shimmer of vivid green hope within his chest. He wanted them to get along. She could see the desperation for the commander’s approval embedded deep within the king’s ribs.
Luxuros sighed, his eyes sliding toward Mirquios who nodded enthusiastically, a feeling the commander would not mirror.
His hand reached into the space between them, hovering, despite his reluctance. Astra stared at his bronze fingers, scarred with years—perhaps even decades—of battle and gods knew what else.
She’d touched him in her dream and did not burn for it. It was uncomfortable, but not lethal. Surely, the rumors of the Solarians’ deadly touch had been greatly exaggerated, but the fear imprinted on her bones screamed at her as she stepped forward. Her eyes traced the leather lines from his wrist to his shoulders, over his stubbled jaw and molten gaze that threatened her with thousands of thoughts.
She placed her hand in his, the space between their palms catching fire—it was nearly intolerable. The commander pulled her away from the Mercurian courtiers and onto the dance floor, peppered with a dozen other couples as a new melody struck up.
When he did not fall into a rhythm Astra sighed. “Well?”
“Well, what?” Luxuros asked. “Aren’t you supposed to lead here? Or do you not know your own customs, Princess?”
Astra rolled her eyes, yanking him forward and placing her other hand on his shoulder. The commander winced and dipped, forcing her hand away from the flesh she’d singed. She fought the urge to apologize as she caught the downbeat, rotating them toward the center of the floor.
“I know my customs,” Astra muttered. “But yours are quite the mystery.”
“You should have somewhat of an idea given you’re marrying Mercury’s king?—”
“Not Mercury,” Astra hissed, pulling the commander into her and then pushing him away. Their heads turned in opposite directions. His posture stiffened beneath her palms, slick with sweat. She’d clearly poked at a bruise.
“I am Mercurian, Princess. I do not claim any other lineage and I resent the implication?—”
“Tell that to my bones, Commander! I can feel it—I can feel the traitorous blood that runs through your veins?—”
His hand tightened at her back, crashing her into the sweltering mass of him as he growled beneath orchestral notes, “You do not know what you speak of and I’d appreciate it if you waited to accuse me in private, and not in a room littered with gods know how many courtiers who would hold their questions until after my head hit the floor.”
Astra twisted from his grasp as he clenched his jaw against the pain in his burned flesh. She spun herself out and then into him, her back pressed against his chest. Her shoulder checked him in the sternum as she turned her head, his breath brushing her cheek.
“Tell me one thing. Are you here to harm my sister?”
Luxuros held her gaze, frozen in the center of the floor. She missed the next step, unable to move until she knew Lunelle was safe. He lowered his gaze, bitter poison laced in his reply.
“Who attacked whom in the Midwood, Princess?”
Astra caught her breath, the heat from him hard to think through. “I do not know what to make of you.”
“Make nothing of me. It’s better for both of us,” he spat, dropping her hand.
He marched off the floor, leaving her alone in the midst of the other dancers, a scarlet rage rushing to fill the void he left as he took his flames with him.
Astra stared at a pile of divination cards, her mind finally cooling from the evening’s chaos.
She’d pulled cards for dozens of the king’s courtiers all evening, perched at a table where she could watch Lunelle and the commander orbit around one another. Most of the courtiers had retired for the evening, knowing tomorrow would bring its own set of exhausting tasks.
