“So you wanted to—” I flung a hand out. “Dance? With me?”
A small smirk lifted the corner of his lips. “If you think you can keep up.”
He was enjoying this, enjoying watching me dangle like a little worm on a hook. Well, two could play at this game. I raised my nose in the air. Challenge accepted.
I placed my hand in his, and he led me out to the middle of the crowd. Our gazes locked, neither of us willing to look away. He pulled me into him, and a small breath escaped my mouth as we collided, his arm roping around my back as my hands slid up to his neck. Everything about this man felt so solid, like an impenetrable wall. I remembered watching him sneak onto the castle grounds, get through every trap my stepmother had laid, scale the castle walls with such efficiency. He was like a honed weapon.
“You know, the last time you were in my arms like this, I believe you were kissing me.”
His words trickled over me, leaving trails of heat in their wake. I’d wondered when—if—he was going to bring that up.
“That’s because I thought you were my betrothed.”
He spun me around. “Ah, yes, easy mistake to make.”
“It was dark,” I said coolly. “And I was confused after just being rescued.”
He once again was trying to fluster me. But I wouldn’t let him.
“It was obviously a mistake that meant nothing.”
“Whatever you say, Lilypad.”
We stepped backward together, and he dipped me low, our faces inches apart. He paused, me hanging in his arms.
I swallowed, my throat growing thick. “It was just a kiss,” I said, like I was trying to convince myself more than him.
He pulled me up in one smooth motion. “So you’ve said.”
“And there won’t be any more.”
“If you say so.” Those damn lips quirked.
Anger flared in me. It wasn’t enough that he had to kidnap me and force me to do his bidding, but he also had to flirt and play games, games that felt dangerous.
Cheers erupted around us, and I cleared my throat. I’d forgotten there were even people nearby, music playing, an entire festival happening.
Shadow and Wayfinder stared at us, knowing looks in their eyes. I glared at them, and they both quickly looked elsewhere.
“I’m going on a walk,” I said, spinning on my heel, all of this suddenly feeling like too much.
“Don’t stay out too late, Lilypad,” Penn called after me. “You’ve got a mission to go on tomorrow, and I don’t tolerate tardiness.”
Chapter Nineteen
Iwandered the festival grounds, still stewing over Penn and his petty little games.
A woman stood by a nearby tree with a little girl.
“Just open your palm,” she coached the girl, who followed her instructions. “It’s going to be like pulling at an invisible thread inside of you. Tug at that thread and think about what you want.”
The little girl squeezed her eyes shut, and I watched as a flower sprouted in her palm, growing, petals and leaves unfurling. She opened her eyes and gasped.
I hugged myself, remembering my father teaching me those same lessons on how to use my magic. Blood and earth, despite our differences, I missed him, missed my magic.
I glanced behind me, seeing Penn in the distance, drinking ale and surrounded by a group of people. And then it hit me: he didn’t have that satchel with him.
Now was the time to steal away. I could find it and get that mirror, and then tomorrow, when everyone was busy fighting the Huntsman, I would escape to the fire court and find Jasper.
