“You know he was trying to protect you, right?”
His words struck me. “What are you talking about?”
A couple whirled by us, and Driscoll stepped forward to give them room. “I overheard some of the crew speaking about it, arguing about the whole thing and whether or not it was right what Bastian was doing. Mia said he was just trying to protect you, to keep you from seeing something that would hurt you.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say. It didn’t make a difference ultimately. Maybe his feelings for me were real, but so what? That didn’t prove he was good. Just that he had a heart. A rotten one.
“I’m just saying, it seems like whatever was between you and the pirate lord was... deep. Maybe there’s still hope for you two, and if there isn’t, then you deserve some closure. No offense, but you’re kind of a mess when it comes to him.”
I scoffed, then caught sight of a lone figure outside the window, out in the courtyard. So that’s where he was. He lurked near one of the bubbling fountains.
“Go talk to him,” Driscoll said. “I’ll distract Leoni.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why are you doing this?”
“Maybe I’m a romantic.” He sighed. “Maybe I... care. Liliath almost didn’t get her happily ever after. If you have a chance at that with this pirate lord, even if it’s a small one, I think you should take it.”
I bit my bottom lip and shot a glance at Leoni, who was now dancing with a different man, not a care in the world. Closure. That would be nice. “Thank you,” I whispered in Driscoll’s ear before turning and strolling out the ballroom and toward the courtyard.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Astone path wound through the courtyard, lined by sculpted hedges, their edges so neat and crisp. The hedges created different pathways that all led to a fountain, which sat in the center of the space. Spirit Earth rose up in the middle of it, hair made of vines, arms made of tree bark, petals scattered across her skin like clothing. The water poured from a watering can that she held and flowed down into the stone fountain. Bastian sat on the edge, hat lying at his side, and I made my way to him, sinking down next to him.
“Did you do it?” he asked. “Get the pixie dust?”
“Bastian, it’s Liliath’s wedding day. I need to at least give her some time with her husband before I start demanding things.”
“You know that pixie dust is mine, right?” He jumped to his feet, stalking toward the tall hedge maze. He disappeared into it.
I rose and followed him. “I’m aware.”
He whirled, and I almost bumped into him. His gaze raked over my bare shoulders and down my dress like a slow caress.
“Yes?” I asked.
“I—” He paused. “I’ve never seen you in a dress before.” He reached out a hand. “Never seen your hair curled like this.”
It cascaded down my shoulders, twined with ribbons that matched my dress.
Just another reason why our relationship had been rooted in fantasies. Bastian never saw me in a dress because he’d never been able to attend a ball with me. Would’ve been arrested on sight.
My mood soured. “This was a mistake.” I turned to go and Bastian gripped my arm.
“May I have this dance?”
I paused, his grip still firm. I shouldn’t. Leoni would kill me. Mia and Kara would kill Bastian. There were a million reasons not to do this. Yet with his voice so soft, so vulnerable, I couldn’t make myself care about a single one.
I slowly turned. “There’s not any music.”
“I don’t need music. Just you in my arms.”
His gaze bored into me, and I swallowed, letting him place his hand in the small of my back.
He stepped backward, and I followed his lead. “The pirate lord knows how to dance?”
His voice dropped low. “The pirate lord knows how to do many things. As you well remember.”
A flush crept up my neck. “The dancing, Bastian. Let’s focus on the dancing.”
