King Cisco of Flores was wearing a long tan coat over a light green tunic and tan leggings and boots. A large pendant of a gold horse with topaz eyes running through a topaz wheat field hung from a thick gold chain around his neck, and several gold rings also shaped like horses and studded with emeralds and rubies adorned his fingers, almost as if animals were galloping across his knuckles. The scent of beauty, strength, and other glamours wafted off the jewels.
Cisco was a cousin to Lord Durante, who had tried to save Princess Madelena, his pregnant wife, during the Seven Spire massacre, although Vasilia had eventually killed them both. Several months ago, I had sent Cisco a letter expressing my condolences for Durante’s death, but he had not responded.
I stopped and nodded at Cisco, trying to engage him in some benign communication. The Floresian king stared at me a moment, then deliberately turned his back, indicating that he didn’t want to speak to me.
A few nobles gasped at the obvious insult, but I kept my pleasant smile fixed on my face, as though Cisco’s snub didn’t bother me. Right now it was a minor annoyance. Flores might have wheat fields and grape vines galore, but they didn’t have much of an army. I didn’t need an alliance with Flores as badly as I did with Vacuna, Ryusama, and especially Unger, so I swept past Cisco.
Our next stop was Heinrich, Dominic, and Rhea, who were standing close to the buffet tables. The two men looked quite handsome in their dark gray jackets, while Rhea was absolutely stunning in an emerald-green gown that highlighted her strong, beautiful curves.
The captain might have dressed up for the ball, but she hadn’t abandoned her duties any more than Paloma and Auster had. Two daggers were holstered to the thin silver belt that circled her waist, and I was willing to bet that she had at least two more strapped to her shins underneath her long skirt. Several Andvarian guards were also lurking nearby, ready to spring into action if anyone threatened their king and prince.
“Finally, some friendly faces,” I drawled.
Heinrich, Dominic, and Rhea all laughed at my joke, but their chuckles quickly faded away, and their faces grew watchful and serious again.
“I see that Cisco openly snubbed you, but that was to be expected,” Heinrich murmured, studying the other king over the rim of his champagne glass. “He’s always been jealous of Bellona’s mines and timber, and he never got along with Cordelia. That old fool is so desperate and greedy for the things he doesn’t have that he doesn’t realize Maximus is planning to take away everything he does have.”
“But Eon and Ruri spoke to you at length,” Dominic said. “How did that go?”
I shrugged. “I asked them to align with us and told them the Morricones will murder us all if they don’t. We’ll see if they take my warning to heart.”
“An alliance would have been much easier to come by if your assassin’s arrow had found Maximus’s throat earlier,” Heinrich murmured. “Bold of you to attack him so soon. Even I didn’t expect that from you, Everleigh. I think it earned you quite a bit of respect with everyone, even Cisco.”
Heinrich studied me with sharp, shrewd eyes, but once again I kept my face blank, neither confirming nor denying that I had anything to do with the attack on Maximus. Heinrich might be my friend, but I didn’t want to put him in a position where he had to lie to the other royals or his own people.
A courtier came up and whispered something in Heinrich’s ear, and he moved off to speak with the man. That left Sullivan and me standing with Dominic and Rhea.
I didn’t want to dodge any more awkward questions, so I turned to the other woman and changed the subject. “You look beautiful.”
“As do you.” Rhea smoothed down her skirt. “It’s nice to get dressed up, although I would much rather be wearing my sword and fighting leathers.”
“You’ll be wearing both of those all day tomorrow during the tournament.” Dominic curled his arm around her waist. “And I will be cheering you on the whole time.”
Rhea nudged him with her elbow. “You’d better cheer, if you know what’s good for you.”
Dominic pulled her a bit closer. “Oh, I certainly do,” he said in a low, husky voice.
She nudged him again, but her eyes were warm and luminous, and the scent of their rosy love for each other swirled through the air.
Sullivan discreetly pointed his finger to the side. “Xenia’s waving at us.”
I glanced in that direction. Xenia was standing with Zariza, and she tapped her silver ogre cane on the floor in a clear indication that we should come over there right now. Sullivan and I both wished Rhea good luck in the tournament tomorrow, said our goodbyes to Dominic, and headed over to the Ungers.
I hadn’t seen Xenia since she had left with the Ungers after the opening ceremonies, but she looked lovely in a dark green velvet gown patterned with tiny ogre faces done in silver thread. Her amber gaze swept over me from head to toe, and the ogre on her neck peered at me as well, as though they were both making sure I was okay after the plaza attack. She must have been satisfied that I was all right, because she relaxed a bit, and the ogre’s worried expression smoothed out as well.
I nodded at Xenia, then turned my attention to her cousin.
Even among the many beautiful women here, Queen Zariza was in a class by herself. She looked absolutely stunning in a green gown that brought out the deep, rich color of her glorious red hair, which cascaded in loose waves past her shoulders. The slits in the bottom of the gown offered teasing glimpses of her long, toned legs, while the deep, plunging neckline showed off her cleavage to its maximum effect.
A thick gold chain ringed her neck, along with a gold pendant shaped like a snarling ogre face that was bigger than my palm. Emerald eyes had been set in the ogre’s face, along with glittering diamond and ruby teeth, as though the creature had just taken a bloody bite out of someone. The ogre rose and fell and seemed to stare at me with every breath Zariza took, as did the morph mark on her neck.
“Queen Zariza, Lady Xenia.” I tipped my head to them. “You both look lovely.”
“I always look lovely,” Zariza said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I’m sure you think so.”
The words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Xenia grimaced, while Zariza arched an eyebrow at me.
I hadn’t meant to be quite so catty, but I couldn’t apologize. If Zariza thought I was some meek little thing, some weak queen who cowed at an angry look or a stinging rebuke, she would never align with me. No, I needed to be just as bold as Zariza herself was, insults and all.
“I’m so glad we’re finally getting a chance to talk,” I said, preparing to launch into the same speech I had given Eon and Ruri. “We both know that the Mortans are a serious threat—”
“Is it true that you’re a dancer?” Zariza asked, cutting in and cutting me off.
I blinked, surprised by the change in topic. I had expected some pointed questions about my attack on Maximus, not an inquiry about my dancing skills.
“Oh, it’s true,” Xenia smoothly answered for me. “Why, earlier this year, Everleigh performed the most beautiful rendition of the Tanzen Freund that I have ever seen.”
“Even more beautiful than the one I did for your sixtieth birthday a few years ago?” Zariza challenged.
“Yes,” Xenia said without hesitation. “You stumbled in the final section, remember? Queen Everleigh did not. Plus, your hand movements were terribly sloppy. I taught you better than that, but apparently you had forgotten all my lessons. Everleigh did not.”
I grimaced, really wishing that she would stop saying my name. I didn’t know what game Xenia was playing with her cousin, but hot, peppery anger blasted off Zariza, and the amber eyes of her inner ogre narrowed to thin slits. I might have insulted the queen, but Xenia had enraged her.
The Ungerian queen eyed her cousin a moment longer, then looked at me. “Tell me, Everleigh. Do you also know the Tanzen Falter?”
I had to bite my tongue to hold back a groan. Xenia had sai
d that Zariza would challenge me to perform the Tanzen Falter during the Regalia. I just hadn’t thought it would be at one of the balls in front of everyone. I should have known better, though. The Ungers loved dancing as much as they did fighting. To them, they were one and the same.
“Why are you asking her that?” Xenia said in a sharp tone, once again answering for me, and obviously steering the conversation in the direction she wanted it to go. “What do you expect? That Everleigh will agree to perform the dance right here and now?”
Zariza took a sip of her apple brandy, then used the glass to gesture around the ballroom. “We have a dance floor, musicians, and an audience of Ungers to judge the competition. That’s all we need.”
Xenia’s lips pressed together, as though she were most unhappy, but she reeked of smug triumph. Zariza was doing exactly what the older woman wanted. The two of them seemed to have a very strange relationship, one that was a mix of competition and affection, much like Xenia’s was with Serilda.
“You must forgive Zariza,” Xenia said. “She’s so used to getting her own way that she doesn’t realize we aren’t in Unger right now.”
Zariza sniffed, dismissing her cousin’s argument, then focused on me again. “Regardless, my point remains the same. So, Everleigh, will you perform the Tanzen Falter? That way, we can settle this silly nonsense about who is the best dancer once and for all.”
More smug satisfaction rolled off of Xenia, but I bit back another groan. Why couldn’t someone, anyone, just bloody align with me because it was the right thing to do? But no, we royals had to duel with cutting words and dirty looks. And now, apparently, another bloody dance. I wondered if Zariza would try to have me executed if she won, as was the Ungerian tradition. Probably not, given the fact that Paloma and Captain Auster were lurking nearby. Well, that was something, I supposed.
Still, if I was going to dance to Zariza’s tune, then I was getting something in return. Something other than sore, tired, aching feet.
“Very well. I will perform the Tanzen Falter—on one condition.”
Zariza arched her eyebrow again. “What?”
I looked at the ogre on her neck, then at her face, just like I had done with Ruri earlier. “If I win, then you will publicly, formally align Unger with Bellona and Andvari right here and now in front of everyone.”
Zariza arched her eyebrow even higher, then glanced at her cousin.
Xenia shrugged, although she couldn’t quite hide her grin. “I told you she was bold. You’re the one who suggested the dance. It is only fair that Everleigh suggest the prize.”
Zariza sniffed again. “And what do I get if I win?”
I racked my brain, trying to come up with something significant that wouldn’t be seen as an insult, given what was at stake on her side. Desperate, I glanced at Xenia, who shrugged. She might have set this up, but she couldn’t help me with the prize. Still, the longer I stared at Xenia, the more I thought about Castle Asmund, her home, where I had performed the Tanzen Freund. An idea popped into my mind.
“I’ll give you Winterwind, my family’s estate in the Spire Mountains. It’s not too far from Unger. You could turn it into a summer retreat, if you like.” I didn’t mention the fact that the property had been in ruins ever since the Mortans had killed my parents.
“A summer home in Bellona.” Her face brightened. “I like the sound of that. Deal.”
She stuck out her hand, and we shook on it. I started to let go, but Zariza tightened her grip and stepped closer.
“I hope you can dance as well as my cousin says,” she purred. “Otherwise I’m going to be very disappointed in you, Everleigh.”
I wasn’t sure whether the words were a threat, but I decided to respond in kind. “Oh, you’re going to be disappointed—when you lose.”
She blinked, as did the ogre on her neck. Both narrowed their eyes, and they studied me more closely, as though they were truly seeing me for the first time.
“Oh, yes,” Zariza purred again. “This is going to be fun.”
For the third time in as many minutes, all I could do was bite back a groan.
Chapter Fourteen
Zariza strode out to the center of the room, clapped her hands, and announced that she was commandeering the area for the Tanzen Falter.
Driscol looked absolutely shocked that someone would dare usurp his ball, and he kept opening and closing his mouth, as if he didn’t know what to say. Zariza’s pronouncement also wiped the vacant smile off Seraphine’s face, and her lips puckered, as though she’d bitten into something sour.
My nose twitched. This was the first time I’d seen Seraphine show any real emotion, and I could smell her hot, peppery anger all the way across the room. She was royally pissed that Zariza had taken over the ball. Interesting. I would have expected Driscol to be the angriest, since he was the head of their family, but he seemed lost more than anything else, and he kept glancing at his sister, as if she could somehow stop this.
But there was no stopping Zariza. The Ungerian queen ignored the DiLucris, ordered the floor to be cleared, and went over to talk to the musicians.
Sullivan and I were still standing next to Xenia, and Paloma and Auster came over to us, as did Serilda and Cho.
I crossed my arms over my chest and gave Xenia a flat look. “You said that Zariza would challenge me to perform the Tanzen Falter during a private meeting. Not that you were going to manipulate us into dancing at a royal ball. This is not what we discussed.”
Xenia shrugged. “I didn’t manipulate anything. I merely suggested something that Zariza was already considering. She always challenges someone to dance during one of the balls, and I figured that it might as well be you.”
“Wonderful.”
She ignored my sarcasm. “Besides, this was the easiest and most expedient way to get your alliance. Especially since people keep trying to kill you. Don’t you want Unger’s support before you die?”
I sighed. As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point, and the chances of me making it through the Regalia alive were not good.
“Please tell me the penalty for losing this dance isn’t immediate execution,” Paloma said, glancing over at Zariza, who was still talking to the musicians.
“Nope,” I replied. “Just the loss of my family’s home.”
“Ah,” Paloma said, her voice as matter-of-fact as Xenia’s had been. “A bargain, then.”
Despite the fact that it was in ruins, the thought of losing Winterwind still filled me with despair, but Paloma was right. Losing a home was far better than losing my life. But in some ways, the stakes were much, much higher than if we had been dancing to the death. Gaining an alliance with Unger would help protect Bellona and all her people—including myself—from the Mortans.
Cho glanced at Xenia, then me. “So this is the dance she’s been teaching you for the last several weeks.”
“Teaching?” I snorted. “More like beating it into me with her bloody cane.”
Xenia twirled her cane out to the side and dipped into a small curtsy before straightening. I gave her a sour look.
“Well, no matter the stakes, Zariza looks like she wants to win.” Auster eyed the other queen, who was now stabbing her finger at the musicians, giving them order after order.
Zariza stabbed her finger at the musicians a final time, then strode out to the center of the ballroom. She made several sharp shooing motions with her hands, and people shuffled back, creating an opening around her.
Once Zariza was satisfied that there was enough room, she stepped out of her heels and scooted them off to the side. Then she planted her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows, clearly daring me to step forward.
“Here we go again,” I muttered.
But Xenia was right. This was the quickest, easiest, and least dangerous way to get what I wanted, so I stepped out of my own sandals and strode to the center of the dance floor. The other royals, nobles, advisors, servants, and guards tiptoed forward, trying to get the
best view possible. I glanced around, but I didn’t see Maximus, Maeven, or any of the Mortans. Well, at least they wouldn’t be here to see me humiliate myself, if it came down to that.
I stopped about five feet away from Zariza and dropped into a traditional Bellonan curtsy. She responded with an Ungerian curtsy. Then we both straightened and raised our hands into the first position.
Zariza grinned, and the smell of her smug satisfaction swirled through the air. The Ungerian queen thought that I couldn’t possibly beat her, especially not at her own kingdom’s dance and tradition.
Anger sparked in my heart that she wasn’t taking me seriously, and I latched on to the emotion. Zariza might be Xenia’s cousin and a queen in her own right, but nobody dismissed me, and I was going to enjoy wiping that smirk off her face.
Winning was always the best revenge.
So I smiled back at her, showing even more teeth than the ogre on her neck was.
Showtime.
* * *
The opening strains of the music began. Zariza stared at me, and I looked right back at her.
Unlike the Tanzen Freund, which was to demonstrate friendship, the Tanzen Falter was a competition, pure and simple. The two dancers stared at each other while performing, and then, at the end, the audience decided the winner by clapping and cheering for the person they thought had done the best rendition. Whoever got the loudest and most enthusiastic applause won. Not an exact method, to be sure, but it was fair enough.
The music swelled like a tidal wave slowly rising, and Zariza lifted her arms a little higher, getting ready for the first section. I did the same.
And then we danced.
Almost immediately the music ramped up from a slow, sonorous waltz to a fast, lively reel. Zariza quickened her movements, and I did the same, never taking my eyes off her, not for a single second.
We both rose up on our toes and lifted our arms. Then, just as quickly, we snapped our arms down and rocked back on our heels in unison. The sounds of our bare feet touching down rang out like two swords clanging together, and the battle began in earnest.
Crush the King Page 19