by s. Behr
It was only a matter of time before a Phoenician would smash through my fortress of secrets, and Prince Leo was set to be King of the Phoenicians. That proved his abilities were great, and he would figure me out. I brushed aside the childish thoughts, praying for the dance to end so that I could make my escape.
As the music played on, Leo twirled me around the floor as if he had trained in ballroom dancing his whole life. I was beginning to wonder what he couldn’t do or at least not do well. Unlike the other courts, Leo’s reign was all but guaranteed, the election would be just a formality.
I glanced up at him, wondering what gifts he had that made people so certain he was the man for the job. People were always betting on elections, which candidates would finish the Elder Trials, and who would win in each court. But no one ever bet against Leo.
“Are you reading my mind?” I blurted, and as soon as the words left my lips, I could feel my face light on fire. No one asked questions like that, but to my horror, I plowed on. “Like right now? If you decided you wanted to know what I had for breakfast, could you look into my thoughts and see that?”
His feet slid to a stop, and his face hardened, making me want to run back and take my chances in the Wild Steel Mountains.
My fingers covered my mouth, and I finally came to my senses. “I am sorry. I–I don’t know what came over me,” I stammered. I prepared myself for the shaming I deserved after breaking the one cardinal rule of Ameran society.
He said, “No, I am not, and it really doesn’t work that way.” He pulled me back into the dance as we turned and stepped, staying with the music as the crowd moved along with us.
My eyes widened. He didn’t look angry or even upset.
“And although we have only just officially met, I would like to think if I wanted to know what you had for breakfast, I could simply ask,” Leo said.
“Of course. That makes sense,” I said, looking away and chewing my lip. Then, for no reason, I added, “Blueberry pancakes. For breakfast, I had pancakes.”
“That sounds delicious.” He grinned.
Despite the easy out he gave me, I jumped right back in. “You said it doesn’t really work that way. Does that mean you could if you wanted?” I asked, feeling my neck warm. This was a ball, not an inquisition. But with that question, any hope of him thinking I was capable of a normal conversation had been squashed.
“Only if you wanted me to,” he answered.
“And if I didn’t want you to?” I pried further.
“It’s not allowed for telepaths to breach someone’s mind without their permission. It is a capital offense in my realm.” His brows furrowed.
I held my breath at the words “capital offense.” In ancient times, people found guilty of capital crimes had been sentenced to death. Each realm now had a different punishment to fit their definition of the crime, but death had not been carried out in any realm in my lifetime, not even in my grandparents’ lifetime. I didn’t even know what it meant to be found guilty of any crime here in Neyr, but I shuddered thinking of how close I came to finding out.
Bringing our conversation to a new low, I asked, “What is the punishment if someone broke that law?”
“Exile from Phoenix, maybe from Amera if the Elder Council doesn’t agree to take you in,” he said evenly.
I had never heard of anyone who was sentenced to either, but the idea of rehabilitation with the Elder Council didn’t sound too bad. Then again, the Elder Council was a mystery to most. The Garden of the Elders was a mountain in the center of Elderden. It was where the council convened, and it was not open to visitors without either applying for the Elder Trials, or some other very good, or very big reason.
“That’s a lot to risk. I can’t imagine why someone would give up their whole life for that, can you?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said, watching me closely.
I didn’t know what to think about that. In some ways, it reminded me of the surveillance in the Ark. Both seemed like such an invasion of privacy, but Hailey had been programmed to conduct such surveillance. For a telepath, the stakes were far higher. I just didn’t see how someone could risk everything to cross that line, not if there were another way.
I was glad there was an incentive for telepaths not to abuse that power, but with Leo’s answer, I wondered if they did anyway.
There had been only silence between us for several steps when he asked, “Does that make you uncomfortable?”
“Yes,” I replied, surprised by my honesty, but I couldn’t explain to him why. The reasons I had such an immense fear at the thought of anyone ever looking into my mind and finding out it was already crowded and full of things I never wanted anyone to know.
“Do you think it’s possible there would ever be a reason why it would be okay?” he asked, and I realized he didn’t sound upset. He sounded curious.
“I guess if it was dire, or I lost the ability to speak. Like if I had laryngitis and a really bad itch in the middle of my back that I couldn’t reach,” I answered. Roses and thorns! Stop talking.
His face softened, he looked amused. I did not understand this Boy. Man. Prince. But as he watched me with his intense blue eyes, his arms still holding me securely, I realized that I cared what he thought about me. I wasn’t sure why. I had never cared before, but somewhere between the dinner and this dance, I became afraid of what he would think of me if he knew the truth.
We continued to step, turn, and spin, one beat at a time. I was a little surprised that he was seeing this dance through. I was determined to say something that wasn’t offensive by Ameran society standards, but my mind resorted to babbling.
“I’m sorry. I should never have brought all of that up—not the best ballroom conversation. It’s just that, well, my Grandpa Liam is from there, um, your home. I mean the Phoenix Realm. I believe he’s from the capital, but honestly, I don’t know that much about the Phoenix Realm, except what I learned in my lessons. My mother spent half her childhood there, but she doesn’t talk about it much. I believe that’s where she met your parents. And, well, this is the first time I’m meeting a lot of the current courts. I don’t get out much. But you probably knew that already. It seems to be the gossip feeds favorite thing to say about me. Uh, not that you read the gossip feeds.”
It was getting worse the longer I spoke, and I could feel a flush spread from my face to my fingertips. “I’m so sorry.” Turning away from him, I searched desperately for the nearest exit when he grabbed my fingers and pulled me back into the dance.
“Don’t apologize,” he said. “I like that you felt you could ask me anything.”
He spoke so earnestly it would be easy to convince myself to believe he really meant what he said, but I hardly knew him.
“In family units, it’s a common form of communication,” he said. “However, and this is the most important part, it has to be approved by each of us. I can reject any of them if I want or vice versa.”
“Like hanging up on a group video call?” I asked.
He chuckled and replied, “Yes, exactly like that.”
I didn’t know what it was about him. Despite my blundered attempts at conversation, he had been kind and was exactly what Nyssa had said: perfect. I realized I’d been staring at his mouth and thinking things no proper lady should be thinking, which proved he was either not listening to my thoughts, or he was extremely polite. Either way, it made me like him even more. I felt my lips tug into a hopeless grin.
I liked his laugh, too. It was a sound I could get used to hearing. It almost made me forget what a disaster my life was. There were only a few people who could do that, Lily, Rall… My inner voice was exceptionally good at making me feel better, although I guess that didn’t count.
I sighed, thinking about my inner voice and a crazy tug of war filtered into my chest. I truly missed it.
“What is it?” Leo asked.
I glanced up to see a look of concern on his face. “I was just thinking of old friends.”
&
nbsp; “Someone special?”
“In a way, yes,” I answered, knowing better than to explain that I had an imaginary friend. I’d already demonstrated the worst way to hold a conversation, but when it came to that special voice, I didn’t worry. I had kept him secret for so long it was like breathing.
“I’m sorry. I’m sure I am no consolation, but I’m here if you need someone to talk to,” he said, and my heart skipped a beat. Leo’s arm was around my waist, and my mind just came to the realization that the music had changed somewhere in all my babbling, and we were lost in the next song.
I held my breath as I stared at the tiny space of air between us. All of this seemed impossible and perfect at the very same time.
Until he said, “We’ve met before.” My insides crumbled. “In the hover. I was there when they found you.”
I nearly fainted from relief. Recovering quickly, I replied, “I was told, but I don’t remember anything from that day or any time until I woke up three days later.” He had been at the tribunal, too, but I desperately wanted to avoid that rocky train of thought.
“Yes, but before that,” he said, and the images of the video playback flooded my mind.
I nearly choked. Maybe he was reading my mind.
“We were babies… Well, you were a baby.” He laughed. “I don’t remember much, but my mom teases that from the moment I saw you, I was so taken with you she feared if I ever saw you in person again, she would lose me to you.”
I stopped dancing and stared at him. Did he truly not remember any of it? Had his parents kept it a secret from him as well? He was older than I was by a few years; he should have been able to remember something. Surely, he must have realized his mother wasn’t teasing. Did he really not see that she was trying to warn him?
Suddenly, the world spun, and I could see it through his mother’s eyes. I couldn’t breathe. Queen Leda was right. I had nearly killed this man. This wonderful person that so many people adored. She had every right to be afraid. I looked into his concerned face. He no idea what I had done to him. I might have been a baby, but what if my mother hadn’t been able to save him? Maybe they were right to bind my powers. I felt ill.
“Are you okay?” The kindness on his face made me feel worse.
I shook my head. “Thank you so much for everything. For finding me, for saving me, for everything. I–I,” I stammered, my mind a wreck of words.
We took one last turn across the dance floor, and I saw the line of people watching us dance had doubled. Crest Ryan stood alongside people from several courts, his gaze locked on us. Remembering what Rall had said, I turned away from the reporter’s stare.
Leo looked worried. “Is everything all right? You don’t look well. I should find your mother,” he began scanning the room.
“No, I’m fine.” That was the last thing I needed. Frantically, I tried again. “Thank you for finding me. You and your brother. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t saved me.” Miraculously, I managed to speak without bursting into tears. The craziness of my life was getting to me. I was beginning to crack. I had to get out of here.
“I happened to be in the hover when I saw you. I’m grateful I was, but if I had to fly to the ends of the earth, I would every time,” he answered.
I closed my eyes. Of course, he would say the perfect thing. As the song mercifully ended, I bent in a quick curtsy to his bow and rose. “Thank you for a lovely dance. Two dances. I guess that deserves two thank yous, at the very least,” I rambled. I took a deep breath. “It seems I’m going to be thanking you for the rest of my life.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I was lucky,” he said with a sharp twist in his eyes and a grin. “But I do like the idea of you see me being a part of the rest of your life.”
Oh, flowers and blooms. “I don’t know what it is about you.” I laughed and shook my head. The last few spins had finally made me snap.
“What do you mean?” he asked, his expression innocent.
I had to get some air. “It doesn’t matter. There’s a line of adorable dance partners waiting patiently for you. I have taken up too much of your time. Thank you again, Your Highness. I’ll see you around.” I waved as I stumbled away.
Once I was out of view, I pushed my way through the crowd and out of the ballroom into the surprisingly full terrace of people mingling and laughing.
Where were all these people coming from? I just wanted to get back to my room. I wanted out of these clothes, but most importantly, I wanted to talk to Hailey.
I spun around, heading for the private lift that would take me home when I ran smack into a brick wall that doubled as a chest.
“I am sorry,” we both exclaimed as I stumbled, and he caught me.
When I was steady on both feet, I said, “Thank you, Kai—” I suppressed a gasp when I found myself staring at a scar over the left eye of the human standing before me. I knew without a doubt this was Lance Yzer.
“Are you all right, Princess?” he asked.
“Yes. Um, no. I just remembered I was supposed to give the Phoenix prince a dance ten minutes ago,” I lied. “He’s probably looking for me now.” I turned away from the elevators and back toward the ballroom. If Lance was here, Kai couldn’t have gone far. I saw him chatting with a large group while I danced with Leo.
“Really? I thought I saw you and he dance to two songs,” he said, eyeing me.
How did he know? “Yes. What I meant is I was to dance with the other one. Brothers, you know?”
His expression remained neutral as we turned back into the ballroom side by side. I expected Lance to take this chance to duck out, especially since I knew his brother was already here. But instead of disappearing into the crowd, Lance continued to follow me.
“You’ve kept your prince waiting this long, what do you say to another dance?”
I hoped I appeared as if everything was normal, whatever that was, but I couldn’t stop wondering why he would take a chance at being found out when his brother was nearby. What did he hope to gain by passing himself off as Kai?
“Um, sure,” I agreed. Maybe he would give up something Kai did not. He took my hand, and with a twirl, we joined the swirl of other couples on the dance floor.
“You know your waltzes,” I said coyly.
“Yes, this one is a bit different than The Blue Danube, but I think it moves fairly well, wouldn’t you say?”
But he gave me no chance to respond as he twirled me hard and pulled me back into a lifted spin. Our faces were closer together than they had been just a few days ago. The same heat in my cheeks flamed now as when I had noticed the amber in his eyes in the cave outside the Ark.
“I have only been here for a week, but I find so many things about your realm beautiful,” he said with a thoughtful gaze.
“Thank you. I agree it is special.”
“Even the air. It always seems to smell like some kind of flower or fruit. Is that something you do on purpose?” he asked, moving me smoothly across the dance floor.
He looked like Kai, but his manners, though easy, were different. My neck grew warm. Where was this coming from?
“We are the agricultural realm,” I said. “What is your favorite so far?”
He looked at me for a long time. “It’s a toss-up.”
I tilted my head. “Between?”
“Apples and lavender.”
I would’ve tripped, but he lifted me in another spin.
He knew. But, how?
Smiling widely, I tried not to let my anxiety show by changing the subject to the weather. He ignored my attempt at small talk, twirling me around and displaying his agility.
He had to know his brother wasn’t this good.
The crowd seemed to thicken around the edges of the dance floor, and I tried to make out their faces, searching for Kai, but all I saw were people of the Ameran courts I didn’t recognize.
I got dizzy from focusing too hard on the crowd and not enough on my own feet. As the song ended, I nearly fell over.
Lance pulled me to him, keeping me from embarrassing myself. Both of us were out of breath as the entire ballroom applauded, the musicians and dancers alike.
“See, your Asher Prince hardly noticed.” He smirked. I had only ever seen the serious, intense expression he’d worn at the Ark, but this Lance might as well have been his twin, his smile and charm were just as dazzling.
Prince Siri approached and stepped into our space, holding his hand out for me. “I believe the last dance was my turn.”
I smiled slyly at the younger Phoenix prince, wondering if he thought he was rescuing me from the human, or if he had read my mind and knew I had used him as an excuse.
Either way, I played along. “I am sorry, Siri, I didn’t have much choice. Mr. Yzer was very convincing.”
“Kai, please. No need to be so formal.” He bowed. “Thank you, Your Highness, that was something special. Prince Siri, I hope you enjoy your dance with this lovely lady as much as I did.” He turned to me. “Enjoy your dance. Thank you again for a second chance to have you to myself.”
“Thank you, Kai,” I said with a short nod, searching his forehead again to be sure. I saw the scar, though it was slightly obscured by wisps of hair. Whatever game the twins were playing, they were good.
“Such smooth moves, Yzer, I am impressed,” Prince Siri declared, not letting Lance get away. “I wondered how well us mere Amerans would hold up against the impressive physical specimens you Hg-1 have turned out to be.”
Lance’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We can always settle it on the field in a game. If you’re willing, of course. Unless you’re worried your people aren’t up to it?” Lance taunted.
I didn’t know this Asher Prince, but from Lily’s updates of the gossip feeds, he was prone to bouts of arrogance. I knew those stories were bloated and likely untrue, and yet, I didn’t like where this was headed.
“We are always ready for a friendly game,” Siri said with a laugh. “A fair game, no abilities, aside from skill and cunning. That can’t be helped.” Siri flashed his teeth, chest puffed. “What will it be? You are the guest here in Amera, your choice.”