your godfather could see what the next months will bring. Something tells me that news of your achievements will make him proud.”
“I hope so. I’m just happy he’ll be back on Earth with friends. Especially since doctors indicate his latest tests have arrested his disease. In fact, if he stays stable, he’ll be able to travel on his own and come back to visit me for Christmas. Of course, I’m not happy he’s leaving so quickly but it’s what he wants. And I’ll support his decision.”
“I’m happy to hear the treatments are working.”
“Thank you. He and I have said our goodbyes. His last orders were for no escort. I’m to remain at the ball and not accompany him to the airfield. The idea is to minimize the shock of his sudden retirement. So, all in all, things are not so dire for either him or me. Whatever happens, I mean to do my duty to the best of my ability. And without hiding behind any disguises. I’m tired of it!”
“Let any man harass you and I’ll be the first to—”
“I’ll take care of myself, Sir Dillon. You just dance with me,” she merrily said as she put both hands on his chest. “I don’t think there are any rules prohibiting us from… fraternizing …though I’m quite sure we’re being watched and gossiped about at this very moment. Care to take on the Mythrealian version of paparazzi? It could get brutal.”
He laughed loudly. “Let the damned fools talk! My Earth-born grandmother fraternized with a Mythrealian prince and eventually bore him five sons. One of them eventually became our king. No one said a damned thing about it then and won’t now. They wouldn’t dare. But uh…what is the nature of this fraternization , Keira. Are we talking a professional, public lunch now and then or…something more?”
She simply lifted her brows and remained silent. When he smiled down at her with his heart in his eyes, melting into the floor seemed a very real possibility.
Whether coincidence or Fate’s design, the orchestra leader led his musicians into a fanfare signaling the first dance of the evening— The Sleeping Beauty Waltz by Tchaikovsky.
Dillon automatically slid his right hand to the small of her back.
She put her left palm on his shoulder and placed her right one in his free hand—a classic waltz position. Though he was a good fifteen inches taller, he held her in his arms like a man used to gracefully maneuvering a woman around any floor.
As the only royal presence on the ballroom floor, protocol dictated the matter. Dillon was to be seen leading the first dance with whomever he chose. That this particular ball was an Earth function and an Earth holiday made no difference. The highest ranking member of royalty—or enforcers of the uppermost rank if no royalty was present—always led the first dance and had for centuries.
For the first time in a very long while, Keira didn’t care about the mindless blathering that might arise. She didn’t care about any emerging snark that may well accompany her new appearance. Tired of certain petty aspects of enforcer life, she was done with gossips. For tonight and from now on, all things were new. Mythreal held possibilities she’d never considered. One of those was a night in the arms of one of this garden world’s most eligible bachelors—a man willing to give up his beloved career and face imprisonment and even death, just to do what he believed was right.
There was magic in the night and she meant to enjoy it.
****
Dillon danced her around the ballroom knowing they were now the center of attention. In her lovely, flowing gown the waltz and her grace in performing it perfectly captured his attention to the exclusion of all else.
The woman in his arms was mesmerizing. She was smart and would someday make her own mark in Mythreal’s history. Instinct made him believe it. One didn’t shine the way she did tonight and not transition that dazzling presence into other endeavors.
As they moved, he recalled
“I hope so. I’m just happy he’ll be back on Earth with friends. Especially since doctors indicate his latest tests have arrested his disease. In fact, if he stays stable, he’ll be able to travel on his own and come back to visit me for Christmas. Of course, I’m not happy he’s leaving so quickly but it’s what he wants. And I’ll support his decision.”
“I’m happy to hear the treatments are working.”
“Thank you. He and I have said our goodbyes. His last orders were for no escort. I’m to remain at the ball and not accompany him to the airfield. The idea is to minimize the shock of his sudden retirement. So, all in all, things are not so dire for either him or me. Whatever happens, I mean to do my duty to the best of my ability. And without hiding behind any disguises. I’m tired of it!”
“Let any man harass you and I’ll be the first to—”
“I’ll take care of myself, Sir Dillon. You just dance with me,” she merrily said as she put both hands on his chest. “I don’t think there are any rules prohibiting us from… fraternizing …though I’m quite sure we’re being watched and gossiped about at this very moment. Care to take on the Mythrealian version of paparazzi? It could get brutal.”
He laughed loudly. “Let the damned fools talk! My Earth-born grandmother fraternized with a Mythrealian prince and eventually bore him five sons. One of them eventually became our king. No one said a damned thing about it then and won’t now. They wouldn’t dare. But uh…what is the nature of this fraternization , Keira. Are we talking a professional, public lunch now and then or…something more?”
She simply lifted her brows and remained silent. When he smiled down at her with his heart in his eyes, melting into the floor seemed a very real possibility.
Whether coincidence or Fate’s design, the orchestra leader led his musicians into a fanfare signaling the first dance of the evening— The Sleeping Beauty Waltz by Tchaikovsky.
Dillon automatically slid his right hand to the small of her back.
She put her left palm on his shoulder and placed her right one in his free hand—a classic waltz position. Though he was a good fifteen inches taller, he held her in his arms like a man used to gracefully maneuvering a woman around any floor.
As the only royal presence on the ballroom floor, protocol dictated the matter. Dillon was to be seen leading the first dance with whomever he chose. That this particular ball was an Earth function and an Earth holiday made no difference. The highest ranking member of royalty—or enforcers of the uppermost rank if no royalty was present—always led the first dance and had for centuries.
For the first time in a very long while, Keira didn’t care about the mindless blathering that might arise. She didn’t care about any emerging snark that may well accompany her new appearance. Tired of certain petty aspects of enforcer life, she was done with gossips. For tonight and from now on, all things were new. Mythreal held possibilities she’d never considered. One of those was a night in the arms of one of this garden world’s most eligible bachelors—a man willing to give up his beloved career and face imprisonment and even death, just to do what he believed was right.
There was magic in the night and she meant to enjoy it.
****
Dillon danced her around the ballroom knowing they were now the center of attention. In her lovely, flowing gown the waltz and her grace in performing it perfectly captured his attention to the exclusion of all else.
The woman in his arms was mesmerizing. She was smart and would someday make her own mark in Mythreal’s history. Instinct made him believe it. One didn’t shine the way she did tonight and not transition that dazzling presence into other endeavors.
As they moved, he recalled
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