Read Online Veiled Innocence (Book One, The Soul Cycle) by Krystle Jones - Free Book Online
Authors: Krystle Jones
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from his chair.
She took that as her cue. She walked to the center of the “dance floor” and gave Gerard another low curtsy.
Malachai hovered at the edge of the crowd, in case things got out of hand, she supposed. “We present tonight’s tribute, an exotic beauty from the darkest corner of the Black Desert.”
She res isted the urge to roll her eyes and mentally prepped herself for the first downbeat.
“With this tribute, may Erebus give us His blessing and protection from death. Without further ado, I give you… Solera!”
The room erupted into applaus e and cheers as the musicians, who seemed to hav e materialized out of nowhere, struck up a fast paced gigue.
She immediately picked up the pulse. Music had been revered in Stradvär, and she had been one of the best singers and dancers in the Empire. She twirled and spun, letting her body swing to the exotic melody in long, sensual moves. Her legs jerked and stretched beneath the slits of her dress; the silver bracelets o n her wrists and ankles jangled with each bound. She tossed her hair about, drawing attention to the revealing neckline.
As she swirled and ducked to the dizzying pulse, the men grew rowdier, cheering and whistling as she spun past them. The music came to a climax , and she twirled onto Gerard’s lap, wrapping one arm aroun d his neck for support and bending into a dramatic pose on the last chord.
When the music ceased, the silence was swallowed by thunderous applause and whistles as she hopped up from his lap to bow. The women barely clapped. They scowled at her as the men howled their approval.
Slow, deliberate clapping from behind her pulled her attention from the crowd. When she turned, Gerard was standing there, looking very smug. “Bravo,” he said, extending his hand. She took it, and he brought her hand to his lips. “I wonder what other moves you have,” he whispered, laying her hand across the fold of his elbow. “Come.”
She knew what was coming next, what he expected of her. She w ould never let him get that far , but she smiled anyway, flirting casually with him as he led her through the crowd. She noticed whenever he bumped into someone his hand would disappear for a second and emerge holding jewelry or sacks of coins.
She raised an eyebrow. “Quite a lucrative business you run down here.”
Gerard beamed at her as if she had given him a compliment. “You’re very observant for a simple dancer. Perhaps you have talents in the sleight of hand yourself?” He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, and she almost cringed.
She nodded and tried to appear humble. “I have talents, though none as impressive as yours. I was so excited when I received your invitation. ” An invitation she had paid her informant handsomely to secure. “ You’re as wise as you are powerful, with spies around every corner, even in the palace itself I’m told.” This was it, the lead she had been waiting for her entire life. She had cast her line; now she had to see if he would take the bait.
Gerard came to an abrupt halt. His face hardened as he studied hers meticulously in silence. “The palace, you say. No one should know of this save for myself and those within my network. How did a whore come about such information?” His muscles tensed, and his grip threatened to crush her fingers.
Her mind reeled. I spoke too soon!
She shrugged, trying to play it off as if it were nothing. “My L ord, rumors can be exaggerated sometimes. All I know are simple stories.” She held his gaze, not daring to look away.
Gerard sear ched her eyes, and for a moment she saw longing and regret. He sighed and shook his head. “You don’t understand. When you’ve worked so hard to build something up, something that’s completely yours, you have to fight every day to keep it. And I’m afraid, my pet, my secrets must remain precisely that. Secrets.” He let go of her hand and stepped away from her. The revelry died down as
She took that as her cue. She walked to the center of the “dance floor” and gave Gerard another low curtsy.
Malachai hovered at the edge of the crowd, in case things got out of hand, she supposed. “We present tonight’s tribute, an exotic beauty from the darkest corner of the Black Desert.”
She res isted the urge to roll her eyes and mentally prepped herself for the first downbeat.
“With this tribute, may Erebus give us His blessing and protection from death. Without further ado, I give you… Solera!”
The room erupted into applaus e and cheers as the musicians, who seemed to hav e materialized out of nowhere, struck up a fast paced gigue.
She immediately picked up the pulse. Music had been revered in Stradvär, and she had been one of the best singers and dancers in the Empire. She twirled and spun, letting her body swing to the exotic melody in long, sensual moves. Her legs jerked and stretched beneath the slits of her dress; the silver bracelets o n her wrists and ankles jangled with each bound. She tossed her hair about, drawing attention to the revealing neckline.
As she swirled and ducked to the dizzying pulse, the men grew rowdier, cheering and whistling as she spun past them. The music came to a climax , and she twirled onto Gerard’s lap, wrapping one arm aroun d his neck for support and bending into a dramatic pose on the last chord.
When the music ceased, the silence was swallowed by thunderous applause and whistles as she hopped up from his lap to bow. The women barely clapped. They scowled at her as the men howled their approval.
Slow, deliberate clapping from behind her pulled her attention from the crowd. When she turned, Gerard was standing there, looking very smug. “Bravo,” he said, extending his hand. She took it, and he brought her hand to his lips. “I wonder what other moves you have,” he whispered, laying her hand across the fold of his elbow. “Come.”
She knew what was coming next, what he expected of her. She w ould never let him get that far , but she smiled anyway, flirting casually with him as he led her through the crowd. She noticed whenever he bumped into someone his hand would disappear for a second and emerge holding jewelry or sacks of coins.
She raised an eyebrow. “Quite a lucrative business you run down here.”
Gerard beamed at her as if she had given him a compliment. “You’re very observant for a simple dancer. Perhaps you have talents in the sleight of hand yourself?” He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, and she almost cringed.
She nodded and tried to appear humble. “I have talents, though none as impressive as yours. I was so excited when I received your invitation. ” An invitation she had paid her informant handsomely to secure. “ You’re as wise as you are powerful, with spies around every corner, even in the palace itself I’m told.” This was it, the lead she had been waiting for her entire life. She had cast her line; now she had to see if he would take the bait.
Gerard came to an abrupt halt. His face hardened as he studied hers meticulously in silence. “The palace, you say. No one should know of this save for myself and those within my network. How did a whore come about such information?” His muscles tensed, and his grip threatened to crush her fingers.
Her mind reeled. I spoke too soon!
She shrugged, trying to play it off as if it were nothing. “My L ord, rumors can be exaggerated sometimes. All I know are simple stories.” She held his gaze, not daring to look away.
Gerard sear ched her eyes, and for a moment she saw longing and regret. He sighed and shook his head. “You don’t understand. When you’ve worked so hard to build something up, something that’s completely yours, you have to fight every day to keep it. And I’m afraid, my pet, my secrets must remain precisely that. Secrets.” He let go of her hand and stepped away from her. The revelry died down as
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