I watched, transfixed.
They moved like long shadows, like smoke into the sky, twisting, twining, twirling, their movements attuned to the violence of the music. I had never seen anything like it. I loved it and I also hated it—the way it reached into my chest with claws and pulled all my emotions to the surface. I felt so many things all at once: confusion and shame and sadness. When it was over, the sudden cheers startled me, and I was slow to rise to my feet with the others.
Adrian looked down at me, and he reached out a hand, trailing his fingers over the high part of my cheek.
“Would you dance with me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I whispered.
He took my hand, holding it aloft as we made our way to the floor, drawing me against him and guiding us in smooth circles. I held his gaze, my body and brain focused on the feel of him moving with me.
“You enjoyed the performance?” he asked.
“Yes.”
I maintained his gaze as he guided me into a spin, and when I came back to him, he held me tighter than before. I’d never imagined dancing with him like this or feeling the way I did now—comforted and safe. And as I looked into his eyes, I recalled a few of the words Ravena had spoken.
Tell me how conflicted you are between the love you have for your father and the love you have for Adrian.
I would not call this love, but it was true my feelings had grown far more complicated. And in six days’ time, my father would bear witness to it.
Suddenly, I felt sick.
We finished the dance in silence and to great applause, and as we returned to our seats, I took a long drink from my goblet. As the liquid hit my tongue, I knew the bitterness was wrong. I spit the contents out, but it was already too late—whatever was in my cup had taken effect. My head spun, my throat felt tight, and my stomach knotted.
“Isolde?”
I heard Adrian say my name, but I could not focus, and then I was falling.
“Isolde!”
He gripped my arm and jerked me to him. My head fell into the crook of his arm. I could not hold it up, and as his face came into view, the only thing I could focus on was the fierceness of his eyes as he spoke my name.
“Poison,” I managed to gasp as his face began to mutate. The whole world was melting. I was too.
“No, no, no,” I heard him say, and I thought that he had lowered me to the ground, but I could not be certain because I could not see. “Isolde? Isolde!”
Then Adrian’s voice echoed suddenly—a firm, frantic sound. “Daroc! Lock the doors! No one leaves until we discover who poisoned the queen.”
I was awake long enough to feel the air swirl around me. It seemed to thicken and darken, like tendrils of smoke, and out of the darkness, once again came Adrian’s voice. “Don’t leave me.”
*
It was so hot.
Scorching.
Sweat pooled on every dip of my skin, in every crease. I thrashed, suffocated by it, by the air, heavy with heat.
Hush, my sweet.
A cold hand touched my forehead.
Adrian.
Hold on to me. I will carry you through.
I woke, drenched, my vision blurry. I turned my head and found Adrian watching me.
For a moment, I thought he was angry with me. I’d never seen his face carved quite so severely. My brows lowered over my eyes, and I tried to speak his name, but my tongue felt swollen and sour in my mouth.
“Shh,” he said, leaning forward, and some of that harshness drained from his face. He placed a cool hand upon my forehead. “Drink this.”
He tilted my head, and I drank deeply.
“Not too much,” he said. “You will make yourself sick.”
I sank into the pillows again, my body weak. My eyes felt like lead and closed of their own accord.
“Sleep,” he whispered. “I will be here when you wake.”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead.
The next time I opened my eyes, I stared back at Ana.
“You are awake,” she said, relief softening her features.
“About time,” I heard Sorin say.
“Careful, she might stab you,” said Isac.
“We are glad to have you back, my queen,” Miha said.
I blinked, attempting to clear my vision and get my bearings. I realized I’d been brought to Adrian’s room. Ana sat nearby while Sorin, Isac, and Miha stood apart near the doors as if guarding the entrance.
“Where is Adrian?” I asked.
“He will return shortly,” Ana interjected quickly. “Let me help you sit up.”
I rose as she stuffed pillows behind my back. I felt dizzy and nauseous, and I recalled how I’d gotten here—someone had poisoned my wine.