Rowan and Evie walked to the dance floor hand in hand. They stood at the centre. He stood before her, gave her a bow, holding his hand up, and she took it. They started the dance, and slowly he moved her in circles and back to him. They danced in sync. "I thought I heard you were a maid before being promoted", he said. "I was. So what?" Evie responded, twirling away from him and back.
"But you dance so well", he said. "Yes, I do. You assumed I wouldn't be able to?" Evie said. "You are just like your brother", she added.
"I take great offence to that", Rowan responded, his eyes turning to a slit. "In what way are you better than him?" Evie asked, curious at his hostility.
"I am no coward; I fight for the ones I hold in my heart, but he hides behind his responsibility as an emperor, and I wouldn't trust him that much if I were you", Rowan responded, his gaze far, as if lost in a faraway memory.
