Rona
He placed a hand on my waist as our fingers entwined.
The music slowed to a gentle waltz but the murmurs rose.
I could hear every whisper and feel their piercing gaze on my skin.
"Is he dancing?" The voice trailed off to a gentle whisper. "With a mortal?"
I forced the voices out. They weren't important right now.
All I had to do was.... dance.
'One, Two.' I twirled, chanting the mantra in my head. 'Left foot, Left foot and a right.'
My heel dug into his feet and colour drained from my face.
"It was supposed to be a left." I winced as my heel dug into his other foot.
"You are," he took a deep breath, his face tightening with every missed step. "Quite the dancer."
"I warned you." My voice broke off into a whisper, "That's why I was permanently banned from dance class."
He raised a brow, mirth twinkling in his eyes. "That's a story I haven't heard before."
I rolled my eyes, "Apparently a man can only lose so many toes."
"Indeed." His lips curved into a smile. "Just follow my lead."
I nodded, dazzled by his smile. Then I felt his grip tighten around my waist as he dipped me.
The entire crowd went still and for just three seconds it was just us and the gentle song floating in our ears.
I slid my arms around his shoulders as we moved in sync. Skin against skin.
"I told you." He whispered as his nose brushed against my neck. "You're not a bad dancer."
"My former partners would beg to differ." I chuckled, unconsciously leaning into his touch. "I've sent them to hospitals from the dance floor."
"Then why am I still here." His voice grew dangerously low and I think my heart forgot it was supposed to beat.
My cheeks flared a bright crimson as his lips ghosted across my skin.
'Just an accident.' I reminded myself before my head spiraled into thoughts I couldn't afford to have.
"I have lots of theories actually." I could barely hide the stutter in my voice. "Maybe it's because you're an immortal, a god and you've probably lived for thousands of years."
The sound of the harp slowed to a gentle beat, its last note.
"You make a fair point."
"I do, don't I?" I didn't want the song to end. I didn't want this feeling to end.
It was warm and I hadn't felt that familiar sense of longing for a long long time.
'So please.' I prayed to whatever cared to listen, 'Let this moment last just a little bit longer.'
He pulled me towards himself and I laid my head against his chest. He was solid, the kind that every lady wanted to lean on.
'What are you thinking!' Despair crawled up from the depth of mind. It's been a long time since I heard the voice in my head.
'Revenge! That's the plan.' It always was. 'We need revenge not whatever this is.'
It wasn't lying. I needed to get my head in the game. The Progenitor was attractive but he wasn't the goal.
Just a Passing.
The goal was to get back to my world and rain hell on the both of them. I'll let them know that Rona Reid was not to be triffled with.
I clenched my fists, the memory gurgled back up to the surface. The dark mouldy cells, the slop they called food.
The fake concern. The lies. The betrayal.
They'd all regret it. And I'll be the one make sure of it.
"Rona." He placed his hand on my back, gently stroking my spine. "Are you okay."
The words shriveled in my throat. "I'm okay."
Lies.
But he didn't need to know that. He wouldn't even care if he knew.
"I'm alright." I lifted my head, eyes twinkling as I smiled. "Why wouldn't I be?"
He stared at my face for a moment before turning his gaze away. "You're not."
"And how would you know that?" I asked, curiosity peeking through my voice as the music slowly faded.
He sighed, "We'll talk about it later."
A stray strand of hair slipped from the knot he tied and I reached out on my tiptoes, tucking it behind his ear.
"I'm jealous of how long your hair is." I cut in, changing the conversation. "It's so dark and luscious."
His forehead creased together as he studied my face like it held all the secrets to the universe.
"The song is about to end." I reminded as the notes slowed down even more.
Kethan's arm encircled my waist as he lowered me in one final dip. "Don't remind me."
I averted my eyes, forcing myself to focus.
This man... He was just..
From the corner of my eye, I caught a certain red haired lord lifting his cup towards me in a toast.
One of his elves, Nita, was draped around his shoulders as she peppered kisses against his skin.
The other laid too close to his groin. I shifted my gaze back to his face. I'm not sure I wanted to know what was going on over there.
"Focus on me." His voice drew me back, "Focus only on me, not them."
I felt his forehead press against mine as the final note rang out.
"I will." I whispered as our nose brushed against eachother's.
The song finally came to an end.
He helped me stand up. "You're not a bad dancer, you've just had bad partners."
"And you're a good one?" I asked, lowering my knees in a curtsy.
"I'd like to think I am."