KINGSLAYER

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The center of the room began to clear. At the opposite end, the esteemed musicians readied their instruments and the entire place seemed to hold its breath. Though very few Oceanic royal balls such as this one had been held in my lifetime, I had been instructed by Antinoch on how the events would unfold. And the dancing was about to begin.

From my attendant's explanation, I knew the highest-ranking person in the room would have the honor of asking me to dance. There was no rule that I would be forced into dancing, but it would appear standoffish and cold if I refrained.

My chin remained high as a tall man with fair skin and a pristine suit stepped away from the crowd. The entire room seemed to be holding its breath. As he neared, there was something extremely familiar about his face, but the reason why barely eluded me.

As he held his hand out to me in question, he said loud enough for everyone to hear, "I am Czarevich Adrik Morokov." Light shone off his neatly styled dark hair when he inclined his head to me. "May I have the honor of this first dance with you, Your Majesty?"

Adrik Morokov. The crown prince of Navrika. We used to be close friends as children before the peace talks between our fathers failed and war tore our nations apart. Taking the lighthearted shine in his dark eyes into account, I supposed he remembered those happy days too.

In lieu of a response, I took his hand and let him lead me to the dance floor. As he pivoted in the center, I readied myself with the ballroom dancing my tutors had taught me as a child. A Queen should not feel troubled in this moment, I told myself. She should know exactly what was expected of her and deliver exactly that.

The music began with a low note that filled the room. My back felt warm with the weight of hundreds of eyes. I wondered if any of them belonged to an assassin. The soldiers were taking extra precautions tonight, but still...

Beginning to lead the dance, Adrik leaned closer so that no one but me would hear him say, "You know you needn't look like you're being forced to dance with some elderly lord." He gave me a secret smile. "I promise I will refrain from stepping on your feet."

A sliver of ease slipped into my chest for a moment at the realization that I had an ally in this stifling place. "Let me be the judge of that."

As we turned, his rakish grin grew at my joking slight. "I will never admit it again because we both know you will forever hold it over me, but I missed that viper's tongue of yours since we have been apart."

I closed my eyes as he dipped me back. "It has certainly been a long ten years."

He nodded, sobering with the unsaid tension between our countries and families—and therefore, between us as well. "My father was sorry not to make it tonight. He was unfortunately reoccupied with other business. Be that as it may, he does wish to discuss relations between Oceana and Navrika."

I let the words sink in, giving a thoughtful nod. I was unsure how to respond. His father had been the one to wage war against Oceana. Needless to say, it was understandable that he might want to create some form of peace between us. But from what I knew of Adrik's father, his rule over Navrika had come to border on tyrannical since the war began. Despite my father's flaws, he had informed me of how manipulative and power-hungry Ermalai Morokov, Czar of Navrika, could be.

But that was something to worry about after the pleasantry of this night passed.

My gown whirled out as the prince spun me once. We fell into a friendly silence as the music continued to grow and the other guests began joining us on the floor. Adrik had the exceptional skill at dancing of someone who'd been taught by experts. He held me closely enough for me to feel the warmth emanating from his body, but not so close as to become awkward and encroach upon the boundaries between us.