The Pact by Leigh Walker

Author:Leigh Walker [WALKER, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CMG Publishing, LLC

16

Perfect

“I’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on,” I promised Alexandra and Elise just as Dominic appeared by my side. “But first I have to dance.” I forgot about worrying what the queen was up to—because I had to waltz, whatever that meant. And I had to do it in front of everyone. In the middle of this massive crowd, with all eyes on me. Um… Does anyone care that I don’t know how to waltz? If they didn’t care, I expected that they would in a minute, when I was tripping over my own feet on the dance floor.

The prince swept into a deep bow. “Elise. Alexandra. You’re both looking lovely.”

“Your Highness, thank you.” Alexandra curtsied, and Elise immediately followed suit.

I nodded to them as I took his hand. “I’ll be back soon. Enjoy your dance, but please be careful.”

Dominic led me to the center of the dance floor then took me in his arms. He smiled, but it quickly turned to a look of concern. “You’ve gone pale.”

“Er… I’m sort of nervous. I don’t really know how to dance,” I admitted.

Dominic put his face next to mine, his cool breath wafting against my cheek. “No worries. I’ll lead, and I’ll go slowly. Just relax, Victoria. I won’t let anything bad happen. I promise.”

“O-Okay.” Although I knew he was good for his word, my heart still stopped—it was too quiet, and all eyes were indeed on us. But the band started playing a grand, romantic tune, and Dom held me close. He swept me around the dance floor, and I forgot everything else—my embarrassment, his mother, the guards, all of it. So close to him, I could only feel warm, safe, and protected. It was as though my feelings for him and what was between us were balms against the rest of the world.

Dom leaned down and put his mouth near my ear. “You are so beautiful tonight. I’m a bit starstruck.”

“Thank you, and I know the feeling—I’m always dazzled when I’m around you. But you already knew that.”

“Ah, of course.” He chuckled, pulling me closer so we danced cheek to cheek. “It’s still nice to hear.”

I knew his parents were watching us, not to mention everyone else, but I couldn’t help but relax in his arms. We swayed in time to the music, and he made it easy for me to not trip, bless him. We were both silent for the rest of the song, lost in our happy embrace, but I felt so many things I thought I might burst. When the number ended, we begrudgingly separated. Dominic bowed and I curtsied to the onlookers, both of us polite and composed as everyone applauded.

But I felt anything but composed on the inside. Dominic pulled me against him again as the next song started, and my whole body lit up as if I were on fire. The guards and candidates took to the floor, pairing off quickly, but I couldn’t focus on them at the moment. Dominic

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