Dancer by Kimberly A Rogers

Author:Kimberly A Rogers [Rogers, Kimberly A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2019-06-10T04:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Ten

Imani’s weary feet still managed to carry her with surprising speed as she returned to the chamber she shared with her sisters. Alina lay in her bed, asleep, her breathing less raspy than it had been for the past two days. Beside her sat William, his elbows resting on his thighs and his hands hanging limp between his knees. His head was bowed until he looked up at her entrance, the coins sewn into her outfit no doubt alerting him. He nodded to her. “She’s slept quietly tonight.”

Imani didn’t stop until she stood beside him. “Good.” She searched her sister’s face out of habit. The master promised that he had removed the poison from the drake’s bite. However, Alina’s body had been weakened to the point that he said it could not endure a full healing. Instead, he parceled out the healing process. Imani touched Alina’s hand and then glanced at William. “Thank you for staying with her when we dance.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It is the least I could do since I failed to protect her.” His jaw tightened before he rose from the stool. “At least, I was able to do something for someone’s sister this time.”

Unwilling to let him go, Imani caught his elbow. “Wait.” She moved a little ways from the bed and lowered her voice as she asked, “What do you mean by that?”

William didn’t look at her at first, but then his stormy blue eyes fixed on her and her breath caught in her throat at the . . . pain in their depths. “I had sisters, they were much younger than me and twins. Bright, happy girls. But, they and our mother were burned in their house for being accused dragon sympathizers. I was on the other side of the kingdom, fighting for a king who did nothing to check the dragon hunts.”

“Where?”

His face darkened. “Taliesin. Where the hatred for dragons and all other great races runs strong and deep. Where even the whisper of sympathizing can bring death. I failed to protect my sisters, and I am sorry that I did the same for yours.”

Imani shook her head, her heart cracking at the self-incrimination she heard in his hoarse whisper. “You did not fail me or my sisters. You protected Alina by bringing her to the master. She would have died if we had been alone with the drake. We all likely would have been bitten.” She hesitated for half a heartbeat before she leaned up on the tips of her toes and brushed a kiss against his cheek. Then, she touched her forehead to his jaw as she whispered, “Thank you for saving Alina, for bringing her home. Thank you for protecting us as you always have. I am in your debt.”

He didn’t answer. When she looked up, he had a strange look on his face. Then, he cleared his throat roughly. “I’m glad the dragon was able to heal her in time. It looked bad.”

She smiled faintly.

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