Chapter 54：Declared

AARYN

"Aaryn, did you hear me: There's nothing going on with Dargyn. I wanted to go to the Weeping Tree to be alone. I'd never take him out there. That's our spot!" she said, then her eyes widened, and her scent laced with a nervous edge, as if she'd said more than she'd intended.

Aaryn stared at her, his heart banging on his ribs. Hope soaring. But he was so scared to give in to it.

She leaned closer and put a hand over his fist, clenched on his thigh, below the tabletop so no one would see. "Aaryn, did you hear me?"

Her touch detonated in his chest and he was on his feet before he could think. She pulled her hand away as if she'd been burned, leaning back like she was afraid of what he'd say.

He didn't even know what he was going to say. Not yet. Not here. So he took her hand and pulled her to her feet, then led her to the back of the stage and the stairs there that led directly outside.

*****

ELRETH

When he'd taken her hand and pulled her to her feet, she'd thought he was going to take her down to dance, and her pulse raced. She knew she was smiling, but she couldn't stop. But instead, he'd prowled straight for the back of the stage, and down the stairs to the back entrance, shoving the door open ahead of him and holding it for her, but never actually meeting her eyes as she followed him through.

The area outside was a service area, a small, almost-square clearing of dirt lit by only two lanterns. There were several storage trees here, and a few tools leaning against them. The dirt was clear except for a few weeds.

She assumed he'd brought her out there so they could leave without anyone seeing them, and she decided that was a great idea. But he only stepped to the middle of the dirt clearing, then held out his hand again and said, "May I have this dance?"

She blinked, but despite the walls at this end of the market, they could still hear the music playing inside. She looked at his strong arm extended towards her and slid her fingers against his palm. "I would… love that," she said breathlessly.

Something lit in his eyes as he clasped her hand and tugged her into his chest.

*****

AARYN

His skin prickled deliciously as he reeled her in, a small, curious smile on her face.

She'd told Dargyn no.

Hope. He had hope.

Creator above, let that hope not be unfounded.

They both swung into the steps of the dance without thought. Something they'd been doing since they were cubs and mimicking her parents on feast days. It was one that, for the first movement, let them sway together, turn together, part for a few steps, then sway back to each other.

After the first turn and part, when her hair had fluttered back to a stop around her shoulders, wafting her scent over him, he pulled her back in and his body responded. He had to stifle the call. The mating call. But he wanted to give it. He wanted to see her respond.

He had to talk to her. Declare himself. Leave nothing to chance.

Reth had a human saying he laughed about using whenever he was challenging males to push themselves: It was time to go balls to the wall.

He swallowed hard as Elreth looked up at him through her lashes and his breath caught at the twinkle in her eye that he hadn't seen since this whole mess began.

Then she was pressed against him again and her hand on his shoulder tightened, like she didn't want to let go for the next turn and part.

"I'm not going to." She was still breathless. And it wasn't from the dancing.

As he turned her, and his one hand was free, he used it to trace her waist while she spun.

When she came back to face him, their eyes locked.

Her scent spiked and her skin pebbled and Aaryn's breath caught too.

She held his gaze boldly and he felt himself waver, the fear of losing this final hope, that final ember, sending him shivering.

As the music changed to the second movement, he dropped his eyes, just to breathe, to get a grip on himself as the dance shifted.

Had they been on the floor with others, each couple would have taken their own approach to this portion of the dance—some striding across the floor in tandem, others twisting and untwisting limbs, others spinning into kicks.

Aaryn didn't want to let her go, so he shifted his feet, intending to turn and wrap her in his arms—but at the same moment, Elreth let go of his shoulder and started to turn.

She laughed and stopped, turning herself back to him, her cheeks pinking. He grinned down at her and stepped into the music, trying again to bring her around and into his chest—but she misread his intention and instead continued the turn.

They fumbled to a halt again, and this time she didn't laugh.

She turned to face him, fear in her eyes and he stared at her. Aaryn could barely breathe. "In this," he said, swallowing convulsively, "you have to let me lead."

She heard the layers of meaning in his words and sucked in.

"Only in this… dance, El," he said quietly, his voice gruff. "I don't ever want to take anything from you. But… you have to trust me to keep you safe. I won't ever let you fall. I promise."

"I do trust you" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know how to… do that." They searched each other's eyes for a moment. Hers growing in fear. "Please don't walk away from me again, Aaryn. I… I'll figure it out."

He huffed and she blinked. "That's the thing, El… You don't have to do it alone." Then he stepped closer, offering his hand, palm up. "I can show you. If you'll let me."

Her forehead lined, but she nodded and slid her warm hand into his.

Aaryn swallowed and pulled her close, right into his chest. Both of them breathed shallow and quick.

He dropped his chin so his lips were right at her ear. "Now… close your eyes," he rasped. "And just let go."

*****

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