The ball found its rhythm sometime after nine.
Whatever stiffness had accompanied the first hour had dissolved beneath champagne, music and the reassuring discovery that everyone important enough to impress had already arrived.
The ballroom had grown louder without becoming disorderly. Laughter rose between sweeps of strings, disappearing beneath the orchestra only to surface somewhere else. Couples drifted between tables.
Old acquaintances embraced as though they had not spent the previous six months avoiding one another's calls. Politicians greeted executives they supposedly barely knew. Diplomats exchanged pleasantries with regulators. Business cards disappeared discreetly into jacket pockets.
Nobody was networking. Naturally.
Kashi watched a deputy minister accept his third introduction of the evening from beside the wine table. "He's very committed to not making connections," she murmured.
Zarri followed her gaze over the rim of her champagne flute. "Mm. That's why he's exchanged numbers with four people."
"Five."
"The woman in violet?"
"Shipping."
Zarri made an appreciative sound.
They stood together at the edge of the ballroom, looking every bit like two women who had simply wandered towards the wine and happened to remain there for twenty minutes.
The wine table itself was excessive. Crystal decanters stood among bottles arranged over beds of ice, accompanied by pyramids of champagne and tiny gold cards identifying vintages Kashi had no intention of reading.
Roses spilled from a low arrangement at its centre, their scent almost lost beneath perfume, wax and the occasional warmer trace of food drifting from the adjoining dining room.
Kashi picked up another glass. Her attention wandered across the room. Ivar had disappeared beneath a small civilisation of people.
She spotted him near one of the marble columns, surrounded by a foreign ambassador, two ministers, a bank chairman, a port authority director and, predictably, Senator Vross.
Poor bastard.
Ivar had his mask on now, the ash-and-silver edges making him look considerably more mysterious than a man who had spent breakfast complaining because Frank wouldn't let him eat cake before eggs.
Vross was speaking.
Ivar listened with the attentive expression years of royal training had apparently beaten into him. Whatever the senator said at the end made the entire group laugh. Even Ivar. His head tipped back slightly, one hand slipping into his trouser pocket as the others crowded closer.
Zarri followed Kashi's stare. "Should we save him?"
Kashi considered it. Across the ballroom, Ivar caught her eye. His smile remained flawless.
His eyes said, You bitch.
Kashi lifted her champagne in a tiny salute. "Absolutely not."
Zarri's mouth twitched. "Poor thing."
"It's his job. He's suffering for us." Kashi smiled. "As family should."
Ivar was still looking at her. Kashi smiled more brightly. His eyes narrowed before Vross reclaimed his attention.
"You're horrible," Zarri said into her glass.
"He'll survive."
"Who will survive?"
The voice arrived beside them with enough confidence to suggest its owner had never once considered the possibility that he might be unwelcome.
Kashi didn't bother turning. "Nobody invited you into this conversation, Alexander."
Alex appeared between them anyway, champagne in hand and looking far too pleased with himself. "Ladies." He inclined his head. "You both look devastating tonight."
Kashi frowned at him.
Alex immediately turned to Zarri. "You especially."
"Hijo de puta," Kashi muttered.
[Son of a bitch]
Zarri smiled over the edge of her glass. "You were doing so well."
"I meant both compliments."
"No, you didn't."
"No," Alex agreed, his attention travelling over Zarri again with absolutely no attempt at discretion. "I really didn't."
Alex leaned closer. "Have I told you how beautiful you look?"
Zarri's brows rose. "Three times."
"Only three?"
"Since you entered the ballroom."
"Criminally inadequate." Alex smiled.
Kashi looked between them.
She could practically see the rest of the room disappearing from their awareness.
Alex reached for Zarri's hand, turning it gently until the gold at her wrist caught beneath the chandeliers. "This is new."
"Awwn. You noticed?"
"Princesa, I notice when you change lipstick."
Something in Zarri's expression softened despite herself. "What colour am I wearing?"
Alex studied her mouth with grave concentration. "Red."
"Burgundy." Zarri pulled her hand free. "Oh, fuck off."
Alex caught it again. "You first."
Kashi drank.
There were things no amount of wealth could protect a person from. A shift in the orchestra saved her.
The final notes of the previous piece softened, then disappeared beneath a brighter arrangement. Violins quickened. Cello followed. Something warmer and more inviting rolled through the ballroom, and almost immediately the open marble at its centre began filling.
One couple stepped onto the dance floor.
Then another.
Within moments, gowns were moving beneath the chandeliers, silk and velvet turning against dark evening suits as the music gathered momentum.
Kashi watched absently.
"Kashi."
She turned.
Dante had appeared beside her so quietly she almost wondered how long he'd been standing there.
Black suited him. His mask was simple compared with half the absurd creations in the room, and the earpiece tucked discreetly against one ear told Kashi exactly why she had barely seen him all evening.
"Where have you been?"
Dante's attention swept briefly across the ballroom before returning to her. "Sorry. I've been doing rounds. Checking the perimeter, entrances, staff access. Making sure security hasn't developed any gaps with this many guests moving around."
Kashi looked him over. "Dante. It's a ball for your boyfriend. Take a break."
A violent choking sound came from her left.
Kashi turned.
Alex had champagne halfway to his mouth and was presently attempting not to die from it. Zarri thumped him once between the shoulders.
Alex coughed, swallowed and stared at Kashi. "I beg your pardon?" Except he wasn't looking at her anymore. He was looking at Dante. "Boyfriend?"
Dante's face went carefully blank.
Alex's gaze travelled across the ballroom and found Ivar.
The Crown Prince remained trapped amongst ministers, executives and Vross, smiling graciously at something the bank chairman was saying.
Alex looked back at Dante. His expression changed. "Oh."
Kashi tilted her head, something about that oh bothered her. "What?"
Alex's lips parted. "I thought—" He gestured vaguely between Kashi and Dante. "So you aren't…"
Kashi, "..."
Zarri, "..."
Then understanding arrived. Both women's mouths fell open. "Oh, my God." The laugh tore out of Kashi before she could stop it.
Zarri lasted perhaps half a second longer before folding against the wine table, one hand pressed to her chest. Dante closed his eyes.
That made Kashi laugh harder. She caught the edge of the table for balance, champagne trembling dangerously in her other hand.
"You thought—" She looked at Dante, then Alex. Whatever remained of her composure abandoned her. "You thought Dante and I were fucking?"
"Don't say it like that!" Alex protested.
"How else should she say it?" Zarri managed between laughs.
"I don't know. Differently."
Dante covered his face with one hand. His ears were already turning red.
Alex pointed accusingly at all of them. "You shouldn't blame me. Your relationship was seriously something else."
Kashi dragged in a breath. "What goes on in your head, Alexander?" She wiped carefully beneath one eye, mindful of her make-up. "That's ridiculous."
"It was a reasonable conclusion!" Alex defended himself. "You were always together."
Dante finally lowered his hand. "I'm Kashi Saints's bodyguard."
"Oh..." Alex went still. "Ohhh." He nodded slowly as pieces apparently rearranged themselves inside his skull. "That explains things."
Dante looked towards Zarri as though requesting assistance. She offered none. Kashi studied him instead. He had recovered most of his composure, although the colour stubbornly remained at the tips of his ears.
"Besides," Kashi said, "Dante may be a delicate snack, but he's a snack for my cousin." The colour reached the rest of Dante's ears. He immediately intercepted a passing tray and removed a champagne flute.
Kashi's smile widened. "Aw."
"I'm going back to work."
Alex looked delighted. "Delicate snack?"
Dante took a very long drink.
The orchestra climbed before Alex could torment him further.
Strings swept higher, drawing more guests towards the centre of the ballroom. The dance floor had become a moving field of colour beneath the chandeliers. Masks flashed between shoulders. Jewels caught the light with every turn.
Laughter disappeared into the music as couples moved around one another, some graceful, others wealthy enough that nobody would dare tell them they couldn't dance.
Alex turned towards Zarri. His expression changed with such shameless speed that Kashi almost groaned. He held out his hand. "Dance with me."
Zarri laughed and placed hers in it and his grin appeared instantly. "Try not to embarrass me," she said.
"No promises." He led her towards the dance floor, already leaning down to whisper something that earned him a smack on the arm.
Kashi watched them disappear into the crowd.
Beside her, Dante had gone quiet. She followed his gaze.
Ivar.
Still surrounded.
The circle around him had somehow grown. Vross remained there, along with two people Kashi recognised from the foreign trade ministry. Ivar was listening to one of them now, posture relaxed, expression attentive. From across the ballroom, nobody would have guessed there was anywhere else he wanted to be.
Dante knew better. His fingers shifted around the stem of his glass, the brightness in his expression dimmed.
Kashi understood.
Ivar and Dante were disgustingly, hopelessly in love. Anyone unfortunate enough to spend enough time around them knew that much.
The rest of the world did not.
Not yet.
Royal affection was never simply affection. It became succession. Politics. Approval. Scandal. Expectation.
The Crown had not reached the point where Ivar could publicly compromise his position, and Dante had known what loving him meant from the beginning.
Knowing did not make standing on opposite sides of a ballroom any easier. Kashi bumped her elbow lightly against his. Dante looked at her. She said nothing. Neither did he. He didn't need pity, and she wasn't going to insult him by offering it.
Her gaze returned to the dance floor. Found Zarri first. Alex had one hand at her waist, and Zarri was laughing as he turned her beneath his arm. Idiots. Happy idiots, unfortunately.
Kashi's eyes moved on.
Chaos.
The warmth left her expression. He was dancing with Jaden.
Kashi simply watched.
Jaden's silver gown moved against Chaos's black suit as they turned through the crowd, one of his hands resting at her waist, hers against his shoulder.
Close, extremely fucking close.
Kashi's fingers tightened around the stem of her glass. The orchestra swept through another rise. Chaos bent his head towards Jaden and said something Kashi couldn't hear.
Jaden laughed.
Not polite laughter. Genuine amusement, her face tipping towards his as they moved beneath the chandeliers.
Kashi clicked her tongue, then became aware of Dante beside her again. She turned to him. "Dance with me."
Dante blinked.
His gaze flicked briefly towards the dance floor. Kashi's expression remained perfectly pleasant, then Dante set his champagne aside and offered her his hand.
Kashi placed hers in it.
"Gladly." His fingers closed around hers. Together, they stepped away from the wine table and onto the dance floor.