“Why did you do it, Rosabella?” Eztli asked as they glided, step by step, across the marble floor to the time of the music.

“I had intended to ask you the same, Ductrix.”

“Explain yourself.”

“I am sorry, Eztli, for the pain that I caused in your heart.”

“Every moment that I touch you, knowing how you lied, is a pain to me. Please stop playing your games and answer me straightforwardly.”

“Of course you are right. I mean, Ductrix, why did you not tell Dorsin of my responsibility for Oralie’s sickness?”

“The genophage? I didn’t tell him because I would also be condemning myself.”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“No. You are more decent than that. I cannot believe that you only kept that to yourself for self-preservation.”

“Do not patronize me, Ambassatrix.”

“If I am doing so, forgive me.”

Eztli sighed. “I didn’t tell him because it would be torment to him, torment to his wife, and torment to you. I am not a monster. But you have not answered my question.”

“An answer for an answer, then. I did it,” Rosabella replied, “because I know how much it means to you to be involved in unearthing the past. And I did it because I want to see your family honor you for your work. What better way to do that than to grant you access to an undisturbed Last Era Libraratory?”

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Forgive me for giving offense.”

“No. You don’t give offense. What you give me is agony, because that look meant something so beautiful to me just a short while ago.”

“It still does, Eztli.”

Eztli shook her head. “No. Not now. Not after—”

“Of course.” The music came to a stop; Rosabella curtsied, and Eztli replied with a slight bow. “But do remember, Eztli, that even if what it means has changed for you, it means the same that it always has to me.”

“What is that?”

Rosabella smiled, inclined her head, and disappeared into the crowd.

***

“Hey, Senrii.”

“Hey, kid.” 

“You look… really nice. I think.”

“Are you kidding? I look fantastic. Here. Let me show you.” Senrii took his hand and linked her eyes to his brain so that he could see the whole ballroom: the tables of succulent food, the whirling dancers, and of course, the slinky black dress that made her lean body look fantastic, thank you very much. “And as you can see,” she said, turning her eyes on him and allowing him to take in the Nethress finery he was wearing, “you don’t look half bad yourself.”

“Thanks. I, uh, never thought of you as a dress person.”

“I’m not. Usually. But I make an exception now and again.” Senrii motioned up at the players. “You ever dance to a five-piece band?”

“I’ve never danced to any band at all.”

They watched the twirling celebrants for a while.

“I mean,” Tvorh said, “I might be willing to, if—”

Senrii chuckled. “Kid, I like you.”

“I like you too.”

“I was saying. I like you, but I think I’m a little old for you.”

“Oh.”

“And besides, I don’t really dance.”

“Oh.”

“Hey. Kid.” She took him by the shoulders. “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, and it’s gonna be a long one. Enjoy it. I’ll be around right by your side.”

“Okay.”

“And you know, kid, I think I know somebody else who needs you more right now.”

“Yeah?”

Senrii motioned over toward one of the table at the edge of the room, where Ferghall’s family was sitting. “It’s been hard for Aoife, kid. And she likes you.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I don’t know if—”

“I don’t know if she like-likes you either, kid! But she at least regular-likes you, and I know you like her. And look at her. She’s caught between worlds. Frontier family on the one side, Sodality machinations on the other, and pretty soon her mom and brothers and sisters are all gonna leave here and she’ll be alone again.”

“You think she’s lonely?”

“Kid. I know it.”

“She doesn’t seem lonely.”

“Neither does Rosabella, which just goes to show.” Senrii let that sink in for a moment. “So get over there and say hello.”

Tvorh nodded. “Yeah. Okay. Thanks, Senrii.”

As Tvorh walked away, a large hand fell gently on Senrii’s shoulder. “How much you hear?”

“Most of it, Era,” Piotr rumbled. “And might I congratulate you on your new Duchy.”

“Yeah. Thanks. I’m sure ruling won’t give me an ulcer or anything.” Senrii snatched up an alcoholic something-or-other from a passing tray, slammed it back, and put the empty glass down on the table. “Hey. Piotr.”

“Yes, Era?”

“Wanna dance?”

“I thought you didn’t dance, Era.”

“I don’t. Usually. But I make an exception now and again.”

***

“I, um, just wanted to thank you. For the bandanna.”

Aoife smiled and put her arm around Candice’s shoulders. “You should thank my mom.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“I was kidding, Tvorh.”

“All the same. And, uh, I think I should tell you… I didn’t really know him. But I know that Ferghall’s the reason Aoife is alive right now, and they tell me that if he hadn’t driven that truck over the edge, Piotr would be dead, and probably Rosabella. And that would mean— I don’t know. We’d probably all be dead. I just think that you should be proud of him.”

Candice nodded. “Thank you, young man.”

“And you too, Aoife,” Tvorh said. “You should be proud of your father, too.”

Tvorh felt her nod through the music. “I am. I really am. Tvorh. Erus, whatever I’m supposed to call you.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever learn to respond to ‘Erus.’”

Aoife stood to her feet, shoving her chair back decisively as she did so. “Tvorh, how would you feel about a dance?”

“I, uh… I’ve never really—”

Aoife caught his hand. “Come on. I’ll teach you. Back in a bit, mom.” Before Tvorh knew it, she had dragged him out to the floor and put one of his hands on her shoulder.

“I don’t see very well,” he confessed.

“That’s okay. I don’t care if you stumble.”

***

“My darling,” Oralie sighed. “I keep expecting to wake up any moment.”

“No awakening,” Dorsin said. The truth was that he felt the same way; he expected the pomp and the dancers to vanish any moment and leave him bereft of love and family in a cold, gray world. “You must stay here, dancing with me, forever.”

“As my Princeps commands, I will obey.”

“Everything I ever wanted,” Dorsin murmured as he gazed into her eyes.

“Don’t lie, Dorsin. Not everything.”

“Enough, then. Enough for one lifetime— one lifetime extended by the Symbiont, I mean, and then some.”

“It has been so long since I’ve seen you smile, Dorsin. I prefer this side of you.”

“I can’t decide which side of you I prefer more, Oralie.” He cast an appreciative look down her body.

“Dorsin!” she hissed. “We are in public! Although…” She bit her lip and glanced around conspiratorially. “Although whichever side you decide you prefer in bed this evening will be fine with me.” Dorsin drew back in surprise. “What?” Oralie said innocently. “I’m rejuvenated, and the cancer is gone. The doctors say I can play again. Forgive a silly girl her whims now that she’s free to do as she pleases.”

“Oralie, you have been anything but silly.”

“Of course.” She stepped back and twirled her hair idly. “So call me giddy instead.”

“Your pardon, Era,” Rosabella said, appearing from the crowd and gracefully taking Oralie’s arm. “If I were to ask your husband for the honor of a dance, would you find it in your heart, someday, to forgive me?”

“By all means, Rosabella. I do believe I’m ready to prepare myself for bed. It’s been an exhausting few weeks subduing the Symbiont, you know.”

“Of course.”

Oralie cast a conspiratorial glance at Dorsin and dropped her voice into a false whisper. “Don’t wear him out, Ambassatrix. He still has a private dance to perform with me this evening.”

It was Dorsin’s turn to hiss. “Oralie!”

She turned an angelic smile on him. “My love, I’m going to retire. Enjoy the celebration.” Then, putting her hands on his shoulders and standing on her tiptoes, she whispered, “Don’t let her exhaust you. That’s my duty, and I want two hours at least.”

Dorsin stared in shock as his wife left the room. Before she vanished past the doorway, she turned, drew a finger wantonly down her lips and gave him a look that could only mean one thing.

“Princeps,” Rosabella said.

“What? Oh. Yes. Ambassatrix.”

“Princeps, if there is somewhere else you would rather be…”

“No.” He took his position with Rosabella. “No, of course not.”

“What? Of course there is! Had she given me that look, Dorsin, I would be in her bed before she was!”

“I suppose I always had more willpower than you.”

“Yes, you always did.”

They twirled around the floor.

“She is beautiful,” Rosabella murmured.

“As beautiful as I always remembered,” Dorsin agreed.

“I am sure you will be glad for her companionship.”

“I always have been.”

“Marriage is different, don’t you agree, between a Bound and an unBound, though.”

“It is… different. You are right.”

“As always.”

“And there is so much to be done.”

Rosabella shook her head. “Drive those thoughts from your mind for now, Dorsin. You have a new Duchy. Your family is safe. A whole Libraratory of information rests beneath your feet.”

“Which you forced me to share with Gens Nxtlu.”

“Only one member of Gens Nxtlu, Dorsin. And she swore not to use it against you.”

“We will see what her oath is worth.”

“It is worth enough, Dorsin. And most of all, you have a ravishing wife preparing herself for you at this very moment. Making up for the lost time of the illness: I know, I know. So, my heart, what I am saying is this.”

“What is it?”

“It is this.” Rosabella dipped her head and stared at Dorsin beneath her brow. “Go. Upstairs. To her. Now.”

Dorsin chuckled, and Rosabella smiled in response. “Rosabella, when was the last time I told you how lovely you were?”

“You don’t need to tell me that.”

“But when was the last time?”

“But I do like to hear you say it.”

“You beautiful, beautiful woman,” Dorsin said. Rosabella blushed. He had not seen her do that in years. “You always give me the best advice.”

“Of course. We already established that I am always right.”

And she was. With all that had happened, even the loss of so much of his family, Dorsin had never felt a peace so great as the one that was spreading now in his heart. Senrii was safe. Thanks to the Libraratory discoveries, the financial future of his Gens was secure, and with that security his two youngest would also take the Bond. A young man, willful and quick, with genes so promising that the Bonding took him only one interval, was the newest member of his family, and with that boy came alliance opportunities unheard of in the modern day.

He had one woman gazing lovingly at him here, and another waiting patiently for him in his bedchambers. A farmer could not tend two fields, but surely he could still appreciate the offer of another plot.

“Go,” Rosabella said, releasing him and pushing him gently toward the door. “Oralie waits to dance with you.”

And Dorsin had been waiting so long to dance with her. “Yes. I think I will.”