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small reprieve from six months of being ordered about. It was time to go.
    “And here I thought I’d imagined you.” His voice instantly shattered my tiny sliver of stolen peace. “Either that, or I was seeing specters.”
    I turned slowly, doing my best to stay composed, or at least give the appearance of such.
    Prince Leopold pushed away from the wall and closed the distance between us in five steps.
    “Though now that I see you again, I wonder if I’m not dreaming after all.” His words caused a flurry of strange emotions to burst into flight deep inside my gut.
    Fighting against the urge to flee into the hedge maze, I swallowed and lifted my chin. “Does His Highness have a habit of sleepwalking?”
    His mouth turned up in a wry grin. “Not that I’m aware of, no. But, if you’ll permit me?” His hand extended toward me.
    Trying not to show my terror, I set my hand in his, instantly feeling that same tingling warmth shooting up my arm, chasing away some of my fear, but replacing it with something I liked even less. Though I couldn’t name it, I knew the new sensation was dangerous for me. He paused for a moment, then gently lifted my fingers to his lips, brushing a featherlight kiss across my knuckles. The warm tingles turned into white-hot lightning in my veins, and I couldn’t speak for the shock it gave me.
    “Would My Lady do me the honor of sharing a dance?”
    Dumbstruck, I nodded, though every functioning part of my mind screamed at me to refuse. What could I do? Mask or no, he was a prince, soon to be a king, and, though I had no doubt he would honor my refusal with grace, his eyes were so full of hope I couldn’t bear to dash it. Even the thought of doing so hurt my heart.
    My hand still in his, he led me back into the ballroom, placing us in the center of the dance floor. With a single nod from him, the musicians struck up a lilting waltz, one I’d heard years before with my ear pressed to a doorway as my mother entertained. As his free hand rested upon my waist, I wasn’t sure what to do. My feet moved of their own accord, trained over endless lessons I thought I’d forgotten long ago. I couldn’t imagine what my expression must be like. Very likely I resembled a stag in the moment it realized it was about to be run through by an arrow.
    “Is something the matter?” he asked as we made the first turn.
    Everywhere I dared glance, I met with a fresh pair of eyes staring at me. “Everyone is watching, Sire. It’s… Unnerving.”
    “May I make a suggestion as to that?”
    I murmured something in the affirmative, still bothered by the audience.
    He took his hand from my waist only long enough to tilt my face up to him. “Look elsewhere.”
    His gaze held mine, unbreakable, and I was transfixed by whatever unnamed charm was placed on him at birth. Overwhelming kindness filled his dark eyes, and I knew, without any doubt, that he had no care for any but myself. Did he look at everyone that way? Was this why all who knew him spoke so highly of him? Prince Leopold could make anyone feel as though they were the most important being to ever walk the land with a single look. Surely it was magic. What other explanation could there be?
    The music came to an abrupt halt, though I was unaware of any passage of time as we danced.
    “Honored guests,” the king said as he stood from his throne at the head of the room. “Midnight is nearly upon us, and with it, the unmasking of all in attendance.”
    Unmasking? Spirits help me, I’d lingered too long.
    The king stood and lifted his arms. “Choose your partners wisely. The clock waits for no mortal man.”
    Frantic now, I lifted a hand and touched the gem before the prince could turn from the king. I caught the look on his face as I vanished before his eyes, though I evaded his hands as they reached for me.
    I’d grown too dependent on masks, either by my magic or of the ornate sort I wore that night. I pushed through the crowd of guests drawn to the