Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, #1)

by Carissa Broadbent

“I’m a terrible dancer,” I said. “Did you know that?” “You were a dancer in Threll, weren’t you?” “I was, but only by memory. I counted the steps. Simple, if I practiced enough. I did not even need music.” He chuckled. “Brute force. I should have known.” Then, after a moment, “I think that may be the first time I’ve ever heard you admit weakness aloud.” Gods. It probably was. I lifted my eyes to him and placed a finger over my lips. “Only for you to know. And I only tell you this because I don’t want to embarrass myself when I ask you to dance with me.” Silence. Such deep silence that the vestiges of distant music mixed with the suddenly deafening pound of my heartbeat. Max stood there, back straight, hands clasped behind him. For once, I could not read his expression. “Or,” I said lightly, “will you look back at this as the beginning of your downfall?” “I . . .” He let out a breath, a chuckle, tucked his hands into his pockets. Then removed them. “My answer hinges upon one condition.” “What?” He took a step forward, and then another. I did, too, until our bodies were directly in front of each other, until I felt his warm hand slip into mine. “No counting,” he said. “Only this once.” “Only this once.” And his arm was already around my waist, my hands at his shoulders, by the time I whispered, “Deal.”

YES LAWD