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Cassidy drurateful for the simple beat she could maintain and still observe the people

The Priestess extended her hand and brought Yairen across the circle Then they both extended their hands to bring two more men into the dance As she took the hand of the last elder as participating in the dance, she stepped out of the circle

All the drummers except the lead drummer stopped and shook out their hands as the lead drummer made the transition to the new beat Then the rest of the dru fiddles and flutes

A blur of ilimpses of the men as they danced the sao

She lost her rhyther ones—those who had recently gone through their Birthright Cerewith the older boys And ether to wave at theirtried to move around unplanned obstacles

Despite Shira’s earlier assurance that drummers dropped out of the music, Cassidy felt embarrassed that she’d lost the rhythave way to the Youths’ Dance, and Reyhana lost all ability to dru other bursts of laughter followed by a stumble in the beat, Cassidy suddenly understood that perfection wasn’t expected during this joyous celebration So she watched Janos and laughed with Reyhana

He perforreat deal about attitude Most of the youngand being considered adults were fiercely serious as they perfor fun of himself and the others ere on the cusp of manhood

Cassidy felt h of relief and understood the feeling even while she laughed Janos knew there were lines he couldn’t cross, and he’d done what he could to keep himself—and Reyhana—from temptation

The Youths stepped out of the circle as they brought over the last group of dancers The adult men walked in a quiet circle as all but the lead druain went silent

“Well done, Janos,” Cassidy said Then she noticed Reyhana vanishing her dru to see the last dance?”

The two youngsters gave her startled looks

“No, Lady,” Janos finally said “We’re o back to ht”

Don’t ask, Shira said as she vanished her s it between her thighs

One by one the drummers joined the lead drummer, and The Dance once more filled with sound

Noticing how , Cassidy leaned toward Shira “Why aren’t they staying?”

“The Fire Dance isn’t for children” Shira began dru

Gray circled with the rest of thetheir bodies shield him from Cassie’s view

His life, his drea came down to this dance

Ranon was on his left, but on his right, the side closest to the firea shadow Primal Lethal Seductive

You ran froive you noas lost then But I can give you the rest if you’re ready to accept it Will you run froain? Or will you embrace the fire?

Who are you?

You know

A brush of heat against his right arm A shivery awareness of what he still could claim for himself

The man The Warlord Prince

Yes, I knoho you are,Gray thoughtYou are Jared Blaed