"Tennison!" she pleaded, breathless. "We don't have time! They have already breached Star-Wreath Hall. We have to escape through the tunnels, now!"

Tennison could not bring himself to tell her the truth: the tunnels had been lost hours ago. There was nowhere to go. Instead, he just smirked.

She glared at him. "This isn't funny."

"No," he chuckled, and offered her his hand anyway. "But Steris, if our story ends, I want it to end with us choosing. Not running or begging."

The doors boomed again, the entire ballroom shuddering. Seams of torchlight shot under the doors. The rebels had arrived.

Her fingers hesitated, then found his. "Choosing what?"

He drew her close - so close that his breath tickled the hairs on her neck. And for one foolish heartbeat it felt like a normal Saturnsday Ball, and not the last moments of their lives.

"Choosing to dance."