I didn’t leavemy sister’s ball until the early hours of the morning. And even though I expected another warrior to take Kole’s place come nightfall, when his replacement arrived, Kole waved him off, telling him to wait on standby until Kole told him to return.
Given how often I’d danced with all of the lordlings, I wasn’t surprised that the energy surrounding Kole had increased all night. I had a feeling he was going to give me an earful by the time I returned to my chambers, but I was still buzzing with happiness at everything falling into place, and I knew a few reassurances from me would appease the warrior’s possessive streak.
Once the clock struck two in the morning, I breezed out of the ballroom, and Kole fell into step behind me.
My nerves were buzzing, and I took each turn easily, sailing around the corners and humming to myself.
At my back, a low growl escaped Kole, and he closed the distance between us. “You seemed to thoroughly enjoy the night, Princess.”
I smiled at him genuinely. “I did. I had a wonderful time.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Is that because of the fifty males you danced with?”
I tapped a finger to my chin and said playfully, “Was it that many?”
His nostrils flared, and his jaw worked. “It was. Were you trying to make me jealous?”
“No, truth be told, I wasn’t trying to do anything, but I don’t blame you for being jealous. However, you have nothing to worry about. Balls are for dancing, and I was so thrilled at all that I learned tonight that I just couldn’t help myself from dancing the night away.”
“All that you learned?” Kole raked a hand through his hair. “That’swhy you were flirting with all of those males tonight? You’re happy about something?”
“Yes, I’m over the moons happy.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “And I can’t wait to tell you all about it, but it’s quite late, so I’ll wait until I have a fully clear head in the morning, but it’s most wondrous news. Both my uncle and Nathaniel have made great discoveries about the creatures.Andmy uncle even invited us to join him on his estate tomorrow so he can show us what he found.”
Kole’s brow furrowed, and we finally reached my door. My nighttime Imperial Warrior was stationed beside it, the one Kole had dismissed earlier.
He eyed Kole, his gaze assessing and his aura perplexed, but Kole strode past him, not even acknowledging him. Kole followed me into my chambers and locked the door behind us.
I raised my eyebrows and began pulling the pins from my hair. Kole watched the movement, his aura rising again.
I frowned at him. “Is everything all right?”
Silence followed, thickening around us, but then he said gruffly, almost reluctantly, “I’m struggling right now, Princess, even if you’re happy over what you learned.”
The energy around him strummed higher, and I kicked off my heels and let my hair fall down. His gaze tracked every movement.
“Struggling with what, Kole?” I began to unbutton the back of my dress. It was hard since there were many buttons, but eventually, I loosened it enough to let the gown drop and pool at my feet. Only my underthings covered me.
His breath sucked in, and his gaze raked over my exposed body. “I’m not one to lose control.”
“I know.”
“But tonight...” He rubbed a hand down his face.
My frown deepened, and I stepped closer to him, genuinely perplexed by his behavior. “Tell me.”
He cast a silencing Shield around us, and his voice deepened. “I don’t like other males touching you, Prim. You’remine. And tonight, it’s been rather hard to control...” His nostrils flared.
Bafflement filled me. “Control . . .what?”
He finally released his breath and bit out, “Instincts.”
Instincts?I stepped into his space. His chest began rising in unsteady breaths. “I’m sorry if my dancing made you jealous or caused whatever you’re feeling.”
His jaw ground. “It did.”
My tone softened. “But I did nothing wrong.”
His jaw ground more. “I know.”
