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Then she spotted Castor in the crowd. He hadn't spotted her yet, or at least, he was pretending that he hadn't while he entertained a flock of young women. He wore his finest clothes as well, a pristine white shirt with billowing sleeves that were trimmed with gold and black pants that hugged his hips in a way that made Ianora want to trace her fingers along the planes of his stomach. His boots were polished to a shine and his hair was slicked back away from his face, the long strands captured in a neat braid behind his neck.
He looked every inch the part of the wealthy, cocky king that he flaunted himself to be. He was fierce and powerful, with a dangerous edge that set him apart from the other men in the room. Her cold heart quickened as she stared at him.
He finally looked up and their eyes locked. It was like the rest of the world faded away. He raised his glass to her in a silent toast, before draining it in one long gulp and dismissing the women around him to move through the crowd toward her.
As she made her way toward him, he stalked toward her, a lion on the prowl. But before Ianora could cross so much as half the room, a powerful hand grabbed her forearm. Cold alarm surged through Ianora's blood, and her vampiric strength flared enough to shove the man off her.
"My queen," the startled man said. "I did not mean to startle you so. I am King Emeric, a new friend of your husband's. I've been dying to meet you. The woman who had managed to tame the infamous King Castor."
Ianora withdrew her claws and fangs. Settled her heart. It was not Johnathan, as she'd feared. "King or friend, you have no right to grab another man's wife, or a woman such as I," Ianora retorted back. "It is both improper and rude."
He bowed hastily. Ianora wondered if he'd ever shown a moment of decency in his life, except for when propriety demanded it.
"A thousand apologies, my queen," he said again. He lifted his head, but this time, he looked upon her closely, his snakelike eyes taking an uncomfortable amount of time to hover over her lips, breasts, and curves before rising back to her mouth. "You are as stunning as the stories say."
"I would hope more so."
He chuckled. "A thousand times more so, my heart is crestfallen that I have never had the pleasure of hosting you in my lands. To come so far for such beauty has been worth the journey, but I could have shown you a new world."
"I do not need another world. I am content with the one I have."
"So, you say now," he murmured, his eyes flickering to Castor and back. "But I see the hunger in your eyes. The desire for something ... more."
He was playing on her fears, a pathetic attempt to draw her away from Castor and take her for himself. He was not as good at this game as he thought he was. Perhaps he was used to the rich and beautiful fawning over him, but he had never met Ianora before.
"I see the same thing in your eyes, Emeric," she replied coldly. "The hunger for power. The desire to be more than you are. But let me assure you of something: I am not a toy to be played with or traded. I am not a piece of meat to be ogled and lusted after. I am a queen, and I will be treated as such."
He stared at her for a moment before his face split into a wide grin. "A queen, indeed," he said, giving her another sweeping bow. "A cold one. But I can see the passion burning beneath the surface. It would be my honor to melt the ice and set your desires ablaze."
"The only thing burning here is the desire for you to shut your mouth and leave me be."
"My apologies, Your Majesty, but I cannot be turned away so easily. Should you find my talk displeasing, perhaps, then ..." Emeric straightened and held out his hand to her. "May I have this dance?"
Ianora glanced over at Castor, who was still wading through the crowd toward her. She did not know much about his thoughts on Emeric, but she knew he wouldn't be pleased with the man trying to steal his prized wife. Still, she didn't want to cause any trouble between the two men. She also didn't want to give Emeric the satisfaction of refusing him in front of everyone.
"Of course," she replied sweetly, placing her hand in his.
As they started to move away, Ianora felt a tug on her other hand. She turned back to see Castor standing there, looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
"I believe this dance is mine," he said quietly. There was an edge to his voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Of course," Emeric murmured, stepping away from Castor and Ianora. "I would not dare intrude between husband and wife."
When Castor guided her out into the press of bodies, a wave of relief washed over her. At least Castor could be relied upon to protect her from needy men in who she had no interest.
"My love," Castor said, enveloping her in a hug. "I'm so sorry that man bothered you."
"He's just a pest," Ianora said dismissively. "But I'm glad you came over when you did."
"I wouldn't let anyone hurt you," Castor said fiercely before sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around onto the dance floor. He leaned in close. "But I am not surprised that he tried." His voice was low and husky as his eyes raked over her body. "You look stunning tonight."
"I only dressed to match the magnificent party. I couldn't dress like a peasant to attend a party so carefully thrown in my honor. You've outdone yourself."
He led her onto the dance floor, where they whirled and twirled to the music of a string quartet playing in one corner. As they danced, other couples joined them until they were surrounded by people, all moving to the same hypnotic beat. Castor's hands never left her body, caressing and stroking her as they moved together. Some of the touches were so subtle that only she knew, and others were more obvious displays of possession for the whole room to see.
"I am glad to hear you've been enjoying yourself," he said as the music slowed, pulling her tight against him so that it wasn't clear anymore where one body began and the other ended. "I hope you will accept it as a sincere gesture of apology, and a wish that we can start over. Like we should have?"
He looked down at her, his eyes filled with so much hope and sincerity that Ianora couldn't dream of shattering it. Wasn't this what she had hoped for, too? A moment where the feud between them could be cast aside for good, and their previous romance could blossom again?
