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I paste on a coy smile as I look up at him through my lashes, watching as those dark violet eyes drop to my lips.
“We were just ensuring that a wayward human hadn’t intruded on the King’s festivities. Lord Rainzal has claimed this one for himself.”
“Salina,” I say, offering up my hand as I hold his gaze. Denve reaches forward, dipping down to brush his lips across the back of my hand, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.
“Denve Thuvrol,” he replies, the heat of his breath curling around the sensitive skin on my hand. My heart rate picks up, and I suddenly find myself beyond grateful that dark elves don’t have the sense of hearing or smell some of the other races are gifted with – otherwise, I’d be a goner.
The two nobles at my back seem to take our interaction as their cue to find somewhere else to be, and I’m left standing alone with Denve.
“So, how did you and Lord Rainzal come to be mated?” Denve asks after a moment. I don’t miss the hint of jealousy in his voice, and I smother my smile before it can reach my lips.
“A mutual understanding,” I reply smoothly, grabbing a scarlet glass of paquir off of the tray of a passing zagfer and sipping the delectably floral, fruity alcohol. My eyes find Denve’s again, and he smirks, arching an eyebrow.
“A mutual understanding? What kind of mutual understanding?”
“Haven’t you heard? I’m all the rage these days,” I reply with a smirk. Denve barks a laugh, the sound wrapping itself around me and going straight between my thighs. He shakes his head at me as though he’s in disbelief, that delicious smile still playing on his lips.
“I’d imagine you are,” he murmurs in response, his eyes skating from my head to my toes and back again. “And what do you get out of this arrangement, if it’s so mutual?”
I shrug, leaning in conspiratorially, so close to Denve that we’re nearly pressed against one another.
“A pretty house, pretty clothes, good food. And the freedom to act on whatever…urgesI see fit.”
Heat flares in Denve’s gaze, and I know I’ve caught him, hook, line, and sinker.
“That does seem like a most beneficial arrangement,” he says, his voice low and rough and dripping with the most dangerous kind of temptation. The orchestra begins to sweep into a tune I recognize, the bodies around us moving toward the dance floor in preparation for the couples’ dance that is no doubt about to take place.
Denve’s eyes flick to the dance floor before landing on me again, and there’s no doubt in my mind what’s about to happen next. I know that I should be thrilled that my target is making this so easy, that the night is going more smoothly than I ever could have imagined, but the excitement pumping through my bloodstream is for an entirely different reason.
His mouth opens, the words seemingly on the tip of his tongue before someone comes to a stop beside me and clears their throat, breaking the spell.
Denve and I both turn to look at this unwelcome intruder, and I find myself face-to-face with the ugly noble from earlier.
10
SALINA
The noble bows to me, taking my hand and planting a kiss upon it.
“My name is Turon. It is a pleasure not only to meet you but to behold such a fine beauty as yourself.”
“I’m Salina. A pleasure likewise.”
The dark elf seems to have manners, more than I can say for others that I’ve met. Still, I can see the way he eyes me. I know he has something else on his mind, an ulterior motive for his politeness.
His features leave more to be desired. An unsightly pair of eyes sit far and wide from each other as if trying to jump off the sides of his face. His nose ends with a tip sharp enough to stab a man, while his lips coil into a crooked smile. He looks like the exact image I pictured Denve to look like, though my contract target is, of course, easy on the eyes.
“Forgive me for being so incredibly forward, but may I take you to the dance floor?” asks Turon.
With my hand still in his grip, I shoot a sidelong glance at Denve. In his eyes, I see a fire burning with jealousy. At that moment, a dastardly idea comes into my head.
It’ll no doubt add fuel to the blaze inside of Denve, but I never came here with the intent of playing fair.
“Of course you can, Turon,” I reply in a sultry tone. My response spreads a wide smile across the dark elf’s face. He gestures for me to follow as we break off toward the ballroom. I don’t even bother saying goodbye to Denve.
I know just how men work, how they’ll stop at nothing to claim what they think is rightfully theirs. I no doubt have already caught Denve’s attention on a hook. Now it’s just a matter of taking advantage and reeling him in further.
I need him to see just how desirable I am for other men around here. He’ll fall right into my trap if I lead him on just enough to the point where he’ll do something drastic to get me back from the intrusive noble.
