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“Sorry. When did you— Am I early?” she fumbled. “I thought the maid said eight o’clock, but when I came down, no one was here.”
My eyebrows shot up as she finally stood properly on her own two feet, but I didn’t release her arm.
“The party is just getting started,” I informed her. “Why are you hiding outside?”
Her blush deepened. “I don’t really know anyone. It felt awkward.”
“You know me,” I corrected her, leading her back inside. “And the whole point of you coming here is to make yourself visible, isn’t it? How are we going to find out if anyone knows you if you’re hiding in a corner?”
She tried to slow her pace as she cast me a sidelong look. “Is that the point?” she teased.
Now it was me who felt warmth bursting through me, and I glanced at her admiringly.
Was she calling me on my attraction to her? She was bold, wasn’t she?
“Why don’t I get you something to drink?” I suggested, keeping my hold on her arm, and steering her toward one of the three bars set up inside.
I noticed the stares and whispers as others tried to figure out who Mirielle was and what we were doing together. I rather enjoyed the speculative glances. It would cause a bit of unexpected entertainment for the evening.
Locating one of the circulating servers, I placed a glass of champagne in Mirielle’s hands, and she took it with a slight tremor. The sight of it made me smile.
“Do you dance, Mirielle?” I asked pleasantly, downing my glass in one sip.
She stared at me wide-eyed. “I have no idea.”
Chuckling, I placed my empty glass on the bar and swept her up in my arms, relishing her small gasp as I whisked her toward the dance floor. The murmurs of speculation grew around us, and my smirk grew, but when I looked back at Mirielle, her face was serious.
“Are you doing this for a reaction?” she asked quietly.
My grin faded, and my pace slowed. I shook my head. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
A smidgen of guilt passed through me, and I brushed a strand of loose hair from her bare shoulders, my eyes again falling over that spectacular cleavage.
“Maybe a little?” I confessed.
“Please don’t. I’m not mad. I just would prefer not to be put on display like that.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. My intention wasn’t to have fun at your expense. The noblefaeries just love to gossip so much.”
“I get it. It can’t be easy being the center of attention all the time,” she offered sympathetically.
I didn’t respond and instead pulled her closer, the aroma of her hair driving me crazy. The bulge in my pants grew harder, and I bit on my lower lip, the urge to kiss her suddenly fully overcoming me now.
What was going on with me?
In unison, we stopped dancing, Mirielle bowing her head.
“Alpha, I—” she began, but I grabbed her chin with my thumb and forefinger, tipping her head back.
The urge to kiss her overcame me with such force, I had to step back.
“Just wait a second,” I begged her. “Before you say anything—”
“GET DOWN!” someone boomed from the main hallway. “TAKE COVER! THE ORDER—”
But my guard didn’t get a chance to utter his warning before an explosion of black smoke erupted in the ballroom.
