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Erus immediately stepped in front of him, while his Guard moved closer from behind.
“Relax,” he informed his mate. “She’s harmless.”
“Prince Nightstar. I heard you were at the hotel this week.” She shoved her hand out toward him. “I can’t believe I’m actually meeting you.”
As if a switch had been flipped, Orrin instantly stood taller with his shoulders back and adopted a pleasant smile. Stepping around Erus, he briefly took her hand between both of his own and lowered his head a fraction.
“You are too kind. Our fortuitous meeting is, of course, my honor.”
“We are supposed to be dancing, asteraki.”
Yes, but they could spare a moment. “Just another minute.”
Erus sighed audibly at his side. “Her name is Millie Ho. Part elf, part human.”
He sent his mate a smile of gratitude before addressing the female again. “Are you enjoying the festival, Miss Ho?”
Her eyes widened, and pink immediately tinted her cheeks. “He knows my name,” she whispered. “I can’t believe he knows my name.”
Oops. That hadn’t been the reaction he’d been going for.
“Are you here with friends?” he asked, trying to refocus her.
“What?” She shook her head, causing a loose curl to fall over her brow and down the side of her face. “Oh, yes.” Twisting at the waist, she pointed to a trio of females at a nearby table. “Would you like to meet them?”
No, not really, but he didn’t know how to decline her invitation without sounding rude or selfish. “That would be—”
“I’m sorry,” Erus interrupted. “I’m afraid Prince Nightstar has other obligations at the moment.” He linked their hands together again and pulled Orrin closer to his side. “Good evening, Miss Ho.”
Without that abrupt dismissal, he dragged Orrin out onto the dance floor, and twirled him right into the cage of his arms.
Relaxing into his embrace, he rested his head on his mate’s shoulder and sighed. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“Were you really going to go meet her friends?”
Since they both knew the answer, he considered it a rhetorical question and said nothing.
“What if she had asked you to dance?”
Then he probably would have danced with her.
“What if she had asked you for money?”
Oh, that was easy. “I don’t carry cash.”
“Orrin.”
It was meant to be threatening, a warning, but with the growl in his voice, it was actually kind of sexy. Still, he didn’t like the censure there.
“I’m sorry.” He turned his head and pressed a kiss to his mate’s throat. “Don’t be angry with me.”
Leaning away, Erus pinched his chin gently and urged his head. “I’m not angry.” As if to prove it, he bent to whisper a soft kiss against his lips. “I just don’t like seeing people take advantage of you.”
“You’re sweet, but honestly, I’m used to it.”
“And that’s just sad. You shouldn’t have to be used to something like that.” Releasing a long, heavy breath, he pulled Orrin into his arms again and began swaying them to the music. “If you give all of yourself to everyone else, what’s left for you?”
A good question, and one he had considered on many occasions. Outside of being the heir to the elven court, he didn’t know who he was anyway. As such, it didn’t feel like he was losing much. At least, he hadn’t for a long time. Lately, however, he had started to want things.
