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I rock back on my heels, raising my eyebrows. “You always know how to throw them.”
He chuckles, nodding his head. “It's one of my skills.” His eyes dart down the hall, and I can tell he’s weighing something in his mind. Eventually, he lets out a soft sigh. “You know this wing is reserved for the royal family, Denve.”
I force my posture to stay relaxed, not wanting to give away how nervous I am to have upset the Prince. Truthfully, I don’t give a fuck who the wing is for. I just know why I wanted to use it.
I lean back on my heels a little, cocking my head. And I keep my grin in place, trying to look much more playful than I feel. “I didn’t realize. I was a little too… preoccupied to notice where I was. My apologies.”
I watch as his smile grows wider, hitting the mark I was hoping for. Enticed with a good time, the Prince will pay attention to little else. “I know what that’s like.” He chuckles beneath his breath. Reaching out to clap me on the shoulder, he gives me a squeeze. “Given your status, I’ll make an exception.” He winks. “It'll be our little secret.”
Heat squeezes through my veins, a possessive need to make Salina my secret. I want everything about her to only be mine. In fact, I’d like to carve the eyes out of any elf’s head that dares to look at her.
But I don’t have that luxury right now.
Instead, I pat the prince’s arm. “I’d appreciate that,” I say lowly, like it really is a secret. I lean a little closer. “And when you hear screams tonight, I can assure you that no one needs to come running.”
His eyebrows jump up as he throws his head back, boisterous laughter bouncing off the walls. I fight to remain calm as he nods, patting me again before turning on his heel to return to his party.
I sigh, letting my body deflate. Running a hand through my hair, I try to shake off the interruption. “Maybe the hallway isn't the best…”
My words trial off, hanging in the air before falling flat. I had turned, expecting to see Salina standing slightly behind me. She had been silent the entire interaction, but I only thought that was because she’s a well-trained human.
As it turns out, she’s not.
I’m standing alone in the hallway, not having even heard her slip away, and a new wave of anger – hot with the possessive need to find her – hits me. I grind my teeth together, my magic lashing out now as I let loose a low growl.
“Salina.”
12
SALINA
What the fuck?
That’s the only thought in my head at the intrusion of the Prince. I immediately hide the blade behind my back, retracting the knife into my sleeve. Denve steps forward to greet the Prince as I turn away, not wanting for the newcomer to see my face.
They busy themselves with a conversation, and I’m not about to hang around and chat. With the dagger secured back in its sheath, I glance subtly over my shoulder, seeing Denve and his friend are turned the other way.
It’s an opportune time for me to get out of here. An open door stands a few meters away. Ambling over, I spot an open window inside. Casting one final look at the Prince and Denve, I disappear out of their vicinity.
I climb out the first level window, stepping out into what appears to be the gardens. Sighing, I trudge over to a lone bench and take a seat, running a hand over my hair in frustration. Strands of hair stick to my forehead, having gotten messy in my moment of heat with Denve.
Damn it… I had him in the palm of my hands. Had I just another minute alone with him then I could’ve been going home not empty handed.
I curse the godsdamned Prince, annoyed that he has foiled what would have been a perfect hit. A distant voice in my head whispers to me, telling me that there’s another reason why I didn’t want our moment to end.
At that moment, despite the slight cold that whisks through the air, a sensation of warmth runs up my legs at the thought of Denve’s hands making them quiver with delight.
I run my fingers along my lips, craving the taste of his mouth on mine and feeling spiteful that they were ripped away so violently.
“Fuck…” I sigh. “Maybe it was for the best. Even with a good escape route, trying to drag an unconscious noble away from the ball would have attracted too many prying eyes. Damned rich bastards…”
I should have planned this out better. Instead, I allowed myself to get swept up in the moment, falling victim to Denve’s seduction abilities. Even if I was about to get the hit on him, I shouldn’t have let it go as far as it did, because now I can’t get him off of my mind.
It wasn’t a good move on my part. None of this reflects my many years of hard training in Nakam, where I invested many hours into becoming my best self. Certainly not a great start to my first contract.
It certainly doesn’t help that I’ve taken a genuine liking to the son of a bitch. Still, not all hope is lost. I’ll find a way back to him and turn this all around. Otherwise Sythar won’t be happy, and I won’t ever get another contract again. I’ve worked too hard to throw this all away over some bastard noble.
Rising from the bench, I look to the night sky, deciding it’s time to head back to the hideout and recollect my thoughts. There, I can come up with a new plan.
