I hissed in a breath. “I thought you said they wouldn’t see me from the middle.”
“They won’t. Once we get there.”
True to his word, he twirled me toward the center of the floor, dancing and spinning us through the crowd of swirling fae. He was an excellent dancer and lifted me just enough that my feet still touched the floor but barely held any weight.
“You’re quite strong,” I commented when we finally reached the center. Only those of great height or standing on the stairs by the throne could easily see us. “You’re practically carrying me.”
“Norivun’s not the only one with strength.” He flashed me a grin and continued to carry me about the room as though I weighed nothing at all.
Music rose and fell in continued hypnotic swells, and I allowed myself to be swept into the rhythm, relying less and less on Nuwin carrying my weight as I learned the footsteps and followed the beat.
Whispers followed me, but I didn’t care. The champagne had truly latched onto me, and out here on the floor, nobody was cornering me or trying to engage me in conversation. It was just me and the music.
“You’re a natural,” Nuwin said softly, his grin speaking volumes as lightheadedness buzzed in my mind.
Swirling sensations roiled within my belly, as though a charge of energy was building with each spin and dip as Nuwin and I moved faster and faster and faster.
Nuwin’s lips tugged down. “Your aura is . . .” He cocked his head.
“What was that?”
“I said your aura is—”
“Mind if I cut in?” A noble with curling white hair and a red tunic appeared at Nuwin’s side. He was the same male who’d been in the hall before I’d entered the throne room. The youngest prince’s hands were still wrapped around my waist as the melody continued, but the noble stayed at our side, moving to the beat.
“What do you want, Michas?”
“I thought it was obvious.” The male grinned. “I wish to dance with the lovely lady from Mervalee.”
Before Nuwin could protest, the Osaravee noble spun me from the young prince’s grip, and then new arms were around me. Strong, commanding, and warm limbs that drew me close.
CHAPTER 25
“And what if I don’t want to dance with you?” I said to the male.
His lips curved as his hand trailed down my back. “Shall I take you back to Nuwin? He’s looking quite vexed.” Despite his offer, the young lord glided us farther away from the prince. “Although I thought you may want to be introduced to some of the court since you’re new to Solisarium.”
“How do you know I’m new? I could have grown up here and only fled to Mervalee as an adult.”
He cocked his head. “I think not.” His palm grazed my spine as he spun me in a twirl before pulling me close again. He cupped my hand in his, and the intrigue in his expression grew. “You look lovelier than any female in this room, yet your hands aren’t soft. Not like the other court females.”
Since his tone held no derision, I merely shrugged. “Callouses form when one’s required to work to survive.”
“You work?”
“I do.” Even if trying to restore orem wasn’t anywhere near as taxing as laboring in the fields, I was being paid for it, therefore, it counted as work. Besides, I had already been granted more rulibs than I could count, and I was also receiving free room and board. A giggle threatened to hit me. Mother, that was funny. To think I was being paid in not only rulibs but also in feathered beds and petite mince pies.
“Is something funny?”
I managed to muffle my laugh. “I was just thinking about my latest profession.”
“Which is?” His eyes darkened as his gaze raked over my frame. My cleavage swelled from the dress, and his hand lay dangerously close to my backside.
I scoffed. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Such a shame.”
“For you maybe.”
He chuckled. “Indeed. So tell me, Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory, if you are not a courtesan, what is your profession? And how did you end up here, hidden away by the prince?”
I smiled coyly, then cursed all of the champagne I’d consumed. While I wasn’t drunk, the alcohol had loosened my tongue and was making me do bold things. Stupid things, like flirt with this male, so I pressed my lips together. This male was asking a lot of questions, as though he was on a mission to learn as much as he could about me. And I might be new to the court, but I’d already learned that innocent curiosity wasn’t what drove fae here.
So I merely replied, “I suppose you shall have to keep wondering as I don’t intend to tell you.”
The noble laughed, his head tilting back before he glided us through two pairs of dancing fae. “Regardless of where you come from, Lady Seary, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lord Michas Crimsonale, heir to Highsteer Castle and son of Osaravee Territory. I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
I stiffened in his arms as the music’s tempo increased. “Your father is Lord Crimsonale, the male who sits on the king’s council?”
“He is.”
Of course. No wonder he was seeking information about me. His father had probably instructed him to do so. “And the other male, the one with the trim beard that you were standing with, is he your brother?”
“That’s correct. Sirus is ten winters my junior.”
A ball of anxiety formed in my stomach. “Your father seems very interested in me.”
“He does? Why do you suppose that is?”
I studied his expression, looking for any traces of deceit but found none. Blessed Mother, I couldn’t tell what was a game and what was genuine with him. If only Cailis were here. Her truth affinity would decipher immediately if Michas was lying. But my sister wasn’t at my side, so I decided to keep my answer honest yet vague. “He followed us to Harrivee Territory the other day.”
Michas’s eyes turned to saucers. “Why would he do such a thing?”
“You truly don’t know?”
“On my honor, my lady, I don’t.”
I sighed. Truly, I had no idea if he was being honest. “Your father heard that the prince had taken a wingless female captive, and he sought me out. It was after I met your father that I was invited to this ball. And now, how ironic, that the first fairy I’m dancing with outside of the royal family is another Crimsonale.”
Michas laughed. “All right, all right. You got me. I’m intrigued by you, but my father didn’t send me over here on an ulterior motive. I came of my own accord. I truly wanted to dance with you because you’re new, and Prince Norivun and I . . .” He shrugged. “We have a bit of a history, and I knew he would be irritated if I spent time with you. There, you’ve caught me, and I’ve spilled all. Do you still wish to dance with me?”
I studied his expression and desperately wished again that Cailis was with me. But seeing as she wasn’t, I knew I’d have to settle with trusting my gut, which was currently telling me that Michas was a troublemaker but perhaps not a deceitful fairy.
I shrugged as I tugged my hand free. “Honestly? I think I’ve had enough dancing. My head is beginning to swim.”