Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zhiolas beeline for the food. Traitor.

We stopped in front of the ladies, and the one in violet-and-fawn held out her hand, her face tight and looking sallow despite the rich dark brown of her skin. Dain took her hand and lifted it to his face, dropping a kiss on her fingers. When he let her go, her arm dropped like that of a corpse. He turned his baleful gaze on the second woman, who did not lift her hand for him.

When he started rumbling a warning growl, I elbowed him in the ribs. Hard.

Dain huffed out a surprised breath, and snapped a glare at me.

Luckily, I was immune to his glares. I smiled at Lady Ralozana and Lady Qiynore, who were both giving me a wide-eyed look, no doubt awaiting my impending evisceration. "We're delighted to have the opportunity to share in your happiness on this auspicious day," I said, lying for Dain, who was still looking at me like he wanted to bite me. "May love and laughter light your days."

"Your unexpected presence is an honor," the second woman said. Her oil-black eyes flicked to Dain, then back to me. "Might I offer you refreshment at our tables?"

"You may," Dain said, with an edge to the words. "We accept." Without so much as saying a polite farewell, he wheeled, turning me with him, and started sauntering over towards the banquet table. "You are sometimes very rude," he muttered to me. "Striking the crown prince is a capital offense."

"You gonna kill me for it?" I asked.

He only snarled, which gave me plenty of answer.

Humming cheerfully, I disentangled myself from Dain, snagged a plate, and started loading it up with ill-gotten gains. There were plenty of things that looked delightful to the human palate, including little chocolate bonbons on sticks, some weird pickled vegetable things, and a whole selection of sugar-crusted fruit and flowers. Dain grabbed my wrist as I reached for something that looked like candied golden rosebuds, striking with the speed of a snake. I all but jumped out of my skin, a surge of adrenaline rushing through me, and nearly dumped my entire plate, juggling it at the last second.

"What's your problem?" I hissed at him, tugging against his grasp. It was futile; Dain held me with precise strength, immovable.

"Foolish mortal girl," he snarled. "If you want to be obedient to the point of death and desperate to make everyone around you happy, I won't st—" The lie died on his tongue, strangled before it could be voiced. Dain's throat worked, and then he growled, bitterness and anger sweeping onto his face. "I won't stray from guarding you, or take advantage of you," he bit off. "But others might, and you seem to dislike me murdering people for you." His hand tightened on my wrist enough that it hurt, his claws digging deep into my skin.