Anger coursed through me still, but I made myself act nonchalant; I crossed my arms and lounged back against the wall, trying not to show that I was dizzy from what probably was a mild concussion. With a smirk, I raked my eyes down along his body. I called up the memories of Dain in the bath, off-balance and gorgeous, and set them against the angry, bleeding man in violet silk. The anger abated, as I regarded him, my complicated soulmate who still sometimes made the most god-awful decisions when it involved my safety.

"Want to try again, your highness?" I drawled.

His lip lifted, crimson gore dripping down his face to spatter on the wooden floor. He didn't shift from his position, looking like he was barely restraining the urge to gut me on the dance floor.

I pushed myself off of the wall and sauntered towards him, putting on my own show for the High Court while I held his golden gaze. I walked right up to him while he stood there shaking, reached up, grabbed him by the back of his scaled neck, and dragged him down to kiss him on his blood-wet mouth.

Dain growled, then melted and kissed me back, just like he had the first time, his hand coming up to cup my face as if I was the most precious thing in the world. His tongue slid into my mouth, and I welcomed him, kissing him long enough to make it obvious to those watching that we both wanted it before letting him go and breaking the kiss. I looked at him for a long moment, at that completely thunderstruck expression on his bleeding face, then smiled at him, slow and wicked.

"Behave," I said, and turned away, strolling over towards the refreshment table. The night was young, after all, and a little bit of blood all over me was hardly enough of a reason to leave a faery revel.

But that didn't mean I had to taste blood all night.

41. Balcony Confessions

Chapter 41

Balcony Confessions

Early in the morning, I made my way out to one of the balconies on the second floor of the ballroom. My guards took their stances outside the door, to keep people from bothering me, and I leaned on the railing and looked out across the nocturnal landscape. The evening air was cool, but I'd been dancing for long enough that the chilliness felt good. I stayed there for a while, out of the fray, my eyes resting on the soft darkness of the eastern forest.

Behind me, I heard a familiar stride, and a slight smile pulled up one corner of my mouth. Dain snarled, stalked onto the balcony, and slammed the door behind him. I could practically feel him relaxing with the fading echoes of that slam, and heard his long sigh.

"Leah..."

"Mm?"

"Can I... hold you?"