My heart thudded, the sharp scrape of his claws along my skin making my pulse jump and my breath come faster. I wasn't sure if it was fear or arousal, but by the tightness in his face and the way his nostrils flared, I thought it might be both.

"I keep my promises," he said, halfway to a growl, his ears pinning back as I stared at him.

"I never said otherwise," I answered, halfway to breathless.

Dain's nostrils flared again. "I won't dance tonight, but I'll be watching you from my throne," he said. Then he smiled, aggressive and cruel. "Try not to make a fool of yourself."

I jerked my head away from his touch, stung and surprised by him turning his public persona against me. "Better a fool than a bastard," I snapped in an angry reflex, and watched that barb land far closer to home than I'd intended, pain flickering over his face before rage covered it. If I'd been anywhere else, if he'd been anything else, I would have apologized immediately. But I was in Faery, and he was fae, and an apology wasn't something I could give him.

With a snarl, Dain thrust himself up from the table, almost knocking his chair over. I could see the pain underneath that mask of anger, a deep well I hadn't meant to tap, and regretted my outburst.

"Watch your tongue, mortal girl," he said, his voice low and rumbling with a growl from deep inside his chest. "If you think I would never kill my soulmate, you have a lot to learn about me."

"If you think you can frighten me into silence, fae prince, you have a lot to learn about me," I shot back, angry and embarrassed at being the centerpiece of a drama. Nobody had been bothered by the antics of the other fae, but everyone watched Dain, which meant they were watching me, too. I didn't know what else to do besides counter his attacks with my own, because I had to look like I could stand up to him in front of the Court, but I hated doing it.

He started shifting into a battle stance, his tails lashing and teeth bared, when the Queen spoke.

"Go outside and cool down," she commanded, sounding bored. "Kill a courtier if you must, but leave the girl alone. She is far too amusing to have her blood staining my tablecloth so soon."

Dain wheeled away and stalked out of the room, breaking the door at the side of the room off of its hinges and storming away.

I watched him go, then turned my eyes to the Queen.