‘Very well, but there must be terms. You come here to study it, and if you find anything damaging towards our family that the public doesn’t know, you won’t tell a soul. Or Bethan, you will find that your parents’ treatment will not be funded any longer.’

‘Father—’ Elnora gasped.

Kai dismissed her with a wave.

‘I understand, sir. Elnora is my best friend. I wish nothing bad upon her or her family. Especially after all you have done for me,’ Bethan said with a crack in her voice.

Kai rose from his chair. Sunni trailed after him.

‘I suppose I should mediate. Perhaps, next time, you ask me instead of my brother,’ Julius said, throwing his napkin on the table.

‘That was tense.’

Sam’s voice broke the silence between the four of them; Elnora nodded beside him, reaching for Sam’s tattooed hand.

‘I would have rather been yelled at by Tharin,’ Bethan muttered.

‘Don’t say that,’ Kellan and Elnora said in unison.

All four chuckled.

‘I’m sorry about what my father said.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Bethan told her. ‘It was fair he said that. It’s not like we’re going to find anything damaging about your family.’

Elnora didn’t seem to relax.

Kellan wasn’t as forgiving as Bethan. It was certainly not fair Kai had threatened her. It made him think they did, in fact, have something to hide.

The dancing started again, and the other guests shuffled onto the dance floor. Elnora and Sam got up to dance, but Sunni appeared and wedged himself between them.

‘You should dance with Tharin Elmwood or Myles Thornton first, considering you are the host’s daughter.’

Elnora whispered something, Small magic coming from her hand. Sam moved quick like a viper and grabbed the small of her back.

‘Go dance with them.’ Sam cocked his head. ‘I will get you another drink.’

Elnora nodded and followed her mother to the dance floor. Meanwhile, Sam wandered off to the bar, deep into the crowd. Kellan soon lost track of him.

The music droned in his ears, mainly because he could hear things tenfold in comparison to the witches and humans.

‘Dance with me,’ he drawled, extending his hand.

She snorted but took his hand as he led her to the dance floor. He wished he would have asked her to dance the night of the exhibition, but he was too drunk and saw her dance with Tharin. Perhaps he’d always known.

Bethan snaked her arms around his neck, his slid down to her waist. He decided not to lead her into a dance he was familiar with. He wasn’t sure if Bethan could keep up with fae dances. Instead, they opted to sway side to side, and he would twirl her around occasionally if the music required it.