“I’ll admit that I’m more judicious about who I take to my bed than the rumors may suggest. If I slept with every person who wanted to get in The Shining Prince’s bed, I’d have a never-ending line of return paramours, desperate for my skills once more.”

She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the way her eyes darken with lust for a brief moment before she darts them away from my gaze. The music begins, a traditional Thayarian waltz, and our verbal sparring takes a momentary ceasefire. I whisk her into the dance, pulling her closer with each turn while keeping my focus on Fionn and Silene moving a few floors below. When I spin her away from me, I’m rewarded with a full view of the back of the dress. My mouth goes dry at the way the fabric dips low just above her ass, accentuating the thick swell of her hips, and all thoughts of Fionn and Silene leave my head. I pull her back aggressively and her breasts push up against my chest. Her lilac and mint scent wafts over me, and I can’t stop myself from taking a deep inhale as I pull her even closer. She lets out a small gasp, and a wave of pure male satisfaction washes over me.

We spin and sway a few more times before I remember that I am supposed to be seducing her, not the other way around. It takes immense control to ease her body away from mine to a more proper distance, though I force myself to do it.

“What do you think, witchling? Is my dancing up to your standards?” The words come out husky and low.

“It’s passable,” she teases, her own voice somewhat breathless. “Though I think I can give them even more of a show. Wouldn’t want anyone to wonder where Fionn and Silene have gone.” An airy mist wraps around our bodies, swirling as we spin. She looks up at me, and I meet those wicked green eyes with my own challenging gaze.

“That’s all you’ve got? I can do better.” I concentrate on the light emanating from the fire pits. It takes immense focus to keep the magic wrapped around Fionn and Silene as they move while pouring aether into the light from the nearest fire pit. I wouldn’t have been able to do it in Velmara, but at the nexus of so many leylines, my magic is stronger. Twinkling orbs of light appear around us as we twirl, lighting up the mist. We must be glowing in the darkness, glittering with mist and fairy-like orbs dancing around us.

“Impressive party trick,” she says with a wink that matches my own. I pull her closer, deeply impacted by the flirty way she turns my move against me. “And the magic around Fionn and Silene? Is it still up?” she asks, voice low.