“Would you like to dance, Aria? Queen Laurel spoke so highly of your dance skills.” She blushes, and I give her a dazzling grin.

“Yes, Your Highness,” she murmurs. I wrap her up in my arms and sweep us into a quick foxtrot.

Across the dance floor, the too-handsome Captain of the Royal Guard, Carex, leads Laurel to dance, his hand wrapped around hers. A pang of what I think might be jealousy shoots through me. I’ve never cared whether females I’m pursuing were interested in others, never cared if another touched them. But something about seeing Laurel with the Captain puts me on edge.

I dance with Aria, then with several other females whose names I don’t remember. My attention stays equally divided between Laurel and keeping Fionn and Silene hidden. Laurel floats across the floor gracefully, never turning down a request for a dance. After a second coupling with the Captain, something rears up inside of me. Before I know what I’m doing, I’ve stalked over to her and requested another dance, my plan to leave her wanting more entirely forgotten.

The music has slowed to a tempo that allows me to keep her close. Worry in her eyes, she asks, “Is something wrong, Prince Hawthorne? This is earlier than we expected to need to aerstep them back.”

“I just needed an excuse to get away from all the female courtiers fawning over me. It’s exhausting. And please, call me Hawthorne.” She rolls her eyes.

“You think too highly of yourself. The females are simply welcoming you, as I requested they do.”

“Tell yourself whatever you need to.” I give her a wink, then dip her low before pulling her back close to my chest, committing the feel of her pressed against me to memory. Changing the subject before I do something I’ll regret, I add, “Your magic is impressive. I understand why my father wanted me to learn more about it.” She tenses, but I squeeze her tightly. “Relax, I’m not trying to get information out of you. You can keep your secrets, witchling. I’m just in awe.” She gives me a look that says she doesn’t believe me, eyes narrowed in skepticism and lips flattened. “Truly,” I assure her, and I’m surprised at the truth of the statement. “It was not… easy, for me, learning to control the massive power I had on my own. My father isn’t a light channeler, and my mother died when I was young. I had no one to guide me. I imagine it was similar for you.” I’m telling her things only Fionn and Silene know, hinting at the past that has formed me into who I am today. It makes me feel untethered. Her eyes meet mine in the briefest moment of shared vulnerability, and it lights me up from the inside out.