Chapter 38

Raven

Neil led me toward the dance floor, which had cleared of people during the fight. The music began to play the moment we set foot in the center of the circle, a lively and upbeat tune that thrummed up through the soles of my feet.

Someone in the crowd whistled as Neil tugged me closer, and I felt dozens of pairs of eyes on us as he stopped in the center, turned, and offered me his other hand.

“Shall we?” he murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

The crowd’s cheers grew louder, and I found myself gripping his hands a little tighter, trying to fight the heat that was creeping up my neck. Neil's bare chest—thanks to his recent victory—was right there in front of me, close enough that I could practically feel the heat radiating off of him. There was blood on his skin, too. Not just his, but his opponent’s.

Why, oh why, was the sight of blood and fighting starting to… turn me on these days?

“Do I really have a choice?” I shot back, trying not to seem as flustered as I felt. Unfortunately my lips wobbled a little and betrayed my true feelings.

But if Neil noticed, he didn’t mention it. “Not really. It would be odd if the prince did not dance with his betrothed after winning a fight, right, Serena?”

Right. Because that was all this was. A show. And I wasn’t even playing the part of myself, but rather a woman I had never met.

But even so, my heart gave a treacherous skip as he took a step closer, guiding my hands to rest on his shoulders. His own hands settled on my waist, his fingers warm against the thin fabric of my shirt.

“Follow my lead,” he said, his tone as brusque as ever, as if this were just another training session. “I will walk you through the steps. It’s a traditional Lycan dance, so try not to appear too clueless.”

I bit back a retort, knowing fully well that he was right.

With a flick of his wrist, he drew me into the first step, a sweeping motion that had me spinning in a small circle before coming back into his arms. His movements were surprisingly graceful and fluid, and I surprised myself by falling into the rhythm without much effort. The steps felt natural, almost instinctive, as if my body already knew what to do.

“You are… not bad at this,” he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear over the music.

I looked up, catching his gaze for a moment before quickly looking away. “Maybe I’m a faster learner than you give me credit for.”

He just grunted in response.

Another spin, another step forward, and he tightened his grip on my waist. The feel of his muscles under my palms made my stomach twist into a knot. I tried to focus on the steps, but it was harder with him this close, his scent filling every fiber of my being.

“So, why not pick Ember?” I asked, really just needing a reason to keep my mind off of the way his skin felt. “She was cheering even louder than I was.”

Neil’s lips twitched, and he glanced toward the crowd, where Ember was drinking with the others. She couldn’t have been pleased that we were dancing. “I noticed,” he said. “But it would be unbecoming of me to choose someone other than my betrothed for this dance.”

“Why?” I asked, tilting my head. “I thought you were allowed to sleep with anyone you want, regardless of whether you’re engaged.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn’t smile. “It is acceptable, yes, but not in a public setting. Choosing another woman with my supposed fiancée right here would make me look…” He hesitated, his gaze flicking to mine. “Like a jerk.”

I swallowed, nodding as I looked away. It was logical. Practical. It was the only choice that made sense for both of us.

But that didn’t stop the small, irrational twinge in my chest, a faint ache I couldn’t quite name. It was a reminder that this was nothing but a performance. There was nothing between us. There never would be.

“Of course,” I said, looking away. “Can’t have the prince looking like a jerk.”

He didn’t reply, but I felt his fingers press a little more firmly against my waist, pulling me just a fraction closer as he led me through another spin. The music shifted, the tempo quickening, and I was glad for it. It let me focus on matching his movements rather than the confusing swirl of emotions in my chest.

We danced in silence for a while, and as the music grew to a crescendo around us, I felt myself slipping into a sort of trance. Soon enough, I was moving with him without even thinking. I twirled away from him, stomping my feet on the ground and reaching my fingers out. Our hands brushed as we reconnected, and I tilted my head back, just enjoying the music and the movements.

It was almost easy to forget that we weren’t alone, that dozens of eyes were watching our every move. And, if I closed my eyes, it almost felt like… home.

But then the song ended, and the crowd burst into applause, breaking the spell. I blinked, realizing I was a little out of breath, my cheeks warm and flushed. Neil was holding me close, half-dipping me with one of my legs hitched up across his hip. I could feel the heat radiating off of his groin and it almost drove me mad.

“Not bad,” he said, straightening and releasing me.

I smoothed down my shirt and adjusted my hair—anything to avoid looking at him. “Not bad? I’d say I was pretty impressive, considering I’ve never done this before.”

“You kept up well enough.”

“Is that your idea of a compliment?”

“Take it or leave it,” he replied, and despite myself, I felt my lips twitching into a reluctant smile.

But before I could respond, his expression shifted to something more serious. “Come on,” he said, nodding toward the edge of the square. “We should go. There is something we need to do tomorrow.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what would that be?”

“A pre-battle ceremony,” he replied. “It was decided today. My brothers and I are heading to the borders tomorrow to clear out any rogue activity. The attacks lately have been too frequent to ignore.”

My smile faded. A battle. The thought of Neil going into a real fight, one that wasn’t just for sport, made my stomach twist, reminding me all too well of the way he’d run into that burning building.

“Well… good luck with that,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. “Try not to get yourself killed.”

He gave me a wry look. “I will do my best.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could, a cheer went up from the crowd, the villagers raising their mugs in a toast. Someone started chanting, “Take her home! Take her home!” and within seconds, the entire square was echoing with the chant.

“Oh, no,” I muttered, glancing at Neil. “Please tell me they don’t actually think—”

“You are my fiancée, remember?” he replied matter-of-factly. But there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, a mischievous little glimmer that told me he was enjoying this far more than he was letting on.

Before I could protest, he bent down and swept me into his arms, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. I let out a startled yelp, my hands instinctively clutching his shoulders as he began carrying me away.

“Neil—” I hissed, my face burning as the cheers grew even louder, the villagers laughing and clapping as they showered us with flower petals. I couldn’t even look at them. “Put me down!”

“Relax,” he murmured. “Just for show, remember?”

I scowled, but I didn’t protest further, too embarrassed to draw any more attention to myself. I kept my head down, my cheeks flaming as he carried me through the square, the villagers’ cheers following us as we made our way toward the path leading back to the castle.

But there was one figure that I couldn’t ignore.

Amongst the crowd, I caught sight of Hannah standing off to the side, her arms crossed, her face twisted into a scowl as she watched us.

Her gaze was fixed on me, her eyes cold and narrowed. And in her fingers, she was twisting a small, ivory-handled knife.