Dorian sank his arm around her shoulders. “I wouldnever.”
Nyssa smacked the sand off her dress after slipping out from under Dorian’s arm. She hung back slightly, letting Bala and Dorian greet the three men before joining. Honestly, she needed time to collect herself. She wasn't fond of the small talk—not that there would be small talk as they all knew each other, but…
She just needed a minute.
“Oi, he’s being a toss,” Nadir was saying as she finally reached them. “Asking for an ass-kicking later.”
“Two days, mate,” Hagen teased. “I just have to wait it out.”
Nyssa didn’t miss the twist of Nadir’s lips and the glare he gave his friend before shaking his head and crossing his arms over his chest—exchanging a silent secret that made her curious.
There was a heaviness in his gaze, as though something was quietly haunting him in the back of his mind, deterring him from being fully engaged in their conversation. Nyssa felt herself squinting at him, and when his eyes moved to hers, she quickly looked to the ground, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Feeling better, Princess?” Draven asked her.
Nyssa’s heart skipped at the comment as she lifted her eyes to him. “I… Yes,” she answered, blinking at the question. “Yes, I just needed a walk before we have to get ready for tonight.”
Draven nodded, and Nyssa was grateful that that was the end of his questioning. “Get your suit back yet?” he asked Bala.
“It’s in my room,” Nyssa, for some reason, found herself answering.
Nerves, she knew, and she began to fumble with her hands as she cursed herself.
“Maye said she left it there when I saw her at the market,” Nyssa finished fast.
She felt every hair stand on end as she spoke, and her body began to tingle. She could feel eyes on her,devouringeyes, and she forced breath into her lungs as she hugged her chest. Dorian said something loud, obviously trying to insert himself into their friend group.
With attention diverted from her, and Dorian taking up more space, Nyssa began to relax. Her breathing evened, and while she couldn’t stop swaying, at least she did not feel on edge any longer. Nyssa soon found herself simply standing to the side, shaking her head at their jokes as the group bantered back and forth.
She could feel every time Nadir looked at her. But when Nyssa would glance his way, she caught Nadir’s eyes fluttering away from her, and she bit her lips together to keep herself from smiling. It made her almost giddy that he was staring at her as much as she was staring at him. She tried to laugh at Dorian and keep up with the conversation, but it was of little use.
Until she couldn’t stand the dodging glances anymore, and she decided to risk it.
She watched Nadir, intent on catching his eye when he looked her way, and when he finally glanced at her again, he did a double-take upon finding her staring.
Nyssa swallowed beneath his intense gaze. She could see the debate behind his eyes, of whether he should speak to her or merely admire her from afar. As though neither knew what to say or even if they should say it.
So Nyssa simply mouthed, “Hi,” to him.
Nadir’s throat bobbed, lips flinching so quickly that she thought she’d imagined it. The heaviness that had been in his eyes when she’d first seen him seemed to lighten with the thought of smiling.
“Hi,” he mouthed back.
Her bangs fell over her eyes as she looked down at the ground, hugging her arms tighter, and then snuck a glance back to him. He was still staring down his nose at her, now smiling softly, and she swore she saw a twinge of danger in his gaze that made her heart skip.
Her bottom lip sucked behind her teeth when she allowed her eyes to dance over him as she’d done in the Throne Room. He shifted, pushing up his sleeves, scratching his palm, almost flexing the veins in his muscled forearms and large hands. And when he relaxed a bit so that his hips pushed forward, Nyssa resisted laughing.
So much for not trying to swoon her. She wasn't sure whether he was doing these things subconsciously or purposely. But she made sure that he watched her twirl her hair and push her shoulders back, lifting her chin to expose her neck, her breasts rising with every deliberate breath she took.
If she couldn’t have him, she would make sure he remembered her anyway.
Dorian’s arm swinging around her shoulders brought her back to the present. He nearly sent her flying to the ground, and she stumbled on her feet, not realizing how close she was to Nadir until Dorian straightened with a laugh, and she shoved him off her.
“What—Dorian!” She shook her head as she laughed at him, and Dorian gave her a wink that she almost slapped off his face. “I need to be getting back,” she chuckled. “All of you will have me thoroughly discombobulated. I’ll never be ready for the banquet tonight.”
Her hand accidentally brushed Nadir’s at her side as she shifted her arms, and Nyssa’s ears began to ring. And suddenly, all she could think about was him standing so close to her. He could have asked her right there if she wanted to leave the others and she would have said ‘yes’ just so that she did not have to feel so embarrassed about being distracted by him.
“Need an escort back, Princess?” Hagen said, bringing Nyssa out of her trance.
