Her eyes snapped back to his. “What?”
“The dances. Did you learn them for the Union Ceremony?”
“They weren’t overly complicated,” she admitted. “But the dances aren’t the real issue.”
“The touching,” he supplied, already knowing the answer. It was why he’d gone to the dance studio after running into Bram. He would have gone anyway, of course, but at least he’d had a valid excuse for stalking her around Aimonway.
“I don’t want to react unfavorably during the Union Celebration,” Kailia said. “I don’t think stabbing people at the event would bode well for me.”
He huffed a laugh. “I prefer you save your stabbings for me anyway, tiny fiend.”
She blinked at him. “That was the plan.”
Another huff of laughter rumbled from his chest, and he slowly reached over to tuck her hair behind her ear. “I wish you had come to me first.”
“We already discussed why I didn’t,” she said, sitting perfectly still until he withdrew his hand.
“Yes, but if you had, I would have told you I already had plans in place regarding you and dancing.”
Her head tilted, the hair he’d tucked back slipping free again. “You do?”
He nodded, settling back against the headboard and stacking his hands on his abdomen. “We will have to dance. More than once. As for others, we can limit that.”
“We can?” she asked, a hopefulness ringing in her tone.
“We are the king and queen, Kailia. More than that, it is well known there is a possessiveness associated with partners. No one will be surprised if I’m…particular about who touches you,” he answered.
Her own huff of laughter sounded. “Surely I’ll be expected to dance with more than you. Won’t you be dancing with others?”
“Not if you don’t wish me to.”
She studied him, clearly unsure whether he was jesting or not. “How are these things usually handled?”
“That doesn’t matter. We can handle them however we wish,” he answered simply.
“I really don’t need to give people more of a reason not to trust me. Won’t refusing to dance with others make me appear…pretentious?” she asked, worrying her bottom lip.
“Again, I do not care what others think, but if it worries you, how many people do you think you could dance with before it becomes too much?”
She smoothed her hands over the blankets. Once. Twice. “If I know who it is beforehand, it might be better.”
“People you are familiar with then? Not those you meet that night or have only met in passing?” he clarified.
Amber eyes met his, relief flickering in them. “Yes.”
“Make a list then, wife,” he said, dragging himself from the bed.
“Wait,” she called after him, and he paused at the foot of the bed.
“Yes?”
“I… Thank you,” she said softly, always watching him.
“I promised you protection at the start of all this. I never forget my promises,” he said with a tight smile. “I’m going to get something to eat. Can I get you anything?”
Her face fell, eyes darting to the side, but a minute later, her features smoothed out, becoming that unreadable mask. “No, thank you.”
“I’m coming back, Kailia,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
