She looked at me with confusion before glancing back at him. Her lips tilted into a frown. She wasn’t saying anything, so I stepped in for her.
“Listen, asshole. Get your slimy hands off her and take your two friends over there and get lost.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he asked as he finally dropped his arms from her.
“I’m the man who will snap your fucking hands off if you touch her again.” I stepped forward and glared him down. My magic pulsed around us, purposely smothering the air he was breathing. He didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her. “I heard the disgusting things you said about her and the other witches, so leave. Now.”
For a moment, I thought he would fight me, but he backed down when I flashed red eyes at him. He rolled his eyes before leaving.
Elowyn stared at me as I moved forward and grabbed her, pulling her into a dancing position. My fingers curled against the bare skin of her back, and I immediately regretted it. She was soft. My hands would never touch something so perfect again. She gripped me as the man retreated out of the party with his friends in tow.
“Why are you here?” she whispered.
“I wanted to see how your pool of husbands was. Turns out, not so great.”
She stared at me oddly.
“Why do you care?” she snapped. “You barely tolerate me.”
My gaze dropped to hers.
“You don’t deserve to be tied to a bastard for life because he charmed you with his stupid smile. He was disgusting and vile.”
The song ended, but we didn’t move away from one another. A woman appeared next to us; it was the blonde witch the menwere watching earlier. I didn’t spare her a glance and kept my eyes on Elowyn.
“May I cut in?” she asked.
Elowyn looked at me. “Sur—”
“I’m only interested in dancing with Elowyn,” I said as politely as I could. The woman’s face fell before she nodded and left.
Elowyn started to move away from me, but I pulled her back against me.
“Dance with me.”
“I’m supposed to be finding a husband, not dancing with a man who hates my coven.” But even though she said it, she didn’t leave. She moved closer to me, her body pressing slightly into mine. We started swaying to the music again.
“Tell me who is on your short list for being your husband.” I glanced at the men here.
None of them were worthy of her.
“Why?”
“Because I’m interested in what type of man will sweep you off your feet.”
She scoffed.
“Only three men have not completely annoyed the hell out of me tonight,” she admitted, and I smiled.
“Is that the only qualification, little weaver? That’s pretty low.” I twirled her. “Point them out. Who are they?”
My insides coiled with jealousy that three men had managed to catch her attention. I knew I should leave before I got irrationally pissed off, but my feet didn’t move. My eyes flickered around, taking in all the men watching her. Yeah, they knew she was a godsdamn prize, and they’d be lucky to marry her.
Her eyes scanned around us. “The man in all black standing by the food table, with dark hair and pretty eyes.”
Well, I didn’t like that description. My head turned toward the table so I could size him up, and I hated that he was good-looking.
“And the one he is talking with, the blond man.”
