I swat her away. ‘No!’
She rubs her hand. ‘Your sister is a real ball-buster,’ she complains to Kay.
‘Yeah.’ Kay grins. ‘But you should take it as a compliment. She only does that because she loves you.’
‘I think she’s okay too,’ Llin admits, shooting me a smirk, but it quickly drops as her gaze flicks to someone behind me. She offers a courteous nod to whoever approaches us, and from the wariness in her eyes, I assume it’s either someone she doesn’t know or someone she wishes she didn’t. As she melts into the crowd, a glance over my shoulder reveals a man of similar age to me striding towards us.
‘I was wondering where you’d got to,’ he says, stretching out his hand to Kay. When she offers hers, he takes it and lifts it to his lips. ‘I thought I’d stepped on your feet one too many times and you’d gone in search of a different dance partner.’ He laughs.
‘Not at all.’ She beams. ‘I was just finding my sister. Rose, this is Hew.’
Hew is ridiculously pretty, with floppy ginger hair, a plump mouth, brown eyes, and pale skin. I can see why Kay would feel flattered by his attention, but that’s only because she’s disturbingly unaware of how beautifulsheis.
‘The infamous Rose Kultavaris.’ Hew stretches out his hand, and I offer my own for Kay’s sake. ‘Pleased to make your acquaintance at last. I have heard much about you.’
‘From Kay or other sources?’ There’s a bristliness to my voice and yet he smiles.
‘Both.’
‘Is thatso?’ My skin prickles at his suaveness. It reminds me of all the men and women who turned their backs on my parents. Maybe his family was among them? Still, I offer him a tight, polite smile. ‘Do I want to ask who else has been talking about me?’
‘Probably not. Although, by the looks of it, the main culprit is on his way over now.’
He nods his head, gesturing behind us to the figure walking our way. And it really is one hell of a figure.
Kyor’s interpretation of formal wear is nothing more than a white shirt and tightly fitted trousers, but he still outshines the guests around him. I don’t know how he does it, but every time I see him his eyes appear bluer and his shoulders broader. Of course, his overall appeal is also enhanced by the fact that he’s cleaned up since all the heaving and retching in the forest.
‘You’re friends with Kyor?’ I ask.
‘Hew was in the forest for the prince to save,’ Kay answers me. ‘Though he was kept in another part from me.’
So it’s not just Zelle that Kyor is close to. Interesting.
‘The prince and I have been friends since childhood,’ Hew says with unconcealed self-importance. ‘There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do for him.’
‘Interesting company you’ve picked here, Howells.’ Kyor ignores me completely as he speaks to Hew.
‘Yes, well, I was just going to ask Kay for another dance. Perhaps make up for my previous lack of skill.’
His eyes glitter at Kay and I don’t like it.
‘You really weren’t that bad,’ she replies with a tinkling laugh before taking his arm.
Before she can take a single step away, I reach out and grab her. ‘I thought we were going to talk. Catch up?’
Conflict flashes on her face. ‘Of course, yes.’ She bites her lip.
‘Let her have some fun,’ Kyor chides from behind me. ‘This is meant to be a ball, remember? And you have all night to talk. I’m sure Hew won’t keep her for long.’
He’s right. I don’t want to stop her from enjoying herself. Not when she looks so happy.
‘Find me after the dance,’ I instruct tightly.
‘Of course,’ she replies, her smile tightening. ‘Though maybe afterthe second one.’
I’m unable to draw my narrowed eyes away from Kay and Hew as they walk towards the dance floor.
‘She’s eighteen, right?’ Kyor says. ‘She doesn’t need your permission to do anything.’
