The King of Shiftersgrowledsoftly under his breath.
I snapped my eyes up to his.
“Ignore them,” he hushed severely. “Focus.”
I tightened my jaw as the chords jarred.
We pulled our heads back from the other.
I raised my arms above my head, leisurely twirling to my left, he, whirling to his right, rotating with me. Five counts of three, we turned, only to face one another each time. The front of our bodies brushed, and our eyes locked with every pause. I popped my chest to the left while he followed, and his arms enfolded my body to his.
King Athon pushed down on my back, making me spin underneath his arm—and I closed my eyes on the other bodies an inch away from my face. He lifted me into the air, and I crossed my arms over my chest as he tossed me straight up in a tight, full spin, catching me easily with one arm as I fell back down through the air.
My eyes hastily opened as the tip of my nose brushed his by accident—shouldn’t have shut my eyes. I wrapped my arms back around his neck and held on as he, and the other men, started coiling around each other with their partners, each woman held with one arm against them. I lifted my legs and wrapped them around my Fae damned soul mate’s waist as the sultry harmony sprang forth from the musicians’ instruments.
King Athon forced his muscled chest to mine while we dipped and whirled, his hold absolute on my body, moving backward and forward.
More and more, faster and faster.
Breathless. I was fucking breathless.
He had managed to steal the very air from my lungs.
The desire that had been building ripped through my system like a deadly rushing flame while I stared into his solid black shifter eyes, our hair whipping around and between us. I squeezed his neck tighter, shoving myself closer to his warmth, attempting to catch my breath while the music quieted to a beautiful, simple beat.
King Athon gently lowered me back to the ground, my feet finally touching the floor. With his left hand, he raised my right hand, our fingertips pressed gently against each other’s—and we paused.
I used one finger to draw serene circles on his broad palm and reached up with my other hand to cup his cheek softly.
The shifter king turned his head slightly into the touch.
I stopped drawing on his palm and curled my fingers around his, bringing his hand toward me.
He held my cheek delicately.
My heart hammered as I tilted my head lightly into his grip.
On the last tender note of music, I smoothly stepped forward and pressed our bodies together, our gazes connected as one.
The music died off. Dead silence filled the room.
It was so Fae damned quiet…
My chest heaved with arousal and fear.
King Athon’s thumb brush against my cheek softly, hidden.
A firm, brutal clapping shook the stillness from above. That turned into robust cheers from my people, apparently approving of the fact I hadn’t backed down from the dance—an heir with a spine against the most brutal king in all the kingdoms.
My shoulders unbunched, the dread drying up in my veins.
Mayhap Uncle Marlon had been right.
I would never have guessed that. I had so much to learn.
It was time for a grand act on my part…
I stepped back and dipped my head, stating regally—clearly and loudly, “Your Royal Highness, you are a fine dancer.”
