She quickly regained her composure. Dropping any pretense at pleasantness, she said in a voice of ice, “I’ve heard he treats his female companions most generously indeed. At least until he tires of them, that is. You, my dear, are merely this week’s fixation—his attention will wane and he’ll move on to the next harlot who spreads her legs for him.”
I knew exactly what she was doing. Still, I admittedly felt a stab of annoyance. If Oriane was to be believed, Tarben was a rake. Why should I care? As long as he believed his future was with me, his history with females was of no consequence. “Tell me, do you get your bodice in a bind over all his Highness’sharlots, or am I special?
Angry pink stains appeared on her bronze cheeks. “Such a high opinion of oneself, for someone of such low breeding. Mark my words, he’ll start craving someone new and you’ll be tossed out like last week’s fish stew.”
Fish stew?Her words grated on my skin like a rash. Before I could respond, she said, “Anyway, I’ve dallied for long enough. Whilst you are standing here, alone, clutching your flower, I shall be dancing with His Highness. In fact, I promised him the next dance.” With one final venomous smile, she and her troop of hooting twits were gone.
I plucked another goblet of wine from a fresh tray of drinks and took a big gulp. I was not bothered in the slightest by Tarbendancing with Oriane.
But if I didn’t care, why did it feel as though a beast living deep within me had awakened and cracked open its green eye?
Chapter 18
As it turned out, I didn’t have to watch from the sidelines while Tarben and Oriane shared a dance. Before the new song began, a young man approached me and asked me to dance. He was good looking, although not as handsome as Tarben.
Still, it cheered me considerably. I agreed to dance, and, although I promptly forgot his name, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Our dance had barely come to an end when another young man asked me for a turn, followed by another and another. It was a blessing that the mortal dances were similar enough to the ones we did back home.
Before I knew it, over an hour had passed and I was in desperate need of a break.
With a light flush tickling my cheeks, I thanked my latest partner and excused myself. I had just secured a fresh goblet of wine when the sound of Tarben’s voice startled me.
“You’re in high demand this evening,” he said. Was it my imagination or was there a tightness to his words? I had subtly kept an eye on him while I was dancing and it hadn’t escaped my attention that he seemed to be focused on me the entire time, despite the string of beauties he’d danced with.
The green-eyed beast had been displeased by seeing Tarben with other females. In fact, it had roared its disapproval. It was only being territorial because of the task I had to complete. Withall I had at stake, it was perfectly logical that I would not love the sight of females descending on him like sharks scenting blood. That, and I’d never liked to share my toys.
I turned to face him. “I’ve received a warm welcome this evening,” I said, lifting a shoulder.
Tarben crossed his arms. “So I’ve noticed.” He said it in a would-be joking manner, except it came out sounding flatter than he had most likely intended.
He was jealous.Perfect.
Maybe it was the wine, but I was in a generous mood. “Yes, the locals are very friendly. Although the one I’ve had my eye on is yet to show me his excellent dance skills.”
“You’re not talking about Ulf again, are you?” he asked, tilting his head as if trying to decipher me.
With a playful smile, I shook my head.
Looking considerably happier, he held out a hand. “In that case, would you do me the honor of a dance?”
“I would love to,” I grinned. Disposing of my goblet, I accepted his hand and allowed him to lead me towards the dance floor.
Tarben hadn’t lied—he was an excellent dancer. He guided me across the floor in a series of impeccable movements that seemed to flow seamlessly from one to the next.
I met him step for step, and, looking at his face of unmasked happiness, I couldn’t help but return his wide grin.
I loved to dance. It was almost comparable to how I felt when I was swimming through the waves, wild and unbound.
I felt an ache when I thought of my tail, but only for a heartbeat. Tarben laid his hands on the small of my back, pulling me into the present. Blinking up at him, I realized the song had ended.
He was looking at me like I was a prize he had just won. Now was the perfect time to get him alone.
“Tarben?”
“Are you alright?” he asked, concern flickering in his gaze at whatever he saw on my face.
“Fresh air. I think I need fresh air.” It wasn’t entirely a lie.
