“What do you think you are doing?” Rowan growls. The temperature in the space between us drops. Thomas stiffens, his hand still half extended toward me.
“I…High Warden. I just asked miss Elodie here for a dance."
Rowan doesn’t look at him. His eyes remain fixed on me.
“Miss Elodie will dance with me instead,” Rowan commands.
He’s not angry, just authoritative. I cast a sorry glance at Thomas before returning my attention to Rowan.
“You don’t get to do that,” I say, my pulse hammering. It seems my newfound confidence has abandoned me in my time of need.
His eyes darken “I just did.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make,” I say, lowering my voice so as not to draw a crowd. “I agreed to dance with him.” He holds my gaze, unresponsive, but a possessiveness behind his eyes I can’t quite understand.
I shake my head, turning to leave before he grabs my arm. In the next moment, I am pulled against him, my chest rising and falling against his as he takes my hand and follows the other couples in a slow dance.
“Kael said you don’t dance,” I say, my breath light.
“I don’t,” is all he says, and my heart stutters at his admission. His gaze wanders down my dress. I feel more exposed than ever before, aware of how my breasts press against his firm body, and how the fabric tightens at my waist.
“You are wearing my favourite colour, Hawthorne,” he says with a smirk.
Kael, you smug menace.
Rowan’s hand slips lower down my waist. I stare at the eyes that linger on us in the background. Whispers and mutters from the women nearby.
“Ignore them,” Rowan whispers in my ear.
“Everyone is looking,” I say, feeling on edge.
“Let them,” is all he says, I tilt my head up to meet his gaze. I don’t think he’s looked away from me once. His piercing gaze has me deciding to test him.
“You know I could use that free pass I won yesterday to ask another knight if he’d like to spend the evening with me.” His eyes darken, daring me.
“What a waste that would be, Hawthorne,” he responds, his face moving closer to mine. Heat pools between my thighs.
“Why is that, Warden?”
“Why choose a knight you don’t really want?” His gaze drops to my mouth. “When you can have the one who actually understands what you want?” My breathing halts as I try to find my words.
“You sound very confident in yourself."
“I am.”
“Are you sure it’s not just arrogance?” I tilt my head at him.
“I don’t need arrogance, Hawthorne. Your pulse tells me all I need to know.” His mouth curves in a wicked grin.
“And what is that?” I murmur, my voice a breath of air.
“That if I let my hand wander, I’d find you already ruined for me.”
“Rowan, I—” I’m cut off by the sudden crash ofthe doors swinging open.
Rowan pushes me behind him, his hand gripping my waist as he places the other hand on his sword. A young knight comes rushing to our side.
“High Warden. It’s…Kael.” He stutters, out of breath, panic wild in his eyes.
