I laughed and poked him. “Maybe. Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
“Oooh, a tease. I like that.” He grinned and began dancing again, moving backward across the floor while making motions with his hands for me to follow.
Chuckling, I waved him off, then wove my way through the throng of fae. I wondered what time it was and glanced around, looking for a clock, but I couldn’t find one.
While the night had taken a pleasant turn for the better,the alcohol that had been swimming through my system was beginning to wear off, and I was reminded of the true reason for my journey. Being hungover tomorrow or sleeping in from a late night out partying wasn’t in line with my plan. My uncle certainly deserved better than that.
A sword’s pommel met my eyes when I returned to the table. Kole still sat there, drinking his ale, but he’d slightly angled his chair so he could see the dance floor.
When I approached him, he was looking away. Tiptoeing, I crept closer.
When I was only a hand’s width away, I leaned down and poked his side. “Aren’t you worried someone will sneak up on you with your back turned to the crowd?”
Kole didn’t make a sound. He didn’t even jump. “I knew you were behind me. You didn’t sneak up on me.”
I slid onto the chair beside him. “Did you? Or are you just saying that to save face?” I batted my eyelashes playfully and realized I’d had a lot more to drink than I’d meant to. I was unabashedly flirting with the Imperial Warrior and I didn’t feel the tiniest bit nervous about it.
He gave me a side-eye. “Are you doubting my skills again? A lesser warrior would be wounded by your lack of faith in him.”
“Ah! So you are a warrior. Now you admit it.”
“I never denied it.”
“But you’re not a lesser warrior, are you?” I giggled slightly.
Ignoring my question, he sipped his drink again. “Did your dance partner leave you for someone else?”
“Oh no, he’s waiting for me to return. He said he’s going to propose to me at the end of the night.”
The drink Kole was holding stopped halfway to his lips. “What?” he growled.
I laughed again. “He said it’s how his da proposed to his mother, that he was able to woo her with his dancing.”
He set his drink down. “You’re joking.”
I held up my hands in surrender. “I’m being entirely serious. That’s truly how their happy marriage came about.” I cocked my head. “Well, at least I think it’s a happy marriage. Come to think of it, he never actually clarified if they are or not.”
Kole finally brought his drink back to his lips and drained the last of it in one large gulp. The column of his throat worked, and his sword gleamed in the lights that somebody had dimmed as the night had worn on. When finished, he set his drink down, his movements precise. “And will I be invited to your wedding?”
“Of course!” I replied, delighted that he was joining in my game. “You could even partake in it if you want.”
“Is that right?” He began to trace his finger through the wet ring his drink had left on the table. “In what capacity?”
“The officiant? Or perhaps you could place our sealing cloths upon us? Oh no, wait! I’ve got it. You could be part of the decorating party. I bet you have a way with colors and flowers.You would likely make the entire atmosphere stunning.” I swatted at him playfully.
He stopped tracing his finger through the ring and lifted his head. Piercing blue eyes met mine. A light flared within them, turbulent and violent, but then he blinked, and it was gone. “I cannot say I’m much for decorating or being an officiant or placing sealing cloths on fae, but if you are unfortunate enough to marry someone such as Felix, I still wish you nothing but the best.”
I snorted lightly. “Oh, come now. You couldn’t have already formed such an extreme and poor opinion of him? You just met him.”
“Why would that mean I can’t have an extreme opinion of him?”
“Because you don’t know him.”
“I’ve seen enough.”
I nearly choked on a laugh but then realized the warrior was no longer playacting. He looked entirely serious. “Do you always have this strong of a reaction to new fae?”
“Not usually.”
