That being said, I’m not here to bring home any princesses. Tonight, I’ve only got eyes for one: the troll-faced lord who’s currently trying to woo a tall princess with chestnut hair. She winces as he stoops into a low bow, nearly toppling over from all the wine I’ve watched him guzzle down this evening.
If she wasn’t one of Sol’s spoiled daughters, I’d probably feel sorry for her.
Still, I’ll try not to spill blood on her golden skirts if I end up slitting his throat.
Any minute now.
“Everything is in position, sire. We’ve dealt with the last of his guards.” A low voice buzzes by my ear.
“Thank you, Kennix,” I reply under my breath. My chief adviser lurks beside me in shadow form, his true demon form invisible to anyone except our kind. If a human were to look our way, they wouldn’t see him until their heads were fully turned, and even then he’d only be a dark blur in their peripheral vision. With the ballroom so busy, no one here would stand a chance.
Especially not our drunken target.
Adrenaline pulses through me as I push away from the wall. I’m so close now. Everything this arsehole has ever done to me,my family– it all comes down to this. My vision closes in on his stiff white overcoat. The tapping of fingers against his glass echoes in my mind. He laughs, and it’s so grating that I don’t notice the young woman crossing my path until she’s right in front of me?—
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
My chest collides with a shoulder as a yelp hits my ears. My hands lock around a small waist, steadying someone. But when I lower my chin to glare at the inconsiderate stranger, the world falls away until all I can see are two dark eyes above a cat-like grin.
“So sorry!” Her voice is like a bell. “I’m afraid I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
I step back. A small woman stands before me, her hair as inky black as her eyes. She’s human, I think, but she’s not dressed like any human women I’ve seen before. Her gown would be better suited to the demon court, with its dangerously low neckline and crimson colouring, like poisonous berries – a deep red shade that matches her lips.
I want to look away, but my gaze catches on the sliver of thigh peeking out from her skirt.
I swallow thickly.
It’s then I realise that my hands are still gripping her waist.
“Excuse me.” I move away, this time making sure we’re a few feet apart.
“You’re excused,” she purrs, stepping towards me and closing the gap again. “What’s your name, handsome?”
“Tauren.” It falls out before I can help it. Shit, I need to get it together. I didn’t come here to talk to women, but for some reason I can’t look away from her.
“Tauren?” she murmurs. “Hmm… that’s a nice name.”
The sound of my name on her tongue stokes a fire within me, but I force it down. Glancing over her shoulder, I spot my target still bothering the brown-haired princess, but his goblet is running low.
If I don’t make my move soon, he’ll?—
“Are you here alone?” The girl rolls up onto her tiptoes, her breasts nudging my chest. “Or do you have another handsome friend you can share me with?”
Something in me tenses at the thought of that. “No,” I grunt. “To both your questions.” Then I shake my head, adjusting my cuffs. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some very important business to attend to?—”
“Your hair is lovely.” She reaches up to brush a lock of hair out of my face. My breath shudders as her fingertips skim my forehead. “It’s so soft too. I like it.”
Is she drunk?There’s a hint of wine on her breath, but not enough to explain the devious look in her eyes. It sends a tightening below my belt.
“Excuse me.” I don’t want to, but somehow I lower her hand and weave past her. Though I barely make it two steps before I’m pulled back, my skin tingling beneath her touch.
“Does this business involve meeting one of the princesses? Because I can assure you, you’ll find everything you’re looking for right here.” She grins teasingly. Before I can stop her, she positions my hand on her waist.
“Touch me,” she whispers, pressing those damned perfect breasts into my chest again. “I know you want to.”
Arousal shoots below my belt. “I shouldn’t…”
“You really should.” She pushes my hand down.
