Page 18 of Highland Prince of Darkness

Iain moved with the same kind of perfection that he had all those years ago, however he didn’t possess the same type of affection for her. May managed a small smile as she nodded to the people around them, they started to move, and she kept up with each movement.

The music started to build up as they moved around the room in a circle, turning and traversing the room in unison. May was aware that Iain had diverted his attention from her and was simply looking around at the rest of the room. He looked bored.

It hurt her to think that she used to once capture his attention completely and he wouldn’t be able to think of anything else. The music was building to a crescendo and May was struggling to catch her breath as she battled with her troubled thoughts while trying to dance. Her feet were starting to move clumsily, but she hoped the business of the room would mask this. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, yet as she looked up at her reluctant partner, he showed no sign of being fatigued or even a little tired from the movements.

Holding onto Iain was much more difficult than she remembered, there was much more muscle on his arms and he had grown a few inches over the last six years since he had been a young soldier. May was struggling, but she was determined to not let it show.

“Are ye having a good evening?” May asked, as the music started to die down.

“Aye,” was the only response that Iain gave.

May quickly understood and gave up on trying to make conversation with him as the first song finished.

“May I have the next dance, my lady?” a voice spoke up from behind her, as May started to make her way back to the table with Iain. She only danced as much as she was obliged to by the unwritten rules of a feast and wanted to get back to the table as quickly as possible.

However, she turned around to see who had interrupted this plan and was going to make her stay out in the eye of the courtiers. May was met with one of the Viscounts from a neighboring clan, and she realized that he must be brave to ask for a dance when Iain was still so close.

“Sir Barclay, of course,” May smiled, without looking back at Iain. She could imagine the look on his face and only let her smile grow more as she thought about it.

Her hand took the Viscount’s and she let him guide her back into the main dancing area. His hand rested firmly on her waist and she rejoined the next song by slipping smoothly into the line. May knew that there were bound to be men that would ask to dance throughout the night, it was customary; however, she was starting to fear what Iain would say about this.

“Ye seem happy with yer husband to be,” the Viscount spoke up.

“Thank ye, I am,” May smiled as she lied through her teeth. She couldn’t be further from happy at the situation that she had found herself in.

“I would like to say — if I could be so bold, my lady — ye’re quite brave to be with a man known as Diabhal. He’s feared throughout this land and known by many around this country.”

“I ken,” May nodded, and suppressed a sigh, “But he is quite pleasant around me.”

May wished that she didn’t have to lie about the details of her relationship with Iain.

“Aye, I am glad. Otherwise, ye would be in a bit of danger,” the Viscount burst out laughing as he spoke. She knew that he thought it was a joke, but May was still fearful that Iain could be violent toward her.

Nevertheless, May managed to crack a smile and chuckled as much as she could bear to fake. She hoped that people weren’t watching, especially her soon-to-be husband, who would not like seeing her having fun with another man. The dance was fleeting and May enjoyed it much more than she had done with the previous song, which she found was probably due to her dance partner.

The Viscount was a little older than May. However, he was still considered to be in his prime years and she couldn’t deny that he did have a rather handsome smile. May pushed the thoughts from her mind as she turned around at the end of the dance and started to make her way back to her table.

“Thank ye for the dance,” she muttered, and bowed her head to the Viscount as he smiled and broke away from her to return to his own table.

May walked back up to her own table and moved to sit next to Iain. She could see that his lips were pursed and his eyes were staring off into nowhere in particular. May wondered what he was thinking or what he was planning, but the ominous look in his darkened eyes scared her to really think about it.

“Everything all right?” May asked, as she moved to sit next to him. However, Iain moved quicker than she could and rose from his chair in an instant. May was slightly stunned by his quick movements, but what followed confused her even more. He walked past her and grabbed her wrist at the same time, bringing her with him.

“Ah!” May cried out, thankful for the loud music to mask the sound. The last thing that she wanted to do was draw attention to them and cause a scene at their own betrothal party.

“Come with me,” Iain seethed in a dark voice.