Chapter 11 #2
Unable to refuse him, I slide my hand into his.
He walks me over to the dance floor. An instant later one of his hands still clutches mine, and the other holds my waist. We begin the dance steps that the others are performing, but it’s absolutely awkward and not at all smooth, the way it was dancing with the princes.
Still, I’m laughing every second. As he puckers his lips and plays every bit the part of a handsome prince, I’m left giggling until I’m breathless. Under his breath he murmurs things that only make me laugh harder.
“My lady, do you like my manly dance moves?”
“My legs are so big and powerful from all my dragon riding that I’m just a big, powerful man.”
“Arthur, stop,” I say, barely able to catch my breath.
“If you see how well I ride dragons, just imagine how well I ride the ladies.”
Our dancing is ridiculous. We probably look like two children who were let loose on the dance floor, but I’m having a blast. I forgot what it felt like to be with someone I completely trust. Someone who makes me feel safe.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tesson come in, along with Roland. I’d wondered a bit where Roland had gone. My guess is someone assigned him to help Tesson while he was here. Poor Roland. Tesson is the worst.
I draw my gaze back to Arthur. We lock eyes, and he spins me around. I don’t know what the other dancers are doing, but the world fades away in a rush of colors, and I feel happy and free. He pulls me closer once more, and I kiss his cheek.
“Thank you,” I say.
“For what?”
“For being you.”
Arthur grins ear-to-ear. “I can only be me with you, you know that. Pennyvale has been just a little darker without you.”
“Enough!”
Someone steps in our way, and I collide with a hard body.
Faster than I could ever imagine I’m pulled straight from Arthur’s arms to Prince Gareth’s side.
His brothers are there beside him, all looking angry, which is just great.
These three don’t seem to agree on anything other than making me miserable.
“What’s your problem?” I ask, trying to push away from Prince Gareth, but his grip on me is tight.
“We just think you’ve danced enough for the night,” Prince Lucien says, his voice controlled, but I can sense the anger beneath his words.
I shove Prince Gareth again, but he’s like a brick wall. “I decide when I’m done dancing.”
“No, you don’t,” Prince Gareth says, and he doesn’t try hiding the anger in his voice.
Prince Alaric clears his throat, his jaw working. “Maybe it’s time to grab a drink. Or something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry. Or thirsty,” I tell them tightly.
“Just stop,” Prince Lucien says, running his hand angrily through his long blond hair. “You heard what your dragon said. You’re basically marked for us. It’s completely inappropriate for you to be dancing with another man like this.”
There’s so much wrong with that. “Like what? How am I dancing?”
“You’re laughing,” Prince Alaric says, like the word is something awful.
“I can’t dance and laugh now because of a decision my dragon made? Is that what you’re telling me?” I ask them, incredulous.
To my shock, Arthur reaches out and yanks me out of the prince’s arms, sending me crashing against him. I turn and look at the three men’s faces, complete disbelief in their eyes.
“Sorry, boys, but Harper needs a man. We’re going to go back to dancing, and I trust you’ll find something else to occupy you. May I suggest food and drinks?”
Then Arthur starts dancing with me again, but we don’t make it far. Prince Lucien shoves Arthur away from me, the look on his face saying he’s ready for a fight, and my stomach twists. I don’t know what Arthur is doing, but he’s insane. These three are warriors. He is not one.
“We’re all the man Harper needs,” Prince Lucien says, breathing hard, hands curled into fists.
“So, she’s yours?” Arthur asks, lifting a brow.
“Damn right she is,” Prince Gareth says.
Prince Alaric comes to my side and pulls me closer to him, so warmth wraps all around me. It seems to me that the three men are trying to get us as far away from each other as possible. Which is irritating as fuck.
“I’m not yours,” I tell them angrily.
Prince Lucien cracks his neck, staring Arthur down. “It’s but a formality at this point, Harper, so say goodbye to your small-town man, because the two of you won’t be seeing each other again.”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” I tell him, belatedly realizing I sound like a child.
Arthur clenches his hands into fists. “Everything I’ve heard from Harper gives me the impression that the three of you haven’t been very nice to her.
It seems like a man being kind to the woman he marries is the easiest of things.
If you can’t even do that, then you don’t deserve to stand at her side. ”
“You don’t know a damn thing,” Prince Lucien says, taking a step closer to him.
My sweet best friend seems to transform in a moment.
“I know you’ve been cruel to her, oh, yes, I’ve heard about that, and I know that you three don’t just want her because of your dragons.
You want her because she’s beautiful, smart, and completely exceptional.
It’s a shame you’re too cowardly to admit that to her. Or, hell, to yourselves.”
Prince Alaric is between Prince Gareth and Arthur in an instant. “Call me a coward again!” Prince Gareth says in a deadly whisper.
I slip between them and grab Arthur, pulling him back. “What in the hell are you doing?”
“Don’t touch her!” Prince Gareth says, his voice rising.
People are looking in our direction. Staring. My cheeks heat with embarrassment. It’d be nice to get through one of these things without a situation like this.
“Calm down,” I tell Prince Gareth.
His gaze locks onto where my hand touches Arthur’s wrist. “Don’t. Touch. Her.”
I drop my hand, afraid of what Prince Gareth might do if I don’t.
Arthur leans closer to me and whispers, “Still think they’re not interested in you?”
I turn to him in shock. Is that what this is all about? “You’re absolutely insane.”
He smiles. “But now you know.”
“What the fuck do you have to smile about?” Prince Lucien asks, then says, “You know what? Let’s step outside and handle this like men.”
“What?” I say. “That’s insane.”
“No, it’s what we should’ve done the second this guy showed his face.” Prince Lucien starts to undo his jacket.
“You’re not fighting Arthur.”
“You’re not protecting him. If he wants to be your man, he can show us that he’s strong enough to be your man.”
“What? I–”
A loud bell chimes, and I turn to see the king has come to a stand.
Everyone falls silent, and Prince Alaric grabs me and pulls me back to his side.
Suddenly, I’m standing with the three princes surrounding me, space between Arthur and I.
There’s tension in their bodies for a long minute before they finally seem to relax.
I glance up at Prince Alaric, and his gaze softens as it lingers on me.
Is it really possible? Do they actually like me? They certainly seem happier when I’m not around other men.
“Welcome, Dravari people,” the king says, his voice booming through the room. “We have much to discuss.”