Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Felix entwined his hand around mine and pulled me toward the dance floor. Now that we were both standing, I realized how much taller he was than me. Even though my height was considered average, Felix was larger than I’d given him credit for, especially given how easily Kole had knocked him around.
He wove us through the tables and chairs, and once we reached the dance floor, he grinned down at me and began moving to the beat.
I readily joined in, smiling back at him and quickly getting lost in the rhythm.
Felix moved well, obviously having a natural inclination toward music, and when he spun me a few times and even dipped me on occasion, I couldn’t help but laugh in delight.
“You’re a good dancer,” I commented just as we began moving to the third song.
“That’s what my da always told me.”
“Your da? Does he dance too?”
“He does.”
“You must take after him.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “I don’t know. Maybe I do. It was how he convinced my mother to marry him, so I suppose that’ll depend upon your answer to my proposal at the end of the night.”
His words were said cheekily, so much so that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. I was quickly learning that Felix was a voracious flirt.
We spun, dipped, and twirled, and sweat began to slide down my back. More fae had joined us as well, even Nym and Jessip, but the space was only so large, so when I began bumping into those around me and my head began to spin from all of the twirling, I finally called it quits.
“I need a drink.” My skin sparkled in the lights, sheening from our exercise. “I’m going to go back to the table.”
Felix pouted. “Are you coming back?”
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.”
“And what about me? Do you also have a low opinion of yours truly?”
His gaze traveled over my face, down my braid, and all the way to my toes. My skin heated, my flesh pebbling. Even though he wasn’t touching me, his look held weight, as though he’d seared me.
“I do not have a low opinion of you, Miss Hollaran.”
I released a breath. I suddenly felt lightheaded. “Well, I’m glad to hear that, because I find you quite charming despite your grumpy demeanor.”
His eyebrow arched, and I almost pointed out again that his face had moved.
“Grumpy demeanor? I’ve heard that before, but charming? That’s a first.”
“You are charming. At least, I think so. Perhaps it’s the stoic warrior persona you’ve adapted. I quite like it.”
“Is that right?”
“Indeed. I haven’t met many warriors.”
I could have sworn that he was working to suppress a smile. “Have you ever met any?”
I cocked my head and tapped my chin. “Come to think of it, no. You’re the first.” I beamed at him, and for the very first time since meeting him, his lips curved, ever so slightly, as though his smile was on the precipice of being revealed.
I held my breath, waiting for his lips to arch into a true smile, but then Felix called, “Prim! Come on, love! I’ve been missing you!”
In a blink, Kole’s expression vanished. I turned my attention back to the dance floor. Kole did too. His nostrils flared slightly as he watched the Faewood fairy.
“It looks like your future husband is beckoning you.”
Sure enough, Felix was moving to the beat toward the edge of the crowd. He was smiling and swaying, his eyes on me, and his finger crooked, encouraging me to return to him.
But I didn’t want to join him again. I wasn’t here to dance and flirt, despite the fact that I strangely loved flirting with Kole.
It was late. My uncle was dying, and I needed to get up early and head into the Wildland Mountains at dawn.
Being groggy and having cobwebs congealing my thoughts from too much drinking and dancing was a sure way to end up dead before the day was over, especially since I was traveling alone.
“Another time!” I called to Felix.
His jaw dropped, and he brought a hand to his heart. Then he staggered back as though I’d shot him with an arrow.
I laughed again, unable to help it, and playfully blew him a kiss.
Felix caught my imaginary air kiss and brought it to his lips.
I chuckled and rolled my eyes.
At my side, Kole was watching Felix again, his attention zeroed in on the fairy who was once more dancing the night away.
“I think I’ll be off then.” I stood to leave, and surprisingly, Kole did too. As before, once he rose to his full height, the warrior towered over me. “Are you heading out as well?” I asked him.
“I am.”
“Do you want to join me on my walk back to the inn, since we’re inn buddies and all?” I elbowed him playfully, then grabbed my cloak and slung it over my forearm.
The warrior nodded toward the door. “After you.”
I turned away, and something warm pressed into my lower back. The second I realized what it was, I nearly stumbled. Kole had placed his hand on my lower back to guide me toward the door.
Heat seared through my top, and my flesh tightened at the feel of his large palm. All at once, the memory of our kiss came blazing back to me, like a meteor shooting right through my body. Our shared kiss had been so hot, and this male had been able to make my entire body sing.
Kole’s hand instantly fell away. “Sorry,” he said gruffly. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No, it’s fine.” I gave him a shaky smile over my shoulder and wondered why my lower belly was suddenly tightening or why my breaths felt shallow.
He’d simply placed his hand on my lower back.
That was it. Felix had put his hands all over me tonight, and it hadn’t caused even the slightest reaction in me.
But one touch from the warrior, and my body turned on fire.
“You just took me by surprise. That’s all. ”
His throat bobbed, and he nodded toward the door again. “After you,” he repeated, but his voice was lower. Rougher.