“I believe it is my turn,” Theo growled.
I had been so caught up in my mounting anger that I hadn’t noticed his approach. I nearly sagged in relief, and this time, the feeling stayed.
Evander’s fingers tensed around my hand, his eyes narrowing as he met Theo’s. But he dropped my hand before they could draw any attention with their silent standoff.
“It has been…enlightening, Princess.” Evander sketched a mocking bow before turning to walk away.
Theo’s hands swept over me, his warmth searing into the skin on my hand and at my back. I took a deep breath, grateful to be in his arms again, and let him lead me across the twinkling dance floor.
I was finally in his arms, and yet, his body was taut with tension.
“You could have come sooner, you know.” I glared up at his warm hazel eyes, a stark contrast to Evander’s cold, stormy ones. “Truly, I wouldn’t have minded.”
Theo’s shoulders relaxed a little at my tone, the corner of his mouth struggling not to pull back in a smile.
“It was necessary for them to meet you,” he said, gently spinning me away from him and pulling me back in. “Even if I wanted to be the one who had the first dance.”
His thumb grazed my ribs in a subtle movement, sending warmth flooding to my center.
“You seemed awfully distracted with your own dance partner.” I arched a brow.
He twirled me around in time with the music before letting go of my hands. Two lines of dancers were formed, and we waited on opposite sides while several couples danced between us.
Theo’s jaw twitched, and an uncomfortable expression crossed his features as he stared at me over their heads.
When our hands met again, he pulled me even closer, his deep voice reverberating through his chest to mine as he spoke low enough for only me to hear.
“Did that bother you?” He sounded somewhere between baffled and amused.
“Of course not,” I lied.
“Really?” He hummed thoughtfully. “Because you seem bothered.”
“I am the least bothered person in the world. In fact, I was thinking of dancing four more dances with Lord Timofey, myself. I’m sure he would be happy to accommodate.” I glanced suggestively toward the aging duke of clan Eagle.
Theo sighed and shook his head in disapproval, but I didn’t miss the amusement that danced in his eyes.
We were swaying peacefully to the lilting music when the hair on the back of my neck rose. I looked around until my eyes snagged on Lord Evander at the edge of the makeshift dance floor, openly glaring at me.
I scowled back, but his expression didn’t shift. He didn’t even bother to look away in shame.
Aggravation swept through me until I forced myself to look back at Theo. He must have noticed the brief exchange because he turned us so that I no longer had to face the arseling lord of Clan Bear.
When the music came to a lull, a sign the song was almost over, I spoke again.
“Can we go back to our tent now?”
He froze, a carefully neutral expression taking over his features, and I belatedly realized how that sounded.
Well, I’m in this now.
“I only meant the tent that we share. That we sleep in. Together.” A smirk tugged at my lips as I anticipated his adorable blush.
But to my utter surprise, Theo broke into laughter, the sound warm and rich and reverberating through every part of me.
“Storms, Rowan. I suppose I should just feel fortunate that you save all your inappropriate commentary for me.”
I thought back to what I had said to the Bear Lord, giving Theo a wan smile. “Indeed, you are.”
