I stood, shaking the guy’s hand when he clearly wanted to kiss mine. No. But I did accept his invitation to dance, several people smirking as if it was a good idea to cool some of the interest if word got around I was a bad dancer.
I wasn’t that bad. Well, as long as I wasn’t doing it alone. I could follow movements and copy what I saw, but I had absolutely no rhythm or moves besides bouncing around and shaking it. Fine, that amused me, and I didn’t care when by myself or with friends, but yeah, I didn’t want to do anything that embarrassing with so many people watching.
“It’s quite a court and coven you’ve already built on your own,” he said as we started moving.
I stopped, blinking at him and not caring he tripped over his own feet when I did. I dropped his hand and turned to leave, not even bothering to give him a verbal brushoff.
“Wait, what do you think—”
I gasped as I was moved several feet away, and Petre was now in between us, his hand on the guy’s chest.
“You do not grab at our princess,” he warned the guy. “Remember whose coven you are at and that you are a guest.”
The guy cleared his throat, his eyes simmering with something bad. “I apologize. I merely meant to pull her back to check if she was well as she agreed to dance, but then suddenly went to leave like something was wrong. I believe I deserve an explanation for that.”
I tilted my head and studied him. “You don’t actually. You believe you deserve an explanation for me walking away from you is different than checking I’m okay, especially since I didn’t fall.”
“What is your answer then?” he asked, flinching but not backing down when Petre growled in warning.
“That you’re an asshole,” I answered honestly since he was making a scene. I shrugged when his eyes flashed shock and more anger. “You open with wanting to talk about what I have? That’s what interests you most? Wow, that’s not shallow and ill-mannered. I think I would have been less offended if you spoke to my chest and not my face. Smooth moves, really, I’m swooning.”
“Take a walk outside and cool off,” Petre suggested, but more like ordered the guy when I turned away.
“You got that guy’s name for the ‘no way in hell’ list, right?” I asked James.
“Yes, My Princess,” he chuckled, shaking his head at me.
I mentally shrugged. What did they expect? There was enough crazy without even going through the motions with a douche like that. And I didn’t need any more reasons to feel like a prize and nothing more.
“Anyone else interested needs to sit with you for an interview,” I added, shrugging when I got the shocked looks. “We don’t know these people. Some weren’t invited. Screw it. That’s a safety risk since I’m so young.” I glanced at Nora. “Tell me you wouldn’t agree or handle it before anyone got near your daughter.”
“You’re absolutely right,” she agreed. “They’re taking advantage of your youth and lack of parents to make them go through the proper steps.”
“You’re thinking of Clarence,” Jaxon worried, swearing under his breath when I looked away. “Did he remind of you of that asshole?”
I gave a quick nod, focused on James. “Grill them. No one gets near me without it.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Protect me, my head knight.”
“Always,” he breathed, squeezing my hip before I pulled away.
Good. No more nobles thinking they could push me around or take over. I couldn’t handle that.
The rest of the party went well and even all the bitchy, judgmental people seemed impressed, especially given they all knew it was triple what we’d invited. I checked in with Nick a few times and things were coming together well, everyone more than willing to jump in, especially after word was passed around we were taking a few days off to relax after the guests left.
All of us. We needed it.
When the night was finally over and people were heading to their accommodations, all with full stomachs and maybe a bit too much to drink, I just wanted my bed. I said goodnight to everyone, shocking more than a few. They’d handle the clean up and probably wouldn’t want me to. Plus, I was tired. I was exhausted from everything and I didn’t care if made me a baby.
Stress was tiring. My PMS was tiring and more than that, I realized now that I had people I cared about or close to me that I didn’t get bitchy during my cycle like some women, but insecure. I felt almost paranoid and doubted myself. It wasn’t excessive levels, but I noticed it, like when Trisha snorted at me, I didn’t know she was amused, but I wondered if maybe she didn’t like me all that much.
So yeah, good thing to learn about myself, and I really wasn’t a fan of it, but what could I do? At least I knew now so maybe I could curb it sometimes. Maybe.
Darius met me at the elevator to wish me goodnight and to tell me I looked beautiful. I muttered a thank you and got on, glad when he didn’t try to, but Jaxon did, Cerdic and Kristof looking like they were planning to do the same.
“Um, I want to be alone tonight,” I admitted, not pushing the button to go up yet. “Night before the wedding rules, right?”
“Not
