I narrowed my eyes on him. “Let’s be real, Alexander, would you really have listened?” I glanced down at his traditional kilt and back at his face, then looked pointedly at the gold crown atop his head. “You’re not necessarily fashion forward.”
He pressed his lips together and grumbled, “This is tradition.”
I rolled my eyes. I was just messing with him, and boy, was he easy to mess with! “Kilts are cool, Alexander. I’m just pulling your leg.”
He grunted and his cheeks turned rosy. “Next time—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I don’t need your royal approval on what I wear to these events, Alexander. Are you afraid I’ll show up in ripped jeans and a Rolling Stones t-shirt? Because have no fear, I won’t. I know what to wear. I don’t need your stamp of approval. I’m a big girl.” I squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “Relax, Alexander. I won’t let you down. Just look at me now. I look smokin’.” I backed away with a smirk and gave a little twirl.
He huffed and waved me off like he was done with my shenanigans.
With a shrug, I sashayed back to Bash, laughing at how easy it was to rattle Alexander, and took him by the hand. He smiled down at me and instead of finding a table, he led me to the dance floor. Twirling me around, he pulled me against his chest and held me tight, swaying side to side to the slow song playing.
“You never want to dance.” I frowned at him. “Who are you?”
Bash shrugged. “I’m in a mood.”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I dig it.”
We danced for a couple songs and I lost myself in the moment. I was surprised Bash even wanted to, since he wasn’t the dancing type. The only reason he danced with me on my twenty-fourth birthday was because of a miscommunication between me and Jonah, so it was a total fluke. Plus, if it hadn’t been required by tradition, he would have stayed as far away from the dance floor as possible.
“May I cut in?”
A delicate British accent made me lift my head from Bash’s chest. I looked over at who was standing there and my face erupted in a smile.
“Lucian!” I shrieked and practically jumped on him as I hugged him tightly.
Lucian wasn’t a random vampire who sought shelter in the village, he was my friend who had helped me out of several scrapes back home. He used to be the Head Vampire of New York City until he sided with me against his own people; an evil group of vampires who needed to be stopped. They exiled him for his actions, and now he was hiding in Sheunta Village. It was the only safe place for him. I hadn’t seen him in months. His cold, stony frame held me just as fiercely as I held him.
He also happened to be Alexander’s best friend and was there for my biological mother, Adaline, when she needed someone the most. Part of me thought – even though it had never been confirmed – that Lucian actually loved Adaline just as much as Alexander did. It was because of his love for her that when the Brooklyn Pack discovered me so many years ago as a lone wolf, he helped me hide from them when I didn’t want to join a pack. I owed Lucian far more than I could ever repay.
I pulled back and gripped the arms of his suit jacket. “Where have you been?”
His tuxedo was impeccably tailored, and his blond hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail at the nape of his neck. He grinned wolfishly. “You’ve been busy, Pet. I couldn’t disturb the Princess while she was performing her duty.”
I sighed. “Alexander told you to stay away.”
“Of course not! He just informed me that you’ve had a lot on your plate, but I wouldn’t miss the Blood Moon event and pass at a chance to say hello.”
“I’ve missed you.” My eyes started to get glassy and I shook him a little.
“I’ve missed you too, Pet.” He booped me on my nose and offered me his hand. “Now, may I have this dance?”
I looked back at Bash to see him smiling. “Go on, I’ll find us a table.”
I turned to Lucian and took his hand, letting him lead me to the center of the dance floor. We swayed to the music and Lucian bent his neck until his mouth was close to my ear.
“And what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”
I snorted. “Me?” I said incredulously. “None. Everyone still has beef with me.”
“Right …” he murmured. “A little birdie told me something about a wolf god?”
I jerked back and looked up at Lucian’s perfect face. “How do you know about that?” My tone was deadly serious because I knew Alexander hadn’t told him about Fenrir. Everything had been kept top secret, only shared within the confines of the Council. Which meant …
“I have my ways, Pet.” When he smirked, his dark eyes sparkled.
I gritted my teeth. “Seriously, Lucian, who on the Council is feeding you information?”
He tilted his head appraisingly. “And who said they’re on the Council?”
It had to be someone on the Council … except no one on the Council would ever fraternize with a vampire. They’d rather walk over hot coals than do that. So if it wasn’t them …
The light bulb turned on. “It was a guard,” I announced knowingly.
“They’re the eyes and ears everywhere in the castle, Pet. Remember that.”
Son of a bitch! Not that I didn’t trust Lucian, because I did, but I didn’t want this information getting spread around. If one guard was willing to share information with Lucian, who else was he willing to share it with?
Lucian twirled me around, pulling me from my thoughts and bringing me back toward him. “Have no fear, Pet, I don’t blab. But I am intrigued by this new development.”
“Tell me about it,” I grumbled. “This guy
