Page 24 of Taken By the Naga King

“I just wanted to come and introduce myself. My name is Hiresa. I live here in the castle. When you officially become queen, I will be one of your advisors.”

“Oh, hi! It’s nice to meet you, Hiresa.”

“You as well, Your Highness.”

“Oh, please, just call me Azha.”

The female smiled at her. “You will have to get used to it. From the Coronation Day forward, everyone will be required to address you as such.”

Azha smiled back. “I know. You’re right.”

“Oh, it looks like your mate is here to steal you. I will see you again soon.” She bowed before disappearing into the crowd.

“May I have this dance?” Gravon asked, holding out a hand.

“Absolutely! But I will warn you, I’m not a very good dancer. I never really learned.”

“That is perfectly fine, I don’t plan on making you do it for long,” he said with a wink.

“Oh?”

She knew exactly what he was alluding to, and she felt her earlier excitement coming back. Azha kept her emotions in check as Gravon spun her around the dance floor, taking the lead.

The king did a great job of making it look like Azha knew what she was doing. She was eternally grateful for that. All day, she had been imagining herself falling or making a fool of herself in front of everyone.

As they danced, she forgot all about what she had overheard from those female Naga. Tonight was not the night for worrying. It was the night for surrendering fully to her fate. To Gravon.

And she was ready.

Chapter 9

Gravon

Hundreds of Niri were in the room with them, but in Gravon’s eyes, there was only one. He spun her around, falling in love with that smile more and more with every second that passed.

Azha looked happier than ever, and he was so glad that she seemed to be fitting in so well in his court. Even better, the Niri surrounding them appeared to be just as in love with her as he was.

“You lied, you know. You’re a great dancer.”

She rolled her eyes. “No, it’s all you.”

“Not true. It takes a good dancer to be able to lead, but it takes an even better one to be able to follow. To trust the lead enough to put all the responsibility on them.”

“Well, when you put it like that… But still, I think maybe I’d like to take some classes if royal balls are going to be in my future.”

“They definitely will, though probably not as much as you’re thinking. But, yes, you can absolutely take some classes.”

He spun her around again, this time pulling her in much closer to his chest. They stared at each other as they swayed back and forth, and for a moment, he got lost in those honey-colored eyes.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured for her ears alone.

She smiled and looked down, and he took the moment to admire the rest of her.

She wore a long, golden silk gown that he had picked out himself. It was modest, barely showing any cleavage, as he felt too protective of her to let anyone else see what was his. He’d taken it from the collection of dresses he’d had custom made for her on her very first day on Nirum, and it looked even more perfect than he’d imagined.

He was getting so carried away with admiring her that all the feelings he had shoved down earlier came rushing back. And from the way her scent shifted as they locked eyes once more, he could tell the feelings had returned for her, as well.

“How much longer do we have to stay here?” she asked, glancing around the room.

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