Page 67 of The Heir

“What exactly are we going to do?” I asked, my nerves bubbling up inside of me like a bubble bath.

“Don’t worry, Emma. Just follow my lead; I am good at navigating through these kinds of things.” He winked and got out of the car. He was over to my side in an instant and opened the door for me.

“You go to dances often with girls?”

“No, more like my family’s business; we always had these grand parties, which I had to attend, so we can handle this Homecoming thing, I assure you.”

I nodded.

“Hold my hand, Emma,” he whispered, and I realized that I was clutching my hands together behind my back, and he had been reaching for me. I gulped and let go of my hands, placing one of them into his.

We reached the check-in table, and Shad handed the teacher our tickets. The gym was decorated all in white: white balloons, white streamers; everything was coated in a frosted, bright white. It looked beautiful, really. I could have given the dance committee props on a job well done. As soon as we entered the gymnasium, a slow song began, and three girls walked toward Shad and me as it started. I had tried over the previous few weeks to ignore the obvious flirting I had witnessed in Shad’s direction from what seemed like most of the female population at school,but maybe I am being dramatic—it couldn’t be the entire school, Emma.When it came to Shad, I knew it could be somewhat uncontrollable. He was just that mesmerizing; however, could they not see that, clearly,Iwas there with him?

“Hey, Shad!” A blond, long-haired upperclassman called in an alluring tone—or one she tried to make sound alluring. She looked stunning in her blood red dress and with her hair in soft curls down her back, giving total vampire vibes.

“Hi, Jaz. This is Emma, my date,” Shad returned, moving his hand to touch my back and pushing me forward. I had somehow ended up behind him.

“Hi, Emma. It is nice to meet you,” she glared at me.

“I was wondering if you could spare me a dance, Shad,” she asked in a sultry voice.

Gosh, some girls will do anything, huh.That Jaz girl was–yuck! I wanted to smack that pretty smile off of her face.

Calm down, Emma—the thought popped into my head at the perfect time because Iwasabout to smack her.

“I am all Emma’s this evening—and, hopefully, every evening,” he clarified, again with his stone, stoic face.

“What?” she pouted.

“She is mydate,” Shad said, pulling me very protectively beside him. He leaned down and touched my nose with his and smiled so big that it sent a fire into my belly.

“Oh—” she finally relented.

Shad didn’t look away from me.

“Well, I better get my date onto the dance floor before the song ends. Excuse us.”

I was awestruck; I did not speak as Shad moved his face away from mine and led me onto the dance floor.

“Marry me,” I said, still in a daze. I felt my body grow overly warm, and I moved away from Shad then.

He chuckled.

Did I just say that out loud?

“I sent a girl away, and you want to getmarried?” His eyebrow raised. “I should talk to other girls around you more often.”

“You seem to—really to, um—to know what you’re doing,” I whispered with a gulp.

“Well, Iampracticed in diplomacy,” he whispered in my ear, his breath, caressing my skin, sending thrills and shivers through me. I felt as if the electricity between us would cause me to burst—to explode.

Did he say diplomacy? A Fey prince had a need for that at court right? I was not going to discount the possibility there.

“Well, thanks, for that back there. It was very chivalrous of you.”

“Anytime, I don’t like it when people make you feel uncomfortable.” He gave me a small smile, as he pulled me along with ease onto the dance floor. One of his hands held my waist, and I felt the familiar electric charge in it. His other hand was still in mine. I placed my free hand upon his shoulder, resting it near his tie, and I could smell the scent of him. The song I created swirled around us as I took it all in. I stood there, swaying in his arms–so close, and I didn’t want him to ever let me go. He smelled like mint and springtime and new life, and still—all guy. His scent was making it hard for me to focus, and I looked around the room to regain some composure. Myclassmates were simply swaying to the music, back and forth, but Shad seemed to make us float, as he pulled me close to him and led me around the entire dance floor. I was breathless as the song ended, but soon, a new one began, and we continued for how long? I couldn’t tell how long we danced. I only knew that I was in his arms, and his golden eyes were watching me, and his arms were around me, and I was in heaven—surely, I was in heaven. Perhaps, he is no fey at all but an angel. Eventually, Shad led us off of the dance floor to get a drink.

“I didn’t know you could dance. Is this another hobby, perhaps?” I asked as Shad led me to the side of the hall with our drinks in our hands.

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