Page 50 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“You're crazier than an Old One on a bender if you think I'm leaving you alone in here,” Andrei said, voice flat as he also stood, crossing his arms over his chest.

I wanted to know what an Old One and their version of a bender was.

“I need to catch my breath, Andrei, and when you're near me my lungs give up and run for the hills.”

The struggle on his face was plain. The man in him was pleased by the compliment, but the responsible mate still didn't want to leave me behind.

“Mathen will be watching, correct?”

His mouth thinned, then he sighed. “All right. A few minutes. But if it's longer than ten, I’m going to come look for you. Mathen will be right outside.”

“No one is going to get to me in a closed room.”

His eyes darkened. “You sweet faeling. I bet if I offered you a treat, you’d crawl into my carriage, wouldn’t you?”

“Well, Andrei, it depends on the treat. I only trick for the good stuff.”

His jaw ticked as he glared. “Ten minutes.” He spun on his heels and strode to the door, yanked it open then slammed it shut. A little childish, but all right.

My smile faded once he left, and I sat hard on the chair. I needed to do more than catch my breath, but if he'd understood how shaken I felt, he never would have left me.

Touching the throbbing bite on my neck gingerly, I sighed. I was going to have to ice it and apply plenty of foundation to concealthe bruising tomorrow. I was still hazy on the logic that led to the bite, but he’d been talking fast and distracting me with his pretty face. Maybe I should have gone for the less temporary, but messier, option.

I needed more than ten minutes.

Everything that had happened—were we only two hours into the evening?—hit me.

I’d never felt the temptation to hyperventilate before, but one homicidal High Lord, another stalky kind of Lord, a full blown lifetime committed relationship that sprang on me five days ago. . .and the showcase coming up.

Was I supposed to deal with all of this calmly? In ten minutes? Return to the party to mingle and network and show myself off?

No.

I stood and left the room, turning to walk away from the party. Walking away. I was good at that.

“Lady.”

Right on cue.

I turned to face Mathen and focused. My mother had always told me to be careful with my full-watt smile, and my mermaid voice. Rarely did I use the combo because more often than not it blew up in my face.

I used it now. “Mathen,” I said, widening my eyes and giving him my full powered smile, lowering my voice to a persuasive croon. “I need a few minutes alone. It’s safe. I’m just going to walk around the block and get some air.”

The pressure in my chest attested to the desperate need for said air. I wasn’t a child, I shouldn’t have to ask permission.

Permission to walk. Walk. Needed to walk away. I needed to escape the bars of the cage slowly closing shut around me.

Mathen stilled, gaze trained on my face. Then he shook himself, resisting. “Lady?—”

Tough one, huh? “Please.” Down another octave, smooth out any tremble in the intonation. “I’ll be right back. The District is safe and well lit. I need this for my peace of mind.”

He retreated, shaking his head again. “Lord Andreien?—”

“Would want me to be happy and well, and I need some time alone.”

I’d walk around the block in blessed solitude, then return having soaked up the fresh evening air and cleared my head of Fae male pheromones.

“Please,Mathen.”

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