Page 71 of Kingdom of Faewood

I was soon shifting and swaying, dipping my hips, waving my arms, and fluttering my hands. My feet moved of their own accord, following the natural beat of the song as I twirled and flowed, getting lost in the rhythm. The dancers around me were doing the same, some dancing as couples, others dancing alone.

I danced and danced, joy spreading through my soul at this one simple freedom.

Sweat soon beaded down my back, and the longer the night went on, the more my muscles quivered, and my breaths quickened. Pants lifted my chest, but it felt so good to move, to feel thisalive.

A few times, between songs, I glanced toward the booth, just to see if any of Jax’s friends had joined the dance floor. A female fairy was entwined in Trivan’s embrace on the floor, but the others were still talking to one another, although Bowan now had a female sitting on his lap. Only Jax sat quietly.

Every time my attention shifted his way, our gazes locked. The Dark Raider’s eyes were hooded, his expression impossible to read with that damned mask on, but his attention seemed to be entirely focused on me.

The intensity of his stare sent a ripple of goosebumps skating over me. It felt as though I was the only thing in the realm when he looked at me like that.

Turning away, I carried on and soaked up every minute of the night that I could, but as the hour progressed, the dancefloor began to clear out, and more locals came in. Many were already inebriated, and the atmosphere in the salopas began to change.

The band continued playing, the lively music never faltering. Bawdy laughter and whistles began, though, in addition to the beat. I slowly became more aware of my surroundings and realized an entire group of males I hadn’t seen earlier were sitting around a table. All of them were watching me. Some weren’t even trying to hide their lustful stares and suggestive smirks.

They were looks I was used to. As a lorafin, my magic had blessed me with physical beauty and a sultry physique. They certainly weren’t the first males to ogle me, and they wouldn’t be the last.

But I’d learned to ignore males like them, so I kept moving, heaving in breaths. My body felt blissfully alive, but I was also beginning to grow tired.

Slowly, I began to wind down, not moving quite as sharply and quickly as I’d been.

“Don’t stop on account of us, beautiful!” one of them yelled over the music. “I was enjoying the show.”

I took a step back and glared at him. “The show wasn’t for you.”

One of the males beside him laughed and slapped the other’s back. “She must not be interested in you, you big oaf.” He turned glittering eyes on me. “But what about me?”

Before I could respond, he prowled to his feet and closed the distance between us.

A sharp zing from my collar made my heart leap. The male towered over me. He was a siltenite with coarse ashen-colored hair and sharp brown irises. A glaze filled his eyes, telling me he’d had more than a few drinks.

A new song started up, and he slipped his arms around my waist, not even asking if I was okay with it.

My breath sucked in, but before I could push him off, he rammed his pelvis against mine. I was so speechless at the feel of him grinding against me that I momentarily froze.

But before I could blink, an avalanche of magic swelled around me.

The drunken male dipped unsteadily to the side to gaze at the male barreling toward us. A vicious snarl tore from Jax, and then in a flash of speed, he ripped the male off me.

The drunk went sprawling, sliding across the floor, his body squeaking along it the entire way.

My chest heaved, and I nearly yelped.

Jax stood over the male, murder shining in his eyes. “I don’t believe my lady enjoys your touch.”

The male scurried back on his elbows, and several of his friends stood from the booth, but in a flash, all of Jax’s friends were surrounding us.

Violent energy swelled around them, and each and every one of them pulsed with magic.

“Best to sit this one out.” Trivan patted one of the malescondescendingly on the shoulder as Jax arched an eyebrow at the male who groped me.

I could tell that Jax was waiting. Just waiting for the male to rise and fight. Malicious energy strummed around the Dark Raider.

“Sorry,” the male mumbled quickly. “I’m very sorry,” he added in a rush.

Jax leaned down, glaring at the male. “It’s notmeyou need to apologize to.”

The male’s gaze cut to mine. Fear bled into his eyes. “I’m...I’m sorry, my lady.”

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