Page 20 of Dance with the Dragon Duke

“I’ll dance with you, Mr. Freest,” the duke said darkly. Tomorrow’s arms pebbled at the power permeating his words.

Dark had finally returned, and Tomorrow’s cheeks hurt, her smile went so broad. It was a mystery how he’d managed to move across the ballroom soundlessly, as big as he was, but there he stood, casting a massive shadow over the very man who’d stolen so much from her, a shadow so threatening Glen lost his voice in the shade.

The duke stood so close Glen’s brow came level with Dark’s chin. Even as white as Glen’s skin was, he somehow paled further. His throat bobbed. “I wanted a word with my cousin, Your Grace, but she keeps company with loud-mouthed—”

“Don’t finish that thought,” Dark said in a menacing tone that promised the most brutal violence.

Glen’s mouth opened to retort, then he seemed to think better of it. He straightened his cravat, thumbing the large stone under his neck. Nose high, he spun on his heel to depart.

Dark’s serpent-like tail snaked around Glen’s ankles, jerking his legs out from under him. Glen landed on the floor hard. A gasp went up in the room. Neighboring guests rose from their seats to stare. The music stopped.

Laughter cut through the shocked silence, and Tomorrow peered over at the executor’s table. The man named Jonas, the fae with the bracketed horns, laughed uproariously. His wife, an immortal woman with dark hair and pink skin, gently attempted to quiet him, though her mouth was in a revealing twist of its own.

As Dark’s tail retreated, Glen leapt to his feet. His placid expression faltered, hatred darkening his eyes. The emotion vanished in a blink, and Glen chuckled, waving off the group of guests expressing their concern. He held up a hand to the room, showing he was well. String music began again, floating through the ballroom.

“Very funny, my friend,” Glen said loudly, then he moved in closer and dropped his voice. “Were we anywhere else right now, I’d take you outside for a duel.”

Tomorrow gasped. Pistols were outlawed, but that didn’t stop them from circling through the provinces anyway.

Dark shrugged. “You can’ttakeme anywhere. I’ll go outside with you now, though, if you’d like. I don’t enjoy the taste of fae, but I’ll make an exception for you. I’m hungry enough.” His unfriendly smile widened to display all of his sharp teeth.

Glen scoffed. “You’re no gentleman.”

“Walk away now, little man, or the next time my tail wraps around something, it’ll be your scrawny neck.”

Glen took his time adjusting his cravat and the lapel of his paisley waistcoat. He glanced at Tomorrow, malice in the curl of his lip.

“Don’t look at her,” Dark rumbled.

Glen glared at the duke. “You think she’s your payday. She’s not. She’s an albatross.”

Tomorrow watched her cousin leave, her stomach plummeting. What little appetite she’d had was gone completely. Margot and Susan said calming things to her, but she couldn’t focus on their words. Her hands shook with rage. She tucked them under the table to hide them, but not before Dark noticed.

“Walk with me,” he said gently, extending his open palm to her.

Adrenaline had her heart thundering unevenly in her chest. The audacity of that horrid man … She put her hand in the duke’s and felt reassurance in his strong grip. He helped her out of her seat, bracing her when she struggled to get her footing right. The outing and seeing her cousin again had made her tired. Her weaknesses were catching up to her, and there was still so much of the day left to endure.

Hugging Dark’s arm helped ground her. She could kiss the man, she was so grateful for him. He guided her in a slow lap around the ballroom, distracting her by sharing the conversation he’d had with the Queen of Night and the interesting things he’d learned about fairies over the years. Intrigued, she bombarded him with questions about his sanctuary for little girls. He didn’t seem to mind the onslaught.

“I told the queen about your plight,” he said evenly, “and about the scoundrels from last night.”

“Oh?”

“She’s going to look into it,” Dark explained.

Tomorrow frowned. She appreciated the thought, but she’d heard those words too many times from other authorities to gether hopes up. And surely a queen had even less time to spare for her than a constable.

Dark guided her back toward their table, just in time to catch Margot sharing something with another guest about pythons wrapped around a fig tree . . .

The duke promptly turned Tomorrow away from the table, declining to explain why he was suddenly in such a hurry.

A mortal man stepped into their path, dressed in a vibrant purple waistcoat and sporting a long decorative mustache. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he extended his hand to Tomorrow. “May I have the next dance?”

It was the customary thing for a gentleman to do, but Tomorrow opened her mouth to make a polite excuse.

“Absolutely not,” Dark snapped. His tail swept around her back, and he ushered her away from the dandy lord.

Tomorrow shot an apologetic smile behind her, hurrying to keep up with the duke’s stomping. “Another excellent idea,” she said quietly. “Pretending to be a possessive dragon. Makes our romance more convincing.”

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