Page 63 of A Bond in Blood

I rushed down the dais and the people eyed me nervously, parting like the sea before a water nymph. When I reached the giant that was the king’s right hand, I tapped him on the back.

“Get in line,” he laughed, while he spun a naked courtesan in her spot.

“Do I have to?”

Olen’s body twisted my way immediately and he offered a wide grin.

“You’re off your seat.”

“I’m no pet ordered to stay in my spot,” I replied.

Olen’s eyes traveled beyond my head to where the king’s throne lay.

“That’s debatable.”

“Olen,” I stated. “You have practically begged me toplaywith you for the last four months. You either dance with me now or lose the chance.”

His braided hair clinked with the gold rings tied into the plaits while he shook his head.

“What kind of dancing are you thinking about?”

I fluttered my eyelashes up at him while I grinned. “Why don’t we find out?”

My scream of surprise drowned out the music when his hands wrapped around my waist, swinging me around in a circle.

“Gods! Stop!” I laughed.

“That’s a good sound,” his voice boomed.

“I need a drink!” I yelled over the music.

Olen winked, rushing us across the room toward the table lined with every kind of liquor one could think of.

“There’s no faerie wine here, is there?” I asked, trying to determine which dark liquid would numb my senses the best.

Olen shook his head. “Ulrich has that poison banned. It’s not allowed past the mist.”

I moved my head to the throne, finding Ulrich straight as a statue. His eyes wide and watching me.

“Is he jealous?” I asked while Olen passed me a full cup of golden liquor.

“Maybe jealous he can’t join,” Olen laughed.

I threw back the drink, setting it down on the table. “You two?”

Olen winked. “Your highness, where is that mind traveling to this evening?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I replied.

The liquor instantly warmed my blood, and Olen was swinging me around the room again, pulling uncontrollable laughs from my lips.

The music shifted. Something sensual, tempting. A beat pulsing through my blood. Begging me to move.

Olen stared down at me and I moved around him, my hand trailing down his chest.

“Princess,” he grunted at my touch.

“Could you make me forget?” I asked, pressing myself against him, moving my hips with the beat.

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