Page 64 of Eternal Captive

But he wouldn’t be the only one looking for me.

The secret society that ran our lives wouldn’t like the information I had. Wouldn’t like how easily I could topple their organization. It didn’t matter if they kept their head people a secret. I knew too much and gave them too little.

But more importantly…there was something deep inside me that caused me to pause. Something I had never felt before. Something I didn’t want to give a name to for fear it might actually become real.

Enough.

She had no time to protest, and I pulled us both to the dance floor. People cleared the way, my action gaining us attention.

The head guard would no doubt give me shit about my actions later.A guard dancing with a princess right before she is about to give herself to the prince?

But looking at the stares from others around us, they didn’t seem all that offended. If anything, my actions amused them.

Good. Think that way.It didn’t matter that they looked down on the human guard attempting to get her last few minutes withthe princess. In their minds, this was probably the most exciting part of the night.

I faced her and pulled her to me, trying my best to replicate what I had seen the others do, taking her hand in one of mine and placing my other hand on her waist.

I hadn’t touched her like this since the time in the closet, and the dancing wasn’t even sexual…So why did it make my heart race?

The skin of her hand was soft—softer than even the velvet accents on her dress. When I pulled her to me, I didn’t realize just how close we would need to be to dance. Her face was on my chest, but when she looked up at me, she felt close enough to kiss.

It took my breath away to see her so close in the bright light.

“Did I forget to mention I can’t dance?” I said after she raised a brow at my attempt to position us.

She held my gaze for a moment before she forced a smile across her face. It was a little strained—no doubt she still wanted to escape whatever unique torture this gala was.

But it was enough to cause the tension in my shoulders to ease just a bit.

“I’ll guess I’ll just have to lead then, won’t I?” she teased, repositioning our hands. “Try to not embarrass yourself too much.”

I didn’t want to admit how her sass caused my heart to jump, but her knowing glance told me she had heard it herself, giving me no choice but to come to terms with the fact that the spoiled princess actually caused me to react inthoseways.

Her hand slid across my back and pulled me closer to her, while the other held our intertwined hands up for all to see.

She then pulled us into the crowd, her strength overpowering mine. I had no choice but to follow her steps as she swayed to the music.

I had no idea what I was doing. My foot collided with hers more than once, but each time she was able to expertly redirect us and make the dancing look smooth.

After a while, it was easy to lean into her. Easier to hold her gaze. Rewarding when a smirk spread across her lips.

She is enjoying herself.

In a bizarre twist of events, the princess seemed to actually be pleased with my company.

“Does this mean you’re on my side?” she asked as she spun me around. A move normally reserved for the more femme partner. A move that caused heat to spread across my cheeks.

I didn’t chance looking at the others to see their reactions, trying my best to keep whatever bubble we were in for ourselves.

“There are no sides here, princess,” I muttered when she pulled me back to her. “If you attempt to dip me, I will leave.”

She threw her head back and let out a twinkling laugh.Is this a show? Or is she truly enjoying herself?

A light feeling swirled in my chest and chased all the other anxiety-inducing thoughts away.

My job was to keep us here for the time being. Keep us visible. That was the only way we would be safe.

But, after a while, it felt less like I was trying to protect her and more like I was the overly confident guard who just wanted her chance to dance with the princess.

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