Page 69 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“I was told you didn’t come to these types of events?” His cold tone grows curious.

“I made an exception.” Hook gives him a savage smile.

“How generous of you.” Basilius’ eyes trail back to me, and I feel Hooks hand flex in mine.

“May I be so bold as to steal your beautiful date for a dance?” Lord Basilius gazes down at me, a hint of warmth filling his eyes.

Hook’s hand tightens on mine before he smirks at Basilius and slowly lifts it to his lips, placing another soft kiss on it.

“It’s up to Tink.”

Basilius raises a brow, a small smile lighting up his face. “Tink? What an unusual name. But of course. It’s always the lady’s choice.”

Basilius waits for my reply and a small plan forms in my mind. Would it help Hook if I kept Basilius busy long enough to find what he needs?

Hook didn’t tell me exactly what we would be doing here. But he did tell me he’d need to retrieve something important.

I glance at Hook wondering what he wants me to do but he’s not looking at me and I don’t know how to tell him about my new little plan without giving it away.

I glance back at Basilius. “I’d love to.”

Hook stiffens before finally turning to look at me wearing a blank look I can’t decipher. He places another kiss on my hand before releasing it and stepping back.

“Shall we?” Basilius moves us out onto the dancefloor before placing a hand on my waist and taking the other to lead me along with the music. But as we move my eyes keep drifting over to Hook.

My eyes follow him as he storms across to a group nearer to where we are on the dance floor, before he stares blatantly in our direction.

I frown, thinking my small plan is pointless if he doesn’t use this time to find what he needs.

“Why is it that I’ve never met you before?”

I glance up at Basilius to find his eyes on mine.

“It’s my first time in this Realm.” I tell him before glancing back over to Hook to find him still there, now openly glaring at Basilius. There’s a wide empty space around him as if the people close by can feel his temper and are steering clear.

I try to tell him to go look for what he needs but he’s no longer staring at me. His furious glare is set on Basilius and where his hand sits on my waist.

“Ah, that makes sense. And before that?” It takes me a minute to remember what we’re talking about.

Focusing back on Basilius, I give him a small smile. “Nowhere worth mentioning.”

Basilius chuckles and leans in. “Beautiful and mysterious,” he whispers. “A deadly kind of woman indeed. You and Hook are… together?”

Together?No, that didn’t seem accurate. But we also were, in a way. I was naive but I wasn’t blind to see there was something there between us. Something that went beyond our shared pasts and friendship.

I can’t deny the way he makes me feel. Anger is at the very top of that list but so is the constant surprise that slips beneath it and the dark heated desire that weaves it way through every word and touch.

“It’s all very…new,” I finally admit to Basilius and myself.

“He’s a fool if he hasn’t already made a move.” Basilius’ eyes follow the direction I’m looking in before turning back to me. “If I had found you first, you’d already be mine.”

I raise a brow at his bold statement. “So confident even though we’ve just met.”

His smile grows. “But I know a rare beauty when I see one. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to let you out of my sight nor let another man steal a dance with you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at him and his absurd thought process. “Are you forgetting, it wasmychoice.”

“And you choseme.” He smiles and a hint of arrogance glimmers in his eyes.

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