Chapter 6

6

I f Pine kept staring at Neve like he was, people would truly believe he'd brought her to Vemion to be his bride. But he couldn't look away. They'd danced through the first two songs like their bodies were made to move together.

For the third, Briar had cut in with a significant look. It was one thing to have a favored partner, but dancing with only one woman was almost scandalous.

Another dragon had snatched Neve up, and the night had moved on.

Something curdled in Pine's stomach as he watched the human dance with a dragon named Cipher. A nephew of the king, if he recalled, and happily mated to a human. That didn't make Pine feel any better.

"Pine? I'd heard you accepted Father's invitation, but I didn't believe it." Prince Crux, son and heir of King Venin wore all the regalia of his station and grinned as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"I wouldn't miss it," he lied. They'd attended for a couple of hours already, but the king had yet to make an appearance. Once he did, Pine would make sure he was seen, and then they could go.

Crux coughed, and it might have been to cover a laugh. "I hear you brought a human. I didn't know you were looking for a mate. The IDA?"

Pine clamped down on the instinctive denial. The entire point of this endeavor was so that he wouldn't be matched with a stranger. Tomorrow, Neve would go home, and he could tell anyone who asked that it hadn't worked out. He needed to redirect this conversation. "Where is your human? I haven't seen Lady Courtney."

It had caused a scandal when Crux declared the human Courtney as his mate. The scandal deepened when his brother Ranger had found a human of his own. Prince Saber had settled down with a proper dragon lady, but they didn't attend many royal events these days.

"My wife is unfortunately ill tonight. As soon as I see my father and give him my regards, I'll be heading home."

Fanfare played, and the room went silent between one breath and the next. King Venin walked through an archway adorned with flowers, and the whole room bowed to him. There was a beat as the attendees waited for the king to speak, but he just waved his hand and grabbed a glass of wine as the party resumed around him.

"That's my cue," said Crux.

"Send my regards to your wife," Pine said as the prince stalked off to find his father.

It was another half hour later before Pine thought it appropriate to approach the king. He couldn't seem too eager to get out of there. But when he pushed through the crowd to the king's table, he found it empty except for some eager courtiers who were laughing and drinking around the king's empty seat.

He spotted the king on the dance floor.

With Neve in his arms.

If she was nervous, she didn't show it. Her smile looked natural and made his heartbeat kick up. The king said something, and she laughed and said something back, though he couldn't tell what from this distance.

He wanted to cut in and rescue her but forced himself to stay still. The king had been nurturing a fascination with humans ever since his sons brought home their brides. That was the reason Pine had chosen Neve. He hadn't meant for her to have one on one time with His Majesty, but unless she said something egregious, she was in no danger.

What had she been thinking about monarchy earlier?

The song came to an end, and Neve gave a wobbly curtsy to the king.

Pine rushed towards her before another dragon could swoop in to claim the next dance. But before the music could start up, the king beckoned both him and Neve towards his table at the front of the room.

Neve clutched at his arm hard enough to leave bruises. She might look calm, but clearly it was an act.

"You've been hiding a gem, Lord Pine," said King Venin as he took his seat and picked up a glass of wine. "I did not know you'd sought a bride."

How did he contradict the king without actually telling the man he was wrong?

Neve saved him. "Oh, Your Majesty, we haven't gone that far yet." She smiled brightly. "Lord Pine and I are still in the early days of our courtship. I wouldn't want to rush."

The king nodded. "A sensible girl."

"Thank you, sir." She kept her gaze lowered.

Was this how humans treated their kings? It was strange, but it was working.

"I expect to see you both at my New Year's Ceremony in two weeks." He waved a hand, and a black-robed servant seemed to materialize out of nowhere. "Add Pine and his human to the guest list."

"What of his sister, Majesty?" the servant asked.

"Her, too, make it a family affair!" The king slung back his wine, and one of the courtiers refilled his glass.

Neve's fingers dug even harder into his arm.

But what was Pine supposed to say?

"It would be an honor, Your Majesty."