Page 110 of Throne of Ice and Blood
“And there is to be a ball next week,” I continue whispering.
“I know.”
“All the clan leaders will be there. Including Draven and the Icehearts.”
He flicks a quick glance at me. Apparently, that was news to him. Then he quickly finishes gathering up the plates.
“I’ll let the rest know.” Straightening, he grabs all the plates and starts hurrying away. “Incoming.”
I frown, trying to figure out what he meant by that last word.
Then I can feel it.
A powerful presence looming behind me. It sends a ripple down my spine.
“What did I tell you about flirting with other people?” Draven says from behind my back.
His dark voice, laced with both threats and wicked promises, makes heat wash through me.
While turning around to face him, I run through several options in my head for how to make sure that Draven doesn’t become suspicious of Peter.
“I wasn’t flirting with him,” I say. Then I flash him a sly smile. “I was asking if he could help me kill some guards so that I can escape.”
A surprised huff of amusement rips from Draven’s chest. Then he tilts his head to the side, as if conceding the point. “Well, that’s better than flirting at least, so I’ll take it.”
Sometimes, the truth really is the best lie.
Taking a step closer, he places two fingers underneath my chin and pushes upwards, making me crane my neck and meet his intense gaze. “Because if you were flirting with him, he would wake up without his hands tomorrow.”
“Ah, threats of torture.” I give him a knowing smile. “So romantic.”
His eyes glitter in the shimmering faelights and the burning candles around the room. Then a mischievous glint flashes in those beautiful eyes of his, and he lets his hand drop from my chin and instead grabs my wrist.
I stumble a step in surprise as he suddenly begins leading me out onto the empty dance floor.
“What are you doing?” I protest, trying to pull my wrist out of his grip.
He gives me a devilish smile as he pulls us to a halt in the middle of the dance floor and then spins me towards him. “You wanted romance.”
My heart skips a beat as he slides his right hand along the side of my ribs and then places it possessively on my lower back while he grips my hand with his other. Drawing in an unsteady breath, I look up into his eyes.
“I still don’t know how to dance,” I whisper, feeling everyone’s stunned gaze on us.
That devilish smile on his lips widens. “Good thing you’ve become quite adept at obeying my orders without question then.”
Before I can so much as open my mouth to retort, he moves us into a dance that no one else is performing. In fact, I can barely hear the soft string music from the two musicians in the corner. Though to be fair, that might be because my heart is pounding in my chest.
All around us, people are staring. Courtiers and servants and Draven’s own people. I don’t even dare to glance in Jessinaand Bane’s direction to see how they are reacting. Worry flits through my chest, and I swallow.
“Are you supposed to dance with your slave?” I ask, meeting his gaze again.
And the utter confidence and complete certainty on his face blows away that worry inside me like a strong wind. Draven pulls me closer, pressing his palm more tightly against my lower back.
“You’re mine,” he says, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “I can do whatever I want with you.”
A huff of amusement escapes me, and I roll my eyes. “Right.”
He spins us around so abruptly that my breath catches. I draw in an unsteady breath to refill my lungs as Draven pulls me closer again.
