She moved with natural sensuality, her hips swaying and her sundress fluttering around her knees. Her face was relaxed, happy, and her lips were curved in a small smile that seemed reserved just for him.
She was beautiful, but it was her inner spirit, her resilience and fierceness that shone through.
"Here comes trouble," Max murmured with amusement, excusing himself with a salute and a grin.
"Did I scare him away?" Fenella asked as she sat back in her chair and lifted her fork.
"I doubt it. He just wanted to get back to Kyra."
Fenella looked up and smiled. "Right as always, Professor. Max is stealing her from her sisters and taking her to dance."
Din frowned. "Is there dancing?"
"Yeah." She waved with her fork. "Look over there."
He turned to look in the direction she'd indicated and saw that several couples were already dancing on a wooden platform. "Do you want to join?"
"Sure. As soon as I'm done eating." She put another piece of salmon into her mouth.
"Fenella! Din!" Syssi approached them with Allegra sitting on her hip, tiny fingers playing with her mother's dangling earrings. "Are you enjoying the party?"
"Very much so," Fenella said, her smile warm as she reached for Allegra's hand. "Happy birthday, little princess."
"Thank you," Allegra said with surprising confidence for someone who was supposed to be just one year old. "My cake is pretty."
Fenella's eyes widened. "Yes. It is. Especially the beautiful doll on top."
Allegra frowned. "Mine."
"Of course." Fenella sounded like she was stifling laughter.
Syssi sighed. "That decoration was why my little hellion didn't thank the guests for coming like we'd rehearsed. She wanted that doll before anyone could take it, and she refused to speak."
"Can't blame her." Din winked at the child. "The doll is very pretty."
"Don't encourage her." Syssi adjusted Allegra on her hip, turning toward Fenella. "I hear you've become quite the sensation at the Hobbit."
Fenella laughed. "Word travels fast."
"In a village this size? At the speed of light," Syssi said. "Everyone's talking about your psychic readings."
"It's just a bit of fun," Fenella said with a dismissive wave. "I have a knack for making up stories about people."
"Perhaps you're picking up more than you realize," Syssi suggested.
Before Fenella could respond, Bridget walked up to Syssi. "Sorry to interrupt, but Kian's looking for you."
"Thank you for telling me." Syssi turned back to them. "It was a pleasure chatting with you. Please, enjoy the party, and don't leave without saying goodbye."
As Syssi and Bridget walked away, Din noticed Fenella staring after them with an odd expression.
"Something's wrong?" he asked.
"No, nothing." She took a sip of champagne. "I just had a passing thought about how different my life is now compared to only a few weeks ago. I went from prisoner to bartender with paranormal abilities and newfound relatives." A rueful smile curved her lips. "And I've acquired a devastatingly handsome Scottish professor who tells me he loves me."
Din's heart skipped at her words. "I hope you count me among the good things in your life."
Her eyes met his, vulnerability and determination warring in their depths. "Of course it's good. For now."
His heart sank.
She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. It was just a brief contact, appropriate for their public setting, but the meaning behind it lifted his heart from where it had dropped to a moment ago.
It had turned the meaning offor nowinto a promise instead of a threat.
