“Must be,” she murmured, eyes clawing into me.
I adjusted my sapphire mask, hoping she didn’t discover my identity. I needed to remain anonymous tonight. I couldn’t be here as Prince Lochlan. It would look bad, a prince sneaking into a royal ball in another court. But it would also raise many questions. Questions I didn’t want to answer, not when Poppy’s gran was still out there, when there was still a threat against Poppy. I needed to remain invisible, which was hard to do with this woman and her friends ogling me, all of them clutching their skirts, swishing them in hopes I’d ask one of them to dance.
I arched my neck to look over the woman’s dark head, no longer seeing Poppy or the man she danced with. My hands balled into fists. I had to find a way to get her alone, to speak with her. To apologize for how wrong I’d been. But mostly to make sure she was okay.
“Well, the least you can do is ask me to dance,” the woman was saying as she stepped closer. “The man you look very much like left without a word.” She trailed a finger down my chest. “Gave me the best night of my life and then vanished.”
I winced. “That’s a shame.”
“Indeed, and even though you’re definitely not him,” she said like she didn’t remotely believe it, “I think you could make me feel all better.”
Then I saw her. Just a glimpse of those black-feathered wings I’d recognize anywhere as the guard spun her around.
“Maybe later.” I gently pushed the woman aside and strode through the room, ignoring her scoff from behind me.
Finally. I’d finally found her.
I swallowed and edged my way forward, wondering what in the bloody waters I was going to say. I’d been so focused on sneaking into the ball, finding her, that I hadn’t actually thought through what my first words would be.
Then it was too late because I was standing before her and the guard, asking her to dance. The entire ballroom fell away as she stared at me in shock. The guard tried to protest and I thought I might knock his fucking teeth out, but then Poppy accepted my invitation, and once again, all was right.
“It’s you,” she breathed after the guard stalked away. “You’re here. How?—”
And then I was pulling her into me, wrapping my arms tight around her, pressing my cheek to her soft hair, inhaling that sweet floral scent.
She pushed herself out of my arms. “What are you—do the king and queen know the prince of the water court is here?”
I wanted to pull her back to me. It felt like I’d spent a week underwater and now that she was here in my arms I could breathe again.
“No,” I said, “and I’d rather it stay that way. Which means, you get me all to yourself tonight, Princess.”
Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, and her eyes shone in that way I’d missed. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of the way my outlandish comments brought out this shy, fucking adorable side of her, a side that seemed reserved just for me.
“You looked sad.” I itched to reach out and brush her cheek with my knuckles. “You were frowning, lips pursed, brows furrowed. I thought a dance might cheer you up.”
“I’ve been dancing all night,” she pointed out.
“Not with me.”
“Are you some expert dancer?” she teased, and I knew I had her, that we were going to be okay despite whatever had happened between us. “Your skills truly know no bounds. You’re the playboy prince, an adventurer, you rescue maidens trapped in towers, and now I find out your dance moves cure sadness. Quite the wonder.”
“So you are sad.” I stepped closer. “Why?”
She opened her mouth, and I swept her up in my arms again, a breath escaping her as I dipped her down, her hair falling in a shimmering wave. She snapped her mouth closed as I held her there, our lips inches apart.
Then I lifted her and took one hand in mine.
“Well?” I asked as I spun her out and reeled her back to me.
“I think I’ve already forgotten,” she said, breathless.
A low chuckle rumbled through my chest. “Good. Now let’s dance.”
“I thought that’s what we were doing.”
“Oh, we’re just getting started.” I lifted her hand and twirled her around, then crushed her body to mine.
A squeak escaped her that filled my chest with warmth.
