I pressed my other hand to the small of her back against thatimpossibly soft fabric. She never broke my gaze as I spun her around the floor, her dress swishing across the white marble.
I had so much to say, so much to tell her, so much to ask, but in this moment, all I wanted was her body against me, her gaze devouring me.
I placed my hands on her waist and lifted her up. She threw back her head and laughed in delight. I let my arms slide around to her back, then down under that perfectly round ass. I held her there for a moment, face pressed into the skirts of her dress, then I widened my arms and let her inch down through them, taking care to not graze her wings. The movement was slow, languid. Her dress bunched, and she dug her fingers into my shoulders as her body slipped against mine until her face was right there, eyes level with my own. Heat flickered in her gaze, lips parted, feet not quite touching the ground as I held her to me. Her arms wound around my neck, fingers playing with my hair, and there we were: lost in each other.
Spirits fucking below, I was in so much trouble.
Giggles erupted next to us. I set Poppy on her feet, and she shook her head, like she’d also forgotten it wasn’t just the two of us, that we were in a room surrounded by others. I’d forgotten too—and drawn far too much attention to us. Many staring, brows furrowed. The king and queen locking their gazes on us in the distance.
“We need to talk,” Poppy said under her breath, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the balcony doors.
Yes, we did.
As if she’d read my mind, she said, “I know where we can go for privacy. Follow me, Prince.”
Chapter Thirty-One
POPPY
The stars surrounded us as Loch and I made our way across the balcony, around a corner where shadows shrouded us and we were out of view of the ballroom. I pulled Loch into an alcove with a raised stone ledge that I assumed might be for a statue or decoration of some kind. But right now it was empty.
I took him in. He wore a black silk shirt that made his golden skin gleam, the top few buttons undone, showing the faint blue lines on his chest. A black jacket stretched over his broad shoulders and hung down to his waist, grazing his tight-fitting black pants. That sapphire mask matched his eyes, and they sparkled with the familiar mischief I’d missed so much.
I couldn’t believe he was here. He hadn’t left for the shadow court, hadn’t left me. We had to talk about what happened between us, my new name. There was so much to catch him up on. He dragged the mask over his head and set it on the little stone ledge behind me.
I took off my mask as well, unentangling it from my hair and setting it next to his. “I can’t be gone for long. My... parents will be worried that I disappeared.”
“Your parents,” he murmured, rubbing his jaw. “Bloody fucking waters.”
I thought of the last time we’d seen each other, the prince drunk and me running away. “I’m sorry I ran away from you,” I burst out, and then the words began tumbling out, one after the other. Everything that had happened after I left that inn. The cage, seeing the king and queen, finding out I was their daughter. I spoke for what felt like an eternity until all the words left me, and I just stood there, waiting for his response.
He stared, mouth agape.
I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “I tried to see you. But my mother felt it best that I stayed here, in the castle. And I understand her reasoning.”
He was silent for a moment, eyes searching my face, regret pinching his features. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I spent a year trapped in the shadow court. A year unable to go where I wanted, to do what I wanted. It was awful, and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.”
Guilt filled his words.
My gaze softened. That’s what he was worried about? That I’d felt trapped again, that I was reliving some trauma by being in that room with him? “It’s okay, Loch. You’re not my gran. You wouldn’t imprison me like that.”
His fists tightened. “Except I did imprison you like that.”
I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. “Well, yes, but it was for one night, and you were trying to keep me safe. It was the smart thing to do, really. Plus, you kept me very entertained.” I rolled my eyes. “My gran certainly never brought me bottles of wine, then spent all day drinking and flirting with me.”
His lips twitched. “Well, I’m glad I don’t remind you of your gran. That might kill the mood a bit.”
Heat pooled in my belly as I gazed up at him. “And what mood is that?”
He lowered his voice. “Are you flirting with me?”
My cheeks flushed, but I didn’t deny it, didn’t break his stare.
He stepped closer and backed me into the stone ledge, my wings unfolding behind me. “I missed you. I was worried I’d never see youagain, and then the king and queen appeared and said they’d found the long-lost princess—and I just knew it was you.”
“You missed me?” I asked.
“What, you think I just flirt with anyone like that?”
