Page 73 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

I immediately stepped in front of Cora, shielding her from him, and glared. I did not like the insinuation that my daughter was anything but friends with the prince. They were only younglings, for fate’s sake! I had this happen to me when I was young as well. Noblemen tried to make more out of relationships with boys my age than they were. It always made me uncomfortable. My mother encouraged it, but I was not my mother, and I would not tolerate it.

Gabriel grabbed my hand, leading us away from the group. The sternness in my expression hadn’t softened.

Cora wrapped her arms around my waist. “Mom, I just came over to say goodnight. The nanny is to take us back to our rooms.”

I looked up to see Prince Percie and Princess Sellen waiting for Cora across the sea of dancing seraphs. “Of course, sweet girl. Make sure you get some rest. You will be excitable after this evening.”

“Yes, Mom,” she answered, followed by a signature eye roll.

She bounced across the room and out of the party. My anger toward that nobleman barely dissipated. I was about to tell Gabriel as much, but I looked up and locked eyes with chestnut brown, standing in the entrance of the ballroom. Darragh swapped his usual all-black for his Captain of the Guard dress uniform. A deeper blue than Gabriel’s with gold epaulettes and a royal blue riband. It fit him well. Very well.

“Drink?” Gabriel stepped in front of me, holding another crystal flute.

“Yes, please,” I said in an annoyed tone.

Gabriel’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me into him. “You truly look amazing tonight, Aurora. I do believe you have impressed my friends.”

The show I was putting on clearly worked, though it was not my best performance. I tossed the remaining alcohol back from the flute and handed it back to Gabriel, who passed it off to a servant walking by.

“Dance with me,” Gabriel pleaded while holding out his hand.

My palm lay in his, and before I could even think, I was moving along the floor with the other couples dancing.

“I don’t know these dances,” I admitted.

His hand splayed over my low back, keeping me firmly pulled into him. “I lead well…on many fronts.” He gave me a wink, and I stifled a shudder. “It will be good for you to learn since you may be staying with us for a while.”

Gabriel pulled me in closer, torso to torso, and we spun along the dance floor. His jaw skimmed along the side of my head, and he leaned down, placing his lips at the shell of my rounded ear.

His voice lowered so only I could hear him over the beat of the music. “You’re driving me wild tonight, Rory. I keep picturing what those curves look like when they’re not swathed in crystals and satin.”

My breath hitched, uncertain of how to respond to his forwardness. I could feel Gabriel smile against my temple. “Gabriel, I…don’t think I’m ready for that level of intimacy yet,” I sputtered out nervously.

“Of course. I just need you to know what you do to me,” he cooed into my ear. “You feel the same, don’t you? I heard you in the bathtub yesterday. I could smell your arousal,” he hummed.

He smelled me? He heard me?

“Don’t be embarrassed. I like a woman who can explore herself.” His whispered breath made me shudder.

If I could wither away, I would have. I could only imagine what he would do if he knew that my untethered thoughts as I touched myself were of someone he despised. Thoughts I was trying hard to rid myself of—and doing a poor job of it.

I stayed silent. The thought of him feeling my nude body against his sent a shiver down my spine. I needed to find an excuse to put some space between us. My cheeks were warming, and my throat was dry.

Before I could open my mouth and ask for a drink, a soldier I had never seen approached us. “Commander, we have some intel that just came in only a moment ago that we think you should hear.”

“What now?” Gabriel growled.

The soldier looked around suspiciously. “I can’t say here, Commander. Too many seraphs around.”

Gabriel stepped back from me, and my body relaxed. His hand caressed down my arm. “I’ll return shortly, darling. I’m sure Anya is around here somewhere if you would like company.”

I nodded, and he and the soldier strode for the door, disappearing into the hallway beyond.

Guard to guard to guard I looked. I needed to talk to him.

I found Darragh standing in a shadowy corner by the servants’ exit, talking to Lieutenant Osman. Before I could help myself, I strode straight for him, not caring at all who saw. Before I even got to him, his head turned to me, and we locked eyes again.

“Dismissed,” he gruffly said to the guard, who tipped his head to me and scurried back into the crowd. Darragh’s face was stoic as always until I was standing inches from him, and his hard edges softened.