Page 31 of Taken By the Crab King of Atlantis

When he steps off the podium, our height difference is laughable, even in the glittering white heels I’m wearing. He stands half a foot above everyone else in the room, and their eyes follow us as he takes my right hand and places his other hand carefully on my left waist. As if following an invisible order, a floor opens up, and other couples join us.

His driftwood-and-saltwater scent fills my nostrils, and I’m conscious of the size of his hand in mine, and the heat of his body pressed against mine. My attraction to him is only a reminder of how out of my depth I am. The makeover could only go so far to give me confidence after everything I’ve learned in the past two days.

Karkinos’ gaze drills into me, while my own gaze flits around the room nervously. Nerissa is here, as is Kilandra, and they both smile at me. I smile back politely, wishing I could find Quan.

“You look exquisite,” he says, and I swallow hard, murmuring thanks. I wish I’d had a chance to grab a glass of champagne before we had this dance. Karkinos turns me, and the curious faces of the crowd spin past.

Last night at the restaurant, I had the armor of ignorance. Now I feel their gazes as piercing. Some expressions are familiar — envy from the women, and some men. But other faces aren't so easy to read. Are they comparing me to their beloved queen?

When I finally raise the courage to glance at Karkinos, he’s no longer looking at me, instead staring with a clenched jaw out the dome, towards the ocean, as if he wishes he were anywhere else.

He is as he was at the end of last night’s dinner, cold and distant. I am failing in my duty to keep him engaged. My mind scrambles. Could he call the sacrifice off now? I still need money from this deal. My sister still needs saving.

“My lord…” I start, but can think of nothing to say. The music stops briefly, and Karkinos pulls away from me, dropping the hand at my waist quickly and stepping back. He looks back to his throne, gaze distracted. His antennae droop. I look up at him, sad at the loss of his warmth.

“Yen!” A small body rams into me, and I look down to find Marina hugging my waist. She’s wearing a very cute, long, pale-blue ballgown down to her ankles, with beaded pearls strung into an updo hairstyle. She steps back and twirls. “Do you like my dress?”

“Yes, I love it,” I take the hand she reaches towards me. She’s a welcome relief from my own thoughts.

She looks at her grandfather with a cheeky smile and a shy expression, waiting for his approval.

“You look beautiful, Marina.” He bows his head to her. His face lights up when he smiles at her.

“These are Grandma Yvette’s pearls,” Marina says. A sad look crosses his features, and my heart leaps.

Before I can think of it, I reach out and touch his arm. “I’m sorry, you must miss her,” I say, and he catches my eye for only an instant.

Marina squeezes me. “You’re beautiful too, Yen. I’m so glad I picked you. Didn’t I do well, Grandpa?”

Karkinos meets my gaze again with eyebrows raised. He’s surprised I know she picked me. I quirk a smile at him, as if to say it’s okay, or to apologize because I already knew, then look away quickly.

Karkinos lifts Marina up to his waist and twirls her. “May I have this dance?” She giggles in delight.

I don’t notice the blue-haired man with tanned skin approaching me. He was unpleasant at dinner last night, and I stiffen but smile politely. “Sacrifice, you may remember me from last night. I am Corvin, of the Oceania people. I trust you are having a good evening. If you are available, I would very much like to dance.”

Seeing no polite way to say no, I nod with a reserved smile, ignoring his glance down my cleavage as we take our positions.

“The lord seems tired, don’t you think?” I glance at Karkinos at Corvin’s words. Karkinos' muscles strain under his formal wear.

“Not really.” Karkinos ends his dance early, handing Marina off to a nanny while he engages Quan in conversation. They both gesture to me, and I hurriedly look away.

“Of course, his wife’s passing was a tragedy. Many have said he has been tired, and it was surprising he wanted to remain on this world afterwards.” This man drips poison, but I have wondered how Queen Yvette died. Is it strange nobody has told me yet?

I smile politely and say, “I know very little of politics, I’m afraid. But Karkinos has been very kind to me.”

“Of course,” Corvin says smoothly, with a smile that makes alarm bells ring in my head. “But the fact the lord hasn’t yet touched you, to ready you for tonight, says more than words. I can smell the absence of his touch.” His oily voice is now a hiss, his light hand on my waist more like a claw, his antennae wiggling wildly.

A heavy hand on my shoulder startles me, and I drop Corvin’s hand like a hot stone, stepping back into a hard wall of a chest. Karkinos looms behind me. He looks unhappy, but he’s not looking at me.

“Yen’s scent is none of your concern,” he says icily to Corvin.

“But the sacrifice…”

“Do not tell me about the sacrifice,” Karkinos says, voice rising above the music. Heads around us turn. “Do not speak to her again. Do not approach her again without her consent. None of you.” His gaze sweeps the room, his voice authoritative. “She is not a pawn in your games.”

The entire room is staring now, and I flush a deep red, but Karkinos’ hand has dropped protectively to my waist, and I feel it when he draws in a deep breath. I place a placating hand on his hand at my waist, turning to meet his gaze. He’s staring hard at Corvin, and I place a hand on his cheek, steering his face towards mine.

He blinks at me as if he has forgotten where we are. The intensity of his gaze makes my stomach flip.