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“How old are the pair of you?”

“Have you ever seen dragons before?”

“What is it like in Palenor fighting against pale ones?”

Layala smiled and nodded, sipping her wine. Thane answered most of them. He knew she didn’t like interacting with strangers like this. The last question was much deeper and harder to answer than the other fluff. He tried to keep it as light as possible given the context.

The music changed to a faster tune, and the same shifter who stared at Layala, held out his white-gloved hand. “Oh, a favorite song of mine. Do you mind if I steal your beautiful betrothed for a dance? I’ll bring her right back, promise.”

Thane didn’t blame him for being infatuated with her. But it grated on his nerves that he’d hardly taken his eyes off her since he’d approached. Thane ground his teeth and tried not to look like a jealous prick, but he was one. “What does the lady say?” If this party didn’t require him to be on his best court behavior, he’d tell the bastard to piss off.

She set her empty wine glass on the nearby table. “Why not,” she lifted her shoulder, and he immediately took her hand.

Thane watched to make sure he danced proper. One hand was high on her waist, the other clasped around her palm. The distance between them was… sufficient.

“Would you mind dancing with us then, Prince Thane?”

He turned to the icy-blonde twins he’d seen earlier. “Uh,” he tugged on his collar. “Both of you?”

“One at a time, of course,” the one on the left answered.

“Me first,” said the other.

“Alright.” Taking her hand, he led her onto the dance floor with the mass of other couples.

Layala looked and rolled her eyes over the shoulder of her dance partner. He tried not to laugh as he placed his hand on the twin’s silky waist and took her other hand. She immediately stepped closer, putting not even a finger’s width between them. Thane cleared his throat and took a half step back and then moved into the dance. “So, what is your name?”

“I’m Devlyn and my sister’s name is Destinee. We’re friends of Prince Ronan’s—second cousins on his mother’s side. We flew in your friends.”

“Ah, I thought you looked like the queen, and thank you for that.”

“So, when’s the wedding?”

“We haven’t set a date yet,” Thane said.Unfortunately.

She tilted her chin higher. “She’s sweet, and Ronan says she’s a mage, not to mention pretty, you should marry her before she gets away.” Her tongue slid across her bottom lip. “Are you—hesitant to commit? I imagine as a future king you are rather picky on whom you will choose as your queen.”

Thane sighed. He truly didn’t want to have to put the queen’s cousin in her place, but it looked like it was heading that way. “No, I’m not hesitant. We’re at war in my land—it’s complicated.”

“You know, being engaged to be married isn’t married.” She slid her hand from his shoulder to his chest. “There’s still time to… play.”

Thane dropped both hands to his sides and dipped his head. “Thank you for the dance, Devlyn.” He turned away to find Layala. This was a mistake. They should have given being cordial the middle finger and stayed together.

“I hope I didn’t offend you,” Devlyn stepped up beside him. “You’re so—beautiful.” Her eyes dropped to her fidgeting fingers. “There’s just something about you.”

Unsure what to say, he kept searching for Layala among the couples still dancing around them. He spotted the one who’d asked her to dance, and she wasn’t with him anymore. He scanned along the catering tables where they’d been before, and she wasn’t there either. Leif, Fennan, and Piper all danced with partners so she was alone.

He turned to Devlyn with suspicion. Was this a play to get them apart?

“She’s over there,” Devlyn said, nodding toward the thrones. He finally spotted Layala standing off to the side, talking to Prince Yoren. Maker above, he was paranoid.

“Thank you,” Thane said and moved across the room with hurried steps. When he reached her, he leaned down to her ear. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Why?”

“I lost you for a moment.”

“Oh,” she smiled and rubbed his arm. “I was just talking to Prince Yoren about the music. This song is eight hundred years old. Fascinating.” She giggled the way she did when she’d had a little too much wine. That nervous feeling he’d had all day intensified.