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Alex felt her stomach dip unpleasantly at his implication.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re in the middle of the royal palace,” she said with much more confidence than she felt. “I’m not leaving, and you can’t make me.”

Marcus looked at her with a knowing glint in his eyes. “I believe you’ll find I can, in fact, make you.”

He released one of her hands and reached into his jacket, but Alex didn’t have a chance to be concerned about what he was reaching for because Kaiden chose that moment to tap on Marcus’s shoulder, diverting his attention.

“May I cut in?”

Marcus seemed just as surprised by the interruption as Alex was, and he loosened his hold on her enough that she was able to yank herself away from him.

“Absolutely,” she said, facing her would-be saviour. Thankful for the perfect timing of Kaiden’s intervention, Alex had to resist the urge to throw her arms around him in a grateful embrace.

“I apologise for the interruption, Mr. Sparker, but your dance partner is just too lovely for you to keep to yourself,” Kaiden said charmingly to the older man.

“She’s all yours,” Marcus returned politely, as if he hadn’t just been threatening her. He walked away from them with only a hint of a ‘we’re not finished’ glance towards Alex.

Exhaling with relief, she looked back at Kaiden. “Thank you. Really,really, thank you.”

“Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” he asked as he drew her close and led her into a smooth waltz.

“Not particularly,” Alex said, easily following his confident lead. “But needless to say, we don’t get along.”

“I could tell.” Kaiden nodded towards the pink marks blossoming on her upper arms from Marcus’s rough grip. “Marcus Sparker isn’t someone you want to have as an enemy.”

Alex sent him a bland look. “I promise to keep that in mind next time he invites me over for tea.”

“I’m serious, Alex. He’s dangerous.”

She stared into his troubled blue eyes before she broke the contact and focused on his shoulder instead.

“I know,” she said quietly.

They moved in silence for a few moments before Alex decided to speak again. “You’re really good at this. Dancing, I mean.”

“We’ve danced before,” he replied, and when she looked up, his eyes were no longer troubled—in fact, they were sparkling with amusement. It was a startling change from the serious expression they’d held just moments ago.

All the same, Alex frowned slightly, having no memory of ever dancing with him—and that was something she woulddefinitelyremember. But then she understood what he meant and replied, “Sword fighting hardly counts as dancing, Kaiden.”

“I disagree.” He spun her away from his body in a complicated three-step manoeuvre before guiding her back to him, keeping perfect time with the music. “It’s all in the movement.”

“Now you’re just showing off,” she said, now smiling herself. She was impressed he’d managed to not only surprise her with the move, but also guide her in and out of it without her having to do anything but follow along. She hadn’t even stumbled— which was quite the miracle considering the heels she was wearing.

“Maybe,” he admitted, with humour in his voice. “But it’s not every day I get to dance with ‘The Inebriated Guest’.”

Alex groaned and leaned forward to hide her face in the crook of his neck as he laughed at her.

“It’s not funny,” she muttered.

“I disagree again,” Kaiden said, and she moved her head back so she was looking at him once more. “Both the act and the explanation were the textbook definition of ‘funny’.”

She scrunched her face up. “Good to know I’m still a verifiable source of entertainment.”

“I heard a rumour that you’ll actually be participating in Combat this year,” Kaiden said. “If that’s true, I’m sure the entertainment will continue.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support.”

“I’m here for you,” he said mock-seriously.