Before she could find a way out of this, before she could properly reinforce the walls around her heart and remindherself that she was the Cursed One and she could not do this, the orchestra began the next song.
Just like that, it was too late. Trapped in a problem of her own making, River was swept onto the dancefloor in Nikhail’s arms.
This was not a bad place to be. Despite his size, the man moved with grace and ease and poise. It made sense, she supposed, since he was one with the air. Music swelled, and he led her through the dance as though they’d been partners a thousand times before. He was strong and capable and abrilliantdancer.
Internally, River swore. As she moved in time with her partner, their steps perfectly in tune, she realized she might have been wrong earlier.
One dance could destroy every good intention she had of keeping Nikhail at bay.
CHAPTER 16
You Deserve the Stars
Dancing was underrated.
Nikhail had never found much enjoyment in the activity, but now that River was in his arms, he was beginning to see the appeal. She fit perfectly against him, as though this was where she belonged, and he found himself questioning why he’d never asked her to dance before.
With his hand stretched across the small of River’s back, holding her so close that her breasts brushed his chest, he felt like he could breathe for the first time all night. A rightness had settled in his chest as the music started, and right now, his entire world was focused on River.
This was where he was always meant to be. Nothing else mattered. Not the icy Representative with her cutting remarks, not the dancing crowd around them, not the box in his pocket, not even the damned rebels who were growing bolder with every passing day.
The entirety of his attention was focused purely on the stunning goddess in his arms.
They spun around the ballroom, moving with ease.Nikhail didn’t know this particular dance, but that didn’t matter. The wind whispered in his ear, guiding his movements and ensuring his steps were strong and true.
The music crescendoed, and he held River’s hand high above her head. She pivoted gracefully, a fae ballerina, and her silver skirts spun as though they were crafted from moonlight. Her eyes gleamed, and a true smile stretched across her face.
She twirled back into him with a laugh, and he easily caught her. If she let him, he’d always catch her.
His hand stretched across her back once more, and the way his fingers spread across her flesh, the way she leaned into his touch, sent heat coursing through him.
Fae kind might have been playing at being civilized, with their cars and technology and massive houses, but they were still possessive, territorial beings. That part of Nikhail had him wanting to snarl at everyone else in the ballroom to stay away from River. She was his, and they were lucky he was letting them breathe the same air as her.
“I’m sorry about Tertia,” River murmured as he drew her close once more.
He tightened his grip on her hand, waiting until those stunning brown eyes met his.
“Never apologize about her to me,” he said softly.
As a general rule, Nikhail didn’t believe in fighting women. He’d make an exception for Tertia Waterborn, though, if he ever heard her speak to her daughter like that again. Who the fuck did she think she was?
It had horrified Nikhail to hear the icy Representative tear down her daughter so easily. In all his years, he’d never witnessed something so awful.
Calina, Nikhail’s mother, might fight with her daughters, but they loved each other. She would never speak to herchildren like that, never tear them down in private, let alone in front of other people.
“But—”
“She was being an absolute bitch,” he said bluntly, not bothering to temper his words.
A shocked laugh burst out of River, and several dancers glanced over at them.
“Gods, Nik,” she hissed, her cheeks coloring beautifully.
His dick stirred, thinking about all the other ways he could make her blush in a far more intimate setting.
“Yes, River?”
“You can’t stay stuff like that here. She might hear you.”