Page 19 of To Catch a Prince

“Do you know what I could do to you for your insolence, witch?” he asked, his eyesablaze.

They’d completely changed color, becoming molten gold. Talia wet her lip, and found her insides tightening, her breath hitching. It was as if her body, her core, had been spelled. Actually, right then, she very much wanted to know what he’ddo.

Yes…said her shadow.Let him do as hepleases.

“Vincent.” Demelza’s tone held a warning. Thankfully, her voice awoke Talia, pulling her from her trance. “These ladies are our Queen’s sisters and guests, you’llrecall.”

The man was reluctant, but he redirected her attention to the she-dragon.

“Ensure the heathen gets changed into something suitable. It wouldn’t do for our Queen’s sisters and guests to present themselves like merepeasants.”

He moved to leave, and damn her, but Talia couldn’t help noticing how well his trousers fit around his thick thighs and his round muscular ass. She caught herself in time to call after him, “Perhaps you could come back and help us do ourhair.”

He growled. She laughed. Aleriasighed.

“Must you infuriate our host’sfamily?”

Demelza chuckled, coming to her defense. “Oh, she must. Anyone can see His Royal Grumpiness started it. Come. We’re almostthere.”

“I’ll be wearing my dress, by the way,” she informedDemelza.

He’d told her not to, which meant that she had no other choice but todisobey.

12

The Ball

He neededto be on his guard. He needed to be indifferent to her, or dislike her, if the former was impossible. All this business about feeling like he must know what her skin tasted like, what her lips felt like, how soft her hair would be under his fingertips, just wouldn’t do. Finding her joking demeanor adorablecertainlywouldn’t do. Particularly when he felt his dragon’s keen, yet wordless attention; the beast was looking at her through his eyes,closely.

Damn her and her spells. For it must be spells. Whatelse?

His headhurt.

Vincent did the one thing men in his situation could do: he attempted to get as drunk as any dragoncould.

“What in the name of the Goddess wasthat?!” Elzayelled.

He’d known she’d find him eventually, but he hadn’t counted on it taking so little time. Vincent had barely finished three pints of ale. He should, perhaps, have opted for a strongerspirit.

“What could you possibly be talking about, cousin?” he askedinnocently.

“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re better than that, Vincent. When Xandrie came, you were the picture of affability. I’ve never seen you turning your nose up at a bear, or anyoneelse.”

He rolled his eyes; how hypocritical would it be forhimto dislike bears when he was born ofone.

“I know you have no quarrel with humans, yet first, you openlyleer,then you treat your Queen’ssisterslikeenemies.”

“Sister,” he amended. “The elder poses no threat. And yes, I do treat the other with suspicion, for someone must, until she’s proven herself. I gave Xandrie no trust until she showed herself deserving of it. And,” he added, “may I remind you that the woman froze us all in our tracks without anyeffort?”

“This is hersister!”

He shrugged. As royals, they’d seen plenty of siblings fight, and even kill, in the name of greed. Being related to someone was hardly an irrefutable proof ofintention.

“No, that isn’t your problem. There’s something else, isn’tthere?”

He sighed, wishing the Princess wasn’t half asclever.

“What could there possibly be, cousin mine? You said it yourself. This is my Queen’s family. I’m favorably predisposed towards themboth.”

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