Page 48 of A Dance With Fire
“Aw, thank you, little Fire Dancer.” He unwrapped the cheese and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing delicately.
She turned and gave Uric his next, who took it wordlessly without looking at her or even saying thanks.
Prince Valerio was eyeing her as if she would whip out her knife and plunge it into his ribs at any moment. The thought was tempting, but she placed the bundle into his awaiting palm, and he surprised her by saying, “Thank you.”
She nodded in response and turned to Ryker next. He was pointedly ignoring her, favoring the attention of the cat on his shoulder, and she was tempted to just throw the food at his face when Clay nudged his elbow into the other man’s side so hard Ryker’s head snapped over to her.
She held out the food, and he took it quickly and grunted. She wondered if that was his way of saying thank you.
“I see you’ve found a friend in Orna,” Clay said conversationally as he munched on the tough, dry meat.
Shula wanted to leave and not have this conversation. “I suppose.”
“Orna is nice.”
There was a flirtatious note in his voice that had Shula instantly narrowing her eyes. “She’smarried.” She put enough emphasis on the word so he knew to back off.
“I know that. Geez, what do you take me for? I don’t sleep with married women. Especially not mated women.”
The word ‘mated’ seemed to shiver down Shula’s body, making her swallow past a sudden tightness in her throat.
She may not have known much about the Fae, but everyone knew about mates. Her parents had been mates. Their love transcended what humans thought the word meant into something else entirely. It went beyond basic love. It was… it was everything. A bond that could not be broken except by death. It joined two souls together and kept them tethered wholly from one to the other.
“They’re mates?” Shula asked.
Clay smirked. “Couldn’t you tell?”
No. She hadn’t really been paying attention.
“They’re always sneaking off together, and they’re insanely in love.” Clay shuddered with mock horror.
Shula arched a brow at him, staying glued to her spot. Her arms crossed against her chest and she pursed her lips. “You have something against love?”
At this, Valerio snorted and for the first time since she met him, Shula saw a flicker of amusement in his gaze. “Clay wouldn’t know love if it smacked him in the face.”
Uric chuckled.
Ryker, of course, glared.
“I am the king of love,” Clay declared, offense over his expression.
“The king of lust,” Uric corrected, dark eyes shining.
“Same thing. Look, Fire Dancer, I love women. Fae women, human women, I love them all.”
“Slept with them all, too,” Valerio muttered.
“Except the innocent, the mated, and the married…”
“Yeah, right, remember that female in Teg? Her husband chased you out the—”
“I don’t think the Fire Dancer needs to hear this story,” Clay interrupted.
Shula could see the flush crawling up his neck. It must have been a really bad story if Clay was blushing. Now shehadto hear it.
“Oh, I think I do.” A smile twisted her mouth.
“Trust me, you don’t. Now, don’t you have things to do?” Clay dismissed her, turning his head away. Uric and Valerio burst into laughter.
