Page 17 of Eclipse Sector
“Of course. What Alpha doesn’t?”
“Hmm,” I hummed, considering the question. “Well?—”
I very nearly replied “Cillian”—because of course my mind wenttherefirst—but Benz cleared his throat, interrupting my thought.
“I’m going to grab a blood champagne. Would either of you like one?” he asked. It was a smoothly delivered line, one anyone else would assume was innocently voiced.
However, I knew better.
Benz had absolutely known what I’d been about to say, and he’d effortlessly stopped me from mentioning a certain Alpha’s name.
“Ah, you’re taking my line,” Prince Cael said, his amusement palpable. “Shouldn’t I be offering to find the lovely female a drink?”
Benz grinned. “I think thelovely femaleis enjoying your conversation too much to part with your company. So I’ll go handle the drinks, like a proper escort.” He shot me a wink before stepping away, leaving me alone on the edge of the ballroom dance floor with the Alpha.
“Well, I daresay your best friend is rather charming,” Prince Cael mused.
“I think Benz would say the same about you.” Because this Alpha was clearly cut from the same cloth as Benz.
“Oh?” He feigned surprise. “You think I’m charming?”
“I think you know you’re charming, My Prince,” I told him.
“Just ‘Cael,’ please.” He gifted me with another one of those alluring smiles. “We’ve already agreed to forgo formalities, yes?”
“Then you’ll need to call meIvanarather thanlovely female,” I told him.
He laughed, the sound so infectious that I couldn’t stop myself from smiling in response.
Yep. Definitely a charmer,I thought, surprised by how comfortable I felt in his presence. Only Benz had ever managed to accomplish such a feat this quickly. And even he took a little bit of warming up to.
“Kieran told me I would like you,” Cael said, his gaze dancing over me in obvious merriment. “He wasn’t wrong.”
“King Kieran told you about me?”
He nodded. “Yes. He suggested I come talk to you tonight, and I must say, I’m glad I listened.”
“Why did he tell you to talk to me?” I wondered aloud.
He shrugged. “I think he was trying to ensure I joined the mating pool.”
“By introducing us?”
“Yes.” He cocked his head a little to the side, causing his dark locks to fall playfully across his forehead. “If it was his goal to entice me, he’s succeeded.”
“I thought you were joining because you need a mate?”
“I do need a mate, and I fully intend to join the pool,” he replied. “But I didn’t tell Kieran that. He’s an ally, not a friend. Although, I’m starting to question the latter. He’s proving to be quite intuitive where my needs and desires are concerned.”
My cheeks heated as Cael looked me up and down, his insinuation clear.
“I hope I’m not being too forward,” he said after a beat of silence. “I just don’t see the point in hiding my intentions or dancing around the truth. And something tells me you feel similarly.”
“I do,” I admitted, swallowing.
Benz chose that exact moment to return, causing the Alpha to grin widely once more. “Ah, perfect timing, mate.” He accepted one of the flutes from Benz and gave it to me before taking a second for himself.
“Thank you,” I said to them both.
