Honey

We all rise as Carter leads us to the dance floor. I sway to the rhythm, spinning and twirling with the music. I’ve never had much experience dancing, but somehow, it works tonight. It’s hard enough balancing in these heels, and I can tell by the girls’ wobbly steps that they feel the same.

We stagger and stumble, bursting into fits of giggles whenever one of us nearly tumbles. We catch each other, laughing at our clumsiness. After a few songs, I start to feel thirsty, so we head to the open bar next to the dance floor and grab glasses of wine.

I’ve felt eyes on me throughout the night, a lingering awareness that someone’s been watching, but I’m too caught up in the fun to care. The tingly warmth from the wine might also be helping to smooth over any concerns.

A slow song begins to play, and Maya and Marco pair off, heading to the floor to slow dance together. A female lycan catches Claude’s attention, inviting him for a dance, and Daisy soon gets pulled away by another lycan.

Carter gulps audibly before approaching Arya, asking if she’d like to dance. I can’t help but smile at how adorable she looks, shyly nodding and letting him lead her onto the floor.

I turn back toward the bar, just about to ask the barmaid for a refill, when someone bumps into me. I lose my balance, teetering for a moment, struggling to stay upright. Before I can hit the ground, strong arms wrap around my waist, catching me.

Relief and tipsiness flood through me, and I quickly turn to thank my rescuer. But I freeze when I see who’s holding me.

Still encircled by his arms, I find myself face-to-face with the king in all of his glory.

He’s even more striking up close. His strong jawline, shadowed with rough stubble, gives him a rugged yet devastatingly handsome look. His honey-colored eyes hold mine with deep intensity, and I feel like I could get lost in them for eternity.

He is, without a doubt, the most handsome being I have ever laid eyes on.

Warmth radiates from him, and I feel impossibly secure in his arms. We stay like this for a long moment, breathing heavily, our eyes locked on each other. Neither of us makes a move to pull away, and I suddenly realize that my arms are wrapped tightly around his neck. Our bodies firmly pressed together like a magnet.

The tingling sensation flowing through my body is undeniable, and I can’t tell if it’s the wine or him causing this. Whatever it is, the effect is dizzying.