Blood.
And she’d brightened the room with too much fire, making the center resemble midday in the human world rather than a traditional one here in Noxia Kingdom.
Moonlight had been more than enough to illuminate this room. But no, she required more. And a fountain.
Ugh, that fucking fountain.
“I feel like I’m thirteen and going through puberty again,” I grumbled into my cup. “Everything infuriates me.”
“Even Napia’s bridesmaids eye-fucking you from across the ballroom?” Adrik asked. “The pink one is rather vibrant.”
I followed his gaze to the trio of water demons in question. They were all here to tend to Napia’s every wish, and from the looks they were giving me now, they’d see to mine, too.
Two years ago, I might have considered it. Even with their scales and sharp teeth. Experimenting was fun.
Tonight, however I found each one of them lacking.
In fact, I found every single female here lacking.
Except her, I thought as Zaya entered the ballroom in a vibrant blue gown that deliciously hugged her curves. “Fuck,” I breathed, and it had nothing to do with my rule-breaking vixen and everything to do with her neckline. Because damn, that display of cleavage had my incisors aching for a bite.
“I approve,” Adrik remarked, clearly unaware of the agony growing inside my groin. “But it does seem your betrothed does not.” His eyes narrowed as Napia stalked toward Zaya and Valora, her face twisted into a sour expression that oddly reminded me of her headdress.
“She really is a viper, isn’t she?” I mused, watching her slither across the ballroom on heels. Only, her escort popped into her path with a sinful grin that distracted her long enough for Zaya and Valora to escape her pending wrath.
Maybe that male demon would be useful to me after all.
He coaxed her onto the dance floor to whirl her around that hideous fountain, then dipped her back to allow her snakes to drink from the water.
I grunted. Their flagrant flirtation should have pissed me off. Instead, all I felt was relief at seeing her distracted and away from me.
“Sweet star,” Adrik murmured, capturing his wife by the hips as she reached him. He dragged her in for an obscenely intimate kiss, staking his claim in front of the room and letting everyone know that his Valora was off-limits.
Which left the female at her side as fair game, something several of the demons took note of as their gazes roamed over her delectable assets.
“I like the wardrobe change,” I told her.
“Green isn’t really my color,” she replied.
I ran my eyes over her in a slow caress, taking in every inch of her gown. “Blue definitely suits you,” I agreed before meeting her gaze once more.
“There you are,” Napia purred, her arm sliding around mine as if I’d left it there in open invitation.
I stood corrected. Napia’s escort wasn’t useful to me in the slightest.
“I see your pet doesn’t know how to follow simple instructionsss,” she added, a note of disdain in her tone.
“It didn’t fit,” Zaya lied. “Besides, green seems much more your color. It really compliments your… snakes.”
Valora grinned. “Yes, the emerald really brings out their eyes, Napia. And I love that emerald necklace, too.”
My betrothed looked over the Queen of Nova Kingdom with a discerning eye. “Yesss, well, I adore the fit of your gown. It really hidesss the baby weight beautifully.”
Ah, catty games between women. So not what I wanted to bother myself with right now. “I was just getting another drink,” I said, looking meaningfully at Adrik.
But Napia had other plans. “Come dance with me, future husband.”
“Weren’t you just dancing with your consort, future wife?” I asked her, not bothering to hide my incredulity. Because really? She wanted to dance? Right.