“You ready?”
“Huh?!” I look up at Xander confused, but he has a look on his face that tells me he is up to no good whatsoever.
“To dance. You do remember how right?”
“You mean the one and only time I was spun purposefully around the room by you, sure. I still can not do it on my own though, so I’m not sure what your expectations are exactly.”
“I need to hit the dance floor, out of obligation of course…”
“Of course.” I raise my eyebrow at him.
“And we may have to have a few pictures taken, up close and personal, you know, to make a point that I could possibly be involved with you somehow, considering I have never been to a party with a date, let alone the same person twice.”
“Uh huh…and?”
“Alpha Lucas may have asked me to share some of those photos to motivate a few certain people to get their asses in gear. His words, not mine.” He at least looked sheepish and I am glad he is warning me in his own demented boy way. “Remember, this is for Alpha Lucas and the guys. I am just going along with one of our most prominent Alpha’s reasonable requests.”
I roll my eyes and grab his hand. “You’re an idiot! You lead buddy and I can handle this embarrassment.’
Xander and I carry on like this for a while, keeping up mundane conversation, but we are both reporting what we see from the center of the dance floor. As boring as the meetings and updates were, this seems to be when things happen. There is so much going on that it seems like it might be easier to have secret meetings. I notice one in particular that intrigues me, but I don’t know if it is my general irritation of Elder Bastian or my distrust of Alpha Sharp that has me watching the two from the Shadow pack as they make their way around the room. Xander and I pose for many selfies, managing to get several of the groupings of people in the background, by accident of course. But We might as well let Jena use them to identify people later. I don’t really know what she needs to do her job, so Iwant to be as thorough as possible.
It seems random, but they have talked to and avoided the exact same people and have only approached someone for conversation after their target has talked to three people in between their interactions. I let Jena and Nathaniel know and they are making passes around the room getting Jena familiar with people and allowing her outside opinion to lead the observations.
“Prince Xander on your 6. A blonde looking very displeased with the back of your head.” Nathaniel links the both of us as he and Jena stop to my right about ten feet away as back-up.
I lean around Xander, wanting to know which girl it is this time and I am not disappointed.
“Olivia!” I basically shout the wrong name at her and cause Xander to spin around. She schools the murderous look on her face quickly though. I have to hand it to her.
“It’s Olympia, Warrior.” Touche. She places her hands on her hips and lets her perfected smile slip a bit. “Xander, you promised me a dance. It doesn’t look very good for a Royal to go back on their word. People might start talking about indecisiveness and indecision and think you aren’t fit to rule.”
“That escalated quickly.” Xander scoffs. “I’m not sure how many times I need to remind you though, that to you and the rest of the world my name and Title is Prince Alexander. And I believe that you are insinuating that being with Skylar is a negative because she happens to be a trained warrior. What you have yet to mention is what about being with you would be better?”
“My rank is higher for one.” Both Xander and I don’t hide our eye roll, we have already discussed this with her. “Second, your heirs need to have the distinction that I would bring to the royal family.” She flips a blonde strand hanging from her updo back over her shoulder. Not sure what the point is, but it does give her a minute to come up with something else equally stupid to say. “She will never be as good as me and you both know it. I don’t know why you keep playing these games with me Xander, but I won’t have it. She needs to leave, ” She looks right at me, “And stop being a little homewrecker.” Are those fake tears? She can cry on command?! Damn she is impressive, but before I can laugh in her face, Xander lets out a low menacing growl.
