Samuel hadn't intended to leave Lena behind, but Jovani stormed into the room and whisked him away without a single chance to protest. Clearly, Marcus was not thrilled about Samuel's recent escapade with the Princess.
"I did what he asked of me. Shouldn't I decide how to spend my time now?" Samuel grumbled, irritation lacing his words. His complaint fell on deaf ears as Marcus, mirroring Jovani's earlier decisiveness, grasped Samuel's arm and led him toward a secluded corner of the lavish hall where a group of men gathered. These weren't faces Samuel recalled seeing at the start of the evening, which added a layer of tension to his already fraying nerves.
