"Do you need another glass?" she said, seeing to his half empty cup.
"No. But if you'd like one I'll flag down a waiter."
"Don't do that." she grabbed the hand that he waved in the air. Holding it for a second as she looked him in the eyes, "I'm just going to go grab one." She put her feet on the floor and slipped off his lap.
Without her in his arms, he felt an emptiness. He leaned into the table, resting his head on his hand with a forlorn expression.
"I'll wait here, if that's okay."
"Of course, you're acting weird again." she placed the back of her hand on his forehead. Pursing her lips as she tried to feel for a fever. With great care, he grabbed her hand cradling it between his two larger ones. "Not to state the obvious, but I think you are supposed to be pretending to be a good and loyal prince at the moment."
"It's hard to do that and watch out for you."
"Then don't worry about me. I am quite confident in my abilities."
"That's what I'm worried about."
She smiled at his jib, knowing he was at least well enough to make jokes.
"I'm grabbing another glass of champagne, do you want one?"
"Best not to. Like I said, I have to watch out for you."
"Are you worried about me getting drunk?"
He laced his hands around her waist, "Should I be?" He was teasing her again, but she couldn't find herself fighting against it. He went from being on edge to joking so quickly it was easy to see that he was using it as a front. Yet she couldn't push him that last little bit.
"No." she caught the stray lock of hair that fell on his forehead, twisting it in her fingers for a moment before letting it go, "you know you have to let go of me at some point."
"Unfortunately." he released his hold of her and let her walk away from him.
Chris helped herself to a second glass of champagne. Grabbing a flute from one of the tables along the western wall. She brought the glass to her nose enjoying the almost citrus scent that wafted up from the bubbles.
She took a few steps to the side, making sure that anyone who wanted to get around her could. Her eyes scanned the floor for Zeven, only to find him engaged in small talk with a group of eager women. For whatever reason, they always seemed to flock to him.
Never-the-less, she did appreciate that with all eyes on him, no one was looking her way. No one except Zeven. Who not only caught her gaze, but broke the flow of conversation to wink at her. It still amazed her that he could hardly see two feet in front of him, but could single her out from the crowd.
She was grateful that even if he could find her, he couldn't accurately see her face. Because at the moment, she felt a warm rush to her face as her cheeks turned red.
Turning towards the wall she attempted to hide her flushed cheeks. Lying to herself that the surge of happiness was only part of the act. But she couldn't help the shy smile that emerged on her lips.
A rough hand scrubbed all the pleasant thoughts from her minds as it grabbed her hip before trying to move further down. She brushed his hand away, but it only caused the person it was attached to to grab her waist. Pinning her against him.
Chris stopped herself right as she was about to break the arm that held her. Remembering that doing such would blow her cover. If she wanted out, it was better to do it without violence.
"I'd like a dance with the prettiest girl here." The man whispered in her ear, making her skin crawl. She tried to remember how Zeven managed to talk his way out of a fight.
"My apologies, but I only have one dancing partner tonight." She slipped out of his grasp, trying not to draw any attention to herself.
"That's a lie, I saw you with several people."
"I reserve the right to deny any request as I see fit."
He grabbed ahold of her left shoulder, wrenching it painfully downwards. "You will dance with me, or I will make sure you regret it."
"Let me rephrase, because you clearly don't understand what I am saying." Her eyes like knives, "I do not have any intention to dance with you."
"You bitch, as a Lord of the Southern Isle I will see to it that an ugly girl like you is immediately thrown out of this palace."
"It's not your palace. And besides, If we are kicking people out of here based on looks, I think you're the first person who should leave."
The man reared his hand up and back, before swinging it harshly towards her face. Without batting an eye, Chris caught his hand and used his own momentum to twist it around behind his back. Pushing it up towards his shoulder blades.
Her voice was low "If I may, I have a suggestion," Chris did not let go of his wrist, instead she pushed it up further, "Think about who you want to make an enemy of. You would do well not to raise a hand against your future queen."
She held his arm there for one more second as she took a drink from her champagne glass. Only letting go when Zeven placed a tender arm on her back, guiding her away. Leaning down close enough where only the man could hear. "She let you off easy, I would have broken your arm." Before standing back up and walking with Chris back to the little table.
"Not that I'm complaining, but you didn't want to step in there?"
"You appeared to have that covered. No need for me to interfere in your victory."
He smiled down at her. Eyes bright enough to rival the stars in the sky.
"You make it really hard for me to hate you sometimes."
"Is that a compliment?" He cocked his head while he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"Probably not."