Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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I took my time in the restroom while thinking about what to do next.

I didn't want to talk to Bolek or Elias. The thought of what Bolek is doing made me sick and the inappropriate images of Elias from the garden are difficult to forget.

At the same time, I remembered Calista's warning about spending too much time with Lazarus.

I don't want to encourage Lazarus, but I can't chase him away either. After all, we are friends, and friends don't tell their friends to scram because of what others might think, even when they know that the other friend wants to be more than a friend.

Do I want to be more than friends with Lazarus? He is handsome and I like spending time with him, but there is something missing. Of course, it's missing because every man pales in comparison with Duke.

Instead of avoiding people, I decided to search for Aldus. With any luck, he moved on to talk to someone else.

Just as I stepped into the event hall, I felt hairs rising at the back of my neck. This can't be good. Where is the danger?

I reminded myself not to run while passing next to several couples that were dancing, and then I heard a deep male voice calling, "Sweetheart".

I turned to see Graike walking to me with a big smile on his face.

Why did I forget that the marriage-crazed dragon is in attendance?

I swallowed curses that threatened to spill out of me.

Didn't I tell him not to call me sweetheart? But this was not the time or place for bickering because we were in the middle of a party.

I nodded in greeting. "Lord Graike…"

"Please…", he waved his hand. "For you, it's just Graike."

I was about to ask him what he wants, when he spoke, "I was hoping you will honor me with a dance."

To be honest, I would prefer dancing in order to avoid the torture of socializing, but Graike was not my partner of choice.

I looked at his hand extended toward me, and I hesitated. Dance can't hurt, right? But that's what I thought about getting a ride and it got me nearly married.

How do I refuse without provoking him? Just say it, Serina, there is no way to sweet-talk your way out of this one.

"I don't think…", my words were cut short when Graike took an abrupt step toward me, and I felt his breath splashing on my ear.

"It's just a dance, sweetheart.", he murmured seductively. "Or would you rather that I shout for everyone to hear you are my wife?"

I swallowed hard. He didn't forget!

"You wouldn't…", I said under my breath and his smug smile told me that he would.

He is blackmailing me into dancing! How shameless can a man be?

It's nonsense, but if Graike makes a fuss that we are married, people will hear, and… what will my father say? How will Lord Aldus respond to the rumor that his precious daughter is married into a harem of a lecherous dragon?

Ah, where are Aldus and Laz when I need them? But if they show up, Graike might cause a scene for real. Graike's flashy entrance showed that he doesn't mind attracting attention.

I felt like crying.

"Just a dance?"

"Mhm…", he hummed in confirmation.

"Can you promise me that there will be no marriage nonsense or some other tricks?"

Graike chuckled as his palm landed on my back and he pulled me two steps to the side so that we are within the dancing area.

"Why would I talk about it when we are already married? Or do you want us to get married again?"

I realized that there is no point in arguing with this man.

And just like that, we started dancing.

"Are you enjoying this party, sweetheart?"

I looked up to the man who was smiling at me without a hint of guilt for coercing me into this situation.

"Not really. And can you drop the sweetheart?"

"You are not enjoying? I can fix that."

"Don't!", I exclaimed before he brings up some outrageous proposition. "Dancing is fine."

Graike laughed. "It's a good start."

The man was making me tense like strings on a harp that he could strum anytime yet I was unable to get really angry at him.

It was like when a super-cute puppy is destroying your furniture, and you know that he is doing a bad thing and he should be punished, but you can't do it.

How come I'm so softhearted toward Graike? Is it because he is so handsome or because I'm a wimp who can't stand up for herself?

I didn't have answers to these questions, but I hoped that the dance will end soon, and we can part ways, but Graike was set on indulging in small talk.

"We didn't see each other in a while. What were you doing to keep busy?", he asked.

"Learning things."

"Did you learn to control air? Or did you blow up a house again?", he asked, and my eyes widened in panic.

"Can you, please, not talk about it?", I spoke in an urgent whisper.

"OK.", he agreed right away, as if he understood how that's a topic we shouldn't discuss. "Well, did you?"

"I'm making progress."

He nodded in approval. "I would love to see it. When we are alone, of course."

My lips twitched. Who wants to be alone with you?

While on the topic of being alone, I asked, "Did you come here by yourself, or did you bring one of your wives to accompany you?"

The sparkles in his eyes told me that I won't like his response.

"I am dancing with one."

I closed my eyes and let out a long exhale. "Don't tell me that none of your forty-something wives is worthy of coming with you?"

"Are you so interested in my other wives?"

I had a feeling that this will lead to me being dragged into his realm, and I needed to divert the topic.

"Not really. I was just being polite by asking if you have any woman that stands out because you see, there is a man I'm seeing.", I lied with the goal to get him to back off with sweetheart and marriage nonsense. Well, I almost lied because I'm seeing Duke in my dreams.

Graike's smile faltered. He inched closer and I heard him inhale deeply.

"Why would you bring up someone who is not good enough to take your maidenhood, hmm?", he murmured, and my insides jolted in shock.

"How I see it, sweetheart…", his palm on my back exerted pressure as he pulled me toward him until our bodies nearly touched. "…this is the closest you've ever been with a man."

I remembered that when Graike left Aldus's villa last time, he smelled me and insinuated that I've never slept with a man. And he brought it up again. How embarrassing.

I straightened my back and glared at him. "I can assure you that I was closer. Much closer. And if a man wants to claim me for himself, he needs to win my heart first."

I took advantage of his moment of distraction and stepped away from him.

"Lord Graike, thank you for the dance."

I turned on my heel and made a beeline to the big doors that led to the outside terrace. I didn't know where Aldus, Lazarus, or Calista were, but I had the urgency to put some distance between me and Graike.

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