Sairis's POV
Sairis lost all ability to breathe as he stared at Loreen's outstretched hand.
For a moment, everything around him faded. The music, the voices, the movement in the room. All of it disappeared, leaving only the Prince standing in front of him, waiting.
Prince Loreen still had that same calm smile on his face.
Sairis felt his stomach drop.
He had only one task tonight, and he had already ruined it. How had he managed to speak so freely, so carelessly, to the one man he should have avoided the entire night?
Of all people.
The Prince.
Loreen cleared his throat softly, his hand still stretched forward. "I know you said earlier that you had no interest in becoming queen," he said, his voice low enough that only Sairis could hear, "but surely you would not deny the Prince a dance."
Sairis blinked. His heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. He slowly turned his head and looked around.
Everyone was watching.
