Page 52 of Royal Resistance

“I’d guess Sailor’s Saloon, since it’s the only one with a dance floor.”

“They went dancing?”

“Dee would want to go dancing,” Duncan corrects. “Whether Selene could be persuaded to join her is another story.”

Half an hour later, I discover that Selene can be persuaded.

I discover my wife and my best friend’s sister in the middle of an impromptu dance floor, watched by a crowd of admiring men.

Both have partners.

I don’t recognize the man who sweeps Diandra around the floor, but I know exactly who is holding my wife in his arms.

Holding her too tightly, his tall frame bending over her.

Mick Crow.

I’ve known Mick for years. He’s never liked me, even before I was king, and it certainly hasn’t improved in the last few weeks.

From the glance I get when I walk in, I might say he likes me even less now.

But he seems to like my wife.

Selene is smiling, but there’s a tightness around her eyes that I recognize. She’s not happy, but she’s putting on a brave face. It’s the only reason I don’t physically remove Mick’s hands from her person.

“Mag,” Duncan warns as I head over to my wife.

I’m not the type of man to get jealous. I’ve never been possessive or treated a woman like she belongs solely to me. But there’s a flash of something running through me, and I don’t like it.

It feels sour, and sick, and wrong.

“Selene,” I say, forcing a smile on my face. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“You’re home.” And the smile she gives me—the sweet, sincere curl of her mouth is the best welcome I’ve ever had.

It also sweetens some of the sour feelings.

But not all of it. “Mick Crow,” I say with forced joviality. “Last time I heard, you’d gotten yourself a wife.”

“I did, but I think I might like yours better,” he says, eyes rimmed with drink but without a slur in his voice. I’ve no doubt Mick has been drinking steadily all night but would still walk a straight line if you tell him to.

He also recognizes Selene.

He might be the only one, though.

“I’d appreciate if you took your hands off her,” I say smoothly, but with an edge. “I haven’t seen her in a few days, and I’d like to dance with her.”

“You shouldn’t leave her alone if you don’t want her to make friends.”

“She can make friends with who she likes.”

“Just because you’re king doesn’t mean you can act like you own this place,” Mick sneers. Selene has put as much distance as she can between them, but he still hasn’t let her go. And I know it’s because of me.

“Technically, I kind of do own the place.” I bought Sailor’s years ago so we’d have a place for the band to play.

Mick curses under his breath. “You think you own the whole country?”

“He does own the whole country.” Duncan stands beside me, with Diandra slightly behind him with Benny. A group of men have also stood up; I know they’re Mick’s friends, so I really don’t know which side they’ll be on if this becomes a fight.