As the evening wore on and the music in the ballroom swelled, Xander leaned against a marble pillar, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His eyes surveyed the crowd, scanning for any hint of discomfort or danger, but mostly, his mind was preoccupied with the interactions he'd shared with Erin. Something about her—her calmness, her unnerving ability to remain composed no matter the situation—kept him on edge. He couldn't quite figure her out.
That's when he felt it—an irritating presence creeping up beside him. A delicate laugh rang in his ear, followed by a soft, almost saccharine voice.
"Xander," she cooed, drawing out his name in a tone that was far too familiar. "I thought you'd be here by my side tonight. What's a prince without his princess?"
Xander's gaze flickered toward her, but he didn't respond immediately. Instead, his eyes darted back to the crowd, pretending not to acknowledge the woman beside him.
She wasn't going to give up that easily, though. She sidled closer, brushing her fingertips lightly over his sleeve. "I missed you. You've been so distant lately," she said, her voice oozing with a mix of charm and a hint of desperation.
But Xander, ever the expert in ignoring unwanted advances, remained silent. His face was an unyielding mask of indifference.
The woman, unperturbed, continued. "You know, we're supposed to attend these things together. It's been far too long since we shared a moment, just the two of us. So, tell me, why didn't you come with me tonight? Is it because of her?"
At the mention of Erin, Xander's lip twitched ever so slightly. He didn't speak, his gaze remaining fixed ahead. Erin had been an unexpected presence at his side tonight, but she wasn't something he was going to discuss with this woman, not like this.
Before he could say anything, Erin, ever perceptive, had overheard the conversation from a few feet away. She stepped forward, her presence subtle but commanding. With a calm smile that was anything but polite, she addressed the woman. "I believe Xander has an accomplice tonight," she said with a level tone, her eyes flicking to the drink in the woman's hand. "And you've been speaking to the wrong person."
The woman, undeterred by Erin's interruption, turned her eyes to Erin, her smile never faltering but with a sharper edge. "How cute, you think I was talking to you?" she sneered, ignoring Erin completely and offering Xander a drink. "Here, have something to ease your tension."
Erin's eyes flickered down to the glass. Without hesitation, she reached out and snatched the drink from the woman's hand, tossing it casually into the nearest potted plant. The liquid splashed with a faint sound that was barely audible over the music, but the impact of her action was unmistakable.
The woman froze, her eyes wide with surprise. "What the h—?"
Xander finally straightened up, his gaze icy. "You'll do well to mind your manners," he said, his voice low and stern. "I suggest you compose yourself before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."
The woman's face flushed a deep shade of crimson, her composure cracking for a moment. She took a step forward, clearly angered. "You—you're defending her?" she spat. "She's just an outsider! A maid—she doesn't belong here."
Xander's eyes narrowed. "I would remind you, Princess, that I've already put up with enough of your antics tonight. You're embarrassing yourself."
The woman's hand clenched into a fist, her eyes glistening with anger. "Oh, I'm embarrassing myself?" she sneered. "How about you? You're here with another woman while I've been here alone, waiting for you. You haven't even bothered to talk to me all night. And don't even get me started on the bar incident." She took a deep breath, seething. "You're here with... her," she said, gesturing disdainfully at Erin. "One of those women trying to get in your pants."
Erin's patience, stretched thin, finally snapped. Without warning, she slapped the woman hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room, loud and shocking. Gasps rippled from nearby guests who had been watching the scene unfold.
The woman recoiled, her face stinging. Her eyes filled with fury, her lips trembling as she took a step toward Erin. "You—" she hissed, "You slapped me!"
Erin stood her ground, her expression calm but unyielding. "At least I'm not spiking his drink," she said, her voice icy and controlled. "Maybe next time you'll learn some manners."
Before the woman could lash out again, Xander intervened. "Enough," he said sharply, his tone no longer playful or indifferent. "You've crossed the line. Someone take her away."
He signaled to his assistant, who appeared from the crowd. The assistant nodded and stepped forward, placing a firm hand on the woman's shoulder, guiding her away. The woman's protests were loud, her words a mix of insults and sobs, but it was clear she wasn't going to get far.
"You shouldn't have slapped her."
"Why are you defending her? You clearly heard what she said and how disrespectful she was being to me." Erin asked, her tone quieter now as she turned to Xander, watching him closely.
Xander glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It's not about defending her," he said softly, his eyes flickering briefly to where the woman was being escorted out. "It's about respect."
There was a beat of silence before Erin broke it with a raised eyebrow. "Respect?" she asked. "For her?"
"She's still my betrothed wife." Xander replied with a smirk, his usual arrogance returning.
Erin didn't smile, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "I suppose that's one way of looking at it."
Xander turned away from her, motioning toward the dance floor. "Come on, let's dance. This is what you're really here for, isn't it?"
Erin tilted her head, surprised by his sudden shift. "And what, exactly, am I here for?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Xander simply raised an eyebrow, not answering. His expression was unreadable as he offered her his arm, which she hesitated before accepting. As they made their way to the dance floor, Erin couldn't help but wonder what game Xander was playing—and what part she was supposed to play in it.