Marina wasn’t used to feeling out of her element, especially when she was being admired. She’d acclimated quickly to life on land in the modern world and life in the mansion, and she’d even come to Drakkaris with what she felt was a fairly decent amount of calm acceptance.

But here in an elaborate, otherworldly ballroom, wearing clothing that was made of some kind of shimmery, silver fabric shot through with blue metal in floral patterns, surrounded by people who openly stared, she felt she wanted to melt into the ground and disappear.

Lead had been right; there were a few women here. They’d come to introduce themselves, along with their partners, who were nobles in the court. All of the men were tall and appeared to be dragons, but those with mates did seem to be more settled, happier. She supposed that was natural.

She was nervous as the king and queen escorted her toward the front of the room where Lead was waiting with the other suitors so they could all be introduced and start getting to know each other.

She felt her stomach twisting uncomfortably as the crowd parted and a group of six rather spectacular men were revealed to her.

Her eyes almost couldn’t take them all in at once. Looking closer, she recognized them mostly as the ones who’d come for Mercury in his cell, but they looked much different here in dress clothes than they had in the execution hall in their warrior garb.

They were each wearing the same outfit but with different colors and metal accents. Each wore an elegant, tailored, longish shirt with long sleeves and matching pants that went down to metallic dress shoes. Sort of a futuristic version of a suit, she guessed.

The outfits were made of a silky, iridescent material that only served to emphasize every bulge of every giant, dragon muscle the men possessed.

They watched her, some coolly, some with avid eyes, as she approached them.

Her dress was modest, formfitting through the bodice with a much looser, shimmery skirt. Her sleeves were long, and her neckline dipped only slightly in the front, showing only a hint of cleavage. Her hair had been done up in an elaborate updo, worked with some kind of flexible metal through it to hold it in place, with a few tendrils left to lie over her shoulders.

She stepped forward. “So who is participating?”

Lead walked forward. His outfit was a dark brown, woven through with strands of coppery gold. It looked great with his dark-brown hair and hawkish eyes.

He took a knee in front of her. “Lead, my lady. Captain of the dragon guard.”

“You can stand,” she said awkwardly.

“Zinc,” the next man said, stepping forward and taking a knee beside Lead. He was the one who’d vouched for Mercury earlier that day. His gray hair was darker than Mercury’s and slightly less lustrous. His eyes were darker as well. Like the rest of the dragons, he was classically handsome. “Heir to the throne of Drakkaris and member of the dragon guard.”

Her eyebrow raised. So he would be king next? She would have to ask more about that later.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, unsure how she was supposed to react to him.

A man with shoulder-length, dark-blond hair with light-gold strands throughout stepped forward, taking a knee next to Zinc. His outfit was gold with accents of silver.

“Cadmium. Advisor to the heir, member of the dragon guard, overall badass.” He grinned up at her, and she saw Zinc reach out and swat the back of his head. He grimaced, but didn’t wipe the smirk off his face.

He’d been there when they took Mercury, and she could tell he was a friendly kind of person.

“Nice to meet you,” she said softly, still feeling overwhelmed by all the new info.

“Cobalt,” the next one said abruptly, taking a knee in front of her.

He was tall like the others, broad-shouldered, with short, light-gray hair with an almost blue tint to it and the deepest, pure-blue eyes she’d ever seen when he looked up at her. His outfit was silver with royal-blue embroidery. “Royal librarian, member of the dragon guard.”

This was the librarian? She didn’t think she’d ever met someone who looked less like a librarian in her life.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, feeling as if the words were inadequate, but she didn’t know what else to say.

“Chromium.”

The last man stepped forward to stand in line with the others. He was also there the day they took Mercury, his hair so light it was almost white. He was almost ethereally beautiful, with light eyes that were a mix of green and gray. He was tall, powerfully built, with a shiny metal head protector binding back his shoulder-length hair.

She realized as he knelt there quietly that he hadn’t said his name. Cobalt had.

“My cousin,” Cobalt said. “Member of the dragon guard, personal bodyguard to the king.”

“Hello, Chromium,” she said. “Nice to meet you.”

She got a simple nod in return. Chromium stayed silent. She swallowed, looking at the long line of burly, handsome men. All dragons. All ready to fight for her, yet she felt slightly empty.

“What’s wrong?” Lead asked, looking up at her.

“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head.

“Who would you like to dance with first?” The king stepped forward, looking kind.

Oh no, dancing. She looked behind her at the beautifully decorated ballroom. They’d brought in exotic-looking plants that dotted the ballroom, and it was covered in ornate metalwork, though it had a much warmer, friendly feel than the execution room.

Still, the way the couples were moving in the middle of the floor was familiar yet foreign to her. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself.

And after already feeling like a spectacle, she didn’t particularly want the attention of dancing in the middle of the room.

She bit her lip, trying to figure out who it would be least awkward with, when she heard someone clear their voice and saw the men look over her shoulder.

“I believe the first dance is mine,” a deep voice said, and Marina whirled to see Mercury.

“Wait a minute,” she heard one of the dragons say, but it was too late.

Mercury had an arm around her waist, and, with his effortless strength, was already sweeping her to the ballroom. “‘Finders keepers, losers weepers,’ I think is the phrase,” he said drily.

She looked at him in shock as he put one of her hands on his shoulder and took her other hand in his.

“That wasn’t very fair,” she said, looking at the dragons who were now standing and looking irritated.

“Life isn’t fair,” he said. “Besides, I’m not going to win against those losers by being all honorable.”

“So you want to win, then?” she asked as a new song started around them, a haunting, simple melody she had no idea how to dance to.

“Don’t be nervous. As if I would let you look like an idiot,” he said, taking a breath and sweeping them into a graceful movement.

“Stop reading my mind,” she said, dipping her head.

“I read your body,” he said. “You were all tensed up. No wonder with all those awkward introductions. You’re lucky I showed up on time.”

“For what?” she asked, blinking at him.

He looked so handsome tonight, with a dark-gray tunic shot through with many colors of silver and gray. It was ornate and looked great on him, and he looked slightly less pale. His silver eyes glittered under long lashes, and his hair had been cut and now just brushed his forehead.

“So you didn’t have to dance with any of those bores.”

She looked over at the group of them standing on the edge of the floor, muttering and watching. “I will still probably need to dance with them. And they seem like fine enough men.”

Mercury’s expression darkened to a scowl. “Really? I don’t think so.”

“You have a different… way of judging people than most,” she said.

“I’m realistic,” he said.

“If that’s what you want to call it.”

He shrugged. “Well, if you’re going to be difficult, I’m just going to enjoy the feel of your sumptuous body.”

She flushed, realizing how much she was enjoying his touch, the warmth of being near him, the metallic, cool, masculine scent that was uniquely his. Once again, she got the feeling it was something she wanted, even though she’d never known it.

“I’m sorry for being a heel,” he said stubbornly. “I don’t like the idea of them even touching you.”

“Why?” she asked, looking at him in surprise.

“Wouldn’t it be a failure? I’m supposed to protect you.”

She raised an eyebrow, disappointment waving through her. “And is that it?”

“Yes,” he said, avoiding her eyes as he swept them into another turn, into a whirling blur with the other couples. When they finally finished, pulling off to the side of the ballroom, he held her hand for just a moment before releasing it.

She instantly wanted to take it back.

“Well, then,” he said. “Since I have no choice, I leave you to your other suitors. But I’ll be watching, Marina.”

When she gave him an appraising look, he shook his head.

“Strictly business. I’m here to protect you, nothing more.”

She grinned slightly as he stormed away, remembering his kiss earlier and knowing his words were a lie. He might be in denial, but she wasn’t the only one who was transparent.

She saw Lead making his way toward her and braced herself. At least Mercury had broken the tension, making her much less nervous to dance the rest of the night.

She was at least grateful to him for that.

“May I have this dance, my lady?” Lead said, giving a quick bow.

“Just Marina,” she said with a giggle. “And yes.”

She took his hand and let him lead her onto the floor again, trying desperately not to think of a pair of flashing, quicksilver eyes that she was already missing.