“Did I just see you talking to—”

“Yes.”

Caspian cleared his throat, sipping a drink. “I might remind you that this is not the venue for you to pull your usual shit with girls?”

“Oh, it’s not?” I said sarcastically,

“And not with King Lucian’s fucking daughter,” he hissed, shooting me a look.

“Relax, Charming.”

Caspian Charming and his brother Cade were twins. Blonde, blue eyed, good boys. I smirked, thinking of the nickname Logan had given them: the Ken dolls.

They weren’t that good, to be honest. I’d known them long enough to know they just looked like good little golden princes, when really, those two were just as dirty as me. Well, almost. I’d seen them take home enough women — women to share, at that.

Still, they did better at functions like this than me. Being “Princely” was always tough for me. I’d rather have a few more drinks than I should. Laugh a little louder. Dance a little crazier. Stay up a little later.

Caspian and his brother though, they knew the parameters, and they knew how to look perfect within them.

Assholes.

“So, you weren’t just flirting with Imogen Morningstar?”

“No, of course not.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Oh, what?”

His eyes flicked past me. “Nothing. So if you weren’t, you won’t be pissed that some other dude just took over for you with her on the dance floor?”

I whirled, my face tightening into a frown, and when I saw the fucking douche talking to her, it went into a scowl.

Prince Chester Bught, of Montagne. I mean the guy’s name was butt, for fuck’s sake. Different spelling, but give me a break. How the hell was a girl like Imogen — someone as absolutely perfect who’d haunted my dreams for the last four weeks and controlled my cock through some sort of witchcraft — talking to an absolute tool like him?

It made no sense. And the longer I looked at them, the more pissed it made me, until pissed turned to furious.

Fuck this guy, she was mine. And I knew deep down, she knew she was mine. I might have been under her spell, but she’d fallen under the same thing — I could see it in the way she looked at me, like she was scared of what being near me brought out in her.

I spent far too long in life jumping from bullshit to bullshit, and never finding something real. I'd’ looked at this girl, and it’d felt more real than anything ever before. Now, having touched her, however quickly, however sarcastically, and however much she was scowling at me?

Oh, she was mine alright, I just had to show her.

I grit my teeth as I watched her laugh at something fuckwad said to her, before she curtseyed and walked away. I watched her float across the ballroom floor, my eyes flicking back to him and narrowing at the way he checked out her ass as she left the room.

I slammed my drink back and started to head his way.

“Mags,” Caspian hissed.

I ignored him.

Imogen Morningstar belonged to me. And it was time to tell assholes like Chester Bught to keep his fucking eyes off what was mine.

* * *

“Enjoying yourself?”

Chester whirled at the sound of my voice right behind him. He stumbled a little, glancing up at me since I towered above him.

“What?”

Jesus this guy was less princely than me.

“I asked if you were enjoying yourself.”

He stammered. “Oh, uh, yes. Prince Magnus, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

He smiled, like we were chums.

“Wonderful ball isn’t it?”

I didn’t say a word, I just glared at him.

“And princess Imogen is just lovely isn’t she—”

“Walk away.”

He frowned, his stupid face looking confused.

“Pardon me?”

“Walk. Away,” I growled, stepping right into his face.

“Prince Magnus, I’m not sure what you—”

“Princess Imogen and I are engaged,” I said flatly.

He blinked. “Wait, what?”

“We’re engaged,” I bullshitted again. “So I would appreciate it if you kept your fucking eyes off of her.”

He paled, shaking as I growled down into his face.

“Oh, I’m— yes, of course, Magnus. I had no idea! Well congratula—”

“I’d like you to leave the party.”

He frowned. “Pardon me?”

“You’ve offended me. Get the fuck out.”

He stared at me again like I was crazy. I took step towards him, flashing my teeth, and the guy turned and scooted away.

I wanted to grin, but I kept my hard face on until I saw him and his people heading for the exit. Then I grinned, before whirling and scanning the room

Now, to find my princess…