"So did I." Not because they'd interfered with her studies. No, dancing lessons in Syngorn had meant either being partnered by her brother, ugh, or with some stick-up-arse elven boy who made it perfectly clear he had no desire to be sullied dancing with a bastard half-breed.

Vex leaned in closer, where she could whisper against his ear. "But it occurs to me that dancing is a perfectly acceptable reason to have your arms around me." They could even have music, if Curnen was willing to provide it. And without the types of commentary Scanlan would've been unable to resist making.