Free Claimed by the Dragon King by Caroline Hale Page A

lady?” he asks.
    “I... I can’t dance,” I squeak. He grabs my hand anyways and pulls me into his embrace. I awkwardly step on his feet as I attempt to find a rhythm.
    “We have to blend in, remember,” he says. I can tell that he’s still watching the crowd intently but he’s actually enjoying himself. I take a deep breath and try to relax, only to step on his foot, again. I just can’t seem to see where his feet are going to go next!
    He pulls me in closer with a hand at my lower back and uses his other hand to tilt my head up.
    “Look at me,” he says. “I know it’s hard for you but try to follow my lead.” He smiles wickedly and his hips push me backwards. I throw my foot out behind me to catch myself and find that he’s already turning into another step. My feet follow his automatically! Before I know it, I’m actually dancing! The song comes to an end and the crowd breaks out into enthusiastic applause. Asher breaks away from me and bows regally.
    “I didn’t know you could dance!” I say with a chuckle.
    “One of the perks of being raised as a prince,” he replies while pulling himself out of the bow.
    “Lindy!” Ruby whispers loudly, waving me over. “Lindy, I’m scared.” She looks worried, and I can tell that something is wrong. The happy energy of the song has faded and the small crowd loses interest in their muse.
    “What’s going on Ruby?” I ask her.
    “I don’t know… it’s this spell, I think. I can tell that something is getting ready to happen. I feel funny. And there’s something echoing in my head, words, but I can’t tell what they are yet.”
    I look around at the people around us and notice that a few of them with their foreheads scrunched up in confusion. Maybe they can hear it too? Tears are forming in her eyes so I pull her into an embrace, more than just for the comfort. With the energy of this crowd, if anyone sees her upset they will realize that something is up.
    “Ash,” I barely whisper his name and he’s by my side.
    “What’s wrong?” he asks.
    “Ruby says she’s hearing words in her head,” I whisper. “Something in that drink must be taking effect.” I point out a few of the confused people in the crowd.
    “We should get her out of here before--”
    “No,” Collin curtly interrupts. Ash growls at him and Collin throws his hands up and takes a few steps back. “Let me explain sir,” he stammers. Ash nods, indicating for him to continue. “We need to keep Ruby close by,” he says quickly. “Whatever effects the drink is having on her and everyone else is for a reason. We have not consumed the potion so we would be a few seconds behind on reacting to it. Those few seconds--”
    “Make all the difference,” Ash finishes his sentence. He nods at the Werewolf and turns to me.
    “But--” I start.
    “Lindy you know Ruby would want to be useful,” he says looking at my friend with a worried glance. “No matter how ridiculous she is being.”
    I look down at Ruby and find her sitting cross legged on the dirty ground tossing pebbles back and forth between her hands. At least she’s giggling again. Collin comes over and helps hoist her off of the ground. She cackles wildly and twists out of his grasp.
    “No need to get frisky, big fella,” she says with a wink.
    Collin backs away and blends into the crowd but I catch glimpses of him watching her intently.
     
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    Ash shifts nervously from foot to foot. We’ve been in place for the last hour and the suspense is starting to get to all of us. Ruby seems to finally be acting more like herself, thank goodness.
    “Something’s getting ready to happen,” Ruby says mysteriously, looking up at the castle. Our eyes follow her gaze and we see a small group of finely dressed people making their way out onto the platform. Black robed guards line the stairs up to the platform like black unmoving pillars.
    The crowd around us stops and robotically turns to the stage. Their glassy