"Daniel," Dante said, his voice polite but carrying an edge. "Enjoying the gathering?"
"Yeah," Daniel replied, straightening his own posture unconsciously. The shift was subtle but clear of unconscious male posturing in the presence of a rival. "Just catching up with Lilian. We go way back."
"So I've heard," Dante said.
The air tightened. Lilian felt it through the bond, of Dante's barely restrained edge, of his instinct to remove a perceived threat to his mate.
Daniel felt it too.
"I should get back to helping with food," he said after a moment, stepping away but not quite retreating. "Good seeing you again, Lilian. We should catch up properly before you leave. Without an audience."
There was weight in that.
"Maybe," Lilian said carefully.
Daniel nodded and walked off toward the buffet tables, but Dante's hand remained at her waist and tightened slightly.
"He's still interested," Dante said quietly.
"He's being friendly," Lilian replied.
