When creeping, Nate found his objective much easier when both subjects were within the same room. Caltrops had remained close but out of sight for Eva's lesson with the children, children that happened to include his son. Once Eva had occupied the younglings with a scavenger hunt through Yule decorations, brilliant he might add, Nathaniel was poised to make his move. Until he sensed Omen had entered the area and snaked the best opportunity Nate had had all night. "Curses," he actually whispered under his breath, then narrowed his eyes and questioned why he'd done that.
Luckily for the wizard, William had only done the taller man a favor. The nurse turned Manny carried off the young Prince Torben and left Eva's arms empty. Seemingly out of Omen's shadow, Nate appeared and greeted Eva properly for the first time that evening. They'd made eye contact from across the room and even crossed paths minding their respective spawn, but this was the first time neither were otherwise occupied. "Eva," Nathaniel had begun and ditched his normal formality of teasing the queen about her title and the air of entitlement that came with it. A small smile appeared on his face, though it surprised Nate as much as it might have surprised Zap.
The adviser held out his hand toward the queen. "I'd hoped you would do me the honor of having a dance." Nate said then steadied himself, because he had a queasy sensation in his core. He routinely spent hours discussing everything from the apocalypse to what cable channels Asgard required with this woman. Why was there any reason for him to be on edge? "I believe the waltz is still..." Waltzing? "It's probably my best dance," he admitted, as though it would be an extra reason for her to say yes.