She turned her head sharply, trying to see who had intervened. But all she could make out were two glowing red eyes staring at her from the darkness, piercing, unblinking. Fangs glead beneath the faint moonlight.
Sorayah's breath caught in her throat. She didn't need to be told what stood before her. Another werewolf.
Panic surged through her veins.
Without waiting for an introduction, she bolted from the courtyard, her heart pounding in her ears.
She didn't stop running until she stumbled back into the palace corridors only to co face-to-face with a grueso sight.
The maid she had just saved lay lifeless before her.
Her body was sprawled on the cold stone floor, her blood pooling around her in a dark, glistening puddle. But it was her head, severed clean from her body that made Sorayah's stomach churn.
A fresh wave of terror crashed over her.
She had saved the girl only for soone else to finish what the first attacker had started.
There was no doubt in Sorayah's mind the werewolf that had just saved her wasn't trying to help. It hadn't intervened out of kindness. No, it had simply wanted to be the one to kill her instead of the crazed man. And there was no question that the sa monster was responsible for the maid's grueso death.
Her stomach twisted in horror, but she had no ti to process it.
Sorayah bolted.
She sprinted through the palace corridors, her enhanced strength allowing her to move faster than any normal human. Her bare feet barely touched the ground as she ran, her heart hamring in her chest. But no matter how fast she was, the unmistakable growls behind her, deep, guttural, and filled with nace sent ice through her veins.
She didn't dare look back.
Instead, she focused on putting as much distance as possible between herself and whatever lurked in the shadows. Her breath ca in ragged gasps as she rounded a corner, nearly stumbling in her haste until she burst into a small chamber, almost colliding with a group of young won.
They gasped at her sudden entrance, their faces filled with concern and distress but just then, they turned their gaze away from her. Their colorful skirts swayed as they huddled together, their jeweled accessories glinting under the flickering lantern light.
Sorayah's sharp eyes soon scanned their clothing, and her gaze landed on one particular detail. The outfit worn by the slain maid matched theirs perfectly.
She was one of them.
The realization sent another jolt of unease through her, but before she could react, one of the dancers spoke.
"We're dead."
The words were barely above a whisper, but the sheer panic in the woman's voice made the others tense in fear.
"We're just humans," another dancer added, clutching her trembling hands to her chest. "If we fail to perform, we'll be killed imdiately!"
"When she knew she wasn't interested in dancing, why did she even join us?" another spat, her frustration evident.
Sorayah quickly pieced it together. The murdered woman hadn't simply been a maid, she had been one of the dancers set to perform.
"We should have brought a spare," one muttered, her voice laced with bitterness. "Now her foolishness is going to get us all killed."
Sorayah exhaled sharply, still catching her breath from the chase. The last thing she needed was to draw more attention to herself. If I tell them about the dead dancer, it's definitely not going to end well as the dancers will inform Lupien hence I will have to co face to face with him and if I also go back to Dimitri now, it'll only make things worse as that bastard is still angry with . But if I disappear for the rest of the night...
Before she even realized what she was saying, the words left her lips.
"I'll dance."
The group turned to her in shock.
"What?" one dancer asked, her brows furrowing in disbelief.
"I'll complete the dance," Sorayah said again, this ti with more certainty.
For a brief mont, silence hung in the air.
Then...
"Who are you?" one of the dancers demanded, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Where did you even co from?"
"I said I'll take her place. The place of the missing dancer you're talking about," Sorayah repeated, her voice steady.
The irritation on the dancers' faces only deepened.
"That's not the point!" another snapped. "It's not just about the number of dancers. She wasn't just any perforr, she was our leader!"
Sorayah's stomach twisted. Their leader...
"She said she'd get us so food before the performance started," one of the won continued, her voice unsteady. "She wouldn't just abandon us. Maybe she got lost?"
Another dancer wrung her hands nervously. "What are we supposed to do? Her dress is already prepared, but without her..."
Sorayah made her decision in an instant.
"I'm the daughter of a dancer," she said, her voice carrying an edge of authority. "And you're all humans. That ans I know every dance of the human kingdom."
The won exchanged uneasy glances.
"If you want to keep your lives, let join you now." Her dark gaze swept over them. "Or get ready to die."
The weight of her words settled over them like a stone.
Fear flickered in their eyes.
The first dancer to speak swallowed hard. "Are you... are you sure?" she asked hesitantly.
Sorayah t her gaze without hesitation. "Yes. The real question is, are you ready to keep your heads?"
Her words sent a ripple of dread through the group. The dancers stiffened, their expressions betraying their fear.
Then, one by one, they nodded.
A woman stepped forward, holding out a folded garnt with shaking hands. It was a red skirt embroidered with golden thread, the fabric shimring under the dim light. A matching top lay draped over her arm.
Sorayah took the clothing without a word.
This was better.
Dimitri wouldn't expect to see her here. He wouldn't be searching for her among the dancers as well as that werewolf wouldn't co after her since she'll be changing her outfit now.
For tonight, she would be soone else.
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