Darius blinked slowly but he could not stop the smile that spread across his face. He watched with rapt attention as Serena danced with that Dawnbreak wolf that Livia had ntioned earlier. He nodded absent-mindedly along with the woman that was complaining about sothing.
And then Serena flashed him a smile. He blinked slowly and then returned the smile. He was not sure what dragged his attention to Riven, he stood sipping and watching Serena as keenly as he was. A frown appeared quickly and then she shook his head and wrapped up the conversation he was having.
He watched as Serena slowly but surely edged closer to Darius and appeared at his side. He waited for her to catch her breath.
"I’d like you to have another dance, but with you," Serena requested.
"Ah," Darius rely breathed. He rembered the last ti they had dances was at Beatrice’s house and that was because they had pushed them together. Back then he never dealt on it, Serena to him at the ti was just an obstacle that only went away with ti. How foolish was he?
He took her hand in his and smiled. "Of course, my lady."
Darius held Serena’s hand as if he might drop it if he gripped too tightly. But the mont she smiled up at him again, glow-streaked and breathless from her earlier dance and all hesitation lted. She guided him toward the open square, and slowly, step by step, they joined the dwindling line of dancers.
A few murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"The Alpha’s dancing," soone whispered, and then the murmur beca a wave.
Cheers erupted as they stepped into the wide ring around the bonfire. A few claps followed, and then soone struck a fresh chord on the lyre, a lively rhythm flowing into a new tune, gentler, and more intimate.
Darius bent slightly and offered his arm with more flourish than usual, catching Serena’s eye with a faint grin. "Shall we?" he asked.
She laughed lightly. "You’re enjoying this more than you expected."
"Possibly."
They moved in ti together, slower than the dancers earlier. He followed her lead at first, and then she followed his, the motion effortless, like slipping into an old rhythm neither of them rembered learning. Her hand was warm in his, and he found himself watching the way her smile curled at the corners, the way her hair bounced loose around her face, the soft flicker of firelight in her eyes.
"You are not as bad as you said you were," he comnted.
"That’s because I am letting you lead."
"That explains it."
Their laughter mingled with the soft notes of the tune. Around them, the crowd lightened, and more wolves moved in to join. Then, unexpectedly two mbers of the Dawnbreak group joined the circle. One of them, a tall woman with striking grey braids, took the hand of a young Ironshade scout, while another Dawnbreak man tugged an older pack aunt into a clumsy spin. Laughter rang through the square.
Serena glanced at the Dawnbreak wolves dancing and then t Darius’s gaze again. "Was that your plan all along?"
Darius smiled faintly. "I am not clever enough for that."
"I think you are."
They kept dancing until the music slowed, then softened to a gentle lull, a cue for the crowd to begin unwinding. One by one, people began to break away, so heading to their hos, others to the smaller fires still flickering through Longdale.
Darius and Serena ca to a slow halt. The night had deepened into quiet silver, the stars glimring through the branches above. Warm light from the lanterns still cast a golden haze across the square, and the scent of charred at, pine, and sweet bread hung in the air.
Serena exhaled, her chest rising with the deep breath of soone who hadn’t realised how tightly she’d been holding it.
"Thank you," she murmured.
He tilted his head. "For what?"
"For dancing with ."
He brushed his thumb over the back of her hand before letting it go. "Anyti."
Before either could say more, a familiar figure strode through the retreating crowd.
"Serena," Livia called, her arms crossed loosely. Her expression was unreadable, but not unkind. She stopped a few paces away, boots crunching lightly on the gravel. "Co. I need your help with sothing."
Serena glanced at Darius, then gave him a small nod before stepping back.
"Try not to disappear again," he murmured.
She smiled. "No promises."
Livia turned on her heel, and Serena followed, her cloak trailing after her.
Darius watched them go for a mont, then turned toward the edge of the square where a few stragglers still mingled near the wine barrels. One figure leaned against the stone column just where the shadows thickened– Riven.
The Dawnbreak delegate’s posture was relaxed, arms folded as he surveyed what remained of the celebration. His expression, though unreadable, didn’t appear hostile.
Darius approached slowly, not quite sure if he intended to start a conversation or just pass by.
"Your wolves throw a good feast," Riven said without looking up.
Darius raised a brow. "I’ wil pass that along to the cooks."
"They should be pleased." Riven finally t his gaze. "I suppose congratulations are in order."
"For?"
"You managed to keep the peace for an entire evening," he replied. "That is no small thing."
Darius folded his arms, he nearly raised a brow. Was this man trying to provoke him? "I see."
Riven took a slow sip from his goblet, then straightened. "I’ll be heading back to the Keep with Silas. It is late, and I imagine more of your council will want to ask questions in the morning."
"They might," Darius replied. "You did nothing tonight to give them reason to worry."
Riven gave a faint smirk. "Not tonight."
They stood in silence for a mont, the sounds of cleaning up and faint laughter floating around them. Sowhere, a lute played its last soft notes.
"I enjoyed myself," Riven said finally. "That may surprise you."
"It does a little," Darius admitted.
Riven nodded once. With that, he turned and disappeared into the winding path leading back toward the stables, where Silas waited.
Darius stood there a little longer, the heat from the bonfire now distant against the cool night air. The weight of the day, the music, the crowd, the dancing, it all settled into a strange stillness inside him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)