Aria’s POV
The bar was loud.
Music pulsed through the speakers. Bodies moved on the dance floor. Laughter and conversation swirled around us in waves.
I pressed closer to Elara’s side. My fingers tugged at the hem of my altered dress. Too short. Definitely too short. What had I been thinking?
"Stop fidgeting," Elara hissed in my ear. "You look incredible. Own it."
Easy for her to say. She was born confident. I was born apologizing for taking up space.
We pushed through the crowd. Elara’s hand gripped mine, guiding toward the bar. The lights flashed blue, then purple, then gold. The air slled like expensive cologne and spilled champagne.
And then I realized where we were.
My feet stopped moving.
I knew this place.
The crystal chandeliers. The marble floors. The VIP section elevated above the main floor like a throne room.
This was where Kael had brought . The night of the mating ceremony. The night everything changed.
"Aria?" Elara tugged my hand. "You okay?"
No. I was not okay.
mories crashed over like waves. His hand on my back. His voice in my ear. The way he’d looked at like I was sothing precious.
Before he’d proven I was nothing at all.
"I’m fine," I lied. My voice sounded strange. Distant. "Just... rembered sothing."
Elara’s eyes softened. She probably knew. She was too smart not to know.
"Hey." She squeezed my fingers. "Tonight is about moving forward, rember?"
"Right." I forced a smile. "Moving forward."
We made it to the bar. Elara ordered sothing colorful and strong. I just asked for water. My stomach was too knotted for alcohol.
The bartender slid our drinks across the counter. Elara imdiately took a long sip of hers.
"Okay." She set down her glass. Turned to face with determined eyes. "Here’s the plan. We’re going to have fun. We’re going to dance. And you’re going to rember that you’re a total knockout who deserves way better than any man who’s ever made you cry."
I opened my mouth to argue.
"Don’t." She held up a finger. "No self-deprecating comnts. No ’I’m not that pretty’ bullshit. Tonight, you’re a goddess. Accept it."
A surprised laugh escaped . "You’re ridiculous."
"I’m right." She grinned. "There’s a difference."
I took a sip of water. Let my eyes wander across the crowd.
Couples dancing. Groups laughing. Everyone seed so carefree. So unburdened by the weight of their lives.
Must be nice.
My gaze drifted toward the VIP section without my permission.
Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t—
Empty. The elevated platform was mostly empty. Just a few strangers in expensive suits.
Relief flooded through . Followed imdiately by disappointnt.
What was wrong with ? I should be happy he wasn’t here. Should be grateful I wouldn’t have to see his face.
But so stupid part of —the part that refused to learn—had hoped...
No. Stop it.
I turned back to Elara. Focused on her animated description of so drama at her apartnt building. Let her words wash over like white noise.
The minutes ticked by. My water got warr. The music got louder.
And gradually, slowly, I started to relax.
Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe I could actually have fun for once. Maybe—
"Excuse ?"
A male voice. Close. Directed at .
I turned.
A man stood beside . Tall. Dark hair. Friendly smile. He looked about my age. Nice clothes. Nice face. Nice everything.
"Hi." He leaned against the bar. His body angled toward mine. "I’m sorry to bother you. But I’ve been watching you for the past ten minutes, and I had to co say sothing."
My cheeks flushed. "Say what?"
"That you’re the most beautiful woman in this entire bar." His smile widened. "And I’d really like to buy you a drink. If that’s okay."
I stared at him. Completely frozen.
Soone was hitting on . An attractive stranger was actually hitting on . This didn’t happen. This never happened.
"I..." The words stuck in my throat. "I already have a drink."
Smooth, Aria. Really smooth.
But he just laughed. Warm. Easy.
"Then maybe a dance instead?" He tilted his head. Those brown eyes sparkled with amusent. "Unless you’re here with soone?"
I glanced at Elara. She was practically vibrating with excitent.
"GO," she mouthed at . Her eyes huge. Her grin manic.
"She’s definitely not here with anyone," Elara announced loudly. Way too loudly. "She’s extrely single. Very available. Please take her dancing."
I wanted to die. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow whole.
The stranger laughed again. "I’m Marcus, by the way."
"Aria," I managed.
"Aria." He said my na like he was tasting it. "That’s pretty. Suits you."
Heat crept up my neck. I wasn’t used to complints. Didn’t know what to do with them.
"So?" Marcus held out his hand. "One dance?"
I hesitated. Every instinct scread at to say no. To stay safe in my corner. To not risk anything.
But then I thought about Kael.
About how he’d called "soone like you" with such disgust. About how he’d paid like a prostitute. About how he’d destroyed and walked away without looking back.
Screw being safe.
I took Marcus’s hand.
"One dance."
His fingers closed around mine. Warm. Steady. He led toward the dance floor.
Behind us, I heard Elara whoop with excitent.
The music changed. Slower now. A rhythmic beat that pulsed through my bones.
Marcus pulled closer. His hand found my waist. The touch was gentle. Careful.
"You’re nervous," he observed.
"That obvious?"
"Little bit." He smiled. Not mocking. Just kind. "First ti dancing with a stranger?"
"Sothing like that."
We swayed together. His movents were confident. He knew what he was doing. I just tried not to step on his feet.
"So, Aria." His voice was low. Warm against my ear. "What’s a woman like you doing alone in a bar like this?"
"What do you an?"
"I an—" he spun gently "—you’re gorgeous. You should have n lining up around the block."
I laughed. The sound ca out more bitter than intended.
"Trust . That’s not really my experience."
"Then the n you know are idiots."
Sothing flickered in my chest. Not attraction, exactly. But warmth. Appreciation for soone who was being nice to . Soone who didn’t know my history. My baggage. My failures.
To Marcus, I was just a pretty woman at a bar. Not Shadow Moon trash. Not an Oga embarrassnt. Just... Aria.
It felt good.
His hand tightened slightly on my waist.
Too tight?
No. Just... there. Present. Possessive in a way that made slightly uncomfortable.
I shifted. Tried to create so space between us.
Marcus didn’t seem to notice. He kept talking. Leaning closer.
"You have really beautiful eyes," he murmured. "Has anyone ever told you that?"
Yes. Once. Soone else had told that.
Soone whose black-gold eyes I couldn’t seem to forget no matter how hard I tried.
Stop thinking about him.
"Thank you," I said. The words ca out stiff.
"I an it." Marcus’s thumb traced a small circle against my hip. Through the thin fabric of my dress. "You’re stunning. Like, actually stunning. I can’t believe you were just standing there alone."
The praise felt too thick. Too much. I didn’t know how to respond to it.
We turned with the music. The dance floor spun around us.
And then I saw him.
My heart stopped.
Kael.
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