One Eternal Ember

Chapter 17

It doesn't take long for me to be swept up with the dancers, linking arms with strangers, and spinning into an oblivion. It was blissful. Lilith and I link arms multiple times, each time torn away by a new stranger. I smile to myself, realizing Lilith was right. This is thrilling, and might actually be fun.

The music then changes to a slower beat, and the dancers begin breaking off in couples, laughing. The men lift the ladies high above their heads and spin them around, their gowns fluttering and lifting.

"I thought you didn't dance." A rumble says from behind me, and I turn to find Delano. His suit is a Navy Blue of the deepest sea. His raven hair curls around his pointed ears, a simple black mask covers his eyes and nose. He gives me a lopsided grin and holds his hand out. I grin back at him and slide my hand in his, his calloused palms are warm against mine.

"So you do think of me." I flash him a smirk, and he rolls his eyes. Our hands stay together, as his other hand finds my hip, and mine finds his shoulder. We begin a slow dance, twirling between other couples, and I'm a little shocked to find him quite a good dancer.

"You wish. I don't think much of human women."

It was my turn to roll my eyes, as our tempo begins to speed up. Our eyes connect, and a smile forms on his face. He steps forward, and I step back. He steps to the right and I follow. Our bodies in an endless battle of who can mirror the other. Everything around us becomes blurry as I focus entirely on him. His hand tightens at my hip, his fingers touching the bare skin on my back. My dress whisks against my thighs, and flares out as he lifts his arm and spins me.

"My My, what a superiority complex you have, Captain Delano."

He rolls his eyes again, and looks to me. His eyes gleam in the chandelier light, and he looks at me seriously as if he's never seen me before. The music then slows, and changes. We stop dancing, but don't move apart.

"You look-" He starts, but a phantom wind kisses the back of my neck, and a throat clears behind me. Delano's eyes snap behind my shoulder, and the warmth leaks from them. His hand moves from my hip, and he releases my hand. I don't have to spin around to know who is behind me.

"Captain." That rich voice purrs from behind me. The phantom wind traveling along the bare skin of my back, and up to my shoulders once more.

"Your highness." Delano responds flatly.

"I hate to interrupt your dancing, but the guests need escorting inside."

Fury erupts in Delano's gaze, as he bows and looks to me as he rises. He dips his chin at me, and spins on his heel, disappearing into the crowd. I look over my shoulder to find the snow haired Prince. I turn slowly to face him, and he watches me silently.

"We meet again, Little Beast." He clicks his tongue, and circles me slowly. "You really should stop meeting me this way, it could set the wrong tone." He states a purr behind his words, as his bright eyes trail over my dress, and hair.

"Me? Encounter you?" I huff a laugh. "I believe it's you who is encountering me this way, Your Highness." He smiles, and stops in front of me, holding his hand out his palm facing the chandeliers.

"And if it was?"

"That would be incredibly annoying."

He continues to look at me, amusement in his gaze. I take his hand, surprised to find his palms rough and calloused. Heat sizzles up my arm, and through my entire body, as I continue to stare at him. He walks us to the center of the room, and pulls me to him. His hand lands on the small of my back, and flame sparks at my bare skin. I rest my wrist on his shoulder, and glance at his hair, now that I'm so close. His hair isn't just a white, but adorns a shimmer of silver, it was beautiful. I look back at him, to find him watching me. Our eyes connect, and I nearly smile to see his eyes are not just pale blue, but adorn a ring of the richest brown around his pupils.

"I don't even know your name." He says sliding his hand up my back slightly as we shift across the floor, with the grace and speed of gazelles.

"Of course you do." I state flatly, watching him smile slightly realizing he is only toying with me. "I don't know yours." His pupils narrow, and he grins.

"Malakai. My name is Malakai, Little Beast."