𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 // 𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝒉𝑜

thirty one.

"Do you want some?"

Haneul's beguiled eyes darted to Changbin, who already held out some morsel that she couldn't identify.

"No, I'm good," she replied as loudly as she could bear. Once past the threshold of the mansion, music thrummed so strongly it echoed in her bones. Who knew demons liked to make their ears bleed when they partied too.

The music had no words, but it had to have been laced with some sort of magic. The beat snaked its way across Haneul's skin, weaving through her fingers and around her thighs as she walked further into the house through a crowd of swaying demons.

Minho held her hand, following their host through the giant home. He kept glancing back at her, but she couldn't decipher his expression. Worried perhaps? Or maybe enthralled; in spite of still having an empty stomach, there was an odd satisfaction that had wormed its way into her blood, and Haneul knew it showed on her face.

     She felt out of her body, and didn't mind if she stayed that way for a while. This was definitely what getting high felt like.

     Her train of thought was interrupted by their host. "So! Who's this precious thing, and how did you meet?"

     Haneul distantly registered that Iseul was talking about her. Minho answered before she could manage to formulate a sentence.

     "She's from the South. Lesser nobility, although her company proves otherwise," he said with a wicked grin. "I came across her..."

     More well crafted lies slipped out of him, but Haneul didn't really care to listen anymore. She wanted to join those deeper in the room and dance.

     Seungmin appeared at her elbow looking well at ease. He held a dark crystal goblet out for her, rolling his eyes as Minho paused to sniff the glass and give her a nod of approval. Haneul wrenched her hand from his and grabbed the goblet with both hands, taking a long swig.

"Whoa," Seungmin laughed as he gripped the rim to pull it away. "Take it easy, there. I know you're not used to this intense of an atmosphere, but you'll fade fast if you don't savor that glass."

     Haneul jerked the cup away, liquid splattering her wrist. "Maybe I want to." She threw back the last sips.

     The demon turned pale, twisting to see Minho's reaction; it was too loud for his friend to have heard her. Seungmin bit his lip and tapped Minho's shoulder.

     "I'll take her to get some food, yeah?"

     Instinctively, Minho shook his head, lips parting to protest. Seungmin pressed a firm hand to his friend's chest.

     "You can trust me, I'll look after her. It's okay."

     Iseul watched their interaction with glittering eyes, a question hovering behind them. Noting his own hesitation, Minho smirked as his heart skipped a beat.

"Fine. Make sure to keep her conscious," he added with a hint of ire. Haneul was too busy blinking the haziness from her eyes to notice the flicker of concern in his own.

     Seungmin smiled with closed lips. "Won't be a problem." He herded Haneul away without another word.

     Loosing a quick breath, Minho turned back to Iseul, who burst out laughing. "You're holding very interesting company tonight, my friend. No wonder you haven't graced the city with your presence recently. She's mesmerizing."

     "Spare me your comments," although Minho couldn't hide his endearing expression. "How have you been?"

     Iseul linked their arms and guided Minho from the ruckus of the party. "I'll have you know that my own ventures have been successful indeed."