Hidden Wolf

42 Dangerous Dancing

"Leaving so soon Luna? I haven't taken my turn with you yet," he said dragging me deeper into the crowd as I shuddered.

"Let me go," I growled.

"Now, now, it's just a dance, you don't want to make a scene and ruin the night over a harmless dance, do you?" He wasn't wrong. Everything had been incredibly smooth so far, it's not like he'd risk something so openly.

"What do you want Dimitri," I snapped as he moved us around the dancefloor. 

"So, so many things, Jess," he said cheerily. "But it seems as though I've underestimated you," he growled.

"I fail to see how I should have factored into any of your plans," I retort. He grinned at me in a way to send cold shivers down my spine.

"There's a lot you fail to see, Luna," he sneered. "After that, performance, you have rocketed to the top of my list."

I didn't like any of his insinuations. This has gone on long enough so I pushed off but only managed an inch or two of space before he pulled me painfully tighter. I gasped at the unwanted contact as he squeezed harder.

"Let me go Dimitri," I growled, finding my voice.

"For now, little Luna, but you've left me a scar to remember you by, I've given you nothing," he grumbles in promise.

"You've given me plenty," I retort and he darkens instantly dropping the facade. 

"What you have taken, I will take back, ten fold. Remember this moment when I wrap that collar around your neck and show you your true place," he growls. There is no bravado, it's a promise that he fully intends to deliver.

It took every ounce of my being not to react to him. His threat was repulsive and bone chilling. He's talking about open war with Still Waters, with Chris. But it's just talk and he's trying to push my buttons so I refuse to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Mind if I cut in?" Nathaniel asked, staring Dimitri down.

"I do actually, we were-"

"Done, I would be delighted," I cut Dimitri off. The men stared each other down briefly before Dimitri finally relented.

"Until later," Dimitri promised before kissing my hand and handing me off to Nathaniel. He stalked off and I released a breath and a shudder I didn't know I held.

"Strange choice in dance-"

"It was not voluntary," I assured him as I took his offered hand. He took the lead spinning us around the dance floor effortlessly.

"I thought as much," he said with a frown. "What did he say?" His eyes and energy gave away very little.

"Nothing I wanted to hear," I mumbled.

"Even mad men spill grains of truth," he mused.

"Well I certainly hope not because that would be very, unpleasant," I admitted with a shudder.

Nathaniel pulled me in very close, close enough that if Chris saw us Councilor or not, there would be a problem. He has never been anything but proper, this sent my heart racing.

"Dimitri will not go against you openly without support," he warned, whispering in my ear. "Still Waters is too evenly matched and Chris's warriors are better one on one."

"I don't want a war over a stupid challange," I said in dismay.

"Events were in motion long before you came into the picture Luna. You may have hurt his pride, but this was coming to a head long before this year." The song had ended but I wasn't ready to leave with half of the story.