Dance Night (3)

He was wearing a black suit like every other man here, but unlike them, it fitted him like a glove. He looked so manly and so hot he made my inside turn.

His chin was held high. He exuded an aura of confidence and power that dwarfed even that of Cyraon.

He caught up to Diana and walked with her to the front, where they both greeted Layla and the three two grannies behind her.

"Well, Now that everyone is here, how about we get started?" Granny the so-called dire-wolf said with a smile as she got up. "We won't have a lot of boring sessions, and without speaking too much, let me say a few things."

"Since the moon has not yet risen, you have four hours to mingle amongst yourself, If you wanna dance, dance to your heart's content, and there will be no refusal to any dance request allowed until you have found anyone you click with. Even so, since you all do not know who the moon goddess has made your mate, try not to start on the wrong foot."

"By the time the moon is at the center of the sky," She pointed to the circular skylight. "We will convene here to unveil the mates. Anything else?"

"Yes. Food, drinks, and snacks will be offered right after the first dance." An old woman with red hair and kind blue eyes said getting up. She was wearing old armor over her long red tunic. She looked like an old Amazon soldier with her sword on the back.

"So do enjoy this evening and please, I beg of you, if you can, try not to sleep with anyone while here, I am pretty sure your mates would love to make your first time pleasurable at your homes. Any question?"

"Yes." Dia looked at me as she raised her hand. "Mrs. Langhorne, how would we know who are mates are?" She asked.

"Well, right now you all smell like shit, so I can't say scent would help, but you will know when the time comes." Her smile turned cold as she glared at Laurent and Diana, who were both at the front and separated by the aisle. "So without any further nonsense, let the dance begin, Laurent, Diana, You will open the dancefloor with different partners, and you are all allowed to join."

She smiled and bowed before turning and walking outside.

"DJ, they are all yours. Grumpy let's go."

Slow soft music started playing once more as Laurent and Dia walked to the center of the dancefloor. Diana bowed before walking up to the young boy and asking him to dance with her.

"It will be my pleasure." He accepted and walked into the dance floor with her.

Laurent turned around and walked to us.

I held my breath as I anticipated him asking me for a dance. Damn, I almost forgot, I haven't danced that much my whole life.

"Zoey," Laurent smiled softly as he stopped before us and offered Zoey his hand. "Would you do me the honor of having the first dance with me?"

My world shattered as he said so and I looked away.

Please say no! Or I'm going to kill you! Ellie growled inside my head.

Dia held my hand tight as Zoey squealed in joy. "Yes!"

'Don't worry it's only just the opening dance. It doesn't mean much.' Dia's voice crawled into my head as she squeezed my hand.

Zoey danced among the stars in pure joy as they both walked into the dance floor.

"Excuse me, fair Madame," Jay walked to us and bowed in such a stiff and pretentious manner he looked like he was constipated. "Would you please entertain me with a dance?"

"Do you have diarrhea?" Dia asked before I could comment.

"No."

"Then why are you..." she pointed at him, incapable of describing or identifying what was it that was off. She even started sniffing him all over, without leaving my side or even letting me have direct contact with him.

I found it. But not all of it. It was probably his outfit.

His suit made him weird and a bit stuck up. I think. But something with it was off too.

"I am not asking you for a dance, crybaby." He moved her aside but Dia moved me behind her even faster than he moved her. He ignored her and stuck his chest and chin up. "I am too refined for that, what would people say when they see me dancing with a goblin?"

"You little...!"

He turned to me and stood tall. "Fair lady, it would be a waste to leave such beauty as thyself without a dance partner, may I please have a dance?"

"She won't." Debby came out of nowhere and stood on my other side with her fangs bared.

"Because you are all acting hostile to me. Your lady here would grace me with her boundless..."

"Thanks for the flattery." Ellie snorted. "But I don't need it."

"I dare not flatter, but I dare do wish the fairest of maidens would offer me a dance, now if you dare glance upon the stars and dare venture the mysteries of..."

"I'd love to but..." I looked at Dia and Debby. They shook their heads and cast eyes to the second floor. I peeked too and saw a group of people watching intently at the dance floor. Cyraon was among them but while the others ignored me, he smiled a little and nodded in my direction. A beautiful woman next to him looked at me and then back at Cyraon.

"Who is she?" the brown-haired woman asked as she looked back at me.

"Hmm," Cyraon smiled. "A person of interest to Laurent and the reason he might dress this hall in blood, but..." His voice trailed off and became completely inaudible.

"Dia, Debby, and Allison stay away from the dancefloor and follow Laurent's orders to the latter. You all might be in danger here." Hunter's whisper crawled into my head and I looked around searching for him.

"Tell him you don't dance," Dia responded in my head. "He is not the real James."

What?

"I don't dance." The words ran out of my mouth and sounded almost like a symphony of different voices. One was mine, startled, high-pitched, and rushed. The other belonged to Ellie and was riddled with her annoyed rage and impatience.

"See? She refused you, so fuck off!" Dia growled harshly.

"Why are you...?"

"Tread carefully."

"Get lost, little pup! Or I will tear you apart."

"COME ON I..." He stopped and turned around where a silent growl was coming from. I followed him and our eyes met Laurent's. The apparently fake Jay bowed and left.

Laurent turned away from me and went back to Zoey. His smile was soft and kind as he looked at her.

"Freaking coyotes!" Debby spotted angrily.

"Yeah, so full of themselves." Dia agreed. "I almost ripped him apart after I noticed that he was using mist on me."

"I faltered because of Laurent, Diametra, I'll go tell Cyraon to keep the pranksters out of here, keep an eye on them and Allie."

"Don't worry, I am a little pissed off and I am likely to tear anyone who approaches her apart."

"That's what I am afraid of. So Please leave her enough space to socialize and don't start any bloody carnival, okay?"

"Okay."

'Uhn, can somebody tell me what the heck is going on?'

With Debby's departure, the disturbance we had caused calmed down with an apology from both Dia and Laurent. But he never came close to me.

The first dance started and one after one, everyone was invited for a dance except me. By the time the first song ended, every girl and boy had a dance partner, some with their mates, and besides jealousy, envy, and a broken heart, I had nothing.

I felt stupid.

I felt angry.

Watching him dance with her made my heart ache. Every time Zoey was pinned around, caught, and brought closer to Laurent's body, I felt rage brood up inside of me.

I wanted to be the one he was dancing with, not a spectator. That was my place, not Zoey's.

He was mine. Mine. Mine!

"Maybe he really is not here."

I turned around fighting tears and walked back to the waiting room.

Laurent is not my mate.

My heart ached at the idea and I felt a lot like punching something.

I am stupid. I was stupid.

Why did I sleep with him? Why did I...I walked into the empty room and bawled my heart out.

I found a bathroom on the other side of the waiting room and washed this hideous makeup off.

I cried for a while until I grew hungry and I forced myself to find something to munch on.

I found a few snacks on the self-serving tables lined at the back of the dancehall and served myself a plate of cookies, sandwiches, and a few chocolate delights.

And candies.

Lots of candies. I snatched them all up and went to the waiting room.