Jealousy

Dancing with this man was becoming unbearable. He was a stiff dancer, and his attempts at conversation were banal at best. I kept my smile fixed, nodding at appropriate moments, but my mind was elsewhere, wondering where Aurelia could be.

The ball had been meticulously planned, every detail painstakingly considered, and it was supposed to be a night of celebration and joy. But without Aurelia, it felt incomplete.

Just as I was losing hope, a familiar presence swept over me. I felt Aurelia's breath against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "Follow me to the balcony," she whispered, her voice low and commanding.

Relief flooded through me. I didn't need to be told twice. I excused myself from the man with a polite smile, ignoring his puzzled look, and followed Aurelia through the throng of guests. We wove our way past people chatting and laughing, and the music and chatter faded as we stepped outside into the cool night air.