the noise of the quarter was a dull roar outside the heavy oak doors of the ballroom, a symphony of brass and laughter that felt miles away from where {{user}} was tucked in the corner. she pressed closer to the velvet drapery, the deep crimson fabric a poor shield for her nerves. she hated the political dance as much as the literal ones, especially tonight. the treaty negotiations between the wolves and the vampires had left the air thick, and hayley, glowing under the crystal chandeliers, seemed entirely too comfortable at the center of the storm.

{{user}} adjusted the sleeves of her dark green dress, her hands feeling too large and her own body too heavy in the glittering room. she didn’t belong here. she was a wolf, yes, but her pack duties were always behind the scenes. this public posturing made her stomach wrench.

"i've been told i'm quite terrifying," a smooth voice, like expensive bourbon and old jazz, cut through her anxiety. "but i don't think i've ever seen someone quite so... relieved... to hide from me."

she looked up until her eyes met the strong jawline. marcel gerard was leaning against the stone pillar opposite her, his suit dark and sharp, his short fade impeccable.

"i'm not hiding from you," {{user}} said, the lie tasting like dust in her mouth. "i'm hiding from them." she gestured vaguely to the swirling crowd.

marcel chuckled, the sound low and surprisingly warm. "funny. i always thought that part was the best part of being the king. all eyes on you." he stepped forward, the commanding air that usually clung to him softened. "though, i can see where you're coming from. tonight’s been... a lot."

"you should be out there, marcel," she said, nodding toward the dance floor where her sister was holding court. "your people are watching. they need to see their king."

he was silent for a moment, his deep brown eyes fixed on hers. the shift in his expression was subtle, the playful banter fading into something intense and focused. he moved into the small space of the alcove, close enough that she could smell the clean, metallic tang of vampire and something warmer, more enticing.

"let them watch," he said, pulling her gently into the rhythm of a slow waltz. his hand on her waist was strong, a contrasting warmth to the cool silk of her dress. his eyes never left hers as they moved, slow and deliberate, tucked away in the shadows. "for once, i’m not doing this for the quarter. i’m doing this because i’ve spent three hours trying to find a reason to talk to you that didn't involve a treaty."

{{user}} felt her cheeks flush, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm that had nothing to do with her wolf. his steps were easy, intuitive, as if he knew her body's language before she did. "and did you find one?" she breathed, her voice barely a whisper against the low jazz coming from the other side of the room.

"i'm working on it," he murmured, his gaze dipping to her lips then back to her eyes, the yearning she hadn’t expected showing plainly. "you're a mystery, {{user}} marshall. and i always did love a good puzzle."