Darius~
I stood at the far end of the ballroom, cloaked in black and red like a war-bent shadow, trying to feign enjoyment. Danielle, hovered beside me, silent as always, though she knew better than to speak when I was this tense. My fingers wrapped tightly around the stem of my goblet as I watched the celebration unfold.
Laughter filled the air like a lie. Soft music drifted through the chandeliers, spinning noble wolves in gold-threaded gowns and silk tunics across the floor. A polished, glistening sea of faces swayed and sipped, pretending the world wasn't crumbling outside these opulent walls. And right in the middle of it, with a crownless air that made my blood boil—
Cole Lucky.
He didn't smile, didn't speak. Just watched—kept watching, as if he saw every weakness before it bled.
