SERAPHINA'S POV
I look away too fast, forcing air into my lungs and panting hard from not breathing in the last five seconds. I'm not ready to face him, for him to look at me like that while standing next to her.
I thought I was, but I'm not.
The reality of it hits me too hard, and the pain in my chest becomes more and more unbearable.
"Are you okay?" Jasper asks, holding me up so I don't fall forward, while Juliet pats my back silently, all while I catch my breath.
I take a second before I can stand on my own again, and when I do, they're already on the same level with us, talking with some people on the other end of the hall next to King Silvan.
His laughter is the loudest, the rest of them just smile, including Artemis. Did he notice me, or was it my imagination?
"Maybe we should leave now," Jasper suggests, but I stop him.
"No, I'm seeing this through. I want to be here."
He looks at me, worried and reluctant to give in, but I plead with him with my eyes until he sighs.
"Fine."
"Thank you."
"The first dance is about to start," Juliet chimes in.
I nod, watching everyone else instinctively move towards their own partners one by one from the shift in music. Everyone except Juliet.
She sticks by my side, sipping on orange juice, doing the opposite.
"Where's your partner?" I ask, noticing that she has been on her own since I've seen her.
"Oh," she suddenly looks taken aback, not expecting me to ask her that. Her eyes shift away. "Well, I came here with a cousin, but he went off somewhere as soon as we walked in."
"Oh."
I watch her shoulders slump in embarrassment, and I can only imagine what happened, especially with her being the only omega wolf in a room filled with bigots.
I think about it for a while until the perfect idea comes to mind, and I smile.
"Why don't you dance with Jasper?"
"What?" Her face turns pale.
"You don't have a partner, and I can sit this one out for now. What do you think, Jasper?" I turn to look at him.
"I don't mind," he says with a shrug and takes steps closer to her.
She seems shy and startled, taking a step back, but he catches up to her with his long strides, grabbing her hand and kissing the back of it with so much charm I almost barf.
"May I?" he peeks up at her through his long lashes.
She nods, breathless, unable to form words, impossible to deny him.
I smile to myself, watching the two, seeing the potential that could bloom from both of them. The music starts, and everyone takes their place with ease.
As expected, the stars of the night take to the center of the room hand in hand and hold each other.
Like angels, they sway to the music in perfect symphony, not a hair out of place or a drop of sweat leaking off the sides of their face - just simple elegance and perfection.
The pain in my chest starts again, like a soft thump until it grows into a stabbing sensation. I promised myself I wouldn't cry, and so I won't.
I hope I don't.
Everyone else joins in eventually after a minute of them dancing by themselves. I pry my eyes away to watch Jasper and Juliet to distract myself.
She fumbles with the steps, and Jasper laughs at her awkwardness, holding her and leading the way until she finally gets it.
She stomps on his feet many times, but not once does the grin on his face falter. And it goes on until she can smile with ease and laugh at whatever he's telling her.
In their own way, they also look perfect.
A sudden feeling of sadness falls on me while I watch, realizing everyone has a pair except me.
"May I have this dance?" a voice calls out behind me, and I jump from fright, swerving around to see Lucian.
He's just as elegantly dressed in a black suit.
"Lucian..." I stare at him, being the last thing I was expecting to see tonight.
"Hello, Seraphina. It's been a while."
"Why are you here?"
"Well, given the fact that Artemis and I are practically brothers, how could I not be here, Sera? More importantly, why are you alone?" He looks at me, changing the topic.
I avoid his eyes now, feeling embarrassed by how pathetic I might look, standing here alone, watching my boyfriend dance with his mate like they're both straight out of a Disney movie.
"I chose to be," I argue.
"Yet you seem sad."
"That's none of your business," I snap at him, and he shifts back, raising both hands in surrender.
I quickly regret the sudden outburst, regretting that I let how much I'm affected by everything show when I should simply be coming to terms with it as I planned.
He sighs now, breaking the awkward silence.
"I'm sorry, okay... I really am sorry for pushing more emotional baggage on you when you're going through so much. I shouldn't have said that, I should have just been there for you. And now more than ever it seems you need someone next to you as well," he says softly, and I look at him.
At the sincerity in his eyes.
He seems like he's genuine, and like he wants to be friends again, and one thing I need more than ever right now is a friend.
We fall silent, watching the dance floor together silently, and I can't help watching the two of them.
The smile that flashes across Kamila's face, being the happiest girl in the world. The smile he offers back that almost convinces me that he's just as happy.
Maybe he is.
"They look perfect, don't they? I'm almost jealous," Lucian says, reading my mind.
I agree with him, only I am already jealous. So green with envy that it hurts, and all that's holding me back from running off right now is the plan for tonight.
"In a few hours, once it's all over, they will seal their bonds in private so that by the morning before the wedding, that just makes it official, they will already be one," he explains the complexities of their rituals.
My mouth suddenly tastes so bitter at the thought of them doing it and him making her his completely, whatever that entails.
The topic becomes too painful, and I pry my eyes away from the couple.
"Stop talking."
"I'm sorry," he apologizes again.
But I'm done hearing them, being pitied, moping in a corner. I want to dance too.
"About that dance... you still want it?"
A smile quickly flashes across his face.
"Of course." He extends his hand to me, and I take it.
Soon, we're twirling together as well, next to everyone else.
I fumble with the steps and the pacing of the music, but Lucian, being perfect at it, covers most of my incapabilities while taking the lead.
He tugs and pulls me as he sees fit, twirling me around and letting the pleats of my dress spread like a flower before catching me by the hip with a gentle hold.
"Wow... you're good at this."
"Am I?"
"No need to be so cocky about it," I say with a frown, and he chuckles.
It's light and contagious, and I find myself smiling soon enough, enjoying the ease of being around him.
"You're funny, Sera. I hope that doesn't change after the wedding, when Artemis will be completely Kamila's," he points out, reminding me of the impending reality.
My smile fades. "I'll be fine."
"I know you will be. You've always seemed like a miracle too bright for this world, or for Artemis. You shine so brightly that I can't help but be blinded by you."
"Thank you," I say.
"I know I said I was sorry, but I don't regret my feelings for you. However, I'll be here for you as a friend whenever you need me to be," he tells me.
"I'm sorry, Lucian, but there will always be Artemis, even if it's not the same for him. There's no use waiting," I reply, wanting to be honest with him.
"You'd be surprised by how resilient I am, Sera," he teases with a wink, making me smile.
"I'm sure you are."
We continue to dance in silence, and I feel more at ease, letting him lead. He seems happy until his eyes shift for a moment.
He pulls me away and spins me around until I fall back into his arms, his expression turning sensual.
The beat of the music remains, but the tempo of his dancing increases, drawing attention. I start feeling uncomfortable.
"Lucian...?" I question, sensing something off.
He looks at me, sadness in his eyes, before sighing.
"Forgive me, I thought I could hold back, but seeing you like this in my arms right now, you're too perfect," he says in a desperate breath.
Confused and puzzled, I'm about to ask what he means when he makes a final move as the song ends, pulling me in quickly and pressing his lips against mine.
It's so sudden that I don't react until half a second into it, feeling revolted by the unexpected warmth of his body and lips.
He pulls away before I can respond, meeting my eyes with remorse that suddenly doesn't seem believable. Stunned, I'm trying to gauge my emotions when a scream echoes from behind us.
Turning, I see Artemis covering the distance between us with fast, long strides, pushing people out of his way and rolling up his sleeves.
It happens almost as fast as the kiss - Artemis pouncing on Lucian, landing blow after blow with reckless abandon.