The orchestra was still in full sway, golden notes spilling from violins and cellos, weaving through the candlelit hall like threads of silk. The chandeliers shimmered, casting a soft golden glow over polished marble, and the perfume of roses mixed with champagne lingered in the air. Dancers swirled around them, gowns fanning like painted flames, masks glittering like jewels in the candlelight.
At the center of it all, Jayden and Penelope moved in perfect rhythm, their steps now natural, fluid, as though they had been dancing together for years. Penelope's flame-shaped mask gleamed each time she spun, her gown trailing like fire licking at the floor. Jayden, wolf-masked and sharp, guided her with quiet power, his hands steady, his presence unmistakable.
