Now go get your girl

After the dance, I walked away from Seraphine, my heart pounding. The dance had been... intense. My skin still tingled where her hands had been, and my heart was beating fast. I felt a mix of desire and confusion.

But I had to keep a composed face. I couldn't let her see that she was getting to me.

I headed towards the buffet, trying to distract myself. The spread was magnificent. There were tables laden with an array of foods: delicately arranged canapés, miniature pastries, an assortment of cheeses, fruits, and cold cuts.

The centerpiece was a grand ice sculpture of a swan, surrounded by trays of exotic seafood—shrimp, oysters, and lobster tails. Crystal flutes filled with sparkling champagne were constantly being refilled by attentive waiters.

I took a glass of champagne, hoping the cool, fizzy drink would help calm my racing heart. I was taking a sip when Lydia appeared beside me, a big smirk plastered on her face.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "If it isn't the lady of the hour. You looked like you were enjoying that dance quite a bit."

I rolled my eyes, trying to appear unaffected. "It was just a dance, Lydia."

Lydia's smirk widened. "Just a dance? Riley, you looked like you were ready to melt into Seraphine's arms."

I felt a flush creep up my neck. "Lydia, drop it."

"Oh, come on, Riley. You can't fool me. I saw the way you were looking at her. And I saw the way she was looking at you. It was like a scene out of a romance novel."

I sighed, taking another sip of my champagne. "You're imagining things."

"Am I?" Lydia leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You looked very sexy out there, you know. I'm sure Seraphine noticed."

Before I could respond, a man approached us. He was tall and handsome, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a tailored suit that highlighted his broad shoulders and lean physique. His confidence was evident in his stride.

"Lydia, would you do me the honor of a dance?" he asked, extending his hand.

To my surprise, Lydia smiled brightly and took his hand. "Of course," she said, following him to the dance floor.

As they moved away, I caught sight of Aurelia standing not too far from me. Her black and white horns contrasted strikingly against her short, sleek black hair.

She wore a perfectly tailored suit that highlighted her strong frame, and her red eyes glowed with an intensity that was both captivating and intimidating. I noticed she had just crushed her glass in her hand, shards of glass falling to the floor.

"Jealousy," I murmured to myself. "They should just get back together."

Aurelia approached me, her expression a mix of anger and frustration. She grabbed another glass of wine from a passing waiter, but before she could take a sip, I placed a hand on her arm.

"Don't drink when you're angry," I advised. "You'll do something you regret."

Aurelia turned to me, her eyes blazing. "What do you want me to do, Riley? She just forgot about me too quickly."

"Why are you saying that?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, during your judgment, she was laughing with another man. She looked really happy," Aurelia said, her voice tinged with bitterness.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Aurelia, that was our cousin. He's actually quite funny but also very married."

Aurelia's eyes widened in surprise, and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "I... I didn't know."

"Just talk to her," I said gently. "You know it's not her fault that our dad was an asshole."

Aurelia looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Thank you for the advice."

"Now go get your girl," I said with a smile, giving her a gentle push towards the dance floor.

I watched as Aurelia made her way to Lydia, interrupting her dance. She whispered something in Lydia's ear, and they both headed towards the balcony outside. The man Lydia had been dancing with looked shocked, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Just then, Seraphine approached me, a sly smile on her lips. "You're quite the matchmaker, but you don't want your own perfect match."

My smile faltered at her words. "That's different," I said defensively.

"Is it?" Seraphine's eyes held a knowing look. "You might be fooling yourself, but you're not fooling me."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "It's complicated, Seraphine."

"Life always is," she said softly. "But some things are worth the effort."

I looked away, unsure how to respond. The truth was, Seraphine's persistence was starting to break through my walls, and that terrified me. I wasn't ready to let her in, not yet.

"Let's talk somewhere private," she suggested. "I don't want to talk about that in front of everyone."

Reluctantly, I followed her to another balcony. The night air was cold, and I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth.

Seraphine closed the door behind us, cutting off the noise from the ballroom. She turned to me, her eyes intense. "Riley, I need to know. What are you really feeling?"

I looked away, lost in my conflicting emotions. Before I could respond, Seraphine stepped closer and pinned me gently against the wall. Her face was inches from mine, her breath warm on my skin.

"Tell me in the eyes right now that I'm not making you feel anything," she demanded, her voice a low whisper.

I tried to turn my head, but she cupped my cheek, forcing me to meet her gaze. Her eyes searched mine, and I felt a surge of emotions—desire, confusion, frustration.

"Seraphine, I..." I began, but the words stuck in my throat.

"Tell me, Riley," she urged, her voice soft but insistent.

My heart was pounding, the cold air mixing with the heat of her proximity. I didn't know what to say. All I knew was that I was feeling something, something strong and undeniable.