Maeve smiled and gave Moon a curt nod.
“Your Highness,” she said, bowing her head towards Reeve.
“You do not live in Aterna,” he said cooly. “You need not bow as though you were a subject.”
Maeve’s smile relaxed. She looked up at him solemnly with a soft expression. He was not at all like she assumed. “How about as a lady showing respect for a powerful Immortal? Or perhaps warrior to warrior, as you would call it.”
Reeve smirked and inhaled sharply. His date tensed on his arm. Ambrose’s eyebrows raised slightly.
“You have quite the contender on your hands, Ambrose.”
Maeve beamed, took the compliment and turned on her heel, leaving them with a dazzling smile.
“You don’t know the half of it,” she heard her father say.
The night was almost over, and the hour was late. Maeve, Mal, Abraxas, Hendrix, Iris and Juliet stood at the edge of The Ballroom, laughing about something Abraxas said. Roswyn and Emerie were dancing rather close, drunk off Dragon Whiskey.
The music ended, followed by soft applause.
“Ladies and gentleman,” said the conductor, “what a spectacular evening!”
The group made their way closer to listen to the evening’s closing moments.
“And now, the last waltz of the 1945 Summer Solstice Party,” said the conductor, turning back to the musicians.
“Looks like the night is over,” said Iris with a yawn.
“Maeve,” said Mal.
She looked over at him.
“Take my hand.”
“What?” Asked Maeve incredulously.
The music began to swell. Mal grabbed her hand and pulled her into the center of the ballroom quickly.
“What are you doing?” Asked Maeve excitedly.
Mal wrapped his hand around her back, and Maeve placed her hand on his shoulder.
“You know exactly what I’m doing,” said Mal, giving her a quick spin before pulling her closer.
She gasped as their chests collided.
He moved her gracefully across the room. Much to Maeve’s surprise, Mal wasn’t a bad dancer. In fact, he was quite skilled. Her dress whisked behind her, sparkling in the lights perfectly.
A few onlookers oohed and awed at them as they passed by.
“I didn’t know you could waltz,” said Maeve.
“I’m sure I didn’t either,” replied Mal.
“How does it feel to just naturally be good at everything?”
He smiled without answering.
His hand moved slowly until it rested on the small of her back. She tried to disguise the fact that this made her breath catch sharply. Maeve looked up at him.
