The evening continued as the crowd began to thin, guests slowly drifting out of the grand ballroom, their conversations now softer, less animated. The golden chandeliers overhead dimmed slightly as the night wore on, casting a more intimate glow over the palace.
Pyris Obsidian stood at the edge of the room, watching as Seraphina Valyrian mingled with the remaining guests. Her every movement was calculated, her smile poised, but Pyris could see the subtle signs of distraction in her.
The tension between them had been simmering all night, and he could feel it building—an invisible force pulling them closer.
Seraphina's eyes kept flickering toward Pyris, her mind clearly split between the conversations around her and the unspoken connection they had shared earlier. She was no longer in full control of herself, and she knew it.
