The music called to me, its lively rhythm impossible to resist. Without a second thought, I stepped into the dance circle, my dress swirling around me as I twirled to the beat.

The song shifted faster now, the energy infectious. I needed a partner. Scanning the crowd, I grabbed the nearest person’s hand without looking up.

“Dance with me!” I said breathlessly, already pulling them into the fray.

“I thought you’d never ask,” came a familiar, teasing voice.

My heart sank—and then sped up—as I looked up to see none other than him. The same stranger I had barreled into earlier, now grinning at me like he’d been expecting this exact moment.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, half tempted to let go of his hand and run.

But he held on, his grip firm but not forceful. “Too late now, Your Majesty,” he said with a playful bow. “Shall we?”

Before I could protest, he spun me around, his movements surprisingly graceful. The crowd cheered, the rhythm of the music urging us onward. I stumbled at first, trying to keep up, but he steadied me effortlessly, guiding me through the steps as though we’d rehearsed them a hundred times.

“You’re not bad at this,” I admitted grudgingly as we moved in sync, my earlier annoyance melting away in the wake of the sheer joy of the dance.

“I could say the same about you,” he replied, his grin softening into something warmer, almost... impressed.

The tempo picked up again, and we were swept into a whirlwind of motion. My laughter bubbled up unbidden as he dipped me dramatically, the world spinning around us.

“You’re full of surprises,” I said when he brought me upright again, my chest heaving with exhilaration.

“And you’re full of trouble,” he shot back, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief.

The music slowed, and the crowd clapped in time, forming a circle around us. I suddenly became acutely aware that we were at the center of attention, the festival-goers watching us delightedly.

“Well, look at that,” he said, leaning in slightly. “All eyes on the Queen.”

My cheeks burned, but I refused to let him fluster me. “I could say the same about you.”

He laughed, a rich, genuine sound that made my stomach flip. “Fair enough.”

As the song's final note played, he stepped back, bowing deeply with a flourish. “Thank you for the dance, Your Majesty. It’s been... illuminating.”

I crossed my arms, trying to hide my smile. “I still don’t know your name.”

Before I could hear if he answered, my attention got diverted to Kraven and Jarnathan.

"Bet you can’t make it through the garland ring without getting stuck," Kraven, the ever-smirking kelpie, said with a challenging gleam in his eye.

Jarnathan, the air fae with an ego the size of a mountain, puffed up his chest. “Bet? Please, Kraven. I could fly through blindfolded.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Kraven said, smirking wider and crossing his arms.

I barely had time to process their antics before Jarnathan launched into the air. His shimmering wings caught the light, a dazzling display of iridescence that would have been breathtaking—if he hadn’t immediately misjudged the angle and careened straight into the garland.

“OH JARNATHAN!” I yelled, watching in equal parts horror and disbelief as his wings tangled in the glowing vines. They wrapped around him like a particularly clingy octopus, pulling him into a spinning mess of lights and fluttering feathers.

“Help!” Jarnathan cried, flapping furiously. “It’s got me! The garland has chosen violence!”

Kraven doubled over, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face. “Oh no! Not the great Jarnathan, bested by festival décor! The tragedy!”

I hurried toward the scene, dodging a few onlookers who had also stopped to gawk at the spectacle. “Jarnathan, stop moving! You’re making it worse!”

“I can’t just stop,” he wailed, dangling awkwardly from the garland like a colorful, disgruntled ornament. “This isn’t my fault! Kraven dared me!”

“Oh, I dared you, but you’re the one who couldn’t back it up!” Kraven shot back between laughs. “Some air fae you are.”

“Kraven, you’re not helping!” I snapped, glaring at him. He grinned, utterly unrepentant.

Jarnathan groaned dramatically. “Why do I even hang out with you? You’re the worst best friend ever!”

“Because I’m the only one who puts up with your ego,” Kraven replied smoothly.

Climbing onto the base of the garland stand, I reached up to untangle Jarnathan’s wings. “Hold still, or I’ll let Kraven turn you into a cautionary tale.”

Jarnathan froze, looking deeply offended. “I am not a cautionary tale! I’m a symbol of grace and daring!”

“Sure,” I said, yanking a particularly stubborn vine free. “You’re a symbol, all right. Of what happens when pride meets physics.”

It took some effort—mostly because Kraven kept making unhelpful comments and distracting Jarnathan—but eventually, I freed the air fae. He stumbled to the ground, wings twitching indignantly, and glared at Kraven.

“You’re paying for my wing balm,” Jarnathan muttered, brushing bits of vine off himself.

Kraven grinned. “Worth every coin.”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “The two of you are a disaster.”

“Correction,” Kraven said, throwing an arm around Jarnathan’s shoulders. “We’re your disaster.”

Jarnathan nodded, flashing me a mischievous smile. “She loves us.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “Go cause trouble somewhere else before the festival organizers blame me.”

“Don’t worry,” Kraven said, dragging Jarnathan off. “We’ll be subtle.”

Everyone buzzed with life all around me, but I could feel Kraven’s eyes boring into the side of my head as I refilled my goblet. I tried to ignore him, sipping from the sweet, fruity drink, but the grin tugging at his lips was impossible to ignore.

“Something you want to say, Kraven?” I asked, setting the goblet down with a deliberate clink.

“Oh, nothing,” he replied, his voice dripping with mock innocence. “I’m just admiring how... focused you’ve been tonight. Especially after that little tumble earlier.”

I shot him a glare. “I tripped, okay? It happens. Not everyone can be as graceful as you.”

He leaned casually against the table, swirling his drink. “Sure, sure. Tripped right into a flower bed—and right into that guy. What was it? Tall, dark, brooding? That your type now?”

My cheeks burned, and I whirled to face him. “I don’t have a type! And I wasn’t looking at him like that.”

Kraven’s grin widened. “Oh, you weren’t, huh? Could’ve fooled me. I saw the way you kept sneaking glances his way during the last dance. Practically burned holes through his tunic.”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re blushing,” he shot back gleefully. “So, who is he? Did you get his name, or will you call him ‘mystery man’ forever?”

I peeked at him through my fingers. “I don’t even know him! He’s just some guy who happened to be standing there when I lost my footing. That’s it.”

Kraven arched an eyebrow. “Riiight. Just some guy. That’s why you’re looking around like you’re hoping to bump into him again—literally.”

I smacked his arm, though it did nothing to diminish his amusement. “I am not!”

“Relax, Ciara,” he said, laughing as he rubbed his arm. “It’s fine to have a hot crush. Mystery man looked like he could handle your clumsy ways.”

I groaned again, louder this time. “Kraven, I swear if you keep this up—”

He cut me off with a mock gasp, clutching his chest dramatically. “What? You’ll trip into another handsome stranger? Or maybe you’ll fall into his arms this time. How romantic!”

Before I could respond, the music picked up again, drawing our attention. The crowd parted slightly, and there he was—the stranger from earlier, standing tall and quietly observing the festivities.

Kraven noticed him immediately and nudged me with a knowing smirk. “Oh, look, there’s your ‘not a type.’ Go get him, clumsy.”

I rolled my eyes and downed the rest of my drink. “You’re insufferable,” I muttered, but I couldn’t stop glancing his way again.

Kraven’s laughter followed me as I stepped back into the crowd, my cheeks still warm from his teasing.

The music carried on around me, vibrant and full of life, but my thoughts lingered on the stranger. I wandered toward the refreshments, hoping to clear my mind, when I spotted him again. He leaned casually against a vendor’s stall, sipping from a goblet.

His ember eyes caught mine, and he straightened, offering me a small smile as I approached.

“You’re hard to miss,” I said, sounding more composed than I felt.

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “I could say the same about you.”

This time, I got a closer look at him. His tunic, though simple, couldn’t hide the broadness of his shoulders, and the way he stood—relaxed but alert—hinted at someone used to command. What truly caught my attention, though, were the faint red markings just visible at the neckline of his tunic.

My eyes flicked to them before I could stop myself. “You’re from Shimmerpeak,” I blurted out, my curiosity overriding my manners.

He tilted his head, amused. “And here I thought I’d keep you guessing a little longer.”

“Well, your markings gave you away,” I replied, gesturing toward the faint lines. “They’re... striking.”

He glanced down at his collar as if he hadn’t realized they were visible. “Ah, yes. A dead giveaway, I suppose.”

I waited, but he didn’t seem inclined to elaborate. Crossing my arms, I prompted, “So? Are you going to tell me your name, or should I keep calling you ‘mystery man’ in my head?”

He chuckled, setting his goblet down. “Mathius,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “From Shimmerpeak, as you’ve so astutely observed. It’s my first Harmony Festival.”

“First?” I asked, surprised. “It’s a long way from Shimmerpeak to here. What made you decide to come?”

He paused, his expression thoughtful. “Let’s just say I had... encouragement.”

His tone was cryptic, but I decided not to press him—yet. Instead, I smiled. “Well, Mathius from Shimmerpeak, welcome to the Harmony Festival. I hope your experience so far has been... illuminating.”

He smirked at my deliberate echo of his earlier words. “It certainly has been,” he said, his voice rich with amusement.

Before I could respond, the music started again, the lively notes filling the air. Mathius extended a hand toward me, his smile turning almost playful.

“Care for another dance, Your Majesty?”

I hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand. “Lead the way, stranger.”

The music began to slow as dawn drew closer, and soon, we were the only two people dancing.

I looked over and saw Astrid giving me the mother-hen look.

"Oh! This is Astrid," I said, gesturing towards her as she got closer.

"This is Mathius. He’s visiting us from Shimmerpeak. It's his first year being able to attend the festival." I could sense Astrid's eyes assessing Mathius as he nodded politely in her direction. His gaze returned to me, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Pleasure to meet you, Astrid,” Mathius said, his voice smooth and velvety.

Astrid's expression softened slightly as she gave him a curt nod in acknowledgment.

“Apologies for dragging you into my dance, Mathius. I hope you're not too weary from the festivities,” I said, a blush creeping up my cheeks.

Mathius chuckled softly, his eyes holding a warmth that made my heart flutter. “On the contrary, Lady Ciara, dancing with you has been the highlight of my century.”

I couldn't help but smile at his words, feeling warm. The music played softly in the background, creating a magical atmosphere around us.

Mathias gave a respectful bow to Astrid, then gently picked up my hand and kissed it. "I shall now return you to your guard, my lady - her spear looks much more intimidating up close," he said with a smile.

I stood there frozen in place, watching him walk away.