Chapter 208: Shadows That Dance
Chapter 208: Shadows That Dance
Elyn’s POV
I rolled my eyes at that and hit him playfully.
"Zorathys," I called out.
He chuckled at that. "Okay, firefly. As much as I hate to admit it, I did say something like that, and I presume you have seen someone you want to ask about?"
I smiled at him and nodded.
"There is a female demon staring at us right now."
"There are many staring at us. In fact, every demon present is staring at us right now, firefly," he told me.
I rolled my eyes at that. "I know that, but this one looks like a rock."
"This one looks like a rock?"
He paused mid-step.
"I beg your pardon?"
"She looks like a rock," I repeated, trying not to laugh. "She’s gray, jagged, and broad too. And she has only one eye."
Zorathys smoothly turned me so that my back faced the direction I had been looking, then rotated us again, positioning himself to glance over my shoulder.
He studied her briefly.
Then he smiled faintly.
"That," he said, "is a Cyclolith."
"A what?"
"A Cyclolith," he repeated. "A sub-species under the Stone Demons."
"Cyclolith," I echoed softly.
"They are born from deep fault lines in the under-realms," he explained, guiding me through another slow turn. "Their bodies harden over centuries. Most possess one dominant eye at the center of their forehead. Their vision is exceptional. She’s a baroness. There are a few of them."
"So she can see me clearly stepping on your feet?"
"Perhaps," he told me.
I’ll take that as a yes.
"But you only stepped on my feet once. I haven’t recalled the sensation of you stepping on me for a while now," he told me.
"That is unfortunate."
"They are not particularly expressive," he continued, ignoring my words. "But they are loyal. Unyielding. And nearly impossible to break."
"She does look difficult to break."
"She could crush a castle wall with her bare hands."
I blinked.
"And she is just standing there quietly."
"Yes."
"That is unsettling."
"That is the point."
I glanced toward the Cyclolith again as we turned.
"She is watching very intently."
"You are the future queen," he reminded me. "Of course she is."
I hesitated at that but didn’t say anything.
"Well, you are distracting me, so I am not stepping on your feet like I would have done if I wasn’t distracted," I said to him with a smile when I noticed another demon that looked almost like Naviel.
They were beautiful, and it was like they glistened in the light. Their hair was a pale blue like Naviel’s, and he wore numerous earrings in his left ear. But he was dressed in blue, all blue. His eyes were a dull silver.
"What type of demon is that? Are they perhaps Naviel’s family?" I asked him.
Zorathys shook his head, looking at the demon. "Naviel is not from a noble family like Rin is. And while that demon is exactly the same type as Naviel, they are not family."
"What type of demon is Naviel?" I asked him.
"A siren," he told me.
I paused in shock. "Sirens are that beautiful?"
Zorathys gave me a look. "Beautiful?" he asked with a scoff. "You are the only one who thinks so. They have two forms. The one you are seeing right now is what I like to call the human form. Sirens are not beautiful, firefly, and you should not be having eyes for other demons when I am right in front of you."
I chuckled at that. "I never said you were handsome, Zorathys."
"I know I am handsome and also beautiful, firefly. I do not need you to tell me that I am," he told me, making me laugh.
Zorathys’ hand tightened slightly at my waist.
"As much as I enjoy you asking questions, you should not be focusing on others," he murmured.
"I was just—"
"Focus on me, firefly. Put those eyes on me."
He leaned closer.
"Forget everyone and see me alone."
The way he said it left very little room for argument.
Before I could respond, the music shifted. The tempo increased. The orchestra grew bolder, strings rising, percussion threading into the melody.
I barely had time to react before Zorathys twirled me again—this time faster.
The world spun around me, but I didn’t stumble, not even once.
His hand caught me effortlessly, guiding my movements as the tempo continued to rise.
"Zorathys—" I called out softly.
"Trust me, firefly," he said softly, and then spun me again.
This time, his shadows emerged. They slipped from beneath him like living ink, swirling around me in fluid, graceful arcs. It was like they were enjoying this even more than I was. I laughed as they began dancing around me... they were just twirling with me, though.
Gasps echoed across the ballroom. Most in shock.
The shadows moved around me, mirroring my steps, twirling in time with the music. One shadow extended like an invisible partner, spinning away from me only to dissolve back into the floor.
The shadows curved around my form like ribbons, never touching, only accentuating, as the music reached its peak—just as Zorathys pulled me toward him again, faster this time.
My heart pounded with exhilaration.
Another spin. Another shift—and the music ended.
Zorathys’ hand slid firmly to my waist.
My body dipped backward.
One of my legs lifted instinctively.
And before I could even process what was happening—
He guided my leg over his hip.
The movement was seamless and very natural, like we had done it a couple of times before.
My back arched slightly as his arm supported me entirely. The shadows flared outward like dark wings.
Silence fell over the ballroom.
My breath came out uneven while Zorathys looked composed, like he had not even expended any energy dancing with me.
His smile had widened a bit.
"You are not a bad dancer after all, firefly," he said softly.
"I learned from you after all," I told him in reply, trying to control my breathing.