[ Back at the party…parallel occurance ]
The veil of water rippled, catching the glow of lanterns overhead as guest after guest stepped on the dance floor.
Their laughter carried, blending with the low hum of strings, until the air itself seemed drunk on revelry.
Autumn stood at the edge, glass in hand, watching. The wine was dark, nearly black, and it trembled as she tilted it to her lips.
She told herself it was the music making her pulse trip.
Then she saw him… walking clumsily back to the dance rink.
He moved forward with the reluctant march of a soldier sent to war, his broad shoulders stiff, jaw tight…and she could see it clearly…he was brooding.
His brows were furrowed together, lost in some deep thoughts.
Even in his disorientation, he looked commanding…every eye followed him without meaning to. The mist around the dance floor kissed his frame as he passed, making him seem carved from something otherworldly… for a fleeting moment, so much like her little Jasper.
