“May I have this dance?” Classical music played from nowhere as Drew led me straight to the dance floor. Swept up as I was in the revelry and majesty, I could only nod. Soon we were twirling across the checkered marble floor. For a few moments, the only things I could concentrate on was his hand on my waist and the steps of the waltz Drew was leading me in.
“Where did you learn to dance?” I called out. We were one of only a few couples doing an actual waltz instead of gently swaying in one spot.
“My parents hold to some of the old traditions. I’ve been taught in dancing, music, and general revelry making since before I could talk.”
The students weren’t the only ones enjoying the ball. The professors were decked out in their finery and enjoying themselves as well. They led the students on the dance floor through dances from different time periods. I was lost in the whirls of colors and laughter that surrounded me. When I was with Drew, I never wanted to stop dancing. My dragon was quiet inside of me. Tonight, I was completely happy with being just a human.
At the start of a medieval court dance I came face to face with a partner in a Phantom of the Opera style mask. He bowed and extended his hand. As soon as I took hold I knew.
“Hudson.” He grinned.
“How did you know?”
“I can always tell.” We were silent for a few moments as he twined his arm around mine and we walked in a circle.
“Are you here with someone?” I kicked myself as soon as the question left my lips. Why did I ask him that? Why did I care? I didn’t care, I told myself.
“Um—yeah. I came with Willa.” Despite the heat of the warm bodies surrounding us, I felt a chill. I really didn’t care about this, I told myself again.
“Oh—that’s nice.” It was the only thing I could think to say. Blessedly, the song ended. We stopped dancing. Both of my hands were still in his. I wanted to say something else, but nothing came. Hudson leaned forward and gave me a peck on the cheek.
“You look beautiful tonight, Sophie.” His whisper was hot against my ear. Time froze as he stared at me. The moment was broken when he dropped my hands like he was burned and strode away. An impulsive desire to follow and yell at him seized me. A hand on my shoulder stopped me. I looked up into Drew’s impossibly perfect face. The music started up again, and I realized we were just standing in the middle of the dance floor.
Everything that was magical moments ago now seemed overwhelming. The music was loud; the fabrics and the dresses surrounding me were suffocating. Every mask looked like a villain lurked underneath. For the first time that night, my dragon stirred, her unceasing desire to be let free surfaced in my chest.
“Sophie, are you all right?”
“I’m just—um—hot.”
“Do you want to go outside and take a walk?” I nodded and Drew grabbed my hand and drew me out a side door. The cool night air was a relief. I took a deep breath and pulled as much as I could into my lungs. Drew led me to an empty bench. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket for me to wipe my face. After he handed it to me, he let his hand fall to my knee and let it rest there. From our seat we could see everyone still dancing.
“Isn’t it beautiful? I think this is what one of the old Faerie courts would have been like. It would have been a sight to behold.”
“Why aren’t there any courts anymore?”
“Most of them went away before the turn of the century. Faeries were being hunted. The humans were winning. You know the stories. Part of the Secrecy Act was the deal that all the kings and queens would abdicate, and the Council would rule over all supernaturals.”
“I thought the faerie on the council was the queen?”
“In name, yes, but each new representative is chosen by the Council, so it’s not the same. After the Council was established, there was no reason to hold the courts anymore, and they just faded out.”
“That’s really sad.” I ran the handkerchief I was holding through my hands, lost in thought about kings and queens, and courts full of faeries and merriment. Something rough brought my attention back to the cloth. Embroidered in a corner was an emblem with a bear track and a crown.
“What is this?” Drew took the handkerchief from me and inspected it.
“I’m not sure. Probably just a brand or something. I borrowed this get up from my dad.” He stuck the cloth back in his pocket and took both of my hands in his.
“The ball is almost over, but I don’t want tonight to end.” A chill went through me that had nothing to do with the temperature outside. “Want to gather some of our friends and really make this a night to remember?”
“Yes.”
It was short work to gather most of the Immortal’s Club and sneak out in pairs and trios until we were all in our usual grove of trees.
“Follow me,” Drew told us. “Let’s go somewhere special.” He led us through the trees and to the same spot I’d snuck off campus with Willa. Was I the only student that hadn’t gotten the secret passageways memo?
“What about those of us with wings?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Drew said. “There are stranger things on the streets of New York than people walking around with wings. No one is even going to notice.”
My gown and mask provided some sort of protection as we walked along the streets. My friends surrounded
