Chapter 1 #2
"Being lonely like this is no good for anyone," she'd said last month, her voice soft with concern. "You deserve more than just surviving, Lorenth. You deserve to live."
I'd brushed her off then, same as I always do. But she's persistent, my sister. Relentless. And now here I am, walking toward the city center with a mask in my hand and dread pooling in my gut.
The streets grow more crowded as we approach.
Lanterns hang from every lamppost and window, glowing red like fresh wounds against the darkening sky.
The scent hits me first—incense, thick and cloying, sweet with undertones of something floral I can't identify.
It clings to the air, making my skin prickle with the unmistakable hum of magic.
Definitely a spell.
The city center opens before us, transformed into something out of a fever dream.
Red silk drapes from the buildings, billowing in the evening breeze.
Tables laden with food line the square—platters of roasted meat, bowls of glazed fruit, pastries dusted with sugar that sparkles in the lantern light.
Wine flows freely from enormous casks, servers moving through the crowd with trays of crystal glasses filled with deep purple liquid.
And everywhere, people. Masked faces turned toward each other, laughter rising above the music that drifts from a stage at the far end of the square. Couples dance, their movements fluid and close, while others linger near the food tables or cluster in groups, talking and drinking.
The Nashai move through the crowd like ghosts, their white robes stark against the red and gold chaos.
They carry small censers that trail more of that perfumed smoke, murmuring blessings as they pass.
One of them approaches us, her face serene as she takes in the festivities, and offers a tray with two glasses of wine.
Lora takes both before I can refuse.
"You don't need it," I say flatly. "You already have love."
She presses one glass into my hand anyway, her smile turning wicked. "Exactly. Which means you need the extra dose."
I glare at her, but she just laughs and takes a sip from her own glass. The Nashai moves on, trailing incense in her wake, and I resist the urge to pour the wine into the nearest planter.
The scent of the incense is stronger here, wrapping around me like invisible hands.
Sweet and heady, with something underneath that makes my pulse quicken despite myself.
I hate that I can feel it working, whatever spell they've woven into the air.
My senses sharpen, sounds growing louder, colors more vivid.
The red lanterns seem to pulse in time with the music, casting shifting shadows across the crowd.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lora sighs, her gaze sweeping over the square with something close to reverence.
Beautiful isn't the word I'd use. Overwhelming, maybe. Chaotic. A sensory assault designed to strip away inhibitions and leave people vulnerable to whatever—or whoever—crosses their path.
I take a reluctant sip of the wine, and it burns on the way down, sweet and potent. Plum and something darker, earthy. My throat warms, heat spreading through my chest.
Fuck. That's strong.
Lora grins at me, clearly delighted by whatever expression crosses my face. "See? Not so bad."
"It's wine laced with Solace know what." I eye the glass warily. "Probably half the reason people think they've found their soulmate here."
"You're so cynical." She loops her arm through mine again, tugging me deeper into the crowd. "The Nashai wouldn't lie. Their magic is real, Lorenth. They've guided countless souls together."
"Or countless people into each other's beds for a night."
She swats my arm, but she's still smiling. "Just try. For me. Wear the mask, walk around, talk to someone. You don't have to fall in love tonight. Just… be open to the possibility."
I want to argue, to tell her this entire thing is a waste of time and I'd rather be home with my ledgers. But she's looking at me with those eyes—gold-ringed and earnest—and I'm reminded again that she's the only family I have left.
So I sigh, long and resigned, and slip the mask over my face.
The silk settles against my skin, cool and smooth. The world narrows slightly, my vision framed by the sharp edges of the bird's beak. I feel ridiculous.
"Perfect." Lora adjusts the tie at the back of my head, her fingers quick and efficient. "Now you look mysterious and brooding instead of just angry."
"I'm not angry."
"You're always a little angry." She steps back, surveying me with satisfaction. "But tonight, you're also available. And handsome. Try to remember that."
I grunt, taking another sip of the wine to avoid responding. The heat spreads further, loosening the tight coil of tension in my shoulders. Not enough to make me reckless, but enough that the noise and chaos feel slightly less grating.
The music shifts, a slower melody replacing the upbeat tempo, and couples drift toward the center of the square to dance. Lora watches them with a wistful expression, and I know she's thinking of Varos. He should be here with her, not me.
Thankfully, she sees a woman that immediately waves her forward. A friend, I'd guess from the way that Lora's face lights up.
"Go dance," I tell her. "I'll be fine."
She hesitates, glancing between me and the dancers. "You won't just disappear the second I turn my back?"
"I'll stay for at least an hour." It's the best I can offer, and she knows it.
She squeezes my arm, rising onto her toes to press a kiss to my cheek. "Thank you. For coming. I know you hate this."
"I don't hate it." The lie tastes bitter, but her smile makes it worth it. "I'm just… skeptical."
"Skeptical I can work with." She presses her glass into my hand and releases me, already turning toward the crowd. "Drink your wine. Enjoy the night. Who knows? Maybe the Nashai are right."
I watch her disappear into the sea of masked faces and flowing gowns, her wings catching the lantern light as she moves. Then I'm alone, standing at the edge of the square with a glass of spelled wine in one hand and a deep, bone-deep certainty that nothing is going to come of this night.
I'm ready to get it over with. One hour. Then I can go home, return to my work, and forget this entire ridiculous festival ever happened.