10

B E A U

✿

“Rya always says that like she's the only gi with fighting skills. If you'd had me, you'd be a soldier by now, little wolf.” Rowtag's lips twisted a crooked smile. His dark hair was tied up in a bun with a leather thong as usual. He had swapped his brown leather waistcoat for a black jacket, wearing nothing else but his pants and a pair of shoes.

Arya looked unimpressed. "Don't listen to this blockhead, Georgie." She pounded her fist on Rowtag's head. "Hollow, do you hear? nothing inside Lots of muscles, little brains.”

Blair snorted next to me and I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Zaira got in too.

Rowtag gasped in disgust. Then he grabbed Arya's hand, expertly spinning her around so that she was in his headlock, the dark blue lines on his bare torso dancing with the flexing of his muscles. He put a finger to her throat.

"If my staff were here, then you'd already be screwed, your oh, Tazim resisted ."

I heard a loud dangerous growl and saw Xenos scowl at the scene reaching for his drink and draining it on ex. Beside him, Aramis laughed uncontrollably at him.

"And if I had an arrow." Arya slipped out of his grip so quickly I couldn't even blink. Now the back of her hand was on his neck. "Then you wouldn't even be alive."

For a few seconds Zaira, Blair and I just stared at the two of them. Arya and Rowtag's murderous gaze duel grew colder and colder, and I actually wondered if someone shouldn't have intervened.

Then, a little later, they both started laughing. Blair and I shared a look at the same time. It was a most curious friendship .

"Let's dance," Zaira threw out, her eyes on the big dance floor.

"Waltz?" Rowtag looked at the dancing crowd with a skeptical expression.

“Well, Cha'tima was a particularly good teacher at Minakto . Apparently he can waltz too.”

Horrified, Rowtag stared at Zaira. "You suggest I dance with Cha'tima ?"

" Aee , go." Arya shoved him toward the dancing Cha'tima, laughing at half his damage. “Go, dance with your Faruh! “

Oh, Rowtag's gaze looked cold, almost inhuman .

"I'll be happy to teach you," Zaira said, laughing.

He broke away from the still laughing Arya, who apparently couldn't tear herself away from the idea of seeing her two friends dancing together, and turned to the delicate she-wolf.

He held out his hand enthusiastically. "Well then, if you please, noble lady." The gi-warrior, whom I grew more sympathetic by the second, was about to lean forward and kiss Zaira's hand when Arami's laughter in the background ended abruptly. This time it was Xenos, who threw back his head and howled heartily.

A pair of glowing wolf eyes stared at Rowtag through the crowd. " Woe ."

Rowtag stopped mid-movement. "Er..." He cleared his throat and his gaze darted from Aramis to Zaira and back again. Then he straightened up and quickly let go of her hand. “I'm sorry, but this dance isn't going to work out, Zaira. I'm happy to do without that. I still want to keep all my privates, thanks."

Arami's teeth were so sharp they almost resembled fangs. "Wise answer."

Zairas sighed theatrically, but I saw the smile in her eyes as she looked at Aramis. I quickly said, "Why don't we just dance Minakto ?"

Rowtag's sunken expression brightened immediately. "A great idea! Best idea of the night ever.”

Arya groaned and slapped her face. "Aaaah, how I hate these dances!"

"I'll get the drummers together right away," Rowtag said silly, and then even laughed at himself, with a loud snoring laugh. Arya looked at her friend somberly but with amused eyes.

"Lots of muscles, little brains, that's what I say," she whispered behind her hand. Then, as Rowtag disappeared, she looked at me. “Besides, congratulations on the final exam. You make these Tazim very proud.' There was a warm, most rare expression in her eyes.

She then led Xenos onto the dance floor and I quickly reached out for Blair's hand. "Come on, let's dance."

Blair, looking a little taken aback, blinked. "Uh, what? I can't do this minukutu."

"It's called Minakto ," I corrected her, "and I'll teach you."

She must have seen something on my face because she no longer objected to my request, just nodded. "Agreed."

True to his word, Rowtag had summoned the drum and soon the traditional dance of the gi was being performed in the center of the ballroom.

We danced Minakto . But I never forgot that with every passing minute the day was drawing to a close and I was wondering if my mate was here.

Was I wrong? Wasn't he my mate? Would I never find him? These questions kept rattling around in my head.

"Hey, I'm going outside for a minute for some fresh air," I told Blair, stepping away from the dance floor.

"Hey, where are you going?" She followed me out of the sea of werewolves and gis. "Are you sure you should go out by yourself?"

I gave her a quick glance over my shoulder as I continued toward the exit. My heels clicked on the stone floor. "What?"

"You know what happened... Georgie, wait a minute."

I stopped.

“A healer werewolf was found injured on our pack ground. Who knows what's going on out here,' she hissed at me, careful not to overhear our conversation.

Despite my confidentiality, I had told Blair about the islander. Of course, after all she was my best friend. And now she was obviously worried about nothing and nothing. Maybe I shouldn't have told her after all.

I turned to her. "Blair, don't be silly."

"I'm not," she protested.

"We're at Packing Grounds, in the main estate ."

"Okaaaay, okay, I get it." She hesitated. "Just be careful."

I just smiled and shook my head. What would I do without her? “Better make sure Tiam doesn't eat you tonight. He can't take his eyes off you.” I gave a meaningful look to the young werewolf, who was leaning casually against a bar table and watching us – or rather, Blair . "By that fiery look, I'll bet tonight he's . . ."

Blushing, she pushed me towards the exit. "Fresh air will definitely do you good."

The door closed behind me and I stepped out onto the narrow arcade that lay deserted in front of me. Only a single shadow could be seen.

And everything changed.