Tamed By The Lycan Prince

MOON EMBRACE

CHAPTER SIX- 3

-THORIN-

I had underestimated the Lycans' ability to throw a party. At Rashida's celebration, things were slow for the first few hours as people chatted and mingled. Many were intrigued by me and bombarded me with inquiries about my journeys and the different languages I could speak. I felt more like a prized object to be admired than a real person. Rashida reassured me that everyone treated immensely well because I was a werewolf from Croicia, who happened to be multilingual, and was fulfilling my papá's last wish of traveling the world.

Around 10pm, the older Lycans began to retire, opening up the floor for the younger, more spirited generation. The music changed from genteel melodies to a more rhythmic and lively beat. Soon laughter echoed louder than whispers, and the atmosphere transformed into one of revelry and abandon. The polished dancefloor was soon filled with spinning dresses and high spirits.

Rashida was at the center, her laughter echoing above the clamor as she danced with several young Lycan males vying for her attention. Watching her, I couldn't help but marvel at her grace and vivacity. Even amidst this wild celebration, she moved with an elegance that bespoke her royal lineage.

Suddenly, a pair of hands slipped around my waist and I was pulled into the mass of whirling dancers. A gasp of surprise escaped my lips, but there was no time to protest. I was caught up in a whirl of movement and color as someone guided me into the sea of dancers. The speed and ferocity of the dancing were dizzying, perfect synergy with the pounding music.

"Don't just stand there, Thorin," It was Rashida. "You have to dance!"

And with that, she grabbed my hands and spun me around, her laughter infectious. I felt a sudden rush of exhilaration, my own laughter mingling with hers as we twirled in sync with the pulsating rhythm. As we danced, I became more comfortable with the fast-paced steps, my body acclimating to the beat.

I lost track of time while dancing on the floor, thanks to Rashida's insistence that I stay. She also kept passing me drinks throughout the night. I was never one to indulge in alcohol, but I also didn't want to be impolite by declining the offered drinks, so I drank everything she gave me.

Inevitably, the world around me began to warp slightly, the faces of the crowd smearing into a blur of radiant colors and wild expressions. As the alcohol coursed through my veins, it felt as if I floated above the dance floor, every step lighter than the last. What I hadn't noticed, in my newfound state of inebriation and lightness of being, was the way Rashida was watching me. As the night wore on, she observed me from a short distance, her eyes glinting with curiosity and something else I couldn't quite name.

"Here." Rashida handed me yet another exotic beverage, the liquid a glowing amber that swirled with different colors each time I moved it. "It's called the Moon's Embrace."

I didn't hesitate this time. I downed the drink in one go. It tasted like moonlight—if moonlight had a taste. It was crisp, sweet and intoxicating. A shiver of delight coursed through me as the liquid warmth spread from my stomach to the rest of my body.

"You seem to be having fun," she said over the music, her voice just loud enough to reach my ears. A playful smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The way she looked at me felt different now, a touch too intense. But in my current state, I couldn’t quite understand why.

"Fun would be an understatement," I replied, setting the empty glass down on a passing tray. The room was spinning, and I felt an unexplainable sense of joy bubbling up inside me. It was as if the music, the dancing, and the drink all coalesced within me and transformed into a euphoria that made the world sparkle.

Rashida laughed at that, her eyes sparkling like the clear night sky above. Pulling me closer once more, we danced again amidst the wild rhythm of the music and the entrancing uproar of laughter and joy. Our bodies swaying in perfect rhythm, her scent of wildflowers and the moonlight filled my senses, overwhelming yet not unpleasant.

However, as the beat of the music grew faster and our movements more frantic, a sudden jolt of nausea swept over me. I blinked, trying to steady myself as the room spun faster around me. The sea of people whirling about became a nauseating swirl of colors and lights that jarred against my senses.

"You don't look so good." Rashida remarked, pressing a hand to my forehead. Her touch was cool against my heated skin, a soothing balm in the midst of the spinning chaos around me.

"I think I need some fresh air," I managed to say, my words slurring together slightly. The alcohol was definitely affecting me more than I had anticipated.

"Alright, let's get you outside," Rashida said, supporting me as we weaved through the crowd. The world around me was a blur of color and noise, laughter and conversation merging into an incomprehensible cacophony.

Finally, the cool night air hit me with a welcoming embrace. We stepped out onto a moonlit balcony that overlooked the sparkling city below. The cool breeze hit my face and I inhaled the night air, trying to steady myself.

"Better?" Rashida asked, her voice softer now, stripped of its earlier gaiety.

"Un poco," I replied, though my voice was weak. The chaos inside seemed a distant memory out here on the quiet balcony. Rashida smiled gently as she moved to lean against the balcony railing, her midnight blue gown shimmering subtly in the moonlight.

There was silence. I felt a strange tranquility, a peace that washed away the noise and chaos of my senses. Rashida's presence beside me felt comforting and though we barely knew each other, an inexplicable bond seemed to have formed between us.

"As much as I enjoy the dance floor, this..." Her words caught my attention. Rashida gazed directly at me with an intense, almost seductive look in her eyes. "…being here alone with you is much better."

I didn't know how to respond. My mind was still foggy from the alcohol and the whirlwind of music and lights from the dance floor. But Rashida gave me no time to reply. Instead, she turned towards me completely, her hands coming up to rest on my shoulders and I could see the moon reflected in her emerald eyes.

"Aren't you curious about why I've been making you drink all night?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, too intoxicated to find my voice. All I could do was stare into her eyes.

"I've been watching you," she said softly, "the way you move, the way you laugh, the way you interact with everyone around you. You are fascinating, and I want you."

Her fingers traced a path from my shoulders to my neck, sending an electric chill down my spine. There was an intensity in her gaze that felt like a predator about to pounce on its unsuspecting prey.

"The Moon's Embrace," she continued, her fingers now lightly grazing my jaw line. "I slipped something into it."

Her words echoed in my ears, a confession that felt as raw as it was unexpected. She drugged me? She planned all of this, I thought. I was too stunned to utter a single word. My mind struggled to comprehend her words as her gaze never wavered from mine. Her fingers continued their delicate exploration of my face, tracing my lips now.

"But...why?" I managed to stammer out, my mind still foggy from the drink and the revelation. She smiled then, a simple inclination of her lips that bore no humor, only a certainty that chilled me to my bone.

"Because," she said. "I want to have my way with you."