The mansion's ballroom where the masquerade was being held was a swirl of luxury and decadence, the air heavy with the scent of exotic incense, spilled wine, and carnal desire that seeped through the gold and gem masks. The crowd, a sea of figures draped in opulent fabrics and glittering jewels, had paused in their whispered conversations, their eyes hidden behind masks of wolves, foxes, and panthers, glittering with anticipation. I could feel their hidden smiles, their lips curling beneath anonymity, enjoying the spectacle I had started with my challenge. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant beat of music in an adjacent ballroom, a low pulse that mimicked that of my racing heart. My ruby-encrusted silver wolf mask weighed on my face, a veil that could not hide the fire
