Endymion had never seen anything more captivating in his life.  

Asajj had taken the stage with a smile that could have brought him to his knees... Then she started moving.  

Her grace as she danced in time with the music was something out of a dream, and the young lord found his stare glued to her as her hips dipped and swayed. Her smile never faltered as she turned her feet and twirled around with the other dancers, closing her eyes as she stepped to the beat of the cascading music. Endymion turned to look at his friend and his stomach dropped as the king’s face glowed pink and his eyes clung to Asajj’s lithe form hungrily. 

He can't have her. She is mine.

“She’s so beautiful!”  

Ophia’s squeal broke both men out of their trances as another song started, making the crowd go wild as Asajj practically jumped up and down in excitement. She caught Endymion’s gaze with her own exotic stare and her smile widened. Asajj turned her head as she shimmied her shoulders, making sure to maintain eye contact as she twisted and turned. Her hair was wild around her shoulders and face, flowing around her like dark water as she flicked it out.  

Endymion swallowed hard as he felt an unfamiliar heat in his stomach coiling, pulsating every time Asajj’s hips dipped down and she swayed with her beautifully toned arms out to balance her and add an otherworldly grace to her already fluid movements. She burst out laughing as one of the other dancers grabbed her waist and threw her into the air.  

And Endymion’s world toppled as time froze. 

Asajj was poised midair with her body twisting like a bird in flight, her long curls wild around her joyous grin. She was ready to spin, her arms above her head and her bare feet pointed to meet the ground ready to dance again.  

Then she fell back to the stage, moving as though the music were keeping her alive. She twirled and twisted her feet, leaning into the grasp of another dancer as he moved behind her and ran his hands down her waist. Then, before the dancer could react, she was moving out of his reach, jumping from the stage and grabbing the hands of Princess Ophia. They spun once, sharing a sweet giggle before Asajj danced up to Gavril. The crowd followed her movements, cheering wildly and gasping as she dipped into the arms of the king, still moving in time with the echoing beat of loud drums. Gavril blushed brightly, his dimples flashing as Asajj raised her arms to his shoulders and danced with him. He leaned forward, but Asajj was already gone; she was swiftly approaching Endymion with a look that brought them back to the roof of the village where they had met. Her multicolored eyes flashed dangerously, but her smile spoke of her amusement and joy as she clasped his hands in hers and spun herself around.  

Endymion grinned, running his fingers through the last few stands of her chocolate hair as she moved away from him and through the crowd, dancing with anyone who surged towards her.  

The young lord watched as she laughed in her usual way, throwing her head back in pure and utter joy. The crowd followed her as she moved back to the stage, helping her up with eager hands and shouts of encouragement as she swayed back into movement alongside the dancers who all cheered as she stepped in tandem with them, like she had been practicing with them for months. 

Asajj turned again, her smile warm and her gaze, full of light as Endymion once again caught her beautiful stare.  

The warmth continued to pulsate in his stomach making him squirm with the unnatural feeling as he watched Asajj finish her dance.  

She hopped from the stage, thanking the people who came forward to compliment her impromptu performance. Her skin was rosy, shimmering with sweat, and her chest rose and fell with long breaths as she tried to calm her racing heart.  

“Lady Asajj, that was wonderful!”  

Princess Ophia raced up to Asajj, grasping her hands as she pulled the woman to a nearby stall to rest for a moment, Endymion and Gavril following closely behind.  

They asked the vendor for a few tall glasses of hikini, a traditional festival drink that was sweet and refreshing, perfect for the night as it warmed with the coming of the new season. Asajj took a long sip, her eyes fluttering shut as she gulped down the drink and sighed loudly, grinning at the vendor as she laughed and poured Asajj another.  

“You were the woman dancing, right?” The vendor leaned forward, tucking her hair behind her ear as Asajj nodded, “Where’d you learn to dance like that? I’ve never seen anyone move like you did.” 

Asajj’s cheeks colored pink and she smiled at the kind woman, “I’ve been dancing since I was very young.” 

The vendor’s lips parted in a small ‘oh’, and she nodded, smiling and accepting the payment as the group moved further down the street to explore the rest of the festival. They stopped at several food stands and shops, picking up savory meats and sweet pastries as they wandered.  

“A show!” 

Ophia ran ahead, catching Asajj in her grip as she made her way to a silk tent. Endymion and Gavril had to run through the thin crowd to catch up with Asajj and the Princess, apologizing to all who glared at them as they reached the girls. Once inside the tent, Ophia gasped and bounced up and down, her eyes wide as she watched an Elf with red hair down to their ankles produce little cloud animals from white smoke that they blew from their mouth. A thick group of children crowded around the Elf, leaning forward to watch as they shaped a puff into a roaring bear. They scrunched their brow in concentration, their fingers twitching with effort until the bear shook out its fur and dropped to its four legs, rolling around in the air. The children all cheered, laughing as the Elf made a rushing stream and little fish that jumped up, meeting their smoky ends in the jaws of the cloud bear. 

Endymion look down at Asajj, wondering if her witch magic could do beautiful things like this.  

Almost as if she could hear his thoughts, she looked up at him with shining eyes, her fingers twitching as she returned her attention to the show that the Elf put on. Suddenly, little gold threads appeared, seemingly from thin air, and shaped themselves into the muscular build of a beautiful stag. Its head was bowed, and it moved slowly as if grazing on nothing at all. But the bear saw its new prey and dropped low, transforming, with a grunt from the Elf, into a mountain beast. It crouched and crept forward, pausing only a few feet from the deer. The children in the tent held their breath, all their attention focused on the golden stag and the white puma. Then the feline pounced, and the buck looked up, reacting just in time as the mountain lion gave chase after its prey. The deer was fast, weaving between the head of giggling and gasping children; but the puma was faster. It leapt at the stag, its cloud claws catching in the golden threads as they tumbled to a stop, exploding in a burst of gold and white that made the children cheer and shout.  

Endymion looked back at Asajj, and his heart skipped a beat as she caught his gaze with a warm smile.  

“What a great show!” Ophia bounded up to the Elf and curtsied, “You are very talented.” 

The Elf grinned and bowed, “Thank you, Princess Ophia, but I had help towards the end.” 

Asajj scooted closer to Endymion, her fingers brushing his hand as she smiled softly. It took everything the young lord had not to grasp the witch’s hand and steal her away for himself. Endymion shook his head softly to dismiss those thoughts of hiding Asajj in his chambers so that no one could have her. She could be his treasure to cherish and love. Forever. 

Endymion felt his Adams apple bob as his eyes widened and the blood drained from his face. He turned quickly on his heel, swiftly exiting the tent as his chest heaved with the effort of staining against his instincts.  

“Eddy? What wrong?” Gavril followed his friend out of the tent, grabbing his shoulder to slow him down, “Hey! What’s wrong with you?” 

The king suddenly froze, sudden understanding bringing shadows to his usually warm face. 

“Eddy...”  

Endymion growled and his hand flew to his mouth at the primal noise, “I-I have to go.” 

Gavril watched him as he stumbled through the crowd, struggling against the instincts that told him to go back and bring Asajj with him. That told him to make sure she was safe and warm. That told him to devour her and mark her as his so that no one would ever be able to touch her again. 

Author's note: Sorry for the shorter update: the next episode will be posted earlier than usual! 

Here's a picture of Princess Ophia: Please Like and Support my novel <333