Raven’s grip on Marcellus’s arm tightened as he led her down a dark stairway. This twinkle of excitement brightened her spirits after those dreaded days of meetings and handmaidens. She jerked in surprise when the stairs suddenly disappeared beneath their feet, but instead of plunging into darkness, the ground remained firm. “Don’t fret, sweet. We have only arrived,” Marcellus murmured with charm before releasing her arm and stepping forward, vanishing into the darkness.

The air seemed to stir around her, but before she could protest, ancient markings began to light up the wall in front of her, and she could see Marcellus, standing in the center, his back to her, hand placed on the wall. She could hear his voice chanting as the markings formed the symbol of a “P” before turning blue and disappearing in a sparkling wave. She continued to watch in wonder as the dark stone walls began to reveal a luscious scene of elegance. Long sheer cloths and fabrics hung lasciviously around the room, dark blues and purples with splashes of white and gold adding to the grandness of the scene. Candles and beautiful arrangements decorated the room, and the attendants were like decorations themselves, all of them beautiful and half-clothed in blue shimmery robes held in place by golden braided belts. “Come along, sweet,” Marcellus smiled as he held out his arm, welcoming her forward into the enchanting scene.

The floors were warm beneath her feet as she removed her shoes, following Marcellus who continued to forward, leading them deeper into the suite, past a beautiful fountain adorned with intricate mosaics. They arrived in a large circular room arranged in the traditional style of floor dining, arranged with large, lush silk and pillows boasting intricate golden embroidery. The room was bathed in the warm glow of candles, and the scents of oils and perfumes danced through the air. A beautiful attendant arranged the table for a Moon Tea Ritual, moving gracefully to the enchanting music emanating from a set of floating, enchanted flutes near the ceiling. Unbothered by Marcellus, who sat abruptly at the arrangement, the attendant continued his elegant dance of preparation. Raven hesitated, trying to remember the proper way to sit in this setting.

“Oh, come now, sweet. Hurry, have a seat. We have much to discuss; we’ll have time for formalities afterwards,” he said, noticing her look of uncertainty, flashing her a simple smile of reassurance before silently dismissing the attendant to return to his post until needed. She sat at the table gracefully, careful not to trip or knock anything over. “Well, I know you’re wondering why such an elaborate escort from your chambers, I suppose?”

“Well, it was quite a change of pace from the long lessons and awkwardly formal luncheons,” she laughed nervously before grabbing a crescent-shaped chocolate from a tray of candies and pastries.

He laughed heartily, but his eyes seemed very serious as his laugh faltered. She watched as he quietly prepared their Moon Tea, the aroma rising as he added the tea leaves to the steaming water. “I know the routine that my dear Lady Selene insisted upon has been boring and tedious, but I unfortunately cannot say that I have come to rescue you from the continuous lessons in the traditional etiquette of Elite society.” He sighed before pouring the tea into the dark blue tea cups. She watched in wonder as the color of the tea cups changed from dark blue to a glimmering white as the hot liquid filled the cups, transforming the porcelain into a beautiful ombre of white to deep blue. She took a sip and continued to listen, intrigued by Marcellus’ serious tone. “Your engagement party is much more than a party, sweet. You see, in Elite society, things are not often what they seem.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, sipping her tea, letting it warm her body, ignoring the growing feeling of nervousness as Marcellus explained further.

“The party is an ancient ceremony in 'disguise.' The party will be a traditional Moonlight Masquerade Gala called the ‘Allgante,’ meaning 'under the moon,' in the old language with a representative of every grand household in attendance as well as the members of the Council of Elders. Basically, every clan leader of the Grand Western Alliance will be in attendance. The event will be hosted by our Grand Alpha and Luna, Lord Xion and Lady Armiita.”

She shuffled, unable to hide her nervousness at the mention of Lord Xion and Lady Armita.

“During the party, there will be a ritual called the ‘Printas’ that will solidify the bond of Luna & Alpha. I cannot tell you what the ritual is, but if successful, your bond with Lord Dante will be virtually unbreakable, solidifying the prophecy,” said Marcellus as he placed his empty cup onto the table. “There will be a maximum set level of security on-site.”

“I mean, that's understandable, with all the important people gathered together in one spot.”

He sighed before refilling his cup. “That's not the only reason, sweet. See, there is much they have neglected to tell you, and I will likely be reprimanded at a later time by my mistress Selene, however, I think it necessary to tell you the truth.”

“What truth?” she asked, her stomach flipping, unsure of what Marcellus may tell her.

His usually beautiful, smiling face now looked grim and serious. “There is an old group, called the Revoltier, hidden within the union amongst the head houses who protect a hidden verse of the prophecy. They believe that this verse allows the prophesized Luna to choose another pure loyal Alpha, not necessarily a member of the Fireleaf clan. It is rumored that the Revoltier’s will take measures to ruin the party to prevent the Printas from happening.”

“What do you think they will do?” she asked, concerned, but more curious about the lost verse of the prophecy. Remembering the conversation she overheard at the stables, she wondered if the voices she heard were members of the Revoltier.

He ran a hand roughly through his hair before groaning, “I'm not sure, but we will be prepared, and I will personally stay by your side.” Realizing his own look of worry must be causing her to be nervous, he smiled and gently grabbed her hand, giving it a little squeeze. “Now, my beautiful sweet, we have only two days to prepare for a night of prim and proper elegance. If you thought your lessons with Lady Selene were difficult, then mine will be pure hell.” He laughed heartily as her eyes widened at his words and he clapped twice, loudly, signaling for his array of beautiful attendants to appear before them. “Prepare the bath and spa area!” he chimed, “we have a full rejuvenation to perform as we prepare this beautiful sweet for her very first ‘Allgante.’”

Her bath and spa time felt like a distant memory as Raven sat exhausted in the lavish bedroom chamber prepared for her by Marcellus's wonderful attendants. Surrounded by an aura of luxury, she sat before an exquisite vanity while Lacielle, one of Marcellus's attentive attendants, skillfully braided her hair for the night. Marcellus insisted on a light practice after her bath, which morphed into a strenuous session of the traditional dances, the "Twilight Step" and "The Cross Step." After a quick shower, her limbs now ached, and the prospect of more one-on-one time with Marcellus elicited a weary groan.

As Lacielle worked on her hair, Raven began to feel an unusual tide of emotions sweeping through her. Worry, concern, and an unspoken sadness nestled within her, lingering over her current feelings of excitement and exhaustion. She suddenly had the urge to punch something. Sensing the subtle shift, Lacielle paused, her soft voice inquiring, "Is everything okay, my lady? I can send for the Master right away."

Shaking off the strange feelings, Raven forced a smile. "Oh, no! Everything is okay. I’m just tired from Marcellus's fast dancing!" she laughed, brushing off the concern and insisting she was fine. Lacielle resumed her task, completing the intricate braids.

"I’ll be back in the morning to prepare you for your day with the Master. Goodnight, sweet," Lacielle smiled and extinguished the candles before leaving the room. Raven watched in wonder as the door magically appeared, sealing the room.

As Raven settled into the soft, luscious bed of silks, another strange wave of swirling emotions returned; this time, a strong feeling of uncertainty lingered. Deciding she could sleep through it, she began to drift off as thoughts of the tales of the unbreakable bond between a Luna and an Alpha teased at her mind. The connection, transcending the physical and delving into the depths of shared emotions, captivated her.

"Could these feelings be Dante’s? Is he unsure about all of this as well?" 

She pulled her blanket tighter, blushing at the intimate connection. She relaxed and allowed herself to succumb to the embrace of sleep, as the cascade of complex emotions accompanied her into the realm of dreams.