The story of Aerion's spectacular failure spread like wildfire, and I savored every spark. Within hours, it had twisted into a dozen versions, some claimed he had recited bad poetry to a horse, others insisted he'd proposed before it bit him. Every telling was different, but they all had the same ending: Aerion was the punchline. For two full weeks, he was the favorite joke of the Pantheon. Even stoic Tairochi chuckled when someone quipped about "a ride worth remembering." Maximus nearly cried when someone left Aerion a golden horseshoe wrapped in silk. And through it all, Malvor and I grew closer.
I was proud of my revenge, righteously proud, and he adored me for it. The horse, now Karma, lived in his stables, tolerating Malvor but adoring me. I had never had a horse before, never the freedom to ride, to feel the wind against my face without duty or fear shackling me. Here, I laughed. Loud, real, unafraid. Malvor joined me often. Sometimes racing, sometimes conjuring obstacle courses just so he could show off, sometimes just walking beside Karma while I rode, his hands folded behind his head, his gaze lazily fixed on me. In twilight, we would rest in the grass by a shimmering stream, Arbor bringing snacks and drinks without being asked. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we didn't. The silence was just as full. Something unspoken grew between us, stronger each day. In glances. In smiles. In heartbeats that weren't just for ourselves anymore.
That afternoon, my laughter still echoed faintly as I guided Karma back to the stables, cheeks flushed, muscles pleasantly sore. Malvor had nearly fallen twice trying to impress me, and both times I had nearly fallen myself from laughing too hard. We walked side by side, shoulders brushing. Comfortable. Easy. At the stable doors, I turned to him. "Today was… nice."
"Nice?" He tilted his head. "I nearly broke every divine bone in my body for your amusement."
"That's why it was nice," I said with a grin, nudging him. "You're fun when you're not trying so hard to be dramatic."
He clutched his chest in mock agony. "You wound me. Again."
Arbor opened the doors before either of us could say more. I laughed softly as I handed off the reins. But Malvor stepped closer, and his tone shifted.
"Go shower. Dress in something that makes you feel beautiful," he said, low and serious.
I blinked. "Different how?"
His smile was secretive, promising. "You'll see."
With a snap, he vanished. It started with Arbor dimming the lights. Not scolding, not dramatic, soft. Warm. Candles flickered to life, more than I could count, floating in the air and scattering golden light across polished black marble. The long table was gone, replaced with a silk-covered table for two. Crystal glasses already filled. A bottle chilling in stone.
"Arbor?" I asked.
The house stayed silent, except for the music, soft, everywhere and nowhere at once. Then Malvor appeared in the doorway. Black suit, tailored, regal, candlelight catching faint shimmer like stars in velvet. A red rose in his lapel. "Annie," he said, holding out his hand, "care to join me for dinner?"
I stared. "What is this?"
"Candlelight. Class. A stolen Pinterest board of romance." His wink was ridiculous. "And me."
I huffed a laugh, but took his hand. Dinner was… peaceful. Decadent but quiet. No chaos, no speeches. Just easy conversation, soft smiles, and glances that lingered too long. But the real surprise came after. He stood, offered his hand again. "Now, my sweet potato, will you allow me the pleasure of a dance?"
I squinted. "Ballroom?"
"Traditional. Timeless. Torturously formal. Just like my childhood."
"You had a childhood?" He didn't answer, only pulled me to my feet and into his arms.
My steps were clumsy at first. I had never danced like this. Not when it mattered. But his hand at my back, his voice at my ear, "One, two, three. One, two, three."
Slowly, I began to glide. We moved in sync. The music swelled. Candlelight flickered across marble. He spun me once, twice, catching me with that insufferable smirk. "You're doing beautifully," he murmured, forehead brushing mine. "You're always beautiful."
My breath caught. My walls trembled. In that flickering light, turning in the arms of chaos himself, I let myself feel something dangerously close to love.