With her hand firmly in his grasp, Sofie has no choice but to follow Howl as he pulls her away from the gazebo.

The first dance of the evening has just finished and the music's sudden absence reveals the environment's gentle buzz.

Dozens of men and women mill around, chatting lightly and lazily sipping sparkling champagne from delicate crystal flutes.

Sofie can feel some of their stares as she passes them and keeps her eyes downcast to avoid making contact.

As they approach the Grove, anticipation brews in her belly. Excitement rises like a wave, enveloping her so fast that she can barely think straight.

In the arena, Howl turns and releases her hand. Taking a step back, he watches her with an expectant expression.

She stares at him dumbly, her brows furrowing when the seconds extend past the line of comfortability.

He seems to be waiting for something-

Sofie's eyes widen when it clicks. She had forgotten all about what Marie-Claire had told her.

Etiquette.

Casting her eyes down, she holds the sides of her dress and gracefully lowers into a curtsy. Howl doesn't bow back. He remains standing and watches her from beneath thick auburn eyelashes.

When Sofie straightens, he steps forward and raises his hand as if to reach for her but pauses halfway.

"May I?"

With a smile that mirrors her excitement, Sofie nods and allows him to take retake her hand.

As he pulls her closer, he says, "These archaic formalities are so tedious, don't you think?"

In response, she shrugs and mumbles, "I don't mind them."

While his fingers curl around her hip, Sofie gets up on to her tiptoes to place a hand on his upper forearm as she isn't tall enough to reach his shoulder. The top of her head barely reaches midway of his chest.

When the music begins, the rest of the world falls away and becomes nothing but a euphony of sound which Sofie absorbs like she were a plant to radiating sunlight. Her spine unfurls, like the steam of a flower. Her limbs sure and lithe despite having very little experience with ball dancing

"You move beautifully," Howl comments. "I'm assuming dancing is something you do often?"

The compliment causes heat rises to the surface of Sofie's cheeks but also prompts a grin to form on her lips.

"Thanks. And, yeah, I've been doing it since I was five. Ballet, mostly, but I started practising contemporary a few years ago."

"You must be incredibly accomplished," he says, his tone signalling an assumption rather than a question. "Having started at such a young age."

"Uh-huh," she confirms proudly as they circle the floor, a warm feeling spreading through her entire being.

"What draws you to it, do you think?"

Howl tilts his head to the side, his gaze never leaving her face as they waltz around the arena.

His rapt attention doesn't bother Sofie at all. In fact, she enjoys the genuine interest he seems to be taking in everything she is saying. It encourages her to answer candidly, speaking without hesitation.

"The freedom."

"The freedom?" His brows lift a fraction.

"Yes. I love the fluidity of it," she gushes. "When I dance I feel so free."

"Ah, I see," Howl says with a ghost of a smile gracing his lips. "Interesting. And so is that something you plan to pursue for the future?" he asks. "A dance career."

"Absolutely," Sofie answers. If I have a future, that is...

The passing thought churns her stomach and her expression falls. Howl notices the change immediately and frowns down at her.

"Is something the matter?"

Blinking, Sofie quickly composes herself and forces her smile to return.

"No," she lies, "Everything's fine."

His eye narrows, clearly seeing through her façade, but he doesn't press further.

"What about you?" she changes the subject, partly to avoid scrutiny but also because her own curiosity about him has piqued.

"Me?" Howl's face softens. He appears almost surprised that she has enquired to know more about him.

"Yeah. What sort of stuff do you do?"

His beautiful eye twinkles as he replies, "For business or for pleasure?"

His tone is innocent enough but it still makes Sofie flush, something that seems to be happening too often for her liking.

"I, uh..." she falters for a moment, mentally cursing the butterflies frantically fluttering in her stomach. "For business, I guess."

"Well," he begins, pulling her a bit closer whilst they glide through the fleeting open spaces on the dance floor, weaving around the other couples in a way that reminds her of revolving doors. "My primary job is taking care of things. I make decisions and provide solutions so others don't have to."

"Oh." Sofie's eyes widen. "So, you mean like a manager?"

"You could say that," he replies, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. The movement catches Sofie's attention and her eyes unconsciously flicker to his lips. Their close proximity allows her nose to catch a hint of his scent. A heady mixture of vanilla and citrus assault her senses, somehow managing to befuddle her thoughts.

"May I ask you something else?" she murmurs. Neither of them breaks eye contact other.

"Anything," he says, his cool breath caressing her skin like a gentle autumn wind.

"Why do wear an eyepatch like a pirate?"

The question has left Sofie's lips before she can truly think about the consequences of it but the horror surfaces only a second later.

She feels the heat seep out of her cheeks and pulls her face away, worried she has upset him. Instead of showing anger or annoyance, however, Howl tilts his head back and laughs. Phew.

"Damn, is it really that obvious?" he asks, teasing. "I was hoping no one would notice."

Sofie smiles up at him impishly.

"It's kind of obvious, yeah," she says with a giggle. "Sorry to point it out."

"On the contrary," Howl drawls, guiding her to twirl beneath his arm. "It isn't something I make an effort to conceal. In fact, I'm rather fond of it."

"Really?" she asks when she's facing him again.

"Really." He nods.

"So, what happened?" she presses, her attention flickering back and forth between his mesmerising eye and the concealed one.

"A fortunate accident," he answers and Sofie frowns.

Throughout her entire life, Sofie has seen the aftermath of many accidents and none of them could be labelled as fortunate in her opinion. She vividly remembers meeting a young boy who took a bullet to the face one night when his father mistook him for an intruder. It had been an awful sight. His mouth, nose and eyes were completely gone.

"It was fortunate because it changed me for the better." Howl's gentle voice pulls Sofie from the gory memory and she looks up to discover him gazing down at her with a wistful expression. The traitorous heat slowly returns to her cheeks.

"Oh," she breathes. "So you're blind in that eye or-"

"Completely blind in the one eye, yes," he says.

Sofie cringes, mentally kicking herself for being so rude. At the given high of dancing, she forgot her manners. And compared to her treatment by vampires so far, Howl has been the most kind and polite.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammers, grimacing.

"It no longer bothers me," he assures her before lowering his head and moving it to the side. "I can still perfectly identify a beautiful lady when she's right in front of me," he whispers right into her ear, making her heartbeat hiccup.

As if to prove his truthfulness, Howl wraps an arm around her waist and then lifts her off the ground when the music changes tempo.

Taken by surprise, Sofie gasps but then a fit of giggles escape her chest as she is spun around in the air.

The sound draws others' attentions. Many disapproving, some amused, and a few... hungry.

Sofie doesn't notice this, too preoccupied with how small and weightless she feels.

Somewhere at the back of her more primitive mind, she becomes aware that this should frighten her - being held in the arms of someone who could snap her in half so easily.

Yet Sofie doesn't curl away from him. Her heart - thrumming faster thanks to adrenaline - doesn't shout at her to break free and run away, because she isn't afraid. Despite those fangs that say maybe-you-should-be.

Taking advantage of her momentary elevation in height, Sofie shift hers hands up so that they can rest on his broad shoulders.

Howl grins up at her in response and there is nothing malevolent about his expression. He seems to be smiling simply because she is.

When he begins to lower her back down Sofie finds herself leaning forward and wrapping both of her arms around his neck, too giddy with endorphins to worry whether it's appropriate or not.

Surprise flickers in his expression for a split second but then it is overcome by a smile so warm that it chases away any of the chill his bare inhuman hands may have created.

Adjusting his grip, Howl pulls Sofie flush against him and keeps her there while they continue the dance.

And for the first time since she arrived in France, Sofie feels completely at ease and free.

___.___

Dammit, Sofie! (>_

Who is this new man and do you think Sofie should be worried? Let me know in the comments.

💖Thank you so much for reading!💖