The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47: The First Dance

EIRLYS’ POV

The day of the ball had finally arrived.

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The palace felt different somehow. I sensed it the moment I opened my eyes-like the walls were

buzzing with breathless anticipation.

It wasn’t just the brighter light streaming through the windows or the new layers of gold and

garland strung along the halls. It was something deeper. The air itself felt charged, stirring both

nerves and something oddly fluttery in my chest.

Emma and Grace were already scurrying around my room not long after lunch. They drew me into

an absurdly long bath, filling it with scented oils that smelled both heavenly and almost good enough to eat. Their arms were overflowing with fabrics, glittering things I couldn’t name, and tiny

pots Emma claimed would add color to my face.

Outside my window, the palace grounds were already stirring. I caught glimpses of the arriving guests-shifters, witches, more vampires with their effortless grace… and even other beings I’d

only heard about in stories.

“Almost there,” Emma hummed as she pinned back my hair with delicate golden clips shaped like leaves. A slender tiara now rested atop my head, its crystal tips catching the light like tiny stars.

Grace helped me into the gown-layer upon layer of silk the color of warm sunlight, shimmering as

if starlight had been spun into every thread.

She gently guided my hand as I twirled in front of the mirror. I barely recognized the girl staring

back at me.

Emma let out a dreamy sigh. “There’s going to be a long line of men wanting to dance with you tonight,” she said with a grin. “That’s for certain.”

My breath caught. The idea made my stomach flutter. I wasn’t sure I wanted attention-not like

that. Not from strangers.

Grace rolled her eyes at Emma’s remark but smiled as she adjusted a fold of my gown. “I doubt the king would allow it,” she said. “I bet he’ll want Eirlys at his side the whole time.”

I wished that were true. Not just because the thought of dancing with strangers unsettled me-but because being near him made me feel safe. And tonight, I knew I’d need that comfort more than

ever.

A soft knock pulled all our gazes toward the door. Grace hurried to open it-and there he stood.

Kierygan.

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Chapter 47 The First Dance

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Dressed in deep black, with subtle touches of crimson and gold like fire glowing through ash. The top half of his dark, shoulder-length hair was swept back, his jaw freshly trimmed but still dusted with stubble-and there was a gleam in his eyes that made my heart stutter.

His gaze swept over me slowly, and for a moment, couldn’t breathe.

“You…” His voice was low, steady. “You look radiant!

Heat bloomed across my cheeks. “Thank you,” I murmured, my fingers brushing the skirts of my

gown. “It’s the gown.”

His lips curved-not quite a smile, but close. “Partly he said. “But mostly you. You look lovely.”

I knew I should say something back-that he looked lovely too, because he truly did. But the words tangled on my tongue. He had never spoken to me like this before. The way he looked at me, the way he said it… it made my heart drum so loudly I could barely hear my own thoughts.

He stepped closer, his gaze lingering on me for a heartbeat longer before he extended his arm.

“Shall we?”

I slipped my fingers around his offered arm. The heat of him anchored me-steadying the knees

that threatened to give out beneath the weight of nerves and anticipation.

We walked in step through the corridor, our footsteps softened by the thick carpets and the pounding of my heart. As we neared the ballroom doors, the distant threads of music drifted toward us-accompanied by the clink of crystal, the low murmur of conversation, and the quiet

hum of gathered magic.

I must have tensed, because Kierygan slowed, his eyes flicking down to mine.

“Breathe, Eirlys,” he said softly.

I glanced up, wide-eyed. He wasn’t smiling-but something in his gaze settled me. A quiet strength. A promise unspoken. As long as I walked beside him, no harm would touch me.

Then the doors opened.

Warm, golden light spilled out to greet us. The music swelled-richer now, full of strings and silver

bells-and the room fell into a hush.

Every gaze turned toward us.

I felt it immediately-like heat prickling across my skin. My grip on Kierygan’s arm tightened, just enough for him to notice. Murmurs stirred around the edges of the ballroom, too soft to catch

clearly, but sharp enough to feel.

And then, the music changed. A new melody unfurled in the air, delicate and commanding all at

once. Our cue.

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Chapter 47 The First Dance

The first dance.

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We stepped onto the polished floor, the crowd parting in a wide circle around us. The music swelled, and I placed one trembling arm on his shoulder. His hand settled at the small of my back, warm and steady. His other hand tangled gently with mine.

The room faded at the edges, but the thrum of attention still pressed in. I focused on the rhythm,

counting in my head like Solara had taught me. One, two, three… one, two, three…

But then Kierygan’s voice, low and close, cut through the numbers. “Forget the count.”

I looked up at him, startled.

“Don’t think about the beat,” he murmured. “Just follow me.”

I hesitated, but only for a moment. Then I exhaled, closed my eyes… and listened.

I felt his body move first-precise, fluid-and I let mine follow. The music wrapped around us, soft and swelling, the world slipping further away with every step. His hand and feet guided me, anchoring me through the rhythm, and that’s when realized-I was dancing. Actually dancing. With him. Moving in perfect sync.

His hand at my back pulled me subtly closer. His breath stirred a strand of hair near my ear-so near I could hear it, feel it. Something shifted between us. Soft. Electric.

I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw were the stares-dozens of gazes fixed on us. Then I looked down at my arm resting on his shoulder.

I was glowing.

It shimmered faintly at first, barely visible in the ballroom’s golden light. But then it bloomed, unfurling across my skin like sunlight beneath water

I gasped, mortified. “I… I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”

But Kierygan didn’t let me pull away. His hand tightened slightly at my back, keeping me close.

“Don’t be,” he said, his voice low-almost reverent. want you to glow.”

His gaze met mine. “When you glow, it means you’re happy.”

My lips parted before I could stop them. “I am happy,” I said.

But it wasn’t the full truth. Because I didn’t just feel happy. I felt safe. And something else- something deeper, warmer, something I wasn’t sure I was allowed to feel.

The music began to slow, the final notes trailing off like mist in the air. And I found myself wishing

it hadn’t ended. Wishing time would stretch just a little longer. Wishing the world could stay like

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Chapter 47 The First Dance

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this-his hand at my back, his breath near my skin, the quiet warmth in his eyes.

Because now, with the dance over, I feared he’d return to the version of himself I was more used to

-the cold, guarded and distant king.

I wasn’t ready to lose this version. The warm one. The one who wanted me to glow.

But before I could step back, his hand tightened gently at the small of my back.

My breath caught.

I looked up-just as he leaned in and pressed his lips to my temple. Feather-light. A breath of

contact. But it set my skin alight.

“You were amazing, Eirlys,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

Before I could even recover, he guided me forward, weaving past the watching crowd toward the

raised dais at the far end of the grand hall.

The platform was draped in dark crimson velvet embroidered with curling gold thread, and at its center stood the throne-commanding, sharp-edged, carved with the same fierce intensity as the

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