The sun set, and I could feel the vibrancy as I immersed myself in the human world completely. The moon goddess looked down at all of us, providing enough light for us to see as we rejoiced in our freedom. A wave of excitement and nerves washed over me. Every move felt like I was connected with the grass beneath me, feeling the soft greenery beneath my toes.

I approached the laughter and cheers that echoed through the town, and I wanted to join them. Was that appropriate? Was this only for the humans who knew each other? I took a deep breath, ignoring the indecision floating through my mind. When I was young, we would host dances, but as I grew older and my mother had grown colder due to the threats reigning our realm, the grand balls were replaced by celebratory declarations of death sentences as my mother exercised her true power before the realm.

I could feel Coda's comforting presence near me, and I relished it. "We should dance," I said, barely loud enough over the rhythmic beats and contagious energy that began to envelop my soul. Each passing second invigorated my body. Observing the groups of humans around us, they were all so different. Old and young, man and woman—all were unified by this sense of freedom.

With each tentative step, I began to feel the music flow through my veins, igniting a newfound confidence within me. As the music intensified, so did my desire to let loose and express myself without inhibition. I lost myself in the exhilaration, surrendering myself to the rhythm and embracing the joy of movement.

I connected with Coda, holding his hands as we began to dance together. He spun me around as we grinned ear to ear. Swept up in the passion, we were each transferred to other dance partners. Without words, I began sharing nods, exchanging smiles, and communicating through the universal language of dance.

As one of the songs began to subside, my eyes caught Coda's as we dispersed from the crowd, a feeling of contentment washing over me. A human carrying drinks on a tray approached us. "Drink?" She grinned at each of us.

"Two, please," I smiled.

"ID?"

I quickly glanced over at Coda and blinked at him. Did we manage to get those?

"We don't need them." His pupils dilated, his voice seeping out like honey that I almost joined the woman in the trance.

"Here you go!" She grinned, throwing Coda a wink as she handed him two drinks.

Coda gave me one of the drinks in his hand. "Humans are so kind," I insisted.

Coda eyed the drink carefully, and we both smelled it first. It emitted a strong aroma that hinted at the potency concealed within its depths. The red liquid shimmered under the moonlight, beckoning me to take a sip and discover its intensity.

With subtle trepidation, I raised the glass to my lips, feeling the coolness of the glass against my fingertips. As the first drop touched my tongue, a burst of flavor exploded in my mouth, overwhelming my senses. A strong burning sensation danced on my taste buds, leaving a tingling sensation. Embers glowed in my belly.

The initial kick caught me off guard, but I couldn't help but appreciate the depth and intensity the drink offered. "Aurora," Coda warned. "This is like soma." I nodded. Soma was a potent fermented juice drink for our kind. I had only allowed myself to have it a few times. I always had to keep my senses sharp, especially with my mother around. But, for once, I wanted to let my barrier fall.

I can still remember the last time I had soma, offered to me by one of the townsfolk during a celebration. It looked innocent enough, but Zion had warned me about the dangers of the drink. However, my curiosity had gotten the better of me, and I drank it quicker than I should have. It wasn't long before the effects of it hit me. My head felt foggy, and I struggled to keep my balance. I tried to make my way back to Zion's side, but it was as if the ground was shifting beneath my feet.

I woke up hours later, my body wracked with pain. It seemed like every muscle was aching, and I could feel the cold sweat dripping down my forehead. I was vomiting for endless hours, and I wasn't sure if I would even make it through the night. Thankfully, Zion had been there for me, tending to me through it all.

As I think about that experience now, my heart squeezed tightly in my chest. I could almost hear Zion's voice, warning me to be more careful while reminding me of the dangers of soma. I missed him, and I wished he could be disappointed in me again. I wished he could see Coda and I now safe on Earth. That he would have been given the chance to be with us.

"I am positive humans would not have the same alcohol content levels as soma." I finally answered Coda. As a Fireborne, I could only assume we would have a higher level of immunity against the drink. Without wasting another second, I downed the glass in a few gulps. I looked towards Coda expectantly. His dark brows furrowed with concern as he grabbed the glass out of my hand. "Aren't you going to have some?"

I knew the answer before he spoke. Coda wouldn't let both of us get affected by the soma if there was a chance it could be as potent. Well, more for me, then. I grabbed the glass from his hand and downed it. I coughed, shaking my head.

"Rory..." Coda sighed, grabbing the second glass from my hand and turning behind to set the empty glasses on the tray of another passing human.

I looked into his eyes, placing my hands on his cheek. "I'm okay," I insisted. "We came to Earth to be free, right?" I waited for him to respond. He pursed his lips, finally nodding. "One night followed by so many more. But we need to let go at some point."

"You have your fun; I will be here keeping an eye on things. If anything seems off, we go back to Dallas's." Coda gazed down, hands on my waist. I smiled at him. He was always trying to protect me. It was one of the many things I loved about him. I knew it would just take him time to loosen up, and if it wasn't for the soma that I could feel beginning to do its work on my body, I would probably share that mindset.

I leaned into him, and he bent slowly towards my face, mere inches away. I whispered into his ear. "If only I had your coercion, you would be dancing right along with me." Coercion, though rare, was a manipulative tool used to control others, forcing them to think and act in the way they are told. It had the power to strip individuals of their memories, erasing important aspects of their identity and disrupting their ability to function effectively in society. Due to its unethical nature and the violation it entailed, coercion was widely condemned, and if found being used, the penalty was death.

Leaning back, I didn't miss the smirk that tilted his pink lips.

"It won't take much for you to convince me to do that," his voice susurrated.

In some ways, Coda had always been like a brother. We'd grown up together. But there had always been something in the air between us, a question that I didn't know the answer to. But we weren't each other's evermates. And even though many Alyanthians married and courted those who weren't their evermate, I knew mine was out there. But even though I had shared this with Coda, I don't think he fully believed it. Most went their whole life without finding their evermate, after all.

A grin formed on my lips as we pulled each other closer to where the humans were dancing. With the rhythmic beats pumping through my veins and the lights of the town swirling all around, all my senses were heightened, almost as if the world had transformed into a pulsating kaleidoscope. The soma coursing through my system added an extra layer of euphoria, amplifying my joy as my body moved in sync with the music.

From my hazy perspective, the bustling streets transformed into my own personal dance floor. No longer bound by inhibitions, I surrendered myself to the intoxicating rhythm, swaying and twirling to the melody. Each movement felt like an expression of liberation and freedom, as if the cares of the worlds had momentarily slipped away. My body moved with a fluidity I hadn't known before, effortlessly weaving through the crowd.

My best friend who knew me better than anyone else stood by my side. As we moved, I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lingered on me, brimming with a mixture of admiration and vulnerability. His touch felt different, softer, as if every brush against my skin held a hidden confession. I didn't know if it was the soma that was making me see Coda in a different light, or if it was real. It felt as if every step we took together was drenched in unspoken emotions, creating an unbreakable thread between us.

My heart raced with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. It must be the soma, I decided, shaking my head. I needed water. The soma was giving me undesirable feelings and thoughts. "Could you get me some water?" I asked loudly over the music and laughter, breaking the trance between us.

"Of course. I will be right back." He paused, eyes flicking to my lips before he disappeared into the crowd.

Colors blurred together. Non lights flickered and reflected off the pavement. I furrowed my brows, rubbing my eyes, but it just made me feel more lightheaded. I needed that water. Glancing around for Coda, I couldn't see which direction he had gone.

My gaze was suddenly captured by an enigmatic figure. Amidst the swirling crowd stood a man who exuded a magnetic charm. He seemed to glow. Immediately, the headache and nausea fell away. Our eyes met, and an electric current passed between us. He looked so familiar. Time slowed down, allowing me to take in every detail of his captivating presence. His confident smile revealed a set of perfect teeth, while his expressive, blue eyes unraveled a cache of untold stories.

He walked over to me, or maybe I walked over to him. Either way, I took his extended hand without hesitation as I joined him in the next dance. I managed to duck my head down slightly, attempting to make my burn mark hidden from his eyes as the lights danced across our faces. My breath hitched as his finger guided my chin back up to face him. "Stunning." His voice was like velvet, smooth as his fingers guided across my scar. I gasped, his touch sending electric tingles down to my hands. I was too entranced by him to move, but I allowed myself this moment of happiness. Even if it was a lie that fell from his lips, I deserved to feel beautiful.

His hand was behind my back, my body pressed up against his. I felt our energies come together, and before I knew it, my powers sprung to life. The rune on my collarbone begin to glow. A flash of panic warmed me, but just as quickly my senses asserted themselves, returning me to my serene state. I was grateful the only ones who could see runes were other Alyanthi. It was invisible to humans. But that wasn't my biggest worry. Runes only glowed for your evermate or when you were under intense distress.

Our dance came to an abrupt halt. My partner's icy blue eyes snapped at my glowing rune. My heart skipped a beat, but I couldn't will my legs to move away from him. I was transfixed as our eyes locked once more.

The soma must be fading because realization hit me suddenly. "Kyan." The name fell off my lips. I blinked and he was gone. He had simply vanished. I couldn't help but wonder if the soma had made me hallucinate him. Could it even do that? The absence of his body against mine made me feel achingly alone.

A familiar voice called out from behind me. I spun on my heels to face Coda as he approached.

"I couldn't find you," he said. "What?" he demanded, seeing my guilt-stricken expression. Glancing down at my collarbone, I noticed my rune had stopped glowing.

I shook my head. "Nothing. I think I just had too many of those drinks." He nodded as I took the cool water, gulping it down quickly. Maybe it was the drinks that had caused my rune to glow? I frowned. That was doubtful, but Kyan, my evermate? If only I knew where his rune was, then I could test that theory.

"Do you want to head back to our room?"

I let his question hang in the air. I did, more than anything else. But looking up at Coda, I faltered. He was so concerned about me that he wasn't letting himself enjoy the present.

"Why don't you stay here? Get to know the humans." His eyes widened with outrage at the idea. Glancing away, I saw a beautiful woman with striking red hair, dancing with sensuous abandon. "She's pretty. Why not dance with her?"

Coda followed my gaze and snorted. "I'm not interested in humans."

"There are no other Alyanthi here." I squinted at him. Coda and I had been best friends since we were toddlers, and I never wanted to put our friendship at risk. If I lost him...I couldn't bear to think of the possibility. But dancing together as we had tonight, I couldn't help myself. He was handsome. Only a fool wouldn't be able to see that. But I couldn't risk our friendship by entertaining any feelings for him. I wasn't sure I had feelings for him.

But the way he looked at me now, his gorgeous eyes looking down at me full of longing, there was no doubt in my mind. I was positive Coda would be willing to risk our friendship. I gulped down the lump in my throat. There were so many other things happening around us right now, that our growing relationship wasn't a top priority of mine, and if it was to him, I am sure he would have brought it up by now.