The tension in the square was thick enough to choke on as the females filed back to their seats. The presence of the five Dragon males was like a heavy blanket of gold and shadow draped over the party grounds. Even the central bonfire seemed to flicker lower, as if intimidated by the sheer bloodline pressure emanating from the guest table where the newcomers sat.
Long Zhan sat perfectly still, his violet eyes tracking the movement of the crowd with the predatory grace of a creature that knew it sat at the very top of the food chain. Beside him sat Davy, the diplomat who had earlier calmed the hot-headed Kray. Davy was currently trying to maintain a look of dignified boredom, but his nose was twitching uncontrollably.
"Lord," Davy whispered, leaning toward Long Zhan so the surrounding Orycto could not hear. "Do you smell that? It isn't just charred meat and woodsmoke. It's... something else. Something delicious, complex, and incredibly enticing."
