by Jackie May
“Why not? You’re coming out into underworld society. Is that not what a debutante is?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
Cecile follows me into her suite, laughing her light, tinkling laugh. She’s glowing with anticipation when she sits me at her vanity and begins to do my hair. After curling it into big, loopy curls, she piles all of it up on my head and fastens it with a pearl and diamond wreath thing that can’t decide if it’s a headband or a crown.
After applying my makeup—which she goes very heavy on, calling the eyes smoky—she hands me a pair of earrings that match my hairpiece and drapes a pearl and diamond necklace around my throat. The jewelry is the nicest thing I’ve ever worn, and I’m scared to move for fear of breaking it somehow.
Cecile smiles at me in the mirror. “Stunning.”
I can’t argue. I’ve never looked so beautiful in my life. And I’m not even wearing the dress yet.
She looks me over one more time, then turns her head toward the door as if listening. I’m not sure if succubi have better hearing than humans, but even I can hear the growing crowd mingling below us. “Can you manage the dress?” she asks. “I really should head down and greet the guests.”
When I nod, Cecile grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet. “Wait for me to welcome everyone, and then you and Oliver can come downstairs, all right? I’ll speak into a microphone. You’ll hear me. Promise you’ll wait for me to introduce you.”
I sigh. She’s determined for me to make a grand entrance. “All right. I’ll wait.”
Cecile’s face brightens, and she waltzes out to the room, blowing me air kisses. Once the door is closed behind her, I slowly make my way to the garment bag lying on the bed. I haven’t seen the dress yet. Cecile had my measurements taken, then insisted she surprise me. She had the dress made by a faerie seamstress and said she wove magic into it, so I have no idea what to expect.
The first thing I notice when I unzip the bag is that it’s white. I free it from the bag and gasp as I lay it carefully on the bed. It’s gorgeous. It looks like a wedding gown.
It’s easy to slip the dress on. It’s got thin straps lined with pearls and a low-cut back. It clings to me as if it were specifically designed for my figure. I suppose it was. It hugs my body and drapes from my hips to the floor, and has a small train. The whole thing is covered in delicate white lace with pearls woven into the fabric. It’s elegant and whimsical all at once, and definitely looks like something a faerie queen would wear.
I feel the slight tingling of magic. It’s different from the sorcerer magic around the club and at Terrance’s place. This magic is lighter somehow, airier, like a gentle summer breeze. I don’t realize what the magic does until I look in the floor-length mirror and see the soft sparkles making the entire dress shimmer. My breath catches. I’ve never seen anything like it.
I stand in front of the mirror, staring at the beautiful stranger in front of me, until a soft knock startles me. “Nora?” Oliver calls out.
“Come in, Ollie!”
I turn, just as Oliver steps in the room and shuts the door behind him. His breath catches when he sees me. “Nora…”
He shakes his head as he struggles to find words. I’ve rendered him speechless. “You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say, willing my cheeks not to blush.
Oliver looks as if he was born to wear designer tuxedos all the time. I’ve never seen him more striking. His light-brown hair is sculpted stylishly for once, making it look a little darker. It really brings out the honey color of his eyes. And his tall, lean figure fills his tux perfectly. He’s positively dashing.
“Nora…” he whispers again. “You look…”
“Like I’m ready to walk down the aisle?” I tease.
He takes my hands. I’m instantly filled with his thoughts and feelings. I think he’s choosing to let me hear his thoughts right now because he can’t put into words how beautiful he thinks I am.
His feelings are overwhelming. My chest constricts, and my face heats up. I’ve never felt so adored. No, cherished is maybe the right word for it. And again, Oliver’s feelings ring with a sincerity that no man has ever accomplished. I don’t have an ounce of fear with him. I’m not sure why, or how, but Oliver will never hurt me. Just like with Terrance, I know this. I can feel it. “Thank you, Oliver,” I mutter. My voice cracks with emotion.
His gaze suddenly falls to my mouth. It’s the briefest flicker, but it sparks something inside me. I suck in a breath, and my heart flutters. When my mouth goes dry, I realize that I want Oliver to kiss me.
I’d wanted Parker to kiss me, too, but my chest had pounded with anxiety the whole time. It was as if my intuition knew he was under the influence of my curse and wouldn’t be able to control himself. I have no such fear with Oliver. All that’s in me now is desire. It’s not a lustful want, but a hopeful curiosity. Can I kiss him? Would I be able to without breaking out into a panic attack?
The tension in the air becomes thick. As if Oliver knows what I’m thinking about, he finds his courage and steps so close our bodies meet. I don’t back away. I place my hands on his chest and meet his steady gaze with a shy one. When he speaks, his voice is so soft it’s almost a caress. “Is this okay?”
I can’t seem to find my breath. My emotions are spinning wildly out of control. I can’t look away from him. All of my strength is in those amber eyes. “I’ll stop you if it isn’t,” I say. It’s the best answer I can give him, because I honestly don’t know how this will go down. All I know is that I want to try.
Sucking in a breath, Oliver wets his lips. His gaze falls to my mouth again, and he lifts his hand to gently cup my cheek. He pauses a moment, giving me time to make sure I’m okay with his actions. When I don’t protest, he leans his face down to mine.
Our lips meet in the lightest of touches. His kiss is feather light. He very delicately presses our mouths together. Desire flares through me the moment we touch, and I lean into him, wrapping my arms up around his neck. Following my lead, Oliver slides his hands around my waist and pulls me closer. He parts his lips to make it an open-mouth kiss and hesitantly seeks out my tongue with his. It’s sweet, and delicate, and just demanding enough that it’s breathtaking. It’s a perfect kiss.
And then, without me having to end it, Oliver pulls back. He’s smiling softly, but there’s a question in his eyes. I know what he’s asking, but I can’t answer him. Not vocally, anyway. I’m too choked up. When my eyes mist over, I bury my face in his shoulder. He gently holds me while I try to compose myself. “You okay?” he asks.
I nod, still refusing to let him go, face still buried against his shoulder. “More than okay. Thank you, Oliver.”
His hug tightens, and he brushes his lips against the side of my head. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
With one more deep breath, I pull myself out of Oliver’s embrace and smooth out my dress. I’ve managed to stop any tears before they could leak from my eyes. I’m afraid to look at him, afraid it will be awkward, but when I meet his gaze and he looks at me with such an understanding smile, a weight lifts off my chest. He’s still Oliver. He’s still my best friend. He glances toward the door. “You ready?”
I pull my shoulders back with a sigh and stand up straight. “As I’ll ever be.”
Through the door comes Cecile’s muffled voice, welcoming everyone and thanking them for coming. I know that’s my cue, but I’d rather stay here. Oliver knows exactly what I’m thinking, and he smirks. “You’ll survive.”
“Maybe.”
“Come on. Your public awaits.”
Oliver has to drag me from Cecile’s suite. When we reach the stairs that lead down into the main room of the club, the first thing I notice is that I am the only person in the entire club wearing white. Everyone else is in dark or bright colors. I stand out big time. I’m sure that was Cecile’s plan. The second thing I realize is that no one is moving or talking as I make my way down the stairs with Oliver. All eyes are trained on me, my
guests watching me enter with reverent awe. It’s quite the entrance. Cecile certainly knows what she’s doing. “I’m going to kill Cecile,” I grumble as Oliver and I descend the stairs arm in arm.
He chuckles. “Just don’t trip down the stairs, and you’ll be fine.”
“Don’t jinx me.”
Terrance is waiting at the bottom of the steps, with a scowl on his face. He looks me over from head to toe and grumbles, “I’m going to kill Cecile.”
I take that as a compliment and laugh. “You and me both. Stick close by and fend off any extra enthusiastic admirers tonight?”
He grunts, but he’s trying to hide pleasure behind his scowl. He loves playing my surly bodyguard.
Cecile finds me next and greets me with an air kiss. “Nora, darling. Come. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Yeah. I just bet there is. Like every single person at this party, which has to be a couple hundred people. So much for small. I try not to groan as she grabs my wrist and drags me into the crowd. It’s going to be a long night.
I drop onto a barstool with a groan. It’s been hours, and I haven’t had a second to myself all night. I’m exhausted, my head hurts, and my feet are about to stage a revolt. Wulf appears on the other side of the bar. He’s in a tux as well, but I think he’s spent the majority of the night serving drinks despite the fact that there are other employees who’ve been hired to do his job for the evening. Truth be told, even though he’s one of the most social guys I’ve ever met, I think he’s more comfortable back there. “Need something to drink?” he asks me.
Gratitude and relief wash over me at the mere thought. “Yes, please. Something with caffeine.”
“Make that two,” Oliver says. He squeezes my hand and adds, “I’m going to hit the restroom. Think you can manage a few minutes without me?”
His smile is teasing, but my answer is serious. “It’ll be difficult. Hurry back?”
Oliver’s answering smile is a sympathetic one. “Two minutes.”
I watch him as he hurries off, warmth spreading through my chest. Oliver’s been such a lifesaver tonight. Just like he promised, he hasn’t left my side all evening. He’s stood quietly beside me through every introduction, content to be my arm candy. Having him with me has been my saving grace.
“How’s your night been so far?” Wulf asks, sliding two Cokes across the bar. I take a huge swig of mine before answering.
“Chaotic. It’s been nonstop introductions, and I still haven’t met half the people here. I haven’t met any of the people I was hoping to meet yet.”
Wulf frowns. He knows who I’m talking about. Rook and Alpha Toth let him in on the plan so that he could be added security for me should Axel or Marie try something. So far, all has been quiet. “Hmm. Well, don’t go too far, and I’ll see if I can find a few friends of mine.”
He’s not gone two seconds before a new voice startles me. “Looking good, little spitfire.”
I open my eyes to see Nick and Parker standing in front of me. When had I closed my eyes? “Just good?” I tease. “Don’t you mean gorgeous?”
Nick smirks. “I’ll start calling you gorgeous when you start returning the favor.”
I laugh. He winks. I shake my head at his silliness. It’s pretty much par for the course with us. Then he goes and surprises me by saying, “Seriously, though. You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you.”
When he turns to order a drink from one of the bartenders, Parker uses the opportunity to snag my attention. “Good evening, Nora.”
“Hey, Parker.”
I take a moment to look him over. Like Oliver, Parker seems as though he was born to wear a tux. He’s so James Bond. He looks good. As always, he gives me a tiny, knowing smile, as if he can tell how much I’m attracted to him.
He takes my hand in his and leans forward. I think he’s going to kiss my hand, but he surprises me by going for my cheek instead. “You look positively enchanting tonight,” he whispers.
Goose bumps blanket my skin, and I have to suppress a shiver.
He starts to pull away, but then he freezes and his body goes rigid. He takes a deep breath, inhaling my scent. When he finally leans back, he’s frowning slightly. His eyes seem to have a million questions in them. It takes me a moment to realize what upset him. I don’t get it until Oliver reappears and Parker’s frown deepens. Parker can smell Oliver on me. He must know that Oliver kissed me. The two men eyeball each other warily and force strained smiles at each other. All I can do is wonder how in the world I got myself into this position, and more importantly, how am I going to fix it?
“Well, this is an interesting development,” Nick teases, smirking at Oliver and Parker.
I shoot him a nasty glare, which he returns with a wide grin. “My money’s on the wolf.”
Startled, I glance behind the bar. Wulf has returned, and though he’s grinning as if this conversation is the most entertainment he’s had all night, he holds up his hands in surrender.
“Not that wolf,” Nick says.
He casts his gaze to my left. Oliver, Parker, and I all follow it to the group of people walking toward us. Rook is leading the charge. Oliver sighs, and Parker’s jaw clenches. Wulf and Nick both chuckle. I flip them both off with a sweet smile, which makes them burst into laughter.
“Sounds like good times over here,” Rook says. “Nora, you look stunning tonight.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to spend any time with you yet this evening. You’ve been a popular lady.”
“Blame Cecile.”
He laughs. “Well, I’ve got your attention now, and that’s what counts, right?”
He pulls me from my stool and into an embrace that is a little more intimate than I expected. His thoughts are jumbled as if he’s fighting his wolf. …have such a strong reaction to her. Get it under control, Rook. She’s not yours. But it’s getting harder to ignore her.
He inhales deeply, and then, just as Parker had done, he stiffens when he smells Oliver on me. Actually, he probably smells both Ollie and Parker on me now. His grip on me tightens just a fraction, and his thoughts simplify. Smell other men on her. Must claim what’s ours…
“Rook,” Alpha Toth says sternly, causing Rook to flinch. He finally lets me go, but he does the same thing he did last week and pulls me close to his side as he introduces me to the people with him. I flash a pleading look to Alpha Toth, but he subtly shakes his head, telling me to just let Rook do what he needs.
Rook’s jaw is still tight, and his eyes still have a faint glow in them. I look to Wulf next, but all I get from him is a smug grin. Oliver and Parker both seem stunned. I suppress a groan and curse my stupid curse. I have got to find a way to control my allure like Cecile does, or I’ll never be able to keep my friends. They’ll kill one another over me.
“Nora, this is Lucian Williams, and his mate, Isabella,” Rook says. “They’re the alpha and luna of the Waterloo pack.”
I shake each of their hands, and then Rook points to two other men. Both of them are familiar, one surprisingly so. The man is one of the underworlders I rescued back in September. He’d been sickly then, dying slowly from silver poisoning. He looks so much healthier now. Young and robust, even. I smile brightly for him and say, “I know you. You look a lot better than the last time we met.”
The man grins. “Thanks to you.” He holds out a hand for me to shake. “The name’s Evan Fuller. It’s good to finally meet you. Properly.”
“You too.”
A throat clears, and Evan immediately steps back, letting the man from my vision in Marie’s apartment step forward. “Nora,” Evan says, “this is my alpha, Axel Day.”
“Many thanks for saving my beta,” he says as he shakes my hand. His thoughts are running a different direction. No wonder Marie is so crazy over this woman. She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, and her dominance is so much stronger than Marie’s.
“I’m jus
t glad I could help,” I say, breaking Axel’s grip. To Evan, I add, “I’m glad I got to see you again. I didn’t think I was going to, and I was worried. You were in such bad shape that night.” I check out his physique and give him a crooked smile. “I see you’ve recovered well enough.”
Evan laughs while a rumble starts in Rook’s chest. The growl is so low I feel it rather than hear it. While I’m busy glaring at Rook, Evan steps forward again. “I’m glad I got to see you again, too. I’ve wanted to thank you. Perhaps you’ll allow me a dance?”
This is perfect. I haven’t danced much tonight, and I was wondering how I’d hear anyone’s thoughts. Having a few minutes alone with Axel’s beta will really help. And maybe it will prompt Axel to ask me to dance next. It wouldn’t surprise me. Wolves are so competitive. “I’d love to.”
I step forward to join him, but a hand clamps around my waist and Rook growls louder. “Rook!” I snap.
Stupid territorial wolves. I shoot Alpha Toth a meaningful glare. I need this. Rook has to let me talk to—and possibly flirt with—Evan and Axel both. I need to find out what’s going on.
Alpha Toth understands my plight and steps beside Rook. He clamps a white-knuckled hand on Rook’s shoulder. “Rook. Let the lady have a dance. Evan only means to show his gratitude. He’ll behave himself.”
Evan’s surprise is obvious, but he recovers quickly and holds up his hands in surrender. “I would never dream of moving in on your female. Forgive me. I didn’t realize you had a claim on her. I meant nothing by the invite. I simply wanted the chance to thank Nora for saving my life.”
No! No, no, no! He’s backing off! Damn it, Rook!
“Of course you can have a dance with her,” Alpha Toth says, squeezing Rook’s shoulder so hard Rook grimaces. “Rook’s just feeling a little overwhelmed with so many people expressing interest in Nora tonight. But he doesn’t mind. Do you, Rook?”
“Sure,” Rook grinds out. “Just keep it friendly.”
I elbow Rook in the ribs, and he finally lets me go. Then I force a smile at Evan and push him toward the dance floor. He follows reluctantly. “I’m sorry for causing trouble. I had no idea you and Rook were more than friends.”