The Monster Ball: A Paranormal Romance Anthology

by Heather Hildenbrand

  Jesus, I could use a drink.

  I glanced around for the one I had but remembered I’d left it outside.

  Ren moved to sit on the loveseat beside me. The fluffy cotton beneath me shifted with his weight, and an awkward silence built between us.

  “Um, this is nice,” I said when I couldn’t stand the silence any longer. I held my hands out in front of me, warming them by the fire.

  “It’s nothing.” He leaned back against the loveseat.

  I could feel his eyes on me, but I couldn’t bring myself to return his stare. My gaze remained focused on the flames, watching as they danced to music I couldn’t hear.

  “So, about those black orchids you mentioned,” Ren said. His tone was gentle, but I could hear the concern etched in it as well. “What do you remember besides them?”

  “Not much.” It was an honest answer, but I also knew it wouldn’t be enough. “I was working at my shop. A delivery came I hadn’t been expecting, and inside was a bunch of black orchids.”

  Was there anything else? I tried to remember but dizziness rushed through me.

  “Did you touch them?” Ren asked.

  “I’m sure I did. Black orchids aren’t something you see every day.”

  “What happened next?”

  “I woke up miles away. I had no idea how I’d gotten there or what my name was.” My lips clamped shut, and I glanced at Ren, soaking in his reaction.

  Did he believe me? Most people thought I was joking when I told this story. Then again, he was an elemental witch. He’d probably seen and heard stranger things.

  “Do you remember feeling anything?” He asked. He wasn’t dismissing what I’d said as me being a nut job. Instead, he was digging deeper. I could kiss him. “Noises or smells? Do you remember anything about who delivered the flowers?”

  I licked my lips as I thought about his questions. My body broke out into a cold sweat as icy tendrils of panic slithered through the center of my chest.

  “No.” It was a short answer, but it was all I could give. The more I thought about everything, the tighter the panic gripped hold of my lungs.

  “Are you okay?” He placed a hand on my shoulder. Electricity pumped through the area beneath my skin. “I don’t mean to sound pushy.”

  “I’m fine. It’s anxiety. I get it every time I try to remember that day. It’ll pass in a second.”

  “Did you have anxiety before?” Ren asked.

  I smirked. He should know the answer to his question from what I’d already told him. “I’m not sure. Like I said, I lost all of my memories from before that day.”

  “Right. I forgot about that.”

  “Do you know what happened to me? Was it something to do with the supernatural world?” My stomach somersaulted as soon as the questions left my lips. I was scared of what his answer might be.

  Ren swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the force of it. When he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze focused on the fire. Nervous butterflies erupted in the pit of my stomach. Whatever he was about to say, it wasn’t going to be good. I could sense it.

  “I think I do.” His gaze shifted to me. “I think you were targeted by a devourer.”

  That didn’t sound good. “A what?”

  “A devourer. It’s a type of demon.”

  For a split-second, I forgot how to breathe. A demon? Holy hell. Could any more crazy bombs be dropped on me tonight?

  “They’re rare, but this actually isn’t the first case I’ve seen. I had an aunt who was once targeted by one,” Ren said.

  “Targeted? Why would a demon want to target me?” I was nobody.

  “Because of your magic.” His eyes softened. “Devourers spell something their intended target will touch so they can feed off your magic, devour it. In your case, it was the orchids. They were spelled. It’s why they were black.”

  My head spun.

  “When you touched the flowers, the spell was activated.” He paused for a moment as though thinking about how to continue. “The demon feeding off your magic would have side effects.”

  “Like what?”

  “Loss of magic. Trouble sleeping. Memory loss. Anxiety. Panic attacks,” he said. Tears swelled in my eyes. I’d been dealing with all of that and then some for the last few years. “Sound familiar?”

  “Oh yeah.” I nodded. “How do I break the spell? Is it even possible?”

  Ren smoothed a hand over his face and exhaled a deep breath. “Yeah, it is.”

  I waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t.

  “Well, how?” I asked.

  A grimace formed on his face. “You’re going to think it’s some cheesy pick up line.”

  I blinked. What did that mean?

  “You really want to know?” He asked, his eyes never wavering from mine.

  “Yeah. Of course I do.”

  “Just don’t smack me, okay?”

  My brows pinched together. “Okay.”

  “The only way to counteract a devourer’s spell of this caliber is true love’s kiss.”

  I waited for him to tell me he was joking, but he didn’t.

  “You can’t be serious,” I said.

  “I know how corny it sounds, but it’s true.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he joking? He could be. I didn’t know him all that well.

  “You’re not just trying to get me to make out with you like everyone else here seems to be doing tonight, are you?” I eyed him.

  “While that would be amazing, no. I’m not. I’m being serious. True love’s kiss is the only way to break the spell you’re under.”

  “Okay, so say that I believe you...how do I go about obtaining true love’s kiss?”

  It wasn’t something I could buy online though I’m sure it was advertised there a lot.

  “You’ll have it when you find your soulmate.” He tossed his hands up. “I know, I know, enough with the corny ass lines, right?”

  “That would be nice.” I leaned back against the loveseat. My face was too hot, and nausea pooled through my stomach. How was I supposed to find my damn soulmate? Some people went their whole lives without ever doing so.

  I folded my arms over my chest and thought about how many guys I’d kissed in the last few years. None. Zip. Zero. My love life had been nonexistent.

  “What are you thinking?” Ren asked. “You look like you want to throttle me in the throat.”

  “I kind of do. I mean, kissing my soulmate? Come on. Like that’s ever going to happen.”

  “I like your confidence.” He laughed.

  “At least one of us finds my predicament entertaining.” I glanced around the room. “This whole thing is one big joke. A dream, or nightmare. None of this can be real.”

  I pinched my arm to prove a point, but it hurt like a mother, so I knew I was wrong.

  “Satisfied this isn't a dream now?” he asked.

  I shifted to glare at him, but our legs touched, sending heat flooding my system. It was the same sensation I always seemed to feel when he touched me, only this time it was intensified by a million.

  Was it something he’d been doing to me? Part of his magic? Or something more? My mind got caught up on the something more.

  “Kiss me,” I whispered.

  My heart skipped a beat as I waited for him to respond. I didn’t have to wait long. His lips pressed against mine before I could second guess my words any longer, and every cell of my being burst to life inside me. Static electricity rippled through the air. I struggled to wade through what I was feeling, but all I could focus on was the way my body tingled at the close proximity of him.

  When his tongue slipped against my closed lips I parted them, allowing him the access he seemed to crave. The feel of his tongue caressing mine had warmth streaking down my middle. Strong desire powered through me. I fisted his button up shirt and leaned into him as close as I could without toppling into his lap.

  This—kissing him, touching him—felt impossi
bly right.

  When he suddenly pulled away, I felt as though I’d been ripped from the most beautiful dream and found myself shell shocked. Why were his lips no longer on mine? Uneasy silence filled the space between us.

  “What’s wrong?” I hated having asked. My words sounded too breathy as though I was pleading with him to crush his lips against mine again.

  I was.

  My gaze drifted to the door, thinking someone had walked in. No one was there. It was closed. There didn’t seem to be any reason for an interruption.

  Until I saw the black orchid resting on the stone floor at my feet.

  “Where did that come from?” Fear flowed like ice through my veins. My heart thundered in my chest, but this time it had nothing to do with the feel of Ren’s lips pressed against mine. The sticky heat of passion that had been building inside me fizzled to nothing at the sight of the flower.

  “True love’s kiss at work,” Ren said. His words rolled over me like a sedative, calming the panic twisting my insides almost immediately.

  Deep down, I knew he was right. Every single fiber of my being knew.

  “What am I supposed to do?” I asked.

  “Pick it up.”

  “What? No!” He couldn’t be serious. Didn’t he remember what happened to me the last time I touched one?

  Ren squeezed my hand gently. “I know you’re scared. You have every right to be, but it’s the only way to end all of this. It’s the only way to fully break the spell.”

  Shit. Why couldn’t the kiss have been enough?

  My hand shook as I reached for the flower. Adrenaline flooded my system. All I wanted to do was run. Instead, I fought against my fears and picked it up.

  It wasn’t hot or cold like I’d thought it might be. It wasn’t light as a feather or heavy as a boulder either, considering the amount of weight it had in impacting my life for the last two years.

  It was tangible, though.

  Its stem was smooth. Its petals buttery soft. Its overly sweet scent permeated the air, making my muscles tense up.

  “Now toss it in the fire,” Ren instructed.

  I didn’t hesitate. I tossed the orchid into the fire, glad to no longer hold it. Thick, black smoke rippled through the room as the air crackled with what I imagined to be its magic.

  Demon magic.

  At the reminder of the demon, I glanced from one end of the room to the other, searching for it. No one revealed themselves. At least not that I could see. The room was filled with so much smoke it would be hard to see anyone lurking in a corner. Heck, I could barely see Ren, let alone the hand in front of my face. I coughed and then stood, unable to handle the sweet scent or thick smoke any longer. I started for the window but Ren gripped my wrist.

  “Don’t. You have to stay where you are. The smoke will dissipate soon, but you can’t run from it. You have to let it run its course,” he said.

  I sat down beside him again and waited. It was then I realized not only was the smoke coming from the fire where the flower burned—it was coming from me.

  As it did, my memories returned.

  Tiny things came back at first, like my favorite color, songs, and foods. Then bigger things like places I’d traveled to, people I’d befriended, and guys I’d dated. Birthday parties. Holidays. Movies I loved and books that made me cry.

  In minutes, I remembered everything...even being a fairy.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Are you okay?” Ren asked.

  His hand moved across my back in slow, calming circles as I struggled to catch my breath. The smoke had dissipated, but the emotions from so many memories rushing back to greet me at once hadn’t. Tears flowed from my eyes.

  “I will be,” I insisted. “That was just a lot to take in at once.” I wiped my nose with the back of my hand.

  “I can only imagine.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in closer.

  I closed my eyes and let him hold me.

  “Ivy,” Ren whispered against my hair. “Open your eyes.”

  “What?”

  I knew what had him so excited the instant my eyes snapped open. Each place a tear of mine had landed on my dress, a beautiful yellow lily had formed.

  “My favorite flower,” I breathed and lifted my gaze to Ren. “Did you do that?”

  He shook his head. “It’s all you. After all, you are a fairy.”

  “One who cries flowers?” I scoffed.

  “Magic is magic.”

  I laughed, causing more tears to slip from my eyes. As they did, more lilies formed on my dress.

  It was me.

  I picked up one of the flowers and spun it around between my fingers. It was perfect. My gaze drifted to Ren.

  “I guess I should be thanking you,” I said.

  “Why? I didn’t do anything.”

  “You kissed me.”

  “Only because you asked me to.” He winked.

  I nudged him playfully. “Admit it. You were waiting for me to say the words.”

  “Is that such a bad thing?” A boyish grin twisted his lips that had my stomach breaking out into butterflies for the millionth time tonight.

  “Not at all.” I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his.

  It was a sweet kiss, one not meant to last long, but the instant my lips touched his, the desire for more pulsed through me. Ren must have felt the same because his hand gripped my hip and he pulled me closer. I didn’t bother resisting. Instead, I opened my mouth wider and raked my fingers up and down his back. His breathing became shallow and my body tingled at his close proximity.

  I wanted him. More than I’d ever wanted anyone in my life, and with my memories back, I knew this to be true.

  There was something about Ren Jacobs that seeped into my bloodstream the first time I saw him. While I’d never been a believer in love at first sight or in soulmates, I knew now it was because the right person hadn’t come into my life to give me a reason to believe in either until him.

  “I feel like we’re coming close to the point of no return.” Ren’s hot breath slipped teasingly across my lips. “Is this the right place for us to be doing this?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know,” I whispered between kisses.

  “Then maybe we should stop. For now.”

  I licked my swollen lips and stared at him. His eyes smoldered, but he didn’t make a move toward me. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.

  “Okay,” I said. “So, do you want to go back to the party?”

  A wry hint of a smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. Sure.”

  He stood and held out a hand to me. I placed mine in his and let him lead me to the door. Before stepping out into the hall with him, I cast a quick glance over my shoulder and noticed the room was bare again. Whatever magic Ren had been upholding for us was now gone.

  “Don’t worry,” he said as he squeezed my hand. “There’s more where that came from.”

  My teeth sank into my bottom lip to hide my grin. As we started down the hall a door to my left opened and a couple emerged. The girl’s cheeks were tinted pink, her hair was a mess, and the guy wore a satisfied smirk. It seemed as though there were quite a few connections being made tonight.

  Strands of music made their way to my ears as we neared the ballroom. The party was still alive and thumping. This time when I wove my way through the crowd, I did so with a gigantic smile on my face and a certainty I was just as much a part of this world as everyone else here tonight. With my nerves finally at rest, I put down all my walls and enjoyed myself.

  I danced until I was sweaty. Smiled until my cheeks hurt. And laughed until I could hardly breathe. When the band announced the party was over and for everyone to head outside for the grand finale, Ren gripped my hand in his and led me to the exit. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but fireworks definitely wasn’t it.

  Ren leaned into me, his lips nearly brushing my ear. “I guess this means the party’s over.”

  “Not for us,” I said
. “For us the party is just beginning.”

  As though my words held a sense of magic on their own, everything around us faded away. The Monster Ball was over. I tightened my grip on Ren, hoping with any luck, we’d somehow remain together during the trip home. I wasn’t ready to say goodnight to him yet.

  The same sense of weightlessness floated through me. A white light blinded me for a moment, and when I opened my eyes, Ren was still with me.

  “Well, that was interesting,” he said. “I still have no clue how it works.”

  “Magic.” I grinned.

  His gaze drifted around, soaking in our new surroundings. “Where are we?”

  “Outside my apartment building.”

  “Oh. So, I guess you were right about our party not ending.”

  “Looks like I was.” I licked my lips but held his gaze.

  Ren lowered his head and grazed his lips across mine. It was light enough to be considered a tease but still caused my insides to spark to life with desire. I took his hand and led him up the stairs of my apartment building. He didn’t protest.

  When we reached the door to my apartment, I spun around to face him before opening it. “My roommate is probably still out partying, but I can’t be sure. I have no clue what time it is. If she is home though, she’s going to flip when she sees me bringing a guy home.”

  “And, why is that?”

  My face grew hot. “Because I’ve never done it before.”

  “Got ya.”

  I opened the door and was greeted by Lola. Her leash was still attached to her collar. Brielle must not have come home yet, which was probably a good thing.

  “Hey, girl.” I unhooked Lola’s leash and set it on the catch-all table. She darted to the couch.

  “Who’s that?” Ren asked nodding to her.

  “That would be my roommate’s dog, Lola.”

  She perked her head up at the mention of her name but didn’t come to me. Instead, she curled into a tighter ball on the couch and closed her eyes.

  “Are you thirsty? I think we still have some wine,” I said as I made my way further into the apartment.

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  Ren’s eyes were on me; I could feel them traveling along the length of me. Warmth bloomed through my lower stomach.