I looked down at my feet. My bare feet. Shoes. I’d forgotten shoes. Unless. I dug into the bottom of the garment bag and pulled out a pair of silver stilettos. My grandmother had thought of everything. My hand shook slightly as I fastened the straps. Somehow putting the shoes on made everything real. I tried to stay calm. This wasn’t that big of a deal. I could face the Madison brothers. It’s not like I had a choice.
But before I could face them, I had to face my sisters. If I was lucky, they wouldn’t recognize the dress. I carefully descended the stairs, using the railing for the first time ever. The shoes looked great, but that didn’t mean they were easy to walk in. My heels clicked on the wood floor as I made my way back toward the front of the house.
I wasn’t lucky.
“That’s grandma’s dress.” Belle stopped me before I even took a step onto the porch. “How did you get her dress?”
Something in her voice sounded like an accusation. As if I’d stolen it or something. Anger boiled inside me. Really? My own sister? “She gave it to me.” I knew none of my sisters were going to like that answer, but it was the truth. And no amount of fibbing was going to get me out of this.
“Why?” Darla’s voice held no accusation, more surprise. “Why would she give it to you and not any of us? That dress is legendary. She and Grandpa forged one of the biggest deals for our kind the night she wore it. Smart, influential, and beautiful. We’ve got quite the lineage to look up to.”
I shrugged. Everything Darla said about our grandmother was true. But that didn’t help explain her decision to lend me the dress. “Maybe because I’m the youngest so there’s no fight. We couldn’t all show up in the same dress each time.”
Danielle grinned. “It’s because she’s the only one who could fit into it. The rest of us would spill out.”
“She’s not flat, Danielle.” Darla looked me over as if double checking. “There’s plenty on display there.” She grinned.
“Yes, but she isn’t like us.”’ Danielle gestured to the way her tank top pulled against her chest. I’d been so jealous of her growing up.
“Okay. That’s enough discussion of my chest size.” When I imagined facing my sisters, this wasn’t the way I’d expected the conversation to go. “Now if you don’t mind, I need to get ready to go.”
“We are helping. Or did you forget?” Darla walked over.
“I couldn’t forget,” I mumbled.
“What are you going to do with your hair?” Darla pulled some of my long curly locks into her hands.
“Do with it?” I tried to gently pull my hair away from her. “Like pull it back into a ponytail or something?”
“Pull it back into a ponytail?” Danielle laughed. “Are we sure she’s related to us?”
“I was there when mom had her.” Belle moved my nephew to her other hip. “We’re related.”
“Grandma gave me the dress because she knew I was apprehensive about the ball. I think she was worried I wouldn’t get a dress if she didn’t help me. Somehow, I doubted she would have wanted me to go in jeans.”
“In jeans?” Darla gasped. “To the Monster Ball?”
“I don’t own much else. That and shorts.”
“Once again. Are we related?” Danielle shook her head.
I shrugged again. “Sometimes I wonder too.”
Chapter Three
By midnight the evening had cooled down considerably. Shivers ran up and down my spine, but I didn’t know if it was from the light breeze or my nerves. Was this really happening? Did I really have to face them tonight?
As much as I’d wanted my sisters to leave, it had been harder to say goodbye than I’d expected. I’d watched the taillights of Darla’s SUV with a mix of emotions. Nothing would be the same when I saw them again. They thought this was a good thing, but I didn’t. Neither twin I picked tonight would lead to a happily ever after. I knew those didn’t really exist in real life. My sisters were happy enough, but not in a fairy tale way. But I wanted to find some happiness. The problem was, so far, my greatest happiness came when I was alone.
I wasn’t wearing a watch, but I knew when midnight ticked closer. For the millionth time, I tried to calm down. I could do this. I’d known it was coming. Maybe the Madison brothers had changed. Maybe they’d forgotten that awful day even though I knew I couldn’t. Or maybe they wouldn’t show. If they were the ones who still didn’t want me as a mate, I’d be off scot-free. I’d have done nothing wrong, and I could go about my life the way I wanted to. That would be a lucky outcome, and I was rarely lucky.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the glimmer of moonlight. I blinked a few times, and the beam grew brighter. I averted my eyes, blinked again, and the woods were gone. Instead I was looking at an open archway, anchored on both sides by large stone towers. I looked up at the star filled sky. If I hadn’t been expecting it, I’d have thought I were dreaming.
I took a tentative step through the archway into a courtyard. “The Monster Ball,” I murmured. This was it. I was finally there.
Fog swirled all around, yet as if by magic, it didn’t cover one narrow area of stones—the walkway. Purple lights twinkled in the fog.
I paused long enough to let two girls in flowing black dresses pass by. They barely glanced at me. I took that as a good thing. I preferred to blend into the background.
I walked up two large stone steps and got my first good look at the old stone castle. It was like stepping back in time. I shook off my awe as I reached another archway, this one flanked by two giant gargoyle statues. There was something about the stone faces—as if their unmoving eyes could see me.
And then the eyes blinked. In an instant, the gargoyles were no longer stone, nor were they gargoyles. They’d transformed into men, their human faces identical as they were as stone, but one had dreadlocks that were slightly longer. That one held out a hand to me. He wore a shiny black jacket. The other wore red.
I stared for a moment, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. Neither man said anything, and I was still too nervous to ask.
“Give him your ticket.” A voice instructed from right behind me.
“Oh.” Startled but relieved, I knew what to do now, I held out the piece of silver parchment.
The gargoyle with the outstretched hand laughed as he took the ticket and ushered me in.
Great. I’d embarrassed myself already. It was far from the first time, but I’d hoped to make it inside before I revealed just how socially inept I was.
I looked ahead at a soft blue light shining through the open doorway. I couldn’t see anything inside, but there was no turning back now.
“If you let your guard down a little, you might actually have some fun.” The same voice spoke in barely a whisper.
This time I turned, needing to know if the owner matched the voice.
“Oh.” I put a hand to my chest when I took in the man beside me. “Delman.” I barely got his name out. Was it really him? It was hard to concentrate considering how good he looked in the black tux that fit him perfectly.
“I must admit, I’m surprised you showed up, Kitty-Kat.”
“No one’s called me that for years.” My heart was beating out of control. I had to stop myself. For all I knew he could hear it. There were so many rumors swirling around the wolf world about Delman. It was hard to know which were true. What I did know was he was the sexiest man I’d ever seen. I’d thought that as a teen, and I definitely thought that now.
“That’s because you haven’t seen me in years.” His eyes swept over me. “I see you’ve grown up some in the intervening time.”
“Yeah, well. I’m not a kid anymore.” I focused on the thumping beat of the music. Despite my hesitation about the ball, something about that music lured me in. But not as much as Delman’s eyes. Those lured me in a whole lot more.
“You were never really a kid. Not like most.”
“What do you mean?” I wrapped my arms across my chest.
“You were always w
ise beyond your years.” He brushed my hair behind my ear, and a shiver ran down my back. “Unlike my cousins.”
“Your cousins.” Reality washed over me. I couldn’t sit here ogling Delman when I was supposed to pick one of his cousins to be my mate. Why couldn’t I have been matched with him? Not that he’d have wanted me either. Being petite was fine for some creatures but not wolves. It was seen as a sign of weakness. I wasn’t weak, but there was no convincing some of that fact.
“Please tell me you don’t plan to pick one of those clowns. You deserve better.”
“I have no choice.” I’d never had a choice. Thankfully my parents had given me space until now, but my time was up.
“We always have a choice.” He nodded and disappeared through the arch.
I let out a slow breath. There was nothing else to do but follow.
I stepped through the arch and entered into a tunnel. The blue light disappeared, and I was thrown into darkness. I had strong night vision, but there was still something unsettling about walking in the dark. I felt exposed in a way I didn’t in the light—probably opposite of how most people felt. But then again, I was opposite of most everyone in my life.
The music returned, this time louder, and I blinked as I stepped back into the light. I was doing a lot of blinking. There were so many lighting changes it was impossible for my eyes to keep up.
Delman was nowhere to be seen as I found myself at the edge of a large ballroom. He must have already gotten lost in the elegantly dressed crowd. Big groups often made me uncomfortable, but it was easier knowing I likely didn’t know most of these creatures. There was far less pressure that way.
I pushed away my worries the best I could and glanced up to take in the large chandeliers whose candles glowed lightly. Tiny pixies swirled around the air, reminding me I was most definitely not back home in Georgia. Despite everything, I was excited to be at the ball. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
A man dressed in a black suit pushed into me, forcing me to finally walk further into the ballroom. No more observing from the sidelines. My eyes went immediately to the bars. If I was going to survive the night I was going to need a drink.
The long black bars on either side of the room looked the same on the surface, so I opted for the one to my left. There were fewer people there. Anything to get a drink faster. It wasn’t even the alcohol I was in a hurry for as much as having a glass in my hand. I was well aware it was all in my head, but it made me more comfortable.
There were two bartenders behind the bar. Once again another choice. What had Delman just said about choices? If only all choices could be as inconsequential as this.
I waited my turn as a couple ordered in front of me. “What will it be?”
I met the gaze of the male bartender. With a head full of golden blonde hair, a full beard, and a charming smile, I had a feeling he was the type who got big tips.
I went with something safe. Something I knew I always liked no matter who poured it. “I’ll take a rum and Coke.”
“Really?” He leaned over the bar. “How about something a little bit more fun?”
“More fun?” I raised an eyebrow. Fun was something I desperately needed but definitely didn’t trust.
“Yes. Want to try my signature drink?”
“What is it?” I’d learned early to always ask questions. Surprises weren’t usually good things.
He leaned on his elbows. “I call it the twenty-four karat gold.”
“Oh. Because of your hair?” I eyed the scale tattoos on his arm. He had to be a dragon shifter.
“Good. You’re sharp.”
“If you say so.” I rested my hand on the bar top. “What’s in it?”
“Do you like pineapple?”
“Sure.” Who didn’t like pineapple?
“And I don’t mean the crappy stuff. I mean the real deal.”
“There’s crappy pineapple?”
“The stuff that comes out of a can.”
“It’s not crappy.” I happened to enjoy it, but it wasn’t anywhere as good as fresh.
“It’s not like what I use.”
“Got it.” I glanced over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t holding up the line or anything. There were only a few people there.
“And I already know you like rum.”
Just because there wasn’t a long line didn’t mean it wouldn’t change. “I’ll take the twenty-four karat gold.”
“Nice choice.”
I tried to watch as he worked. It seemed to be pineapple juice, rum, maybe cinnamon. Then he turned and breathed fire on a slice of fresh pineapple—roasting it in the process. Yes, definitely a dragon. He added the pineapple on top before setting the drink down in front of me. “I assure you it’s good.”
I picked up the drink. “I’ll let you know.”
“Have a nice evening.”
“I’ll try my best.” I wandered away from the bar, ready to get lost in the crowd. I noticed a girl in a gorgeous green gown that appeared to be made entirely of leaves. By the expression on her face, she was more uncomfortable than I was. I gave her a half smile as I passed by. “Love your dress.”
She frowned, and I worried she might have thought I was being sarcastic. “I mean I really love it.” She smiled the tiniest bit, so I took that as a good sign to continue on.
As anti-social as I tended to be, I could appreciate the art of people watching. It was especially fun when you could add in the element of guess the creature. I watched a group of wispy thin women dancing around. Their hair was tied up with colorful ribbons. I was pretty sure they were woods nymphs. The two men watching their every move were vampires. I was sure of that. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what the girl sitting on the floor in the middle of the room was. Drunk was the only word that came to mind.
“You decided to show up?” A hand wrapped around my waist, settling on my hip.
I spun, trying to offset the hand to no avail. “Hello, Bassett.” I looked into his dark brown eyes, trying to remember what I’d ever seen in him.
“It’s been far too long, Kat.” He tightened his hand.
I elbowed him, and he released my hip.
“What was that for?” He rubbed his side where my elbow had made contact.
“A little presumptuous don’t you think?” More than a little, but I’d play nice.
“Considering what we’re going to be doing soon, you might as well get used to my hands on you. They’ll be there a lot.” He smirked.
I wanted to wipe that smirk off his face and fast. “What makes you think we’ll be doing anything soon?”
“You’d never choose Tony over me. I’m the one you always liked. That hasn’t changed.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Seeing Bassett brought back anger more than hurt. I took that as a major improvement. Anger was something I could work with. Hurt only made me feel weak.
“There’s no use pretending. We were all there that night.”
“Yes.” I’d thought over that awful night many times. “Which makes me wonder why you’re here now.”
“One doesn’t turn down an invitation to the Monster Ball.”
“Agreed. Let me rephrase my question. Why are you talking to me?”
“I made a mistake. I see that now.” He reached for my hand.
I pulled my hand away. “A mistake.” I laughed dryly. “Is that what you call it?”
“What else would you have me call it? So much has changed since then.”
“Yet so much hasn’t.” The burn of humiliation doesn’t always fade away.
“Are you done bothering my future mate?” Another hand shot around me. This time I stepped away before the other twin, Tony could plant his hand on my hip.
They were eerily alike in behavior.
Bassett sneered. “We all know who she is going to pick. There is no use wasting your time, brother.”
Tony took a step toward me. “You are the one wasting your time.”
I side stepped him and took a long sip of the drink. It was sweet and went down easy. I took another. I forced myself to meet Tony’s eyes. “And I suppose you’d say you made a mistake all those years ago.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t make mistakes. But things have changed.”
“They haven’t changed enough.”
“If I’d had any idea you’d end up looking like this,” he gestured to me, his hand moving in the same slow motion as his eyes. “Well. Things might have gone down differently that night.”
“You are just as shallow as I thought.”
“Shallow?” He frowned. “Does caring what a mate looks like make me shallow?”
“I was fourteen years old. You destroyed my confidence.”
“I did?” Tony put a hand to his chest. “What about Bassett?”
“He destroyed a lot more.”
Tony laughed. “Okay, I think we all know who won this one.”
“No one won anything.” I downed the rest of my drink.
“What are you drinking?” Tony pointed to my empty glass. I’d even eaten the pineapple slice. “I’ll get you another.”
“I don’t want you to get me anything.” I thought I could handle seeing them. But I couldn’t. It was time to come up with a plan B.
Chapter Four
Four years earlier…
I needed to get out of the uncomfortable dress. Pink taffeta and I didn’t go well together. I’d suffered through wearing it during the ceremony; that should have been enough. It wasn’t. My mom had quickly shot me down when I asked to change before the reception. It was official; my family didn’t get me at all.
I was tired of being a bridesmaid for my sisters. I was tired of these weddings. I was tired of everything. I leaned back against a large tree and watched the festivities. There was so much laughing and dancing. No one else seemed as uncomfortable as I was. Actually, no one else seemed uncomfortable at all. It was hard to believe in a few years it would be my turn.
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