The Monster Ball: A Paranormal Romance Anthology

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “Oh, and the chiefs are just going to sit back and take it?” Bassett shook his head. “You all are crazy.”

  “Yes.” Grandma nodded. “Because in the end, no one can force a wolf to mate with another.”

  “Kat wants to get with Delman, and you are going to take down the whole system?” Bassett looked in my direction. “Is that what this all is?”

  “Kat isn’t the first to want something different. It’s not as if you weren’t hoping for something different.” Deedy’s eyes bored into Bassett’s. “You begged me to break my arrangement. But I wasn’t strong enough. I was too afraid.”

  “And you have regrets?” There was something hopeful in Bassett’s voice.

  She shook her head. “Not regrets, but I regret that I had no choice.”

  “Only one of us was bound.” Bassett wasn’t ready to drop that thread of conversation even if Deedy was. It was strange watching him so vulnerable. It made my anger towards him dissipate a little. Maybe he’d really cared about her. It didn’t excuse his treatment of me, but it explained a lot. Hadn’t my grandmother just argued essentially the same thing about Belle?

  “Yes, but what was the other brother going to do? What wolves were unaccounted for?” Deedy pointed out.

  Silence. Suddenly neither brother had anything to say.

  “Exactly.” Deedy replied to her own question. “You two both serve to benefit from the change.”

  “Then what do you want from us? Our parents will kill us if we go back empty handed.”

  “I am prepared to offer you the services of our agency. Our wolf mate finder agency.” Deedy raised her chin.

  “Wolf mate finder agency?” Tony narrowed his eyes. “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “That’s because it’s new. There was no need for one when all mating was pre-determined. If wolves would like to find a mate on their own that’s fine. Otherwise we will be available to provide assistance.”

  “For a cost I am sure,” Bassett mumbled.

  “I’m prepared to offer you both the services for free.” Deedy gave me a small smile. I guess that had been my idea.

  “In exchange for what?” Tony’s eyes were narrowed into tiny slits.

  “For telling your family that neither of you want to abide by the agreement.”

  “No way.” Tony shook his head. “Kat is the one breaking it. Not us.”

  “Because of how you treated her.” Rex shot out of his chair. “Or have you forgotten that?”

  How did Rex know? As far as I was concerned no one was supposed to know.

  A new idea came to me. “Maybe none of us have to take the blame. We can say we came up with this together. Maybe I didn’t want to come between you guys, and you didn’t want it to ruin your relationship. It’s really rare to have an agreement like ours. Where I’m supposed to make a choice.”

  “And you’re mating with Delman?” Bassett frowned. “Is that it?”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” My answer was completely honest.

  Delman became stone still behind me.

  “Am I interested in Delman? Unequivocally yes. Absolutely. But I’m not going to worry about mating right now. I came of age tonight. I’m going to celebrate that first.”

  “Now that sounds like a good idea.” Delman nuzzled against my neck. His light stubble tickled. “We still haven’t had our dance.”

  “And what about us?” Tony put a hand to his chest. “We’re supposed to just sit back and wait?”

  “We can hardly find you guys mates tonight. This process is going to take a while.” Deedy paced the room.

  “What’s awhile?”

  She stopped her pacing. “A few weeks. Maybe more. You have developed quite the reputation. Especially you, Bassett.”

  “It’s not my fault.”

  “Actually it is, but that’s beside the point. It’s going to take some work to find the right girl.”

  “But she’ll do it.” I pulled away from Delman so I was standing tall. “She absolutely will.” I didn’t need the twins changing their minds about this and making a big deal. They didn’t have to go home saying it was all their idea, but I couldn’t have them screaming about how angry they were.

  Another thought struck me. A worrisome one. “What role is the magic going to play?”

  “You don’t need to worry,” Grandma quickly jumped in. “Magic can’t be used that way. At least not our kind of magic. We can’t change people’s feelings for one another.”

  She’d guessed the direction of my thoughts. She really did know me well. “I’m glad.” I wasn’t worried about the agency as much as myself.

  “So how about that dance?” Delman held out his hand again.

  “It’s about time you asked me again.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The band was playing a slow song when we walked back out into the ball. I happily let Delman lead me onto the dance floor. After all the stress of the past few hours, I was ready to lose myself in his strong arms and the beautiful music.

  “Sorry if that wasn’t the best surprise.” Delman held me close, so close it was hard to dance.

  I didn’t mind. “It’s all going to work out. I’m glad. I don’t want to make enemies out of my family. Even if we don’t always see eye to eye, I care about them.”

  He pulled me even closer. “I know. And you should. I told you the only way you’re going to get lost is with me.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Did you mean what you said in there? About mating with me?”

  “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. Or make it sound like I didn’t care.”

  “Oh. I know. I just. Earlier you’d seemed like your mind was made up.”

  I craned my neck so I could look into his eyes. “My mind is made up. I want to be with you, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stretch out the courtship. You know… give you time to spoil me,” I joked.

  “As if I’m going to stop spoiling you after we mate. I’m just going to spoil you more.” He ran his lips down my neck. “The things I’m going to do for you. To you.”

  All it took was a few words to have me heated up again. “And I want you to do all those things. But not here. I guess I just need to know for sure it’s not all about the ball. That it’s more than that.”

  “Fair enough. I’d wait forever for you.”

  “When you helped me with the ticket at the beginning of the night I had no idea we’d end up here like this.”

  “I wanted to whisk you away right then and there, but I resisted. It was hard.”

  “You didn’t wait that long.” I inhaled his scent and let it fill me.

  “No, but every second felt like forever.”

  “What happens when we leave?” Thankfully there was no visible clock. I didn’t want to know how much longer we had left to dance.

  “Whatever we want to have happen.”

  “I want to spend time together.”

  “We’re going to be spending the rest of our lives together. I wouldn’t worry about that.”

  “But where? Where will we live? What will we do? How will we get land? Only after we’ve mated?”

  “Okay. Slow down there. We don’t have to answer all those questions tonight. Although I loved that you said after we’ve mated. Not if.”

  “I never said it was an if.”

  “Inside…”

  “Inside I was trying to handle a lot… but that doesn’t mean I seriously doubted it. I mean I didn’t doubt us.”

  “It’s strange for me to feel this way.”

  “What way?” I ran my hand down his face. I wanted to memorize every line of him.

  “Nervous. So much hinges on you. On your decisions.”

  “Well, rest assured you are very influential on those decisions.”

  “You sure I can’t whisk you away somewhere right now?” He waggled an eyebrow.

  “As wonderful as that sounds, I really want to wait until we get home. Besides, isn’t this nice?”
/>
  “Dancing with you. It’s heaven.”

  “We’re not really dancing.”

  “Sure we are. Our two bodies are swaying to the music.”

  “Our two bodies are so close it’s like we’re one.”

  “If I had my way we would be fully connected right now.”

  “Are you trying to test my reserve?”

  “Always, Kitty-Kat. Always.”

  The band switched to a faster song, but we didn’t move positions. We still stood there, swaying, close together. There was nothing like dancing in his arms. The feel of him wrapped around me. The security. The warmth. I liked being on my own, but I didn’t want to be alone if my other option was to be with Delman. I was sure I’d never get enough of him.

  The hours slipped away, and just like that, the night was over. For a night I’d been dreading for years, now I didn’t want it to end. No matter what Delman said, I was terrified everything would change back home. What if this was some sort of dream I woke up from?

  “You know this isn’t the end for us.” Delman wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked outside. “It’s only the beginning. Remember that.”

  “Part of me expects you’re going to disappear.” It was so easy to be honest with him. I could tell him anything. Every fear. Every desire. And did I have desires… too bad the fears were blocking those out right now.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He spun me so I was facing him. “And neither are you. We may have been unable to finish what we started earlier, but I plan to fix that at the earliest convenience.”

  “And when will that be?”

  “Any time you want.”

  “We’re back to me being in control. We seem to always end up here.”

  “Because you are always in control. You own my heart, Kat. You’ve owned it for a very long time.”

  “And you own mine. And see, you are wrong about the control thing. I’m out of control around you.”

  He smiled. “That’s the good kind of out of control.”

  “Yes it is.” I stood up on my tippy-toes and kissed him just as fireworks lit up the sky. We broke apart to watch them for a few seconds before his lips returned to mine. We could watch fireworks anytime, right now kissing felt so much more important.

  Even with my eyes closed, I could feel something bright. I opened my eyes in time to be blinded by light. The next thing I knew I was back in front of the cabin right where I started. But I wasn’t alone. Delman’s arms were wrapped around me.

  “You came with me.” I could barely breathe. He hadn’t disappeared, nor did my feelings.

  “Of course I did. What part of you owning my heart don’t you understand?” He cupped my face with his hand. “I love you, Kat. You need to know that.”

  “I love you, too. I can’t believe I’m saying that so soon, but—”

  “There’s nothing soon about this. We’ve always been meant for each other. Our magic has been waiting to be united our entire lives.”

  “It really wasn’t just the ball.” I pressed my body against his. “This. Us. It’s real.”

  “Of course it’s real.”

  I looked up at the sky. “The sun is going to come up soon.”

  “I hope that’s not your way of telling me to leave.”

  “Quite the opposite. It’s my way of telling you it’s time to go to bed.”

  His eyes lit up. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Making fun of me now?” He’d copied my words.

  “No. We just think alike.”

  “Oh yeah. Then what am I thinking now?”

  “You’re imagining just how hot it’s going to get when you’re lying underneath me.” He ran his hand up and down my arm.

  “Good point. Forget the bed and head down to the lake?”

  “Yup. I’m absolutely right. We think alike.” He nipped at my neck. “Is it okay if I take control now?”

  “Yes, please.”

  In the blink of an eye we were lying on a blanket at the bank of the lake. The first rays of sunlight were already painting the sky. “I don’t think this night could get any better.”

  “It’s morning now, love. Remember this isn’t about one night. It’s about forever.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his face down to mine. “I’m ready to start forever if you are.”

  “I’ve always been ready.”

  “So have I.”

  The End – For Now

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  And turn the page for more Monster Ball…

  Tiaras

  And

  Fangs

  By Desni Dantone

  Chapter One

  My pulse pounds in tempo with the music blasting from the house behind me. The heavy bass rattles my bones, causing my feet to stagger across the uneven ground. Or it could be that last shot of rum Vi encouraged me to take before coming out here.

  “No. That’s not it,” I mutter under my breath with a shake of my head.

  I’m not drunk. I’m not really all that mad either, in spite of what I know.

  The slight tremble of my hand is entirely the music’s fault. It has nothing to do with the rum, or the silver car I’m approaching in the driveway. Nor am I bothered by the dozen whispering and giggling classmates dressed in a variety of costumes ranging from slutty cop to scary vampire who are surrounding the car like it’s a zoo exhibit.

  I wouldn’t exactly call them friends. Honestly, I’m not sure what they’re doing here, if not for the free beer and cheap laughs at my impending mortification. They gleefully part the way for me as I approach the car where it rocks in front of my dad’s dingy old garage.

  I can’t say I’m surprised by what I see. The pasty white ass pressed up against the window is, unfortunately, a familiar one. So is the bleached blonde mop of hair spilling over the back seat. One belongs to my boyfriend and the other to my sister. Neither of them are exactly candidates for good citizen awards on their best days.

  I’m not sure what sort of position this is that they are trying out, but it doesn’t look to be all that good. In a way, I’m relieved that it’s Jill in that car, and not me. If my appendages are going to be bent and twisted like that, I at least expect it to be for some fucking amazing sex.

  Not that I would know what that is like since I’ve kept Steve firmly on second base since we started dating four months ago. Technically, I wouldn’t know the difference between good sex and bad sex, but Jill does. I’ve heard her having good sex before, and this doesn’t sound like good sex. Serves her right for fucking my boyfriend in his car, in our driveway, during my eighteenth birthday party.

  The car continues to rock back and forth, both of them unaware of the audience they have assembled. I glance behind me to find a shoulder-to-shoulder wall of costume-clad teenagers between me and the front door of the house. My eyes find one familiar pair in the group, belonging to my best friend, Vienna.

  “All right. That’s it, people. Nothing to see here.” She shoulders her way through the crowd in her Princess Jasmine costume, simultaneously shoving everyone in the direction of the house with the promise of more beer inside. Finally reaching my side, she smirks. “Want me to get a knife and cut his balls off? Or would you rather take care of him and leave Jill to me? I’m happy with either one.”

  “I got this.”

  “You sure?” She glances through the window and wrinkles her nose. “Is that a mole on his butt?”

  “Birthmark.”

  “I’m going to call it a mole.” She backs away with a shrug. “If you need me, I’ll be inside, updating your relationship status to single. Or would you rather I put ‘complicated’ for now?”

  I shoot Vienna a dry look. “Definitely single.”

  “Good girl. Be strong. Don’t let those dimples weaken you.” She flashes me a smile before turning to marshal the few lingering gigglers into the house.

  Once they are g
one, I’m struck by the sudden quiet that surrounds me. Base still thumps behind me, but the music doesn’t sound as loud as before. I can now definitely hear moans coming from inside the car, and the first ripple of anger zings through me.

  I rap on the window, hard, three times. Steve freezes, his ass taking a permanent position pressed against the glass. I do my best not to look at it, but like a train wreck, it’s hard not to.

  For five extremely awkward seconds, no one moves. Then Steve’s head turns over his shoulder. His eyes go wide. Otherwise, he doesn’t flinch. He’s still in my sister while gaping at me, and it’s gross. I should have let Vienna go at him with a butcher knife.

  My eyes drift to what lies beyond my cheating asshole of a boyfriend. Not my backstabbing, sorry excuse for a sister but the small wrapped box on the floor beneath them. I fixate on the generic purple bow, now flattened thanks to them having had sex on it.

  “Is that for me?” I jab a finger at the box.

  Steve blinks, and suddenly there is a flurry of movement like he has finally realized I am standing here, watching him cheat on me. Jill’s feet fly across the back seat, and she vanishes into the shadows that line the inside of the car. The back door flies open, and Steve emerges, snapping his pants with one hand and holding the werewolf mask I got for him to wear tonight in the other hand.

  “Sav! It’s not what—”

  “Save your lies for the next sucker who agrees to go out with you.” I shove past him, and reach into the car to snatch the wrapped gift. Jill is pulling the shirt I let her borrow over her head. I ignore her and turn away, driving a shoulder into Steve before he dares touch me. “I just want to know what lame gift you thought would make you feel better about sleeping with my sister, and then you can go back to doing what you were doing. Knowing you, it won’t take long to finish.”

  I tear at the birthday-themed gift wrap, revealing a turquoise-colored box inside. “Tiffany’s? What idiot wraps a Tiffany’s box in cheap department store wrapping paper?”