“Not me. I don’t screw with people like that,” I said. “Sometimes, what they wish for will have that sort of effect on its own.”
She pursed her lips together. “I’m sure.”
I leaned forward, wanting just one more kiss. Her mouth moved in perfect rhythm with mine. We were good together. This I was sure of. Too bad all we had was tonight.
When Alayna pulled away, I wasn’t sure why. Until I realized there wasn’t music playing anymore.
“Oh, no,” Alayna whispered. Her face fell, and I knew whatever she was about to say next wouldn’t be good. “The night can’t be over yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Last year, when the music stopped, it was because the ball was over.” Panic swirled through her eyes. “I don’t want tonight to be over.”
“Me either,” I said at the same time someone spoke into a mic.
“We hope you’ve all found love, even if only for a little while. Tonight was a blast. Thank you all for coming. Please make your way to the roof for the grand finale show!”
Everyone cheered and whistled. I swore I heard a few wolves howling, too.
Alayna’s hand shook as she reached for her heels. I grabbed my suit jacket and then pulled her close, stopping her frantic movements. There was so much I wanted to tell her, but all of it seemed too soon, so I said nothing. Instead, I just kept holding her. I inhaled deeply, memorizing her scent—lilacs—and then I let her go.
We walked up to the roof. It was already crammed full of people, but we found a little space in a corner. Music filtered through the air, surrounding us in a mesmerizing melody.
Alayna intertwined her fingers with mine. Her eyes twinkled when she looked up at me. “You’ll love this.”
I doubted I’d love anything that was about to happen if it meant the end of this night—the end of my time with her. This couldn’t be the last time I saw her. I’d have to figure out a way to see her again.
Fireworks burst through the night sky, startling me. Alayna leaned her head against my shoulder, her face tilted to the sky as she watched the show. I couldn’t look at anything else besides her. She was more beautiful than any firework ever could be.
“Well, it was fun while it lasted, Ryan. Thank you for tonight,” she whispered, her warm lips brushing the outer edge of my ear. “I know it’s a long shot, but I hope our paths cross again one day soon.”
“Me too.” The words had barely made it out of my mouth before white light blinded me to the point my eyes were forced to close. When I opened them again, Alayna was gone.
Everything was.
I was back in the alley beside the casino. The sun was rising, and the pull of my Charge was overwhelming. Had I been standing out here the entire night? Was the ball and Alayna real? I moved to slip my suit jacket on, and as I did, the scent of lilacs floated to my nose. A slow smile tugged at the corners of my mouth because I knew right then it had all been real.
Every second of it. Including Alayna. I’d find her again one day. I could feel it in my bones. We were meant to be together.
And my final wish would be for us to spend more nights like this together. Her final wish floated through my mind as I walked back to the entrance of the casino.
“As you wish, Alayna, as you wish.” My smile grew because I knew I’d find a way to make it happen.
The End—For Now
Look for more from these characters coming soon!
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Twisted Tides
By
Heather Hildenbrand
Chapter One
Breck
My hand twitched as I reread the invitation for tonight’s event. The words were so familiar now I could nearly recite them.
Just as the moon has brought me to you,
So shall the moon bring you to the ball.
All Hallows Eve.
The Witching Hour.
I’d researched and reconned for years now to find a way into this elite party, and out of nowhere, this year I’d gotten an invite. Literally, nowhere. The damn thing had floated right out of the sky and into my hand. Maybe my asking around had gotten back to whomever the mysterious host or hostess was in charge of this thing.
And now, tonight was the night.
My stomach tightened, uneasy at what I was about to do. This wasn’t like any of my other missions. For one thing, if all went well, I wouldn’t be returning. Not tonight. Not ever.
With one last glance around the tiny Alaskan cabin I’d called home the last few years, I stood up. Across from me stood a shelf full of little souvenirs I’d picked up on a few of my missions. In the corner was a quilt I’d bought from a Persian woman whose son I’d saved from a rabid werewolf last summer. Beside it, the wood stove was still stocked, thanks to another hunter friend who’d spent some time here, working out some problems of his own. He’d taken his frustration out through my axe and split a year’s worth of wood for me before he went home. I wasn’t the “friend” type, but it’d been okay having him here. And the chopped wood was a plus.
But even with the memories, I couldn’t summon any regret over the idea of never seeing this place again. It had always felt temporary. I’d yet to find a place in this world where I felt like I actually belonged. Where I felt like putting down some roots instead of always being ready to move on again.
I eyed the whiskey in my hand then knocked it back before setting the empty glass aside. Striding to the front door, I pulled it open and stepped out onto the moonlit porch. Then, I closed the door behind me and waited.
Not a single twinge of longing filled me as I stared up at the moon, waiting for what would happen next. The only thing in this world I’d miss was my half-sister, Sam. But she had a life of her own now. A mate. Friends and family who loved her. She’d be cared for and happy after I was gone. It was all I could want for her.
Happiness wasn’t an option for me. Not in this world. Maybe not in the next—but I had to at least try. It was all in the letter I’d left for her. I could only hope she’d understand.
Besides, this decision had less to do with happiness and more to do with honor.
Destan deserved that, at least.
A minute passed, and the Alaskan cold penetrated easily through the suit I wore. I tugged at the bow tie already beginning to choke my neck. The last time I’d dressed up had been for Sam’s wedding. It’d taken several shots of whiskey to get me into this monkey suit, but once the festivities began, I was glad I’d made the effort. It had been a happy day. The only happy day I’d worn this getup for. The previous occasion had been much more sobering.
Before the memory of it could take hold—a funeral that still pricked sharply at my heart—I reached up and unknotted the bow tie. Yanking it free, I tossed it aside and watched as it fell to the snow-covered porch at my feet. I refused to let tonight be about what I’d lost.
I was going to The Monster Ball to gain something—a new life if I was lucky.
Frustrated and with no one to take it out on, I unbuttoned the top of my collared shirt. This party was formal, but the longer the magic took to transport me, the less I gave a shit about appearances.
My breath came out in puffs against the frigid air. Any longer, and I’d have to go back for a coat. Or the whiskey. The thought of another glass to steady me had me turning, but before I could reach the door, a glow of moonlight caught my eye. A single beam pulsed brightly, reflecting off of the snow around me until it hurt my eyes.
A light flashed.
I turned away, blinking against the intensity of it.
The air around me shifted. Between blinks, I felt the world tilt.
The light vanished, and I straightened, looking around at what was definitely not the Alaskan tundra anymore. For one thing, the temperature was much warmer. Still cold by most standards but nothing like what I’d left behind. Instead of the moon glaring off the snow, there was only concrete as far as the eye could see.
Behind me, a busy stree
t teemed with pedestrians. A horn blared, and someone shouted obscenities at a bicyclist. He screamed back, gave them the finger, and pedaled on. Beyond that, skyscrapers made a picturesque backdrop, but it wasn’t the buildings that gave away my location. The smell, more than anything, was unmistakably New York City.
My stomach churned with the realization I’d just been transported with magic more powerful than any I’d ever seen. My sister, Sam, was half-witch, and even she couldn’t have done this.
The invitation in my hand felt more and more like the answer I’d been looking for all along. Tucking it into my jacket pocket, I strode into the darkened alleyway that stretched before me and hoped like hell I hadn’t just made a huge mistake.
Chapter Two
Aqua
Two grumpy-faced palace guards floated below me while I made my way to the surface alone. Lucky for me, there was no “plus one” that would allow my annoying shadows to accompany me tonight. It was one of the reasons I attended The Monster Ball every year. Despite the chaos and noise—or maybe because of it—I felt anonymous. No one at the Ball cared if you were royalty or the realm’s most tragic story. On a night like tonight, I was just a girl.
“Don’t forget to keep your eyes open, princess,” Monroe, my personal guard, called out. “Our intel says Priscilla’s going to use tonight to set something in motion against you.”
“She can try,” I said.
“Princess, this isn’t a threat to take lightly,” Monroe warned. “With your parents and brother gone, you’re the only thing standing in her way. She’s determined to undermine you.”
“I’ll be careful,” I assured him, trying not to let my impatience creep into my voice.
“And please keep your distance,” he added.
I paused to glare at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means.” His tone crept toward fatherly as it often did since Father died. “Training or not, it’s unacceptable for a princess to engage her enemies directly.”
“Bad press wouldn’t do,” Doughtry, the other guard, added. “Especially so close to your coronation as queen.”
I gave them both a side-eye that made it clear what I thought of their lectures. It’s not like I went looking for a fight; drama always seemed to find me. Besides, Priscilla was a threat, sure, but she wasn’t stupid enough to try something directly. Especially considering the wards at the Ball made it impossible to do lethal harm to anyone. Besides, even if the magic didn’t prohibit violence, Priscilla should have been the worried one. Not a day went by that I didn’t practice what I’d learned during my time at the academy. My reflexes were just as good as they used to be. Maybe better. Thirst for vengeance tended to do that to a person.
I was sick of her games. The entire kingdom was.
With one last wave, I turned away from my royal watch dogs then broke the surface, climbing easily onto the rock ledge beside me. Water beaded on my scales then dried, thanks to the swift breeze coming in from the east. The weather was changing. Doughtry was right. Coronation Day would be here before I knew it. Maybe when I was queen, Priscilla would finally stop trying to undermine me.
I snorted.
That sea witch would never give up in her quest to destroy me.
My hair whipped around my face while I waited to be swept away. By the time I managed to smooth it back, my tail had become human legs. Another snap of my fingers, and magic wove around my smooth skin to form a gown. Turquoise fabric shimmered against the moonlight. I ran my hand over the fabric, admiring the color.
My thighs strained against the confines of the skirt, and I frowned, drawing a line with my finger from ankle to thigh. The magic complied, ripping two neat slits, one up each side.
I wriggled my legs, satisfied.
My hair remained wild from the salty wind, but I didn’t care. Tonight was about blending in. My tiara would make that hard enough, but maybe wind-blown hair would soften the regal edge I was forced to exude the rest of the year.
Destan would have loved both personas. The parties and the responsibility of ruling were a yin and yang for him; equal parts amusing and fulfilling. He always had fun no matter the occasion.
I hated that I was living his life.
My shoulders sagged as the cold sea air raised goose bumps along my freshly formed human skin. Winter on the northern coasts were brutal for humans, but the water fae had scales and thick skins that protected us against the cold or any other threat.
Legs were much more vulnerable.
The magic of the Ball was the only reason my parents had once agreed to let me venture onto land. After they died, it was one of the few social gatherings I continued to attend. But I didn’t go for them or for the schmoozing I’d promised I’d do on behalf of my newly inherited kingdom. I went for Destan. For his memory and his love of people.
A beam of moonlight landed on me, and I sent a burst of magic through my fingers. The invitation I’d tucked into an invisible pocket of air appeared in my hand.
I looked down, re-reading the script that invited me to a party for the ages. Whoever The Proprietor was, she knew how to keep a secret. The realms were constantly buzzing with speculation. Once, years ago, Destan had claimed to know who was behind the Ball, but it was one of many secrets he’d taken to the grave.
I smiled, remembering that last summer we’d had together. I’d spent nearly a year at the academy with human legs; so long that returning home and donning scales had felt strange. Leaving school had felt even stranger. Donning my crown and stepping in to lead an entire kingdom under the sea had taken years to get used to. Or maybe it was the loneliness that clung to my new role.
Another face flashed in my mind, but I forced it away. Even after all this time, I could see his smile crystal-clear, and it made my heart ache almost as much as losing Destan did.
Rather than lingering on the past, I lifted my head to study the moonlight and waited. When the beam glowed bright, I shut my eyes and let the magic transport me to this year’s secret location. No matter where I landed or who I saw tonight, I made a promise to myself to enjoy it as best I could.
Tonight’s for you, big brother.
Chapter Three
Breck
The alley grew darker and darker as I went. My senses sharpened as the light grew nearly nonexistent. The scent of something foreign hit me, and I tensed, forcing my feet to carry me forward. Death and decay, I realized as another shoulder brushed mine.
The creature turned and aimed a pair of bright red eyes at me.
Vampire, I realized with a start.
He lifted his mouth in a menacing smile, undead eyes glittering. Before I could react, he turned back to his date. She smiled at him, her features stunning but razor-sharp. Whatever she was, I knew then and there it wouldn’t go well to get on her bad side.
I followed them slowly, my years’ of training kicking in so that I assessed every move the male vamp made. Silently, I reminded myself of what I’d learned about this gathering. No death allowed—the magic surrounding this place made sure of that. But until I was inside, I wasn’t taking any chances. And even then…
The couple stepped up to a bright red door flanked by two massive gargoyle statues carved in intricate detail. I stopped a few paces back and looked around for some sign of life.
Did we just walk right in?
But the vamp hesitated, and a second later, the stone gargoyles began to move. They came to life as easily as if they’d done it a thousand times.
“Ticket?” one of them asked in an accent that suggested they were locals. Their features were identical with dark skin, dreadlocks, and muscles that nearly bulged out of their stylish jackets.
“Of course.” Without missing a beat, the male vamp handed over an invitation identical to my own. The redhead on his arm did the same.
The gargoyles studied the tickets, both of them eyeing the vamp suspiciously. I tensed, wondering if something was wrong, but then the gargoyles waved them thro
ugh.
“Enjoy the party,” one of them called.
The vamp flashed his fangs as he and his date disappeared inside.
I stepped up, noting the couple over my shoulder who waited behind me. They weren’t nearly as threatening as the vamp though it could have had more to do with the fact that neither one smelled like death incarnate. The woman smiled at me.
“Ticket.”
I turned back to the gargoyle on the left and handed over my invitation. He studied it then me. “First time?” he asked.
“That obvious?”
He grinned. “Newbies are always fun to watch.”
His twin waved me forward, and his white jacket strained around his biceps. “Have fun, but no hunting tonight.”
“Thanks,” I muttered and stepped past them and through the front door. I wasn’t sure how he knew what I was—or at least knew the half of my heritage I’d embraced—but I decided not to ask.
A darkened hallway waited on the other side.
Before I could take a single step toward the far end, the front door shut behind me with a resolute click, and I knew there was no going back. Dim fluorescent lighting flickered ominously overhead then blinked out completely, plunging everything into blackness.
I tensed, hoping like hell the vamp from earlier hadn’t decided to wait in here for me. Who knew if the magic prohibiting death extended to the entryway? If it didn’t, that undead asshole was going to get more than he bargained for from me.
My years’ worth of werewolf hunter training could be just as useful against vamps; my training at the academy had made sure to prepare me for anything.
I felt for my blade, but it was gone.
“Shit,” I muttered.
I’d heard no weapon would make it inside, but I’d hoped. So much for that idea.
The Monster Ball Year 2 Page 10