by Kristie Cook
Gray chuckled and shook his head at his girlfriend.
“I love your dirty mind,” he said before leaning in to kiss her jaw.
“Seriously, dude,” Jack said, ignoring their PDA. “A ball sounds so ... Cinderella-y.”
“It’s a faerie thing,” Gray said. “You know how they are.”
“Which is exactly why I won’t be going,” Jack said as he bent over the table and made his shot. “It’s not safe for single guys.”
“Good thing I have Rissa now,” Gray said with a sappy grin. “But come on, dude, you never know who you might meet there.”
Jack’s eyes slid over to Jessie, but jumped away when he saw she was watching him.
“With the faeries, though, you don’t know if the vibes you’re getting are real or another of their games,” he said.
“Not all the girls going are faeries,” Rissa said as she twirled a dark lock around her finger. “You’ll know they’re real if she’s not one. You’re going, aren’t you, Jessie?”
Jessie’s eyes widened when the conversation spotlight turned on her. She hadn’t expected anyone to care what she was doing to bring in the New Year tonight.
“Um, no, I don’t think so,” she said as she scrubbed her rag on a non-existent spot on the bar.
“Aw, you should. I need someone sane to keep me company,” Rissa said.
Jessie cleared her throat. “I think I’ll just stay here, in case anyone comes in.”
“I’m pretty sure everyone’s going to the faerie ball,” Gray said.
“Doesn’t seem like something a wolf pack would want to do,” Jessie muttered, forgetting they all had just as good of hearing as she did.
“The faeries call it a ball, but it’s really a big party,” Gray said, “and we don’t ever miss a good party. Right, Jack?”
Jack didn’t answer, but banked another shot instead. The red stripe dropped into the pocket.
“I’m not letting it go,” Gray persisted. “Everyone will be there. And not everyone’s lucky enough to meet the girl of their dreams in the woods like I did. Yours just might be at that party tonight.”
Jack leveled him with a glare. “Who says I haven’t found my mate already?” he deadpanned.
Jessie’s stomach sank at this rhetorical question. She hadn’t noticed any of the signs that he’d found his life’s mate, and she suspected he was only trying to get Gray off his back, but just the idea of Jack being with anyone else made her queasy. She’d have to accept it at some point, so she could only hope she’d find her own life’s mate before he did. She didn’t think that very likely, though. As far as her heart was concerned, she’d already found him, even if the idea was not only preposterous but absolutely impossible. She couldn’t help what she felt.
Jack, who’d been playing against himself, sank the last of the balls, and took off without so much as a goodbye to anyone. Gray and Rissa were too caught up in each other to notice, and they left shortly after. By seven o’clock, the entire bar had cleared out. Sundae hadn’t asked or required it, but Jessie stayed in case anyone did decide to ditch the faerie ball and come to the pack’s favorite hangout. The place felt large and lonely, but it was still better than sitting in her little studio apartment in Sundae’s basement. Especially when there was the off chance that Jack may return. After all, he’d said he wasn’t going to the ball, hadn’t he?
Jessie sighed as she grabbed the mop handle and steered the wheeled bucket out to the front of the bar. She really needed to get a life. She had her own invitation at home, and Sundae had tried to talk her into going to the ball. Instead, here she was, in a big, empty bar all alone with midnight only a few short hours away and pining for a guy she could never have. But a faerie ball? She couldn’t fathom herself there, and being surrounded by faeries as a single lady wasn’t exactly a bright idea. No, she was better off here, alone. At least she’d have no regrets in the morning.
By the time she finished mopping the floor, she knew Sundae and Gray had been right: Nobody was coming to the bar tonight. She lay on her back on the pool table and stared at the ceiling, debating whether to hang around anyway—they may come in after midnight, looking for something to eat in their drunken state, she thought—or to go home and snuggle up in bed with a good book.
“Aren’t you coming to my party?” asked a female voice, making Jessie jump so high, she clung to the ceiling.
Chapter 2
Jessie retracted her claws and dislodged herself from the foam ceiling tiles. She landed on her feet and wiped her hands on her pants as she took in the newcomer. Long purple and black hair, smaller than Jessie who was a petite thing herself, and smelling like faerie. She wore a tight-fitting black dress that barely covered her ass and sheer black tights with stiletto heels. Jessie suddenly felt ugly and underdressed in her t-shirt and torn blue jeans, her chestnut hair pulled into a sloppy ponytail.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone,” she said as polite as she could muster.
“Of course you aren’t. They’re all at my party. And I was wondering why you’re not there.”
Jessie had been walking toward the bar, but she stopped and looked at the woman whose brown eyes glinted with faerie mischief. Her age was difficult to discern—she was a faerie after all—but she looked to be in her early twenties.
“It’s not exactly my kind of thing,” Jessie said.
“Oh, please,” the faerie scoffed. “It’s a faerie ball. It’s everyone’s thing!”
Jessie’s hands went to her hips. “If it’s your party, why aren’t you there?”
“It’s not just mine, of course. There are lots of faeries there to ensure everything is okay. Don’t worry. Nobody will miss me ... as long as I don’t stay too long.”
Jessie stared, waiting for her to announce what she needed so she could get back to her party. “Well ... what can I do for you?”
“You can come to my party.”
Jessie rolled her eyes. “I told you. It’s not my thing. Faeries aren’t my thing.”
The faerie stuck her bottom lip out and gave Jessie puppy-dog eyes. When Jessie didn’t give in, the faerie put on a big smile and held her hand out.
“Let’s start over, okay? I’m Becca. It’s nice to meet you, Jessie.”
“You already know my name?”
“Well, yes, silly. I came here to get you.”
Jessie huffed a breath of exasperation then continued her walk behind the bar.
“Why?” she demanded as she turned to face Becca, who had sauntered up to the other side. “Why are you so adamant about me coming to your party? Why do you want someone there who obviously doesn’t want to be there?”
Becca giggled. “Trust me, once you get there, you’ll definitely be glad you came. Your presence is missed, and not just by me. All the Amadis are there. Including someone ... special.”
Becca’s body twisted side to side as she clasped her hands in front of her and batted her inch-long eyelashes. Jessie’s eyes narrowed, and she opened her mouth to speak.
“I suggest you reconsider before rejecting this offer,” Becca cut in, her voice less sweet and more threatening.
Jessie let out a sarcastic laugh. “The last thing I need is a favor from a faerie.”
“Oh, this isn’t from a faerie. Yes, it comes from the Otherworld, but not from the faerie realm.” Becca tilted her head, her brows raised and her dark eyes challenging.
Jessie’s breath caught. If not from the faerie realm but from the Otherworld, the only two options were Heaven and Hell.
Becca smiled when she saw that her message had gotten through to Jessie. “Trust me. It’s good. So ...” The faerie reached over the bar and grabbed Jessie’s hand. “We need to get you ready!”
Jessie knew better than to trust a faerie, but she also knew better than to ignore anything sent from Heaven or Hell. If the Demons or the Angels had something for her, they’d find a way to deliver it, and if it did happen to be from Hell, she certainly didn’t want to be
alone when it came.
“I don’t have anything to wear,” she muttered.
“Oh, that’s not a problem!” Becca appeared in front of her and waved her hands in the air. Jessie’s jeans and t-shirt disappeared, replaced by black leather pants and a black tank top decorated with rows upon rows of sequins. Black boots that reached her knees and lifted her five inches on their heels replaced her Converse All-Stars. “You need a little something here, too.”
Becca’s fingertips brushed Jessie’s cheeks, and then her hands flitted over Jessie’s hair. After a few minutes, she took a step back and scrutinized Jessie as though analyzing an art project. Then she gave a sharp nod.
“Perfect!” she said with a clap of her hands. “I know you want to see, so go check yourself out.”
Jessie hurried for the ladies’ room, grateful that Sundae knew the need of hanging a full-length mirror in there. Her breath caught once again. She’d been afraid the faerie would have gone over the top, but Becca had made her up just right. She looked sexy as hell.
“What do you think?” Becca asked, appearing right next to her.
Jessie’s eyes cut toward the faerie. “Are ... are you my ... faerie godmother?”
Becca’s face blanched. “Oh, god, no! Do I look like such a hideous creature?”
Jessie turned to face the faerie fully. “Of course not! I don’t know what a faerie godmother looks like.”
“They don’t even exist except in those Norman fairytales. And those make us faeries look old and grandmotherly.” Becca shook herself as though a shudder ran through her.
“Okay, then ... are you trying to earn your wings or something?”
This time Becca snorted. At least, she made a strange little sound although Jessie didn’t think faeries actually snorted.
“I’m a faerie, not an Angel. Not that Angels earn their wings like that anyway. What’s with all the mythical accusations?”
“Why are you doing this?” Jessie demanded, cutting to the chase this time. She flipped her hands toward the mirror, indicating her new look. “Why do you insist I go to the ball?”
“I told you. It’s for your own good. And believe me, you’ll be glad you did.” Becca grabbed Jessie’s hand and held it tightly, indicating she wouldn’t let go for anything. “Come on. I’ll take you there.”
All of the air in Jessie’s lungs flew out of her as though a vacuum sucked it out. She’d never flashed before. Were-creatures needed a mage’s help, and she’d never needed to do so. In fact, she’d only met a few mages in the short time she’d been a were-panther. Apparently, faeries could help her flash, too, because she no longer stood in the bar. Rather, she was outside and at the bottom of a broad stairway that led to a white, marble mansion towering over her. A heavy bass—all she could hear of the music from this vantage point—throbbed from inside and colorful lights pulsed in the windows and arched doorways. Jessie felt a sudden and dizzying need to be inside, to join the party, to have the time of her life. Everything about the place tugged at her, creating an overwhelming desire to discover all the promises held inside.
“Oh, can’t forget this! It’s a masquerade ball, after all.” Becca waved her hand over Jessie’s face, and something immediately covered it. Jessie’s fingers touched it gingerly and moved to take it off. “Nuh-uh. It must stay on for the entire time you’re here. Otherwise, you’ll ruin the magic.”
The curiosity of what the mask looked like didn’t kill this cat. Needing to know what was inside that mansion just might, though. She pretty much forgot about the mask on her face as the draw to climb the stairs and join the party overcame her.
Chapter 3
As soon as Jessie entered the castle in the sky—at least, that’s what the faerie palace felt like—everything changed. Her favorite music (country) played, making her body automatically move to the beat. The scent of her favorite sweets lingered in the air, and when she licked her lips, she tasted cinnamon candy on her tongue. She drifted through a haze of colored lights that made her feel as though she walked on the clouds themselves. Her senses were overcome with everything she loved as the real world slipped away.
“Aren’t you glad you came?” Becca, her face now disguised by luscious purple feathers, asked from her side. The faerie took her hand and pulled her deeper into the party, where masked guests danced, their multi-colored drinks sloshing in their glasses.
Three more faeries skipped up to her and grabbed at her arms and hands. They chatted incessantly about the party, two of them with heavy British accents and the other with a southern drawl.
“We’re so glad you came!” The one with the purple streaking her white hair finally acknowledged Jessie. “I’m Debbie, and this is Stacey and Lisa, and we’ve been waiting for you.”
Jessie lifted a brow.
“Well, actually, he’s been waiting for you.” Stacey, whose white hair was feathered with bright pink in it, nodded toward a man standing in the shadows in the corner. “He doesn’t know it yet, but he will.”
Oh, great. They were setting her up. The faeries had brought her on a blind date! What had she done to them? She didn’t owe them anything! These irate thoughts left Jessie’s mind as soon as they entered, and she found herself nodding and smiling. Somewhere deep inside, she knew they were influencing her, but she couldn’t fight it. To be fair, not too many people of the Earthly realm could fight the effects of faeries.
“So you just stay here, and we’ll take care of it all,” Lisa, the one with green hair and the southern accent, said.
“Just remember—leave the mask on or you’ll ruin the magic,” Becca added, and then the four of them disappeared.
A minute later, Jessie couldn’t even remember speaking with them. She couldn’t remember where she was or why she was there. All she knew was the music pulsing through the floor had become a part of her, and all she wanted to do was dance. She twirled in place, and when she stopped, a drink had appeared in her hand. She tossed the whole thing back, then swung around again. Now someone’s hand appeared in hers.
A large one. Warm. Strong. Sending electric currents up her arm.
Another hand landed on the small of her back. More jolts of pleasure danced through her body.
Her whole being rose to a new high as she slowly looked up, noticing the broad chest and shoulders, the biceps bulging against the long-sleeve shirt, and the metal face looking down at her. It wasn’t a real face, of course. His mask—black, red, and silver metal—completely covered his real features, though. A film over the eye-holes even camouflaged his eyes. But Jessie could feel them. Feel the pierce of them as he gazed at her, and she never wanted him to let her go.
Keeping his hold on her, he swept her to the side, spun her in place, dipped and lifted, and pushed and pulled until she was woozy with euphoria.
“I love to hear you laugh,” he said as she leaned her back against his arm and giggled while he spun her around.
She didn’t know if his voice was really so perfect and lovely or if it was the faerie magic messing with her senses. She didn’t know if any guy could smell as good as he did. If anyone could feel so right as he held her, their bodies fitting perfectly together. She did know the only guy who’d ever made her feel this way before was ... What is his name? Some guy she knew but couldn’t remember him now. She could only think of this man in her arms at this very moment, and she did know being with him was too good to be true. But she didn’t care.
She relished in the moment. She delighted in his touch. She danced the night away with him, never wanting to be anywhere else but here. He hummed to the music, sometimes even sang to her as the band continued to play all of her favorite songs. He asked her questions about herself, wanting to know all of her favorite things in life. He told her how he loved the outdoors, and that he always felt most like himself when he was in the wild. Just like her. But he also told her that he’d rather be nowhere else this very moment but here with her.
“Your mask is terrific,” he said at one po
int while they danced to a slow ballad.
Jessie laughed. “I don’t even know what it looks like.”
She reached to take it off to inspect what she hadn’t seen yet, but a green-haired faerie flitted over to them and batted at her hand.
“No, no, no,” Lisa said. “You don’t want to ruin the magic now, do ya?”
Jessie smiled after the faerie danced away.
“Well, I’m glad you like it,” she said to her mysterious guy. “That’s saying something.”
“It’s perfect,” he murmured, his voice near her ear, and suddenly, Jessie wanted to dispose of the masks. Of their clothes. Of everything between them. She wanted to feel his breath on her ear, taste it on her lips.
“Is it midnight yet?” she asked, her voice thick and breathy. She was excited for the New Year to start so they could leave this place, shed the masks, and truly get to know each other. Hopefully while naked.
He turned them in place, but neither noticed a clock. Once the song ended, however, the music stopped completely. Voices started rising with excitement. Someone—was that Sundae?—started a countdown. Jessie and her gentleman friend counted with them.
“Happy New Year!” they yelled with the crowd.
The band broke out into the melody for Auld Lang Syne, and everyone sang along—or tried to. Most people didn’t know the exact lyrics, but the faeries made them all sound like professionals. Jessie turned to the man who had made her feel like a princess all night long and looked up at him.
Again, she couldn’t see his eyes, but she could feel his gaze, a piercing all the way into her soul. He tilted his head toward her, and her lips ached for his touch. She couldn’t stand it any longer. It was midnight now. Surely they could remove the masks. How else could anyone share a midnight kiss? Jessie raised her hand and gripped the edge of her mask, feeling soft fur against her fingers. She hesitated, hoping he’d remove his mask at the same time—or better, would do it before her so she could see him first. The man closed his hand over hers, though, and shook his head, but then he released it and caressed the tips of his fingers down her neck. Screw it! She would go first.
