I smiled, relieved Mel had said “grow” and not “steal.” I put my arm around her and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea. I have a friend who still owes me for a deer I brought him fifteen months ago.”
Mel giggled and I winked.
There was a loud knock on the door.
“Aerith?” Father called. “The witching hour approaches.”
I stood slowly then leaned forward and kissed Mel on top of her fiery red head.
“We’ll plan more after I return from the ball.”
One last night to be a fancy high lady and to steer clear of my father’s meddling. Ever since the ticket to the ball had arrived, he’d stopped showcasing me to the bachelors of Sweetbell. Maybe if I led him to believe I’d met a prospective mate at the ball, it would buy Mel and me enough time to sell off my trousseau and jewels and move before he had the chance to interfere.
It was only a matter of time before Shalendra made a match—what need did Father have of a grand estate and servants?
I stepped into my gold-threaded slippers and opened my bottom armoire drawer to pluck out a golden masquerade mask. If Liri attended, I didn’t want him to recognize me. At a ball filled with all manner of creatures, I was certain no one would raise a brow at an elf with a partially covered face.
No one need know I was ever at the ball.
My family walked me out to the courtyard where we stood beneath the dark sky filled with bright stars and a glowing moon.
Shalendra looked at my face and frowned. “I don’t remember reading anything on the invitation about it being a masked ball.”
I lifted my chin. “No, but it adds an air of mystique, don’t you think?”
Shalendra scowled.
Father inspected me from head to foot before resting on my eyes.
“Remember to mingle and make yourself available, but not too available. You might have to kiss some frogs before you find your prince.” Father’s eyes narrowed. “Just make sure it doesn’t go beyond kissing. Any prosperous male who is interested must wed you before he beds you.”
I rolled my eyes from behind my mask.
“Good to know you’re not pimping me out, Father,” I said sarcastically.
“I mean it, Aerith. Don’t go embarrassing this family or yourself.”
“With my mask on, who’s to know?” I asked cheekily. With my independence looming on the horizon, I didn’t feel compelled to stand silent and listen to this crap.
“Aerith,” Father said in a warning tone.
A flash of light cut off whatever my father was going to say next. I tried to look at Mel one last time, but brightness filled my vision, turning everything white. I blinked once, twice—a third time. The light faded into fog that settled around my legs. Light turned to dark and cool air caressed my bare arms, chest, and neck.
Two large towers flanked an open archway and just beyond them, an ancient gray stone castle appeared before me. I couldn’t see my golden slippers through the low-hanging fog as I stepped through the archway into a large, open courtyard. Misty fields flecked with twinkling purple lights bordered either side of the stone square.
I wondered what realm I was in. Certainly not the elven one—powerful magic had spirited me away. Nor did this feel like Faerie. It was too dark. Too gray. Too ominous.
I gripped my silver ticket, my arms pressed against my sides.
“I am sunshine in the dark,” I reminded myself. “And I will burn anyone who means me harm.”
With a tight smile, I lifted my head and followed a stone pathway to the castle with its weather-roughened turrets, towers, and pointy spires stabbing into the night’s sky. A streak of red caught my eye in the gloom as a female in a long red cape and black hair approached the castle’s entrance. Two gigantic stone gargoyles guarded the arched entry. When the caped female stepped between them they transformed into large, dark-skinned males. One wore a shiny red suit jacket, the other wore a black one. I stopped in my tracks, swallowed, and watched as the caped female handed the male in red her ticket. Blue light shone from the castle’s entrance and the woman stepped into it, the edge of her cape moving wispily behind her.
Good to see I wasn’t the only one arriving stag. I could already imagine myself drifting along the outskirts of the dance floor, an outsider as I’d been in Faerie. At least all manner of creature was invited to The Monster Ball. I might even see some other elves.
By the time I reached the gargoyles, they’d transformed back into stone. As I stepped between them, the air pulsed and they shimmered into the two gorgeous dark-skinned imposing males—identical twins I saw from close up, though one wore his dreadlocks longer and they’d chosen different-colored suit jackets to wear over tight black pants.
I cleared my throat and extended my arm with the silver ticket, announcing myself.
“Aerith Elmray, of Pinemist in the elven realm.”
I no longer lived in Dahlquist, and Sweetbell didn’t feel like my true home, so I chose Pinemist. It would be true soon enough.
The twins looked at one another and smirked before returning their sharp, black-eyed gazes to me.
“Name and origin don’t make a difference here, sweetie,” the male in the matte black jacket with shiny black lapels said.
“So long as you have a ticket,” added the male in the shiny red suit jacket with an embossed rose print.
I looked from one twin to the other, eyebrows lifting above my golden mask.
The male in the black suit jacket grinned widely.
“I think we have a first-timer, Bronx.”
The male in red nodded.
“I’d say so, Lex. She even wore a mask. Isn’t that cute?”
Chuckling, the one named Lex patted me gently on the back.
“Fear not, you’re hardly the only newbie tonight. Let me take that ticket from you.”
As I handed my ticket over, the male named Bronx swept his hand toward the opening.
“Welcome to The Monster Ball, Aerith Elmray of Pinemist. Do try not to behave yourself.” He winked.
As I’d seen with the caped woman, a blue light shone outward, beckoning me into its glow. I stepped forward, entering a tunnel that dimmed with each footstep until I was plunged into darkness.
CHAPTER FIVE
The thump of music joined the beat of my heart. Light filtered in once more as I stepped into a grand ballroom.
I immediately drifted over to the bar on the left as I entered and leaned against the counter like I belonged at the ball and wasn’t some naïve newbie. I took a moment to survey my surroundings, mapping it all out in my head.
On the opposite side of the ballroom was a small raised platform with a band playing lively music. Translucent black curtains billowed from archways on either side of the stage. Beautifully dressed creatures danced in the center of the ballroom as smoke floated and curled around their ankles as though they were dancing in the clouds. Tiny pixies twirled overhead around the chandeliers, spreading sparks of colored light that twinkled like multicolored stars.
On the side of the ballroom where I stood, there were black leather couches grouped near the walls on either side of the entrance. Couples sat sipping cocktails, laughing, talking, and making out. Beyond the couches, I caught glimpses of round beds veiled by dark fabric and shadows.
“Hello, sweet thing. Name your poison.” A female voice purred behind me.
I turned slowly to show I wasn’t startled and stared into a pair of red eyes that matched the white-haired female’s full lips. She wore a black leather bustier and had a bat tattoo over her left shoulder. My mouth went dry as a sexual pulse bounced off the woman almost like a cat releasing pheromones. Succubus, I guessed. I pulled my gaze away from her heated stare to look over the glowing purple shelves at her back, illuminating bottles of alcohol. I’d order something to sip for appearances, but I planned to keep my wits about me this evening.
Several feet from the succubus, a male bartender
with short golden hair, a full beard, green eyes, and scales tattooed over one arm, handed a wine glass thick with red liquid to a pale woman with two ornamental hair sticks pinning up her light blonde hair. Diamond-studded chains draped her shoulders, dangling between the plunging valley of her gown and partially exposed breasts. She strutted away without so much as a thanks.
“Vampires—boring,” he said, miming a yawn.
I could feel heat coming from him, too, but the energy wasn’t as sexual as the succubus.
I returned my attention to the red-eyed temptress.
“What do you recommend?” I asked politely.
The succubus smiled wickedly. “A supernatural open to suggestion, my kind of sup.” Her red eyes gleamed. “You should definitely try my specialty drink. It’s called Party in Your Mouth.” As she said the words, her gaze lowered to my mouth and she ran her tongue over her top lip.
“Don’t listen to her, Sunshine,” the golden-haired male said, barreling over. “You should order my specialty drink.”
The succubus rolled her red eyes and snorted. “Not this again, Dec. It’s not a competition.”
“Then why have you been keeping score?” Dec fired back.
The bat on the succubus’s left shoulder lifted when she shrugged. “Just a little evening amusement is all.” She batted her lashes.
“Nope. Don’t fall for it,” Dec said to me, shaking his head at the succubus. “Clearly you should order my specialty drink, a Twenty-Four Karat Gold.” He looked me up and down and nodded.
The succubus snorted. “Why? Because she’s wearing yellow and gold? Is that all you got, Dec?”
Flames burst from Dec’s mouth. My eyes opened wider.
“You really need to ask, Imperia?”
The succubus grinned and moistened her lips.
“Let’s get this party started.”
In the flash of an eye, a tall, slender woman in a long red gown swished over. Tight red lace covered her torso from her neck to her hands and plumed out into ruffled feathers at the end. She had dark brown hair and golden eyes that seemed to glow. The power that surged off this woman was like comparing the dull warmth from a single candle flame to the heat of a blazing bonfire. Who was she? What was she?
“Decimus. Imperia.” The mysterious woman in red chided and stared over the counter. “Do I need to swap one of you to the other side?” The woman in red looked pointedly at the bar on the opposite side of the entrance.
Following her gaze, I noticed another male-and-female team bartending. The male was clean shaven with ice-blond hair spiked in a fauxhawk on top of his head. The female had teal streaks through her grayish hair.
“No, no way,” Dec said, straightening up. “I’m not switching with one of those pointy-eared pranksters. No offense, Sunshine.” He flicked me a quick glance. “Who mixes gummy bears with alcohol? Iridessa, that’s who. And don’t get me started on Elohir.”
“Too chilly for you, Dec?” Imperia said in a teasing tone.
Dec snorted then returned his attention to the woman in red. “Imperia and I will behave.”
The woman in the red dress nodded and swept away, taking the heavy feeling of magic along with her.
“For now,” Imperia tossed in playfully.
Dec chuckled. At least they no longer looked ready to kill one another.
Leaning his tattooed arms on the counter, Dec grinned at me. “Now how about that drink, Sunshine?”
I smiled. “You know what? I’ll take one of each.”
A burst of laughter came from Imperia. “I knew I liked this one.”
“Me too,” Dec said. He leaned farther over the bar. “Hey, listen, Sunshine. If anyone bothers you tonight, come get me and I’ll light their ass on fire.” His mouth widened and flames appeared between his gleaming teeth.
Heat kissed my face. Here was a supernatural who really could burn someone to a crisp. I’d chosen the right bar to stop at. I already had a volunteer guardian for the evening.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Imperia was already at work on her signature drink as though she’d entered a race. Dec closed his mouth, extinguishing the fire raging from his throat, and got to work on the Twenty-Four Karat Gold, pouring pineapple juice and rum into a clear snifter. He sprinkled on cinnamon and topped it with fresh pineapple he roasted with a lick of flame straight from his tongue.
I leaned back. Was it getting hot in here or what? Nothing to do with the sizzling hot dragon shifter serving up drinks. Nope, not a thing.
“Try it,” Imperia said, pushing a martini glass my way. It had a pinkish tint that fizzed and something colorful crushed around the rim.
I lifted it to my lips and she leaned closer, watching with an eager grin. When my mouth touched the rim, little fizzles and pops crackled over my tongue.
“What the—?” I set the glass back down and stared at Imperia, who giggled.
“Pop Rocks,” she said.
“Rocks that pop?” I squinted at her.
Imperia nodded. “It’s candy from the human world. Fun, right? Party in your mouth.”
Dec huffed and shook his head as he handed the drink he’d mixed to me.
“Go with the gold.”
“Thanks,” I said as I took the drink and lifted it to my lips. I took a small sip. Both tasted dangerously good.
“These are both delicious. And both fun,” I said.
Imperia and Dec turned to one another, smiled, and high-fived.
“Best bartenders and best drinks,” Dec practically shouted. He looked over at the other bar and hollered, “Did you hear that, Elohir? Best of the ball right over here.”
The elf with the fauxhawk glanced over with a bored expression and lifted his hand, pressing his middle and pointer fingers together while curling in the other three. He lowered it slowly and went back to mixing drinks.
I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh.
“What does that mean?” Dec asked Imperia.
She shrugged. “Don’t look at me. Ask the elf.”
They stared across the counter at me expectantly.
“Oh, uh.” I stared at the candied rim of the drink Imperia had made me.
“That bad?” Dec pressed.
“Well—”
“Come on, Sunshine. Are you too sweet to curse?”
Any sweetness I’d possessed had been chipped away in Faerie. My manners were still intact, but I wasn’t the blindly obedient or well-behaved female I’d once been. I looked Dec square in the eyes and set my jaw with determination.
“It means ‘fuck you and your mother.’”
Imperia pitched forward and erupted into laughter. Dec just shook his head.
“Naughty elf.”
“Oh, indeed,” Imperia practically purred, touching the tip of her tongue to her upper lip as she looked over at the elf bartender. “I might have to pay him a visit during my break.”
Dec huffed and rolled his eyes upward.
“The only thing you’ll get from Elohir is frostbite.”
“Ha-ha,” Imperia said, unimpressed. She looked at me and said, “Frostbite is Elohir’s signature drink.”
Dec shivered violently for full effect.
I smiled politely, but it was time to stake out a new location.
“Thank you for the tasty cocktails,” I said, taking them both with me.
“Stay out of the shadows, Sunshine,” Dec called as I made my way to the couches.
I walked in front of two pixies in short, sheer dresses. They lifted on their tiptoes as I passed, scowling as though I’d blocked their view, which from the sounds of it, I had. Once I’d cleared the space between them and the dance floor, they resumed their conversation.
“Look how sexy Luca Caspan is in his black leather jacket. I’d give my left wing for a piece of that.”
The pixie beside her sighed deeply and said, “Too bad he only seems to have eyes for that blonde chick in the black crown. Who does she think sh
e is? Royalty of some kind?”
“At The Monster Ball, you never know,” the pixie’s friend noted.
That was certainly the truth. Technically I was a princess, but the title had never sounded right aloud or in my head. I was Aerith the elf, plain and simple, and I didn’t want it any other way.
After reaching the couches, I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Imperia and Dec weren’t looking my way before setting both drinks on an end table and moving away.
A seductive chuckle rumbled behind. “You know you’re supposed to drink those, right?”
When I turned, a pair of bright blue eyes in a tan face looked me over with a smugness that matched the smirk on his lips. The male exuded confidence, which he had every right to considering his hard, muscular body that no shirt or dress pants could mask entirely. The males back home tended to be lean and agile, nowhere near as burly as this firmly toned male. It was difficult not to openly stare.
“I tasted them,” I said defensively.
“What’s the matter? Not strong enough?” He prowled within inches of me while barely moving a muscle and flashed me a predatory smile that sent a shiver straight down to my golden slippers.
“Pacing myself,” I answered, studying his features, trying to guess what he was.
“Where’s the fun in that?” he drawled, eyeing my mask.
I shrugged. “The night’s still young.”
The male laughed. “That a girl. No one should leave this shindig without engaging in some sort of debauchery.” He glanced suggestively at the fabrics concealing the round beds along the shadowed edges of the ballroom.
Sure, Father would simply love that. If I were the willful type, I’d invite this gorgeous male to drag me off to one of those beds just to spite my father. Cirrus had shown me that sex could be pleasant. I’d been with a Fae, why not a—?
“Do you mind me asking what type of supernatural you are?” I asked, changing the subject.
The male’s eyes expanded in momentary shock. Oh, pitberries, had I just offended him?
Stolen Princess Page 4
