She looked down, picking imaginary lint off my pillow. “I may have suggested to Remi it would be a good idea to have the meeting tonight.”
I was stunned. “You did that?”
When she looked up, her eyes were tender. “Friends help each other.”
“You’re the best friend ever! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I reached out to caress her cheek.
She flinched, brushing my hand away as if I’d burned her. The tender expression hardened. “I’m doing this for your own good. You have to get your head back in the game or morons like Ian will take over. That’s the last thing anyone wants.”
14
Karenna
“Tugging on your dress isn’t going to magically make it longer, you know,” Jo teased.
I glared at her amused expression. Why in the world did I agree to wear a dress that barely covered my butt?
“Oh, this is so fun! Thanks, you two, for inviting me along. I can’t remember the last time I dressed up like this.” Hali’s dark eyes sparkled.
That’s why.
I sighed as Jo and Hali, all dolled up and ready to party, gazed excitedly into the crowded ballroom. Hundreds of Gibbor and humans filled the sprawling room. A few sat at tables that circled the perimeter of the room. A few tables lined a wall of windows giving its occupants a spectacular view of the ocean and cloudless sky. Two chandeliers hung over the dancefloor, casting a golden glow. The floor was jumping with everyone dancing to an old REM song, “It’s the End of the World.”
I chuckled. Someone had a wicked sense of humor.
In the far corner, an angel with curly red hair stood behind a wall of equipment, acting in the role of a DJ. He mouthed the words to the chorus, dancing and bobbing his head to the beat.
“I have an idea,” I said, tugging at the hem of my black dress again. “You two go on inside. I’m going to grab a nice pantsuit I saw in one of the shops.”
“No!” they cried in unison.
“The dress is so cute on you,” Hali added.
“And you have to admit, we look hot,” Jo said.
They looked hot. Jo’s slinky black dress fit her like a second skin, hugging her curves. With stilettos and a thigh-high front slit, her legs appeared to go on for miles.
Hali was just as stunning. Her silky curls had been brushed into a side ponytail and laid over a tanned bare shoulder. She looked like a Greek goddess in her one-shoulder gown. The open sleeve of the crimson dress flowed down her toned arm, setting off her bronze skin in the glow of the chandeliers.
My black velvet dress was the only one I could find that didn’t plunge and expose that I had nothing to expose. It had a slight sweetheart neckline with spaghetti straps. The long cream-colored organza sleeves and matching ruffle across the neckline made me feel more covered than I was. Other than having to remember not to bend over, it was a pretty dress.
I snorted. “I look like a doll with toothpick legs.”
“You do not,” Hali admonished. “Here, let me add another bobby pin to your twist. The back is slipping.”
I was surprised my hair had stayed up in the elegant French twist during the walk from the cabins to the ballroom. It had taken both Hali and Jo to get my hair to behave. They had finally managed to style it into a loose twirl with curls strategically hung along the sides of my face and my neck.
“I don’t see your date,” Jo said, scanning the room.
“I told you, Hunter is not my date. I agreed that I, we, would come and dance.”
“Dorian said you’re dating Hunter.”
“Dorian says a lot of things,” I murmured. It was none of his business who I did or didn’t date.
I rolled my neck and shoulders, loosening the growing tension. At least Ian and his angel friends weren’t here. The last thing I needed was Ian’s glare following my every move.
“Your shoulders hurting again?” Jo asked, looking concerned.
“A little.”
“We can go back to the cabin if you want.”
“Don’t be silly. You’ve been looking forward to this all afternoon.” It was so nice to see the old Jo again. If only I could figure out how to keep her away from Dorian.
“Whoa, prima! I think you lost half your dress somewhere.”
I did a double take as Nacho climbed up the steps and headed toward us. He looked like he’d stepped off the cover of GQ. He wore a suit jacket over a fitted black t-shirt. Crisp slacks and shiny black shoes replaced the faded jeans and athletic shoes he typically wore.
Jo rolled her eyes. “It’s supposed to look like this.”
“Relax. I’m kidding. You look great. It’s nice to finally see a smile on your face.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “Did Javi and Neto give you any trouble?”
“Are you kidding? One look at the bounce house and I ceased to exist. Poor Aunt Marmie. She’s going to have her hands full with all the kids in there. Thank goodness Karenna convinced Lucy to help her.”
“I think giving her the last of my peanut butter cups had something to do with that,” I said.
“You did?” Hali’s asked with an amused expression. “I gave her my last box of Twinkies. Did she weasel anything out of you, Jo?”
Jo scowled. “Blow Pops.”
“Why that little…” And here I was feeling bad about leaving Lucy on babysitting duty with Aunt Marmie.
Nacho chuckled. “I’ll check in on them later. First, I have some business to take care of.” He extended a hand to Hali. “Would you like to dance?”
Hali blinked in surprise. “I…yes. That would be lovely.”
“I didn’t know Nacho danced,” I said as the couple headed downstairs to the dancefloor. “Do you think he…Jo, are you all right?”
The excitement faded from Jo’s eyes. Her chest lifted as her breathing quickened. A mixture of hurt and yearning suddenly flooded her face.
“What’s wrong? Is it…? Oh!”
Guardians entered the room carrying trays of drinks. Calder followed them in, weaving through tables with a pink metallic bottle of Champagne bearing a large dark pink ace of spades. Even dressed in a wait staff uniform, he looked handsome in a crisp white shirt, black bowtie, and vest.
He stopped at Mrs. Carmichael’s table. She glowered as if this were the last place on Earth she wanted to be, which made me wonder why she didn’t stay in her luxury suite. Carmichael’s clique was at her table and lost in conversation. They didn’t even acknowledge Calder as they held up their glass flutes.
Jo took a step forward, but then stopped herself. “I wish things were different.”
“You want to dance with him.”
She nodded, her eyes misting. “I miss him.”
“He’ll say yes if you ask him,” I said softly.
Her face brightened with hope. “Maybe one dance. Friends can dance. There’s nothing wrong with—”
“Josette!” Dorian whisked up the stairs and took Jo in his arms, kissing her cheek. “You look ravishing. You too, Karenna.”
Ugh! How did he keep doing that, popping up when Jo was about to break free from him? Well, not today, Satan.
“Jo and I were going to ask some friends to dance,” I said.
He frowned. “Jo knows I’m selfish, and I don’t like to share. It’s part of my charm.”
I balked. Charm? Was he serious?
“It’s not up to you. Jo can make up her own mind. Right, Jo?”
The music shifted and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” filled the room. Cheers and a chorus of yee-haws spilled over the music as everyone scrambled into lines. Even James Carmichael and the clique made their way to the dancefloor.
“Shall we dance? Everyone’s joining in. It should be fun.” Dorian then whispered something into Jo’s ear.
Her eyes went blank for a moment, then her lashes fluttered as if waking. “Ooh, line dancing! Come on, Karenna.”
Before I could protest, she and Dorian rushed to join the others. Hunter emerged from the crowd of dancers, taking the
lead in the front of the line. His lips moved slightly, his face tensing with focus as if he were recalling steps. Strange he would do that, considering country line dancing was second nature for a Texan. Despite that, he moved with skilled grace. The heels of his cowboy boots tapped the floor twice before hopping to his other foot and repeating the movement. The tail of his tuxedo jacket flapped against his blue jeans as he moved. The room seemed to be in awe of the charming cowboy as they followed his every move.
I sat at a corner table, debating whether I should snatch Jo away from Dorian. She seemed to be having fun and Calder was nowhere in sight.
The song was one of my favorites, and despite my annoyance with Dorian, I found myself tapping my feet.
Hunter turned and danced a grapevine. He paused, tipping his cowboy hat back with his thumb. His face lit up when he spotted me.
“Karenna! Get your sassy self over here. Let’s see your moves.”
I waved him away as my feet continued to dance beneath the table.
He rushed to the table. His calloused hands touched mine, sending a sudden shock through me. “You’re from Texas, woman. Country line dancing is required by law.”
“All right, all right,” I laughed. “Don’t take away my Texan card.”
The music and his laughter were contagious. My frustration with Dorian quickly melted, and I found myself having fun.
The girls near us inched closer to him, watching his every move, the sway of his hips in tight jeans, and his bolo tie tapping against his chest. They were practically drooling.
He crooned along with the song, hamming it up and making me laugh. He was sweet, attractive, and funny. No wonder many of the Gibbor girls were trying to catch his attention. But for some reason, he wanted to be with me.
When I turned down his invitation for a date, I’d expected him to be pissed off. I remembered how Dorian had acted when he’d asked me out before hooking up with Jo. It was like he couldn’t believe I’d turned him down. I thought Hunter would be the same. Instead, Hunter had said he understood and a group date was fine by him.
“I’m a patient man,” he’d said. “You’re worth the wait.”
When the song stopped, he instantly grabbed my hand and pulled me to his table. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Hunter,” I gasped, trying to catch my breath. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I know. I wanted to.” His eyes twinkled as he snatched a white cloth off an ice bucket. “Found these hidden in the galley.”
“Big Red? Oh my god.” I took a sip. The red cream soda fizzed, tickling my nose. “It’s sooo good. It feels like forever since I’ve drunk one. Thank you!”
“What kind of Texan would I be if I didn’t give you a piece of home?” He winked and drained his bottle.
“I can’t believe the angels did all this work to put this dance together,” I said, taking another sip.
“I’ll tell you a secret.” He leaned in close. “The ship is behind schedule. We should’ve been at the Honolulu port by now. People are noticing.”
“They don’t want us to panic. They’re distracting us.”
“You got it.”
The song shifted to a slow ballad, and the lights dimmed. Hunter suddenly grew quiet. His light brown eyes gazed into the distance.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’, just missing home,” he said.
“I miss home too.”
His eyes flicked to me and thoughtfully took in my face. “Have you ever had to do something you didn’t want to but had to?”
“What do you mean?”
He leaned forward, his voice dropping as he spoke. “What if to protect your family you had to be someone else? Would you do it? Could you deceive others?”
My parents did that. They pretended to be a normal human family. Were they protecting me? I wasn’t sure.
Before I could answer, Mrs. Carmichael whisked past our table and up the stairs to the exit. Hunter’s face shifted as if waking from a deep sleep.
“Speaking of deception…how much you wanna bet she’s upset her plastic surgeon isn’t on speed dial?” Chuckling, he placed a hand over mine. “They’re playing our song. Come on.”
In one smooth move, he whirled me out of my seat and into his arms on the dancefloor. His hand slid down my back, sending shivers through my body, coming to a rest on the small of my back.
“Hunter, I don’t know about this.”
“We’re only dancin’, Karenna.” His voice was melodic.
He pulled me closer. The warmth of his chest pressed against mine, sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. I squeezed my eyes shut as my heart and mind warred with each other.
No! He’s not the one you long for.
But he’s thoughtful and kind. He’s a Gibbor like you.
His finger slid along my jawline and gently lifted my head. His husky voice rumbled in his chest. “Karenna, look at me.”
Slowly, I opened my eyes unsure of how or if I wanted to fight my growing attraction. He was so close I could see the gold dusting of stubble along his jaw and dimpled chin. His warm breath lapped against my lips with the sweet taste of soda.
“Jo said this was your favorite song.”
His voice, his smoldering eyes, his movement, everything about him was hypnotic. I wanted to look away, to clear my head. Instead, I felt myself falling deeper into a trance. An odd sensation gnawed in my stomach.
“Yes.” My voice didn’t even sound like mine.
“Mine too.” Hunter sang the lyrics. I couldn’t look away from his lips.
He took my hand and placed it onto his chest. His heart thrummed frantically underneath my fingers. “Do you feel that?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what you do to me.”
Time passed as his gaze held mine prisoner, a prison I wasn’t sure I wanted to escape.
His hand moved up my bare arm, leaving me with goosebumps.
“So soft,” he whispered as his fingers cupped my neck. His thumb hooked beneath my jaw, keeping my face angled to his as his mouth sank onto mine.
“Hunter, I can’t—”
His kiss blocked my protest. Panic and confusion rushed through me, and I froze. I wanted to pull away and slap him. Yet a voice in the back of my head urged me to give in, to surrender and kiss him back.
A sharp sound followed by shattering glass broke the spell. Startled, Hunter jumped back, pushing me behind him.
Tristan stood by a broken wall of windows. His face was wild with fury. A hush swept through the room as they stared at the furious angel.
Fear jumped into my throat when I saw what he’d done.
His wings.
He’d let out his wings.
“Tristan,” I gasped, placing a hand over my mouth.
Tristan took a step, but then abruptly stopped. He looked at the crowd and then at the broken glass. Realization flooding his face, he whirled around. Flicking in his wings, he jumped out of the window.
15
Tristan
The stars glittered against the endless clear sky. There were so many of them. Why hadn’t I ever noticed them before?
You know why. Above, the leviathan’s head appeared to mock me.
“Yes, I do. Eat me!” I spat at the creature, wishing the row of metallic teeth were real.
I shifted, lacing my fingers behind my head. The cool deck pressed against my back.
I wasted my time attempting to be a star, a jewel of Heaven. For what? Fame? Admiration?
To prove Father wrong. The leviathan smirked.
“Oh, I proved him wrong. Wrong that I could ever be a true Throne.”
I was too selfish to be any kind of leader.
A ballroom filled with hundreds of shocked eyes was all the proof I would ever need of my selfishness.
How could I’ve been such a fool? I should’ve never gone there. I should’ve had more control. Zac would’ve never lost it like that. Even when Ana had throw
n herself at me in Sun River, Zac had kept his composure. He was a true Throne. As for me, all it took was one touch and…
I gritted my jaw as images of Hunter holding Karenna rolled through my mind. I couldn’t help but see how he held her, how they danced in the ballroom, his hand on her back, sliding up her arm, and her hand resting on his chest.
His lips…
Hers…
The kiss…
I moaned as the pressure against my back intensified. “Stay in there, damn it!”
I stilled, willing my wings to behave. The angelic sign of authority was instinctual. Wings billowed out as a show of dominance.
I’ve never had a problem controlling them before. Why now?
You’re jealous, the leviathan taunted.
“That’s ridiculous,” I growled.
Minutes passed in silence with only the sound of waves lapping against the hull of the ship until I finally caved under the mythical serpent’s unrelenting glare.
“You win! I’m jealous. Is this my punishment for renouncing my princely calling?” I yelled into the vast sky, demanding an answer.
It had to be. Why give me the ability to feel so intensely for a person I could never have? It served no purpose. Was this meant to break me? To teach me a lesson?
Check and check.
I was about to head back into the dungeon known as my cabin when starlight zoomed across the night sky followed by another and another.
I shot up in a panic and ran to the railing. The last time I’d seen this was the evening after I arrived with Val and Zac.
The sky lit up with cascading lights. One after another, they fell like glittering rain. Then as quickly as it started, it stopped.
I gripped the rail, fighting against the truth I could no longer deny.
They were calling for me.
“Tristan?”
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of Karenna’s voice. I braced myself, determined to bury my true feelings. I couldn’t risk making another mistake.
“You shouldn’t…” I faltered, stunned by what I saw.
In the ballroom, she had looked beautiful. Clearly, my angelic vision had failed me because this close she was breathtaking. Her dress fluttered in the breeze, sending a delicious scent of lavender and vanilla in my direction. Tendrils of hair curled along her cheeks and graceful neck. Pink lips glistened invitingly for a kiss. The stars behind her twinkled like a crown.
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