by Anna Santos
“Thank you, Camille,” he said, holding my hand.
“So, is there anything that you two want to tell us?” she inquired.
“Don’t be nosy, darling,” Jacob said, apparently embarrassed by his mate’s boldness.
“I’m just happy for them. Besides, I think we should drink champagne to celebrate,” she proposed, pouting to Jacob.
“Champagne is a really good idea,” Cedric said, looking around with a happy smile on his face. He called for one of the waiters who came to us with the tray of beverages. Cedric held two flutes of champagne. Camille and Jacob also picked up one each.
“Who wants to make the toast?” Cedric asked.
I accepted the glass he offered me, unsure if it was a good idea to drink it. I wasn’t allowed to drink alcohol. I had tasted champagne, but I knew that it was wrong to drink at my age.
“I want to,” Camille said with a dazzling smile.
She looked really nice in her gold dress. She was gorgeous, and Jacob couldn’t take his eyes off of her or her cleavage. It was weird how I would notice those things. But she had a really generous cleavage. She was such a happy person that it was contagious. You couldn’t be sad around her. I really liked her and was having fun getting to know her and being her friend.
“I think Aria should make the toast,” Jacob said, killing Camille’s happiness and putting the spotlight on me.
I stared at him. “What? I wouldn’t know what to say. I have never done a toast before.”
“Just tell us what your wishes are for the future,” he said.
I looked up, trying to figure out what those were since my goals had changed in the last couple of days. I almost died. Then, I was kidnapped, taken away from my family, and I was falling in love with a prince. I had no clue what my wishes for the future were. I was sure that going to a University and finishing my studies weren’t in my near future. They weren’t forgotten, but I was in a relationship with a gargoyle prince, so it would have to wait. We were supposed to be the king and queen of a supernatural kingdom. I was going to be an angel. I was falling head over heels for Cedric and was terrified but also as excited as I had ever been.
“I’ll make the toast. Aria will do it the next time,” Cedric said, saving me from the spotlight.
I squeezed his hand, thankful for that. When I turned my gaze to him, I noticed that he was staring back at me. My eyes fell over his lips, and I swallowed hard, knowing exactly what my immediate wish would be: get back home and kiss him again. It was a nice wish. One I knew I could make come true.
“So what is your toast?” Jacob asked, probably noticing the delay and how our gazes fixated on each other. “Seriously, you two are acting odd since you’ve gotten back from the balcony.”
Camille elbowed him in his ribs. “Sometimes, you’re really slow on the uptake,” she said, shaking her head.
“I was just teasing them,” he said, speaking sweetly to her. “Come on, honey. There was no need to physically abuse me. Can’t people take a joke?”
“You made Aria uncomfortable.”
“And you didn’t?” he asked only to laugh at the shocked look on her face.
Cedric and I smirked, waiting for their little quarrel to end, so he could make the toast.
The prince said to me, “I’m sorry that we’ll be stuck with the two of them after we...”
He didn’t finish the sentence. Therefore, I asked, “After we what?”
“Mate and become full angels,” Camille replied.
Cedric’s cheeks got slightly pink, and I became flustered. I had a pretty good idea what mate meant for them. That was a way of explaining what was required of us to bond further. I guess mating, as they called it, was the way to express the love we would eventually feel for one another.
“Mating doesn’t necessarily seal the deal,” Jacob said. “I had a really hard time making this one fall for me,” he continued, and Camille stared at him sideways. “She was a hard one to convince that I wanted her, and I would never harm her. Weren’t you?” he asked, close to her face, talking sweetly near her lips.
Camille bit her lower lip. “I just wanted you to work harder. It didn’t mean I was not infatuated with you. Plus, you had to work to conquer my heart.”
“I know, baby. I don’t regret anything that happened.”
She pecked him on the lips with a warm smile. “You are my perfect mate. You know that, don’t you?”
Cedric cleared his throat when they kissed again. “Guys, please, we’re in public. Try not to embarrass us with too many public displays of affection.”
“Just make the toast already,” Camille urged, breaking the kiss and staring at her prince.
“Okay, so I want to toast to the fact that I found my mate, and I’m really happy because of it. I’m falling in love with her,” he whispered the rest of the words next to my face, smiling adorably, and making me shiver with happiness. I felt butterflies in my stomach and my heart sped up really fast. He was so sweet, I could lose myself in his words and gorgeous blue eyes because the ballroom seemed to disappear.
“Oooohhh, that was really sweet,” Camille emphasized, and I couldn’t agree more with her. “Kiss, kiss!”
“Kiss?” he asked permission.
I replied by pressing my lips against his. He deserved it after those words.
“Now, drink up not to jinx it!” she rushed us after our lips were no longer pressed together.
I drank a sip of the champagne without taking my eyes off Cedric. He drank slowly. It was terrifying and exciting how easily I was falling for him.
“Now, who wants to dance?” Camille asked.
I was thankful to her for trying to drag us out of the dream state we were in. I was tired of getting flustered.
“The waltzes stopped,” I said, watching everybody dance to the sound of pop music. I was more comfortable when I could dance the waltz. I had some basic notions how to dance that with a partner. But pop was so random and uncoordinated! At least, for me it was.
“We can all dance together. It will be fun,” she said, pulling me by my hand and taking me out to the dance floor.
Cedric and Jacob followed us and, for a few moments, we all danced, trying to keep up with Camille’s crazy steps. She was a force of nature. She would be a really fun person to take to a teen party. She was wild and had no shame of dancing to the sound of the beat, making up her own moves.
Dancing was better with Cedric by my side, smiling, and making me feel special. But then something happened. An angel came to talk to Cedric and pointed out a man that was waiting for him and needed to talk to him. Cedric didn’t look pleased to leave me. He asked me to remain next to Camille and Jacob. He warned Jacob to never leave my side. Camille held on to my hand and promised him she would stay with me even if I would need to go to the ladies’ room. Her words made me giggle.
The prince patted her on the shoulder for being such a good friend. Then, he left, promising he would return quickly.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
PHILIPPE
When I arrived at the party, a lot of guests were already leaving. I wasn’t arriving fashionably late. I was just late. But, I was hoping that Cedric was still around.
As I entered the ballroom, my eyes scanned the couples, and I ignored the greetings some were expressing to me. I had to find Cedric.
I saw him with Jean-Paul and his cousin Will as they entered a room and closed the door behind them. I was going to follow him when a hand stopped me.
“Boss, you came!” Sean said.
I frowned at him, noticing Gabby hanging from his arm. They were both clearly intoxicated.
I cleared my throat before speaking. “I hope you two haven’t caused a scene. You are supposed to be representing me at this party.”
Sean waved his hand in dismissal. “All is fine. Everybody is enjoying themselves. I spoke with Jean-Paul. I greeted the pup and gave him his present. I also spoke with some of the leaders of the other factions. Josephine is he
re, did you know that?”
“I did.”
“She came with an Alpha. He was kind of rude to us.”
“I need to talk to Cedric. Do you know why he is having a closed meeting with Jean-Paul and his cousin?”
“I have no idea. We were dancing. He was dancing, too, a while ago,” he informed as he pointed to the dancing floor.
“I guess. I’ll just wait until he comes out of–” I stopped speaking because my eyes were riveted to a red haired girl on the dance floor wearing a spectacular blue dress.
“What?” Sean asked, following my eyes. “I know, right? Gorgeous little thing.”
“Hey!” Gabby complained, slapping him on his arm.
“Philippe likes redheads,” he explained to her and then gave me his attention by slapping his hand against my shoulder. “That one is really beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Just close your mouth and leave me alone,” I ordered, aggravated by his babbling. He could get on my nerves. Besides, by the look of his girl, she was getting ready to engage in an argument about him looking at another girl. And I didn’t want to be associated with that. Therefore, I strolled my way among the crowd, captivated by the red beauty and amazed by the aura that was blazing around her.
Hearing her laughter made me circle the room, so I might see her face. I ended up next to the balcony doors, close to the curtains which I used to disguise my presence. She was surrounded by angels and that could only mean one thing—she was one of them. Yet, I had never been fascinated by angel girls before. They were without a doubt beautiful, but I had never seen one with that hair color. It was enticing and totally fascinating. And her laughter was surreal.
“What are you doing here lurking behind the curtains?” a voice asked, startling me.
I was so distracted, I hadn’t been alerted to her arrival. It was Josephine, and she laughed when I stared at her, annoyed by her ability to catch me off guard.
“What are you doing here, stalking me?”
“Did I frighten you? Was I able to catch Philippe with his defenses down? That is amusing!” she mocked me.
“Yes, you startled me. So what? What are you doing here? Where is your mutt?”
Jo shrugged with a labored sigh. “I was annoyed and bored. They just talked about wars and boundaries. He didn’t want to dance, so I left him and came to the balcony. Then I saw you. I thought you weren’t coming to the party.”
“I wasn’t. But then I came.”
Jo frowned at my eloquent answer. Then, she smiled and offered me her hand. “Do you want to dance with me?”
My eyes caught some movement, and I ignored her question. The girl was walking to the balcony, between Jacob and his mate. I was unable to see her face once again. Yet, they seemed cheerful.
Jo grabbed my arm. “I asked you a question.”
I tried to dodge her hand since she was ruining my plan. It made her growl. “What is it with you and the red haired ones? Don’t you have a mate to find out about? What the hell are you doing here stalking a female angel?”
I rolled my eyes, then spared her a look. “If you need to know, I came here to search for my mate, but then I saw her. Do you know who she is?”
“I don’t have the foggiest idea. But you are wasting your time. There is no way in hell that she will even look at you if she is an angel.”
I grinned. “I’m always up for a new challenge.”
Circling my gorgeous creator in her red silky dress, I tried to retreat from her prying curiosity and exit to the balcony.
She pulled me back. “You need to find your mate.”
“What the hell, Jo! Stop acting like you’re my conscience,” I grumbled. She flashed me a smile with her plump red lips. “You are really bored, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Sighing, she inquired, “Can I observe her with you? It will be less suspicious if you have someone at your side.”
“Only if you stop going on about my mate.”
“But you really need to find her.”
“I will. I’ve been to her uncle’s home. I took her belongings back to my place.”
“Do you know if she’s okay?”
“Yes, I believe she is. I just don’t know her whereabouts, yet. She isn’t with her parents back in the States,” I explained, walking with her to the balcony and casting sideway glances at the girl. Her hand was glowing beneath the moon with the patterned tattoos like the angels had on their hands and arms. I have always wondered what it meant. Couples had the same patterns, but they were never repeated in other angels.
“Are you really thinking of correcting the mistake you did when you rejected the girl?”
“Yes. I will try to repair it.”
“Then why are you drooling over an angel girl?” she asked, folding her arms. “You aren’t seriously intending to find Aria and re-establishing your mate bond, are you?”
“I had serious intentions of doing just that, then I saw her,” I said, barely paying any attention to my creator. “It’s just that...she looks...so captivating.”
Jo shook me from my reverie and made me look at her. I blinked. Moments ago, I was totally driven to find my mate and make her mine, so why was I staring at that other girl? Why couldn’t I take my eyes off her? It was like something was pulling me towards her.
“Captivating?” Jo repeated, furrowing her brows “She is pretty, but there are prettier girls here, like myself. Just confess that it’s the hair that drives you insane.”
“It’s not just the hair.”
Jo sighed as she dramatically let her arms hang on either side of her body. “You are hopeless. I should really admit defeat and give up trying to put some sense back into your brain. What’s the use of rekindling things with your mate if you are already planning to cheat on her with another, just because she has red hair?”
“I’m not planning anything,” I replied, annoyed. “I’m waiting for Cedric to finish his meeting and return to the party. He’s with Jean-Paul. I need to talk to him and then I’m leaving. I have no intentions of–” I shut up because the girl turned around, giggling with Camille, and I was able to see her face.
My mouth dropped open in disbelief.
“What?” Jo asked as she put her hand on my shoulder. “You look pale. What is wrong, Philippe?”
“Aria,” I whispered, completely taken aback. She looked different and yet the same. She looked gorgeous in her blue dress with her makeup applied perfectly and the intricate style of her hair. But I had no doubt. The girl with the red hair was my mate. Yet, her hair wasn’t red before. What was she doing at this party, dressed like that, and with the angels?
“Who is Aria?” Jo asked, looking back and forth between the girl and me.
“That’s my mate. That is Aria. The girl in the blue dress,” I pointed out.
“She is lovely. You didn’t tell me she was so cute and adorable. And that she had red hair. That’s strange. She is with angels, and she... You damn idiot!” she said with a tone so upset that it made me stare at her.
I couldn’t understand why, one moment, she was happy and the next she was looking at me with eyes filled with anger.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was rescued by the gargoyles?”
“Cedric saved her from the river.”
“Cedric saved her from the river,” she repeated with murderous eyes.
“Yes. She was taken by him. And I came here to let him know I want her back.”
“You idiot! Forget she ever existed. It’s over, Philippe. Just let us be on our way,” my maker said, pushing me by the arm and taking me inside the ballroom.
“It’s not over. Now that I know where she is, I’m going to get her back.”
“You will not,” she denied in a severe voice. “She is better off without you. If she is with the angels, forget about her and move on. She doesn’t need you, after all.”
Stumbling while trying to get free from her strong hold, I tried to reason with her, “What are you talking about? You were th
e one who said I had condemned her soul to hell. You said I should find her so that she could be saved. And now you are changing your mind? Are you crazy?”
“I’m not changing my mind. You didn’t want her, you rejected her. Now she will be fine. That is all you need to know. Now, go back home and leave the girl be. She’ll be fine.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, forcing her to stop and removing her hand. She was pulling me away from Aria, and I wanted nothing other than to be close to her. My mate was on the balcony. All I had to do was go talk to her and hope she wouldn’t panic upon seeing me. “But I can’t let her go. She is mine, my mate. I changed my mind. I want her.”
“I should slap you,” she growled. “I shouldn’t have spoiled you so much. It’s my fault, really. I should have been a better maker. I’ve raised a spoiled and arrogant brat.”
“Jo, you aren’t making any sense. You told me to get my mate back and now you are saying to let her go!”
“Yes, and you should obey me. I’m your master.”
“Normally, I would but… I want Aria. I have to have her.”
“Why?” she asked, cold eyes on mine. I shivered. “Because her hair is red? Because she looks glamorous and you regret what you have done?”
I looked around the ballroom, listening to the loud music, and doing my best to speak in a controlled tone that wouldn’t alert the people around us to our little quarrel.
I fisted my hands before I spoke. “I had no idea Aria was here. I already had my mind set on getting her back because she’s mine. And you said she would be the only one who could love me, regardless of what I am. I want her because...I want to love her for what she is. She’s pure and doesn’t deserve to go to Hell. I will do all I can do to protect her.”
My words must have made some sort of effect on her because her eyes became emotional. Yet, her words came out harsh once again. “Philippe, listen to me. You need to turn around and walk away. It will be difficult. It will be laborious for you because you seem to be...caught under the mate’s love spell. Something in you has changed since the last time we spoke about her. You behave differently when you speak about her. I don’t know what occurrence took place, but you need to release her. She is better off without you.”
