“Why, Jacobin…” Glorianna fluttered her long silver eyelashes at the big elf. “How nice to see you tonight! And you brought your little human pet, I see,” she added, looking at Cass.
“Hello, Glorianna,” Jake said evenly. “I hope the two of you are enjoying the ball. Using an illegal floating charm to allow your paramour to dance among the elite, were you?”
He raised an eyebrow at Valen, who still seemed to be floating about an inch above the ground.
“Nobody cares about that.” Scowling, the fairy grabbed her boytoy’s arm and yanked him firmly down until his feet touched the parquet floor.
“I wouldn’t be too certain,” Jake remarked. “And as I recall, last year this time you weren’t willing to take a risk.”
“Only because you’re too much of a stick-in-the-mud to break the rules,” Glorianna snapped. “You just didn’t want to fly in the First Tier because you were afraid to offend your betters.”
“You maybe be many things, Glorianna, but you are not my ‘better.’” Jake’s voice was smooth and even. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I would like to dance with my date.”
“Your nasty little human date, you mean?” Glorianna’s eyes were glowing with anger. “How dare you bring someone who’s not even a real Fae to the Summer’s End Ball?”
Cass had been standing quietly by, willing to let Jake handle this confrontation in his usual quiet, dignified manner. But now she’d had just about enough.
“Not a real Fae?” she asked, raising her eyebrows. “But it seems to me that you’re not all real either, honey.” She looked pointedly at the fairy girl’s large, fake breasts. “Tell me—how much did those cost? Do they do plastic surgery here or is that some kind of a magic boob-growing charm you did on yourself?”
“Why, you…how dare you?” Glorianna’s face went bright pink with rage.
“Let me tell you a secret, girl-to-girl…” Cass leaned towards her and stage whispered, “Mine are the real thing.” She pointed to the low-cut bodice of her gown which showed a generous amount of cleavage. “And Jake absolutely loves them.”
Then, with a final wink, she hooked her arm through Jake’s and looked up at him.
“Come on, baby, let’s get out of here.”
“With pleasure.” Jake smiled down into her eyes and then, without a single backwards glance at the fuming Glorianna or her bored-looking boytoy, he led Cass to the other end of the room where everyone was dancing.
“Well, that was an interesting encounter,” Cass remarked, breathing a sigh of relief.
“One you handled with graceful aplomb.” He smiled down at her, admiringly. “How do you always manage to put Glorianna in her place? It really was naughty of you to tell her how much I love your breasts.”
Cass arched an eyebrow at him.
“I wasn’t wrong, was I?”
“Not at all.” Jake’s voice dropped to a low, sexy rumble. “In fact, if I wasn’t obligated to be here, I’d take you back to my home right now and peel down the top of that exquisite gown to suck your ripe nipples.”
“Jake!” Cass slapped him lightly on the arm, feeling a hot blush rise to her cheeks. She loved it when he talked dirty but he’d never done it before in public.
He grinned unrepentantly and then sighed.
“Well, I’m glad that’s over with. I knew Glorianna would have to confront me at least once tonight—it was considerate of her to get it over with at the very beginning.”
“So you think she’ll leave us alone for the rest of the night?” Cass asked hopefully.
“After the way you finished the matter? I’d think she and her vapid little paramour will leave us well alone,” Jake murmured. “But we’re not to worry about them tonight. Come, Cassandra—dance with me.”
Cass took a step back.
“Oh, I’ve never actually done any kind of ballroom dancing,” she said quickly. “I’m afraid I’d step all over your toes.”
“Nonsense—you just need a strong partner. Let me lead and you’ll be fine,” Jake said firmly. And before she could protest again, he had swept her into his arms and danced her off into the colorful crowd of non-winged Fae that filled the dance floor.
To her amazement, he was right. When she relaxed in the big elf’s arms and allowed him to swirl her around the floor, Cass found her feet moving on their own until dancing seemed as natural as breathing. She began to loosen up some and look around, eager to absorb the strange sights all around them.
As she had on her first trip to the Realm, Cass couldn’t help marveling at the many different kinds and sizes of Fae all around her. Jake was probably the most human-looking one there, besides herself—only his slightly pointed ears gave him away. All around them there were creatures who looked like they came out of fairy tales or in some cases, nightmares, all dressed in extremely expensive and formal looking clothes, dancing in time to the music, which was being played by a band that sat in magically suspended chairs halfway between the two levels of dancers.
Cass saw what appeared to be a giant walking tree-man dressed in a mossy green tux dancing with a woman who was over ten feet tall and had greenish skin. She had on a richly trimmed bright pink dress that clashed horribly with her complexion.
But what person in their right mind would tell her so? Cass thought.
Next there was what appeared to be a man with a wolf’s head and paws dancing elegantly with a girl whose dress seemed to be made of water. Her hair was green and sleek and reminded Cass of seaweed and she had a water lily tucked behind one pointed ear.
Off to one side of the vast dance floor, an area about three feet by three feet had been roped off with a red velvet sash for the smaller dancers in the room. Cass saw people no bigger than her thumb twirling and hopping along with the music as well as several pairs of very fashionably dressed mice who were also dancing.
Then, from the corner of her eye she caught a flash of something strange. A glossy black flank…an apple bright eye…a tossing mane. She kept seeing these things through the gaps in the other dancers. But the moment she tried to take a closer look, Jake would twirl her away or the people dancing in front of her would close ranks and she couldn’t see past them.
What is that thing I keep seeing? Or who is it? Cass wondered. Could it be—
“Are you having a good time?” Jake asked, breaking her train of thought.
“A good time? Oh yes—this is all amazing!” Cass smiled. “I’m just afraid after this, my little art show will seem like nothing.”
“Your talent is immense.” Jake pulled her closer. “Anyplace that showcases it will be illuminated by true beauty. I cannot wait to see it.”
Cass couldn’t help the blush of pleasure that rose to her cheeks. Though the big elf was lavish with his compliments, she could tell he sincerely meant what he was saying. Maybe it was just that his people took art more seriously and revered artists but she felt like a goddess when he looked at her that way and spoke in that low, intense voice.
“This is all so beautiful,” she murmured, looking up at him. “How can I ever thank you for bringing me? And for the gorgeous gown? And for everything you’ve done for me?”
Jake pulled her closer, looking down into her eyes.
“Just say you’ll be mine, darling. Body and soul,” he rumbled softly. “Say you’ll give me your heart.”
Cass felt her pulse racing.
“It….it’s already over halfway given,” she admitted in a low voice. But Jake, I just—”
“Counselor O’Shea! How very good to see you here tonight!” a hearty, jovial voice brayed. And it really did bray, Cass thought. Jake’s last name came out sounding like, “Oh’Shaaaaaaay.”
When she turned her head, she saw why. The speaker had the body of a portly middle aged man but the head of a large goat—curling horns, long white beard, and all.
“Ah, Judge Gruff. It’s good to see you here as well.”
Jake didn’t sound very happy to see the other—man? Goat?
(Cass wasn’t sure what to call the goat-person.) But his deep voice was respectful and since he’d addressed the other person as “Judge” she was fairly certain this was a person he didn’t want to risk offending.
“I’m so glaaaaad I haaaaapened to run into you,” Judge Gruff brayed. “I haaaaave a question about that case we haaaad in my courtroom the other daaaaaay.”
“I’d be happy to discus it with you when we get back to work on Monday,” Jake offered. “May I present my date, Miss Cassandra Swann?” he added pointedly, sweeping a hand towards Cass.
“Ah, yes, yes—she’s aaaaaaabsolutely lovely,” Judge Gruff waved one hoof-like hand dismissively. “But my question will take only a moment of your time. Really, Counselor Oh’Shaaaaay, I must insist.”
Cass had the feeling Jake was working mightily to suppress a sigh but he only nodded.
“Very well, let me get my date a drink and then I’ll try to answer your question.”
“Thaaaaat’s fine.” Judge Gruff nodded, his long white beard wagging with the motion.
“Nice to meet you,” Cass said quickly and then Jake was leading her away to the edge of the dance floor. There was a small table there with a large silver fountain on it which was spouting what looked like pale blue champagne.
Jake filled a crystal goblet of the fizzy stuff and handed it to Cass.
“Here you are. I’m very sorry about this—I’ll try to get free as soon as I can.”
“That’s okay.” Cass shrugged. “It’s a work thing—what can you do?”
“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” he promised again and then he turned and disappeared back into the crowded dance floor.
Cass sighed and sipped her champagne which was fruity and good as she watched the dancers twirl. She wondered how long it would take Jake to get rid of the goat judge and get back to her and then wondered how things were going back home in the human world. Hopefully only a few minutes had passed and none of the guests had even arrived yet but—
“Hello, and aren’t you a lovely lass?”
The deep, smooth voice at her elbow startled Cass so much she nearly spilled her half-full goblet of champagne. Turning, she saw a tall, muscular man. He had pitch-black hair, eyes to match and smooth, golden-tan skin and he was smiling down at her. His neatly trimmed black beard and mustache gave him a slightly rakish air but he was wearing a neat black tux and carefully shined black shoes. To Cass, he seemed like a pirate who was trying—and not quite succeeding—to look respectable.
“Um, hi,” she managed to say. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Ah, but you haven’t met me yet, lass. Not properly.” He had a soft, Scottish burr to his voice that was very attractive. “Which is why we ought to dance and get to know one another better.”
“Sorry but I can’t—I’m waiting for my boyfriend,” Cass said quickly. Of course, Jake wasn’t really her boyfriend—not yet—but that wasn’t something Mr. Smooth, Dark, and Scottish had to know.
“Makes no nevermind to me if you’re betrothed,” he remarked, plucking the half-full goblet from her hand.
“Hey, I was drinking that,” Cass protested, feeling irritated.
“What—this?” His large hand closed around the goblet and when his fingers opened again, a jewel-toned turquoise and gold butterfly sat there, fanning its wings.
“Very funny.” Cass put her hands on her hips. “And pretty rude, too.”
“Not nearly as rude as this.” He tossed the butterfly away and grabbed her hand. Then, before Cass could protest, he had dragged her into the dance and was leading her around the floor.
“Hey!” Cass protested but the music suddenly changed and she found she was dancing some kind of an energetic jig. She looked down at herself in surprise as she lifted her skirts and stamped out a rhythm while her kidnapper did the same just across from her.
“Enjoyin’ yourself, are you darlin’?” he asked, performing an intricate step which Cass somehow replicated.
“What’s going on? How am I even doing this?” she demanded. “I’m not normally a very good dancer and I don’t even know this dance!”
“Could be I cast a tiny nimble-toes charm on you, lass.” He winked at her. “I thought you might enjoy dancin’ a bit more that way.”
“What I would enjoy is finding my boyfriend, Counselor Jacobin O’Shea,” Cass retorted. But she found she couldn’t quite muster the indignant frown she felt the situation called for. To be completely honest, the dance was kind of fun and finding herself an excellent dancer after a life of having two left feet, was also quite enjoyable.
The man with black hair and eyes, whose name she still didn’t know, seemed to guess what she was thinking.
“Fun, in’it?” he asked, grinning unrepentantly as they stamped and hopped and swirled and clapped in perfect time together. “I’ve yet to meet a lass who didn’t enjoy a good whirly-gig jig.”
“And do you usually…usually kidnap girls and make them dance like this?” Cass demanded, somewhat breathlessly. She might be an expert dancer now but that didn’t mean she was in perfect shape. She hoped the jig would end before she became completely exhausted.
“Ah, no—not generally,” the man replied, still breathing easily despite the strenuous dance. “But you see, I had a special reason to ‘kidnap’ you as you put it. I want to ask you about your sister.”
“My sister?” Cass frowned. “You mean Phil? Because she’s already happily engaged to a human called Josh. He doesn’t have any magic but our family doesn’t really care about that.”
“Family doesn’t care about magic, hmm?” He did a hop and a twirl, moving with surprising grace for such a large, muscular man. “Now isn’t that a shame, considerin’ my magic is what I mainly have going for me. But no, tisn’t your elder sister I’m concerned with. It’s—”
Just then the jig ended abruptly and Cass found she was free of whatever spell he’d put on her. Nimble-toes, that was what he called it, she thought as she bent over at the waist, trying to catch her breath. The gorgeous gown didn’t help in this department—it cinched in at the waist, making her feel like she couldn’t get air all the way to the bottoms of her lungs—not a pleasant feeling at all.
“I’m sorry, now,” the man said, putting one large hand lightly on her back. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard and you wearin’ that tight dress, lass. But I didn’t know the band was about to play a jig.”
Cass managed to straighten up and glare at him.
“Well you shouldn’t have—”
“Excuse me.” Someone tapped her on the shoulder. “There’s something you need to see.”
“What?” Surprised, Cass turned away from the man with black hair and eyes and found herself face-to-face with Valen, Glorianna’s brownie boy toy.
There was a sullen, hurt look on the brownie’s face and he carried himself stiffly, as though he was filled with some unseen hurt or rage.
“Did you hear me?” he demanded, glaring at Cass. “I said I have something important to show you. Important for both of us.”
“What are you talking about?” Cass finally managed to get out. “This is crazy—I’m going to find Jake.”
“Well, you might want to go look in the gardens just North of the Cathedral of Oaks,” the brownie snapped peevishly. “Because that’s where he is.”
“What?” Cass frowned. “Why would he leave the ball? And how do you know where he went?”
“Because he’s there with Glorianna—look!”
Valen whipped out a long-handled golden mirror with elaborate scrolling trim all around its edges. It appeared to contain the same black liquid Jake had in his U-News magic mirror TV sloshing around inside it. At first the liquid was completely dark.
Then, as Cass watched, the black goo began to glow and a scene began to form. A garden filled with flowers appeared, lit with dazzling silver moonlight. In the bright glow two figures were illuminated—figures that were unmistakably Jake and his ex-fiancée.
; “Oh, Jacobin, I don’t know about this…” Glorianna looked up at him through her long lashes coquettishly. “What if Valen and that…what’s her name you’re here with show up and catch us?”
“I don’t give a damn about them.” Jake’s voice was hoarse with sincerity. “I don’t give a damn about anyone but you, Glorianna. Now that I know you care again—”
“Oh, Jacobin, I never stopped caring,” she exclaimed, fluttering her wings in agitation. “It was you who stopped!”
“You left me when your father threatened to cut you off,” Jake reminded her.
Glorianna’s eyes went wide with apparent sincerity.
“Oh no, Jacobin—that wasn’t it at all! Daddy actually threatened you with harm! He said he’d lay a death charm on you if I didn’t leave you. And I, well…” She looked down appealingly, plucking at his sleeve. “I loved you too much to risk your life. That was why I had to break your heart.” She looked up at him. “I’m so very sorry, darling.”
“I don’t fear any death charm,” Jake growled. “Not if I can hold you in my arms again.” He seized her by her slim shoulders and looked down into her face intently. “Let’s go away from here if you’re worried about your father. Let’s go together—tonight!”
“Oh, Jacobin!” Glorianna reached up on tiptoes and threw her arms around his neck, drawing him down into a passionate embrace. “I love you,” she whispered when the kiss finally broke.
“I love you too, my sweet fairy flower,” Jake replied, holding her close. “I never stopped. Come—let’s make an excuse to the others and go start our life together.”
“Yes, Jacobin…” Glorianna’s eyes were shining as she pressed herself against him. “Oh, yes!”
At that moment, Valen waved his hand over the mirror and the black liquid inside it went abruptly blank.
“You see?” he said angrily, turning to Cass. “Do you see now? They’re together again. They never loved us—either of us!”
“I…but I…” Cass honestly felt as though she’d been punched in the gut. How could Jake act like this? How could he bring her here and spend so much time making her fall in love with him only to throw her away like a used tissue the moment he had a chance to get back with his ex?
Be Careful What You Wish For (The Swann Sisters Chronicles Book 2) Page 34
