“Since when do I have a type?” she asked.
I nodded and smiled. “Good point. I guess what I meant was,” I began, “well, I don't really know what I meant. You just caught me off guard.”
“So do you think it's a bad idea?” she prompted again.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. “No, I think it's a great idea.”
Lucy smiled. I felt queasy. Sometimes the right answer isn't always the honest one.
Chapter Eight
Jason walked up and put his arm around me. “What’s wrong?” he whispered. “You look all flushed.”
“Just feeling overheated again,” I mumbled, waving my hand in front of my face to emphasize my point.
Lucy fell back to join the rest of the group as Jason gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze, then led me on towards the meeting place. I had an urge to look behind us and see how close Chase and Lucy were walking. Don’t worry, I resisted. I looked down at the ground instead, feeling like a terrible person.
In the time it had taken us to get ready, the barren meeting place had been completely transformed. Silken tents hung from the trees and glowed with the light of strategically placed candles. Some sort of hard surface had been lain for the dance floor. The wolves were dressed in gowns and tuxedos. Those who danced swayed to softly played, classical music. It all looked like something out of a fairytale. You had to hand it to them, werewolves sure knew how to throw a party.
By the time we arrived, the last slivers of sunlight had long since disappeared behind the mountains. The lack of sunlight left the dance area almost too dark. Then again, werewolves have some pretty impressive night vision, so they probably didn’t worry too much about sufficient lighting.
Tensions seemed to have eased since the earlier meeting. Nobody paid us much mind. Lela and Allison were almost instantly snatched up as dance partners. Only moments later Lucy and Chase were snatched up as well . . . luckily not by each other.
I mentally slapped myself on the wrist for my thoughts as Jason twirled me out onto the dance floor. I had to catch myself against his chest to keep from falling. I laughed, “Remember the heels.”
“I will not let you fall,” he assured with a smile.
I tried to move and sway as effortlessly as those surrounding me, but I’ve just never been a good dancer. I’ve got decent coordination . . . decent enough to play sports at least, but the rhythm of dancing is simply beyond me. Jason didn’t seem to mind as he gently spun me about, probably just enjoying the fact that I hadn’t argued about dancing with him in the first place.
As the music slowed, he drew me in close. “You seem very tense tonight,” he observed.
I took a deep breath and tried to release a bit of the tension. “It’s been a long day,” I explained.
He leaned down and kissed me softly, as if I might break. I didn't like the imagery of me being delicate, so I kissed him back fiercely. For a brief wonderful moment, everyone around us disappeared and it was just us two.
Our kiss was interrupted by someone tapping on Jason’s shoulder. I opened my eyes to see Devin waiting patiently for our attention. He was dressed in all black again, just a slightly fancier version of all black.
Devin dipped his head in acknowledgment of my presence, then turned to Jason. “May I cut in?” he intoned.
He seriously chose that moment to interrupt us? He couldn't have waited a few more seconds? I looked at Jason and thought say no, say no, say no over and over again.
Jason gave me an apologetic smile. “Why of course,” he answered.
Damn. Devin held out his hand to me and I reluctantly took it. His hands were rougher than I expected. I hadn’t really pegged Devin as the hard labor type, but his hands bespoke a past, or maybe even a present, of hard work without gloves. I couldn't really picture Devin building furniture or installing tile. Maybe he gardened.
Devin led me away from Jason. He kept my hand in his, then placed his other hand lightly at my waist. He stood closer to me than I would have liked, but the dancing would have been awkward if he stood any farther. In the heels I was an inch or two taller than him.
“You’ve made quite an impression on our little community,” he explained as we swayed slowly on the dance floor.
“Not on purpose,” I mumbled. I tried to ignore the discomfort I felt at his hand at my waist. Yet another reason to not like dances. Too many people had an excuse to touch you.
I searched the crowd for someone to save me. Jason had disappeared. My eyes came across Chase, who was dancing with a petite, red-headed werewolf. He met my gaze and held it until Devin spun me in a different direction.
I couldn’t find anyone else I knew, so I figured I may as well make some conversation. “So . . . ” I began, “which pack is yours?”
“I don’t have one,” Devin answered with an almost proud smile.
“Aren’t werewolves, like, vulnerable without a pack?” I asked.
Devin shrugged. “If you find a pack for me to lead, let me know.”
I furrowed my brow. “Why would you be the one to lead it?”
Devin swung me out and into a spin under our joined hands. He had to catch me behind my back before I fell. He chuckled at my clumsiness and held me a little too tightly.
“Do that again,” I warned, “and you’ll end up with third degree burns.”
“Sorry,” he conceded, but didn't loosen his grip. “No more spins. To answer your question, I’m too strong for any Alpha to let me into their pack for fear of a challenge. I’d have to form my own. I’m fine working with Abel for now. I’ve got diplomatic immunity.”
I laughed. “And you were betting on me? Isn’t it against the rules for politicians to take bets on the outcome of upcoming votes?”
Devin shrugged. “I never claimed to be a good politician. Actually, I'm really a rather terrible politician.”
“Well you've got the charm down,” I replied, “for those who can't see through it.”
“And here I thought I had you fooled,” Devin joked. “I'm more off my game than I thought.”
After a moment of just dancing, he spoke again. “I'm actually surprised you came to this tonight. It's not a mandatory event.”
I glared at him. I've been told I have a pretty good glare, but he just kept on smiling.
“The girls wanted to come,” I explained. “Don't ask me why.”
“Well you look lovely,” he replied. “I like you with your hair up.”
I glared even harder. “If you're trying to flirt with me, you should know that you're howling up the wrong tree.”
Devin laughed. “Sorry, it's in my nature, the charm and all. I don't mean anything by it.”
I scowled, but said nothing. I had a feeling that Devin meant something by every little thing he did.
“My you are quite a tough nut to crack,” he continued casually. “Most people really do find me charming.”
I smiled sweetly back at him. “Most people are also morons.”
“Well put,” he replied. “Though you are a demon attempting to form a werewolf pack. Some might question your intelligence.”
I raised my eyebrows at him, surprised he had finally said something insulting. “Good thing I'm not here to prove my intelligence.”
He laughed. “Nope, you're here to prove your brawn. I think you'd probably have a better time with intelligence.”
I smirked at him. “You'd be surprised.”
Devin laughed again. “I've no doubt about that.”
The music changed tempo again. Two songs was enough. I could probably escape now. I pulled away.
“I have got to go find my boyfriend,” I announced, just to once again verify that Devin wasn’t getting any funny ideas.
I didn’t think he was, but you couldn’t be too cautious with such things. He pulled back and kissed my hand and I let him. He could make out with the back of my palm all he wanted, if it meant I didn't have to dance with him anymore.
I pulled my hand away and wov
e my way through dancing couples in search of Jason. Who I found was Chase. He was sitting on a small bench next to Lela with a plate of food in his lap.
I hurried over to sit on the bench beside him before someone else could pull me into a dance. We sat in silence for a few minutes. Another handsome werewolf came and pulled Lela back out onto the floor. She went willingly. I looked down at Chase’s untouched food.
“Why aren’t you eating,” I questioned.
Chase shrugged. “I’m not hungry, but the plate of food seems to be a deterrent for any girls hoping to make me dance more.” He nodded his head off to our left.
Four women were standing there watching him, waiting for him to finish eating. Now that was just plain creepy. I’d never been to an actual dance, but I sincerely hoped that the people I went to school with weren’t nearly as . . . predatory as the werewolves seemed to be.
Some random guy in a dark gray suit came striding towards us. “Crap,” I muttered. “Give me your plate.”
“No way,” Chase argued. “They’ll pounce as soon as I put it down.”
The guy was getting closer. I grabbed the corner of Chase’s plate and tried to tug it away from him. He tugged back. “I don’t think so,” he whispered. “I’ve already been groped by three different women. You’ve only danced with one guy so far.”
I tugged harder. “Yeah, but it was a super long dance.”
Chase tugged back. The paper plate ripped and sent food flying to land right by the feet of the guy now standing in front of us.
“Would you like to-” the guy began.
I handed the guy my half of the paper plate. “Sorry, just got asked,” I mumbled.
Chase chucked his plate half into a nearby trashcan as I dragged him out onto the dance floor. He wrapped his arms around me hesitantly. “I thought the idea was to not have to dance.”
“Better with you than with some random guy,” I grumbled.
Chase smiled. “Well maybe I'd rather dance with some random girl.”
“Well then maybe you should have just given me your plate,” I retorted.
He sighed loudly. “As long as you don't try and grope me, I guess I can deal with it.”
I laughed, glad Devin hadn't tried to grope me.
“These shoes make you really tall,” Chase remarked.
“And really unstable,” I added. “So please, no dramatic spins.”
He tsk’ed at me. “There you go, ruining all of my fun.”
I noticed Lucy dancing with Max, while she gave me a confused and slightly hurt look. Great, now Lucy was going to be mad at me for stealing her dance. I really had no choice . . . honest. I glanced past Lucy and Max to see a little girl with long brown hair giving Lucy the same look that Lucy had given me.
This was all just too uncomfortable. I looked around for Jason, to see if I could maybe give some girl dancing with him a hurt and confused look, but he was still nowhere to be found.
“I’m sorry again about earlier,” Chase added, drawing my attention back to him.
I bit my lower lip. “It’s okay,” I mumbled in reply. “I overreacted. I’ve been a bit . . . tense lately.”
See? Who says I can’t be diplomatic?
Chase lifted my chin up so I’d meet his eyes. It was weird being at almost exactly eye-level with him. The somewhat intimate gesture made my pulse speed up.
“I’m not here for your dad,” Chase stated. “Not anymore. We don’t need to discuss it any further than that. I just want you to know. I’m here because I want to look out for you, not because I have to.”
Oh geez. What the heck was I supposed to say to that? I looked back down. “Um . . . thanks.”
He nodded, as if an 'um thanks' was a sufficient response to what he had said. I had a feeling in my stomach like I either needed to throw up, pass out, or scream. Things were getting way too complicated.
“I wish we were home,” I whispered.
“Me too,” Chase replied. He was silent for a moment, then went on. “So, speaking of home, what's going to happen when we get there?”
I pulled back a little so I could meet his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Chase shrugged. “Since the time I first met you we've been dealing with one issue or another. This is the last issue. If everything works out, what will we do when we get back home?”
“Well,” I began, not knowing what to say. “I still have school . . .”
Chase nodded but didn't reply and I started to feel like a total ass. He was asking if I wanted him to stay in town. I should have told him to do whatever he wanted. I should have told him to go and find a nice demon girl to date.
“I'll still need help with my lessons,” I began, “so, you know . . . you should stick around.”
Chase nodded and held me a little tighter. I didn’t protest. Bad Xoe. Very, very bad Xoe.
“Plus, your mom would be totally bummed if I left,” Chase joked, trying to lighten the mood.
I laughed so abruptly that I almost choked. “I will never understand why she likes you so much. I wouldn't be surprised if when we got back she invited you to live with us.”
Chase smiled. “Well, I wouldn't put it past her, but I think my connection to your dad might stop her.”
I nodded. “Which is why I'm surprised she likes you in the first place. She wants absolutely nothing to do with my dad. Anytime I mention him she clams up and goes all pale, so I've just stopped trying. It would be nice to be able to have my lessons at home, but I guess I understand where she's coming from too.”
“Well she did see him kill a guy,” Chase added.
“Well yeah,” I argued, “but it was in defense of us. The guy pushed my baby stroller over apparently.”
“Well look at you,” Chase taunted, “actually defending your father.”
“Only on that one little act,” I sulked. “I have not forgotten my abandonment.”
Chase looked at me seriously. “He talked about you a lot, before you actually met.”
I gave him a questioning look. “What would he have to talk about? He didn't even know me.”
“He checked in on you,” he replied. “even though you didn't know it.”
“And how do you even know this?” I asked, feeling flustered.
Chase flushed a little at that. “Well, I went along a few times . . . when he checked on you.”
“You what!” I exclaimed, eliciting a few questioning stares from the nearest dancers. I lowered my voice, “You spied on me?”
“No,” Chase said calmly. “I checked on you, along with your father. Sometimes when he couldn't make it, he'd send me to check on you by myself.”
“Um,” I began nervously, “How long ago did you start checking on me.”
The thought of Chase seeing me as a nerdy, gangly preteen gave me shivers. The thought of him knowing I used to wear high-waters everyday, because I could never find jeans long enough for me was even worse.
Chase smiled. “Only in the past two years.”
Oh thank the gods . . . but still, it rankled that Chase had known me in a sense for the past two years, when I only first met him around a month ago.
“Well, I just don't like this at all,” I decided out loud.
Chase chuckled. “Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you went through a Shakira faze.”
Well damn.
Chapter Nine
Before I realized it, several songs had passed. We didn’t see any of our would-be escorts in sight, so Chase and I went looking for the rest of our group. We’d only been there maybe 30 minutes, but it was so past time to get back to our rooms. We'd made an appearance, and that was good enough dammit.
We managed to gather up Lucy and Max pretty quickly. Lela and Allison had to be pried from a group of men fawning over them. All that was left was Jason . . . and we couldn’t find him. I went from being pissed that he’d abandoned me, to slightly worried.
After combing the entire gathering area, we started sweeping outwards into the woods.
We split into pairs: Lucy with Allison, Chase with Lela, and me with Max. Each pair had one wolf to help scent Jason out.
After only about a minute I got tired of Max having to catch me, so I took off the heels in favor of walking barefoot. There was only a sliver of moon in the sky (a werewolf gathering near the full moon would have been disastrous). I just hoped that I wouldn’t find any snakes or spiders with my bare feet.
Several more minutes of stumbling through the underbrush, and we finally heard voices. Well, Max heard voices, and made a shushing motion at me as we crept forward, then I finally heard them. There were four figures in a clearing ahead of us. One looked like Jason, but in the dark I couldn’t be sure. I looked at Max for verification and he nodded.
I leaned against a nearby tree so I could go on tip-toes and try and get a better look. As my hands pushed against the rough bark, the tree made a loud cracking sound. I cringed and turned my attention back to the clearing.
All four figures had whipped around to stare in the direction of the noise. Without a word spoken, the Jason-looking figure strode in our direction, leaving the other three to stand and stare.
When what was indeed Jason reached us, he grabbed my shoulders and steered me back towards the dance, leaving Max to follow. I stubbed my toe on a tree root as he hurried me along. He caught me before I went down, but I was still pissed.
“What the heck is going on?” I spat, trying to ignore the pain in my toe.
“Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Jason asked, ignoring my question.
“Oh, I dunno,” I said sarcastically. “It was a little difficult to go wandering through the woods in four-inch heels, in search of my boyfriend who abandoned me all night.”
Jason bit his tongue before he could say something to further piss me off. Max stayed out of it. Very wise of him.
Without another word, Jason gathered me up in his arms and started carrying me purposefully back towards the gathering. I was too confused to fight much, so I just wrapped my arms around his neck and waited. I’d tear him a new one once we were back in our rooms.
The Xoe Meyers Trilogy (Xoe Meyers Young Adult Fantasy/Horror Series) Page 34
