The Monster Ball Year 2

by Heather Hildenbrand

  Chapter Twelve

  Breck

  The music shifted from the hard, pulsing strains to a low ballad that haunted the space around me. The party was ending, and I was stuck in this damned pod with a useless mermaid tail. Mermaid? Merman? Who the hell knew? If I ever got out of here, I could ask Aqua what to call myself now that I was like her. But in the moment, all that mattered was summoning my newfound fae magic and transforming these scales to legs.

  Priscilla had to be stopped.

  I had to see Aqua one last time.

  Sweat beaded against my brow as I struggled to harness my new power. Visualizing my legs, I gritted my teeth and pressed my hands to the rough plates that made up my lower half.

  Slowly, the scales turned to skin.

  Breathless, I didn’t let up until every last inch of me looked human again.

  In the doorway, someone gasped.

  I looked up to see Aqua staring at where my sea tail had just been. In its place were legs—bare naked thighs that led straight to my man parts on full display.

  Shit.

  I’d forgotten about clothes.

  “What did you do?” she asked, disbelief coating her words.

  “I made another deal,” I said, the words rushing out in case she ran again. “I traded my humanity to Priscilla. Became a full water fae.”

  “You can’t just—a change like that would kill you.”

  “It didn’t.” I shoved to my feet and stood there, afraid to spook her.

  My knees wobbled a little but then steadied. I took a tentative step, trying not to think about how naked I was. Or how her eyes kept lingering in strategic places.

  “I promised Priscilla I’d testify to the council what happened tonight.”

  Aqua blinked at me, and I waited while my words registered.

  “For Heaven’s sake,” she muttered and then magic shot from her hand and coated my skin, leaving behind a pair of low-slung dress pants.

  I blinked down at the clothes she’d just conjured then back at her, determined to finish convincing her of my grand plan.

  “I’ll tell them everything,” I said. “How Priscilla played me. How she conspired to take your crown. And most importantly, I’ll be a full-blooded water fae when I do it.”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “You did this for me?”

  “I did it for Destan too. And my mother. I swore I’d find her people someday. That I’d learn all I could about my fae side.”

  “What about your old life? Your sister, Sam?”

  “She’s happy now. She has someone.” I took a step toward her. “I have someone too.”

  Her lower lip trembled, and I nearly collapsed on my wobbly legs. “Aqua.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut, and I closed the distance, scooping her into my arms and burying my face in her wild hair.

  She smelled like salt and sea.

  I drank it in, memorizing it. Hoping this wouldn’t be the last time I touched her. “I’ll testify tomorrow,” I said, drawing back far enough to look at her. “And then I’ll go. If that’s what you need. Nerida’s big enough.”

  “Breck.”

  “Whatever you need.”

  “I need you.”

  Her words were like food to a starving boy.

  I kissed her forehead. “I’m here.”

  She looked up at me, lavender eyes glittering in rage. “And I need you to help me kill Priscilla.”

  “The magic here won’t allow it.”

  “No, but the magic at home will.”

  My brows crinkled. “What are you saying?”

  “Come home with me tonight, Breck. And every night.” Her lips curved wryly. “Turns out even a capable princess rated top of her class isn’t allowed to engage an enemy alone.”

  “Second in her class,” I corrected, and she grinned.

  “Run my security detail.”

  “Marry me.”

  She rose on her tiptoes, brushing her lips over mine. “We have a deal.”

  When the magic of the Monster Ball faded, we sank into the surf, hands joined as we swam through the gates of the kingdom under the sea.

  Epilogue

  Breck

  Crowds of water fae pressed in against the walls of the grand hall. On the dais, Aqua looked ethereal. White ribbons had been tied to her arms and attached to her tail, creating the effect of a gown that floated around her where she hovered before the council. Schools of silverfish swam between those gathered. Their fins tickled my sea-skin as they brushed in close, but I ignored them. I had eyes only for Aqua.

  One by one, the royal cabinet took turns bowing before Aqua and swearing an oath of loyalty to their new queen. She’d been crowned yesterday. We both had. And we’d been married the day before that, an underwater celebration like nothing I’d ever seen on land. Sea creatures had come up from the depths to witness our vows. Aqua had rode in on a damned seahorse.

  The whole thing felt like a damn dream, but the weight of the jewel-encrusted crown on my head proved it was very real. Not to mention the entire legion of water fae soldiers now obeying my orders.

  Some days, it was my life on land that felt like a dream. How long had it been since The Monster Ball had changed everything? One month? Two? Time worked differently in the depths.

  Water shifted as Monroe swam up behind me.

  “Your highness, the scouts from the eastern wall have returned.”

  Monroe’s voice was low enough to not draw attention from the others, but my head snapped up, my muscles tensing. This was the update I’d been waiting for.

  “Any sign?”

  When he shook his head, I wasn’t surprised. Only disappointed.

  “There’s no trace of Priscilla. We called in the oracle like you suggested, and she used her gifts to search out even a faint signature of the sea witch. No sign of Priscilla’s magic remains. She’s gone.”

  Damn.

  I’d wanted her out of our lives, but not like this. Not without paying for what she’d done.

  “And the evidence?” I asked.

  “We’ve cleared everything from her home under the reef and locked it into the royal vault.”

  “Including the forged letters we found, ordering the hit on the royal family?”

  “Yes, your highness. It’s all being preserved.”

  “Good. If and when she returns, she’ll stand trial for the murders of Aqua’s parents and brother.”

  Monroe looked like he couldn’t agree more with the idea.

  “Would you like me to continue the search?” Monroe asked.

  “No. Set an alarm along the border to detect her magic. If she returns, we’ll be ready.”

  “Of course.” Monroe slipped away, and I turned back to watch the remaining council members swear their fealty.

  When it was over, the crowd cheered, and Aqua flashed them a regal smile.

  “Long live the queen,” the crowd chanted.

  “And her people,” Aqua called back.

  The council applauded, and the trumpets sounded, marking the end of the ceremony. The crowd began to disperse, and Aqua scanned the room. Her eyes landed on me, and her smile deepened. I watched as she broke away from her advisors and swam over to where I waited.

  “How’d I do?” she asked softly.

  “Meh. It was no royal wedding, but it’ll do.”

  She laughed, but it ended too quickly. “And Monroe?”

  I gave her the update on Priscilla, and she sighed. “Well, at least she’s gone.” But I could hear the disappointment in her voice. “I just wish she’d been around to face the consequences of her crimes.”

  “The alarms will let us know if she returns.” I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Until then, I refuse to let that sea hag ruin anything.”

  “I’m sorry we can’t take a honeymoon, but we can’t leave the throne vulnerable.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, we had the honeymoon at the Ball. Besides, this place is more than exotic enough for me
. It’s like a never-ending beach vacation.”

  I wiggled my tail until bubbles rose between us. Aqua laughed when they tickled her sea-skin.

  “Learning new tricks?” she asked.

  I winked. “They don’t call me an old dog for nothing.”

  She groaned. “Werewolf humor already? I thought it would be too soon.”

  “Nah, that life is the rearview.” I slid in close, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her in until we were pressed together.

  Aqua’s blue eyes sparkled with a happiness I could feel all the way to the tip of my scaly tail.

  “And this life?” she asked. “Is it everything you ever wanted?”

  “More than,” I assured her. “I got this amazing girl to marry me, and I’m part fish, which means all the sushi I could ever eat. What more could a guy want?”

  She smirked, but her gaze flicked to something over my shoulder. “There’s one more thing,” she said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Your family.”

  “Aqua, you are my family.”

  She softened. “Thank you for saying so. But I’m not the only one you have left.”

  I followed the direction of her gaze and spotted a woman watching us. Her features were so like my mother’s that it took my breath away.

  I glanced back at Aqua, unsure but hopeful.

  “Her name is Coral,” Aqua explained. “She’s your mother’s sister, and she lives here in the capital.”

  I blinked, speechless as I studied the woman closer. My aunt Coral.

  For years, I’d made it my mission to find my mother’s people, and now, after all this time, I’d finally done it. Or Aqua had.

  “You should go over there,” Aqua insisted, shoving me when I still didn’t move. “Meet her. Get to know her.”

  “Aren’t you coming?” I asked.

  “Eventually. I wanted to give you time together alone first. I’m sure there’s a lot to say.”

  “Aqua.” I blew out a breath. “Thank you. For everything.”

  She kissed my cheek. “You owe me nothing. Well, except your undying love and devotion.”

  My mouth curved. “Oh, I’ll show you devotion, darling. Just wait until tonight.”

  She laughed, shoving me away. “Go.”

  I started to swim toward the woman then doubled back. “Quick question. If you’re a mermaid, then what am I? Don’t say merman. That just sounds weird.”

  Aqua’s brows lifted in amusement. I could see laughter beginning to rise in her and already regretted my question.

  “I would never,” she said with mock seriousness. “Besides, I call it like I see it. You’re obviously mersexy.”

  Yep. Definitely regretted the question.

  With a groan, I swam to meet Coral and welcome her as ruler of Nerida, the kingdom under the sea. My home.

  The End

  If you liked this story, check out Remembrance by Heather Hildenbrand, a series that includes Breck’s “Before” storyline.

  Turn the page for more Monster Ball…

  Shade Of Danger

  By

  Meg Anne

  Here’s to moonlight, slow dances, and discovering a new beginning.

  Chapter One

  Her

  Being a ghost sucked.

  There was no one to talk to, nothing to do—outside of spying on those lucky enough to still be alive—and worst of all, no one to touch. Not that she hadn’t tried. Once she thought she’d actually succeeded in knocking a picture over, but it had been a fluke. A gust of wind she hadn’t felt was the real victor, succeeding where all she could do was fail.

  It was funny that touch was the thing she missed the most about being alive, having no recollection of the last time she’d been fortunate enough to participate in such an exchange. No recollection of anything from before, actually.

  Not even a name.

  She was little more than a spectator. A spirit without a body, an identity, or even any memories of her own. For countless years, she’d been forced to watch as others lived their lives, never knowing if she had ever done the same.

  It was a shitty existence, more so because there didn’t seem to be any purpose to it. Why was she here? Where was here? Rarely was there anything to break the tedium, save new tenants who would occasionally move into the building she haunted.

  Is that the right word? Can you even haunt something if you can’t interact with it and no one else knows you are there?

  Whatever bound her to this place would not allow her to go outside past the natural boundaries of the building. So, she couldn’t leave the main entrance, but she could go to any of its balconies or even the roof. Most nights, she’d find her way up there to stare at the moon and ask the universe one of the thousands of questions whirling through her mind. Not that the universe ever deigned to answer.

  Although she had mostly free rein of the building, she found herself always coming back to apartment number seven. She wasn’t sure what it was about the unit. It definitely wasn’t the resident—which had changed a dozen times since she’d been here—but it called to her more than the others. In a way, it felt like home. As much as a ghost could have a home, anyway.

  Her current houseguest, as she’d taken to thinking of her, was some kind of scientist. She had a lab coat she’d bring home sometimes, and she was always muttering about equations and variables while putzing around the apartment. Not once had she brought someone home or done anything more exciting than play solitaire on a Friday night. In other words, she was utterly boring to her ghostly roommate who tried to live through her vicariously.

  As a ghost, she may not have a life of her own, but one thing she had in abundance were opinions. After years—decades—spent watching others, she had acquired quite a collection of them.

  Diets? Waste of taste buds.

  Celibacy? Waste of a body.

  Reality TV? Waste of time—and brain cells.

  Why were the living obsessed with how other people filled their days instead of actually going out and living theirs? It was absolutely ludicrous. People were choosing to spend the time they’d been given doing what she’d been forced to do for eternity. The irony of it was not lost on her.

  If she were alive, she’d devour everything life had to offer and then ask for seconds. She wouldn’t waste a moment of her life on silly things like counting calories or wondering what a celebrity wore to a party. And she certainly wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to take a good-looking stranger for a ride.

  Touch. She craved it. The sensation of having someone else run his fingertips along her skin and feeling the heat of it reverberating through her, sending her pulse racing and making her breath catch. Someone winding his fingers through her hair and tugging, causing waves of pleasure to roll down her back, or even the feather-soft press of lips against hers. Each small caress would create a ripple effect of sensation that impacted far more than just the single place they were physically connected. Not knowing if she had any practical experience in that area, she definitely had seen enough to feel confident she’d know her way around a male body if she ever got her hands on one. Or if she ever got hands, for that matter.

  Certainly, she’d had her own body at one time to recall the idea of such specific feelings, if not their specific occurrences. Right?

  Weary and more frustrated by her circumstances than she could remember being in a long while, she left her slumbering houseguest behind and moved through the mostly quiet apartment complex to the roof.

  It was less of an actual movement and more of a willing of self that propelled her consciousness from one room to another. Usually, it was as simple as thinking of a place to arrive there, but sometimes she liked to pretend, however she could, that she was human. Even if just for a little while. And so, instead of just sending herself to the top of the building, she passed through the halls and then the stairwells, just as anyone else might if they wished to stand under the stars.

  It was a beau
tiful night, the sky speckled with stars and the barest wisps of clouds. The moon hung low and full, its silvery reflection illuminating the world beneath it with its soft glow. Usually, the night sky was enough to soothe her, but tonight the feeling of restlessness only grew. If she had a heart, she would say it ached.

  Please.

  The wish was sent out into the world, filled with more meaning than a single word had any right to be.

  The slightly muted sounds of a city winding down were her only answer.

  Feeling defeated, she cast one last, longing look to the moon. There was a soft flare like it suddenly grew brighter. She might have missed it entirely if she hadn’t been so intently focused.

  Glancing down confirmed that a beam of light was now centered on the place where she hovered.

  Startled, she looked back up, trying to make sense of what was happening.

  The beam of light grew in its intensity, flashing until it was all she could see. It couldn’t have lasted long, perhaps only a second or two until it died down enough that the rooftop came back into focus.

  Lying on the ledge was a slip of something silver. Something that definitely hadn’t been there only moments before. Moving closer, she realized it was a slip of thick parchment. A sense of anticipation buzzed through her as if the parchment was waiting for her. But that couldn’t be. What was a ghost supposed to do with a note she couldn’t even pick up?

  Too curious to question herself, she moved until she was just beside the brick ledge. From this close she could make out a beautiful, looping script. ‘The Monster Ball.’

  She knew it was futile, but she couldn’t help herself from reaching out to the piece of paper that looked like it had been crafted from moonlight. Not expecting anything to happen, she was stunned when the parchment rose off the ledge and flipped over, revealing the following words: