Wolfish: Moonborne: A Fated Mates Paranormal Romance Page 12

  “I know,” I mumbled. My brain agreed with her one hundred percent, but my stupid heart was a big fat traitor.

  “Promise me, Sierra.”

  “I promise. We’ll have the talk this year, and I won’t let him get away without giving me some solid answers.”

  “Good.” Cass led me to a table labeled Mandrake House at the foot of the dancefloor, and we deposited our clutches at two empty seats.

  My best friend was already eyeing the dancefloor with that look of longing. I didn’t want to be a party pooper but there was no way I was dancing tonight. She’d have no problem finding a warlock or wizard to escort her. I was about to slump into the chair when a voice grated across my nerves.

  “Oh fantastic, Moon Girl’s sitting with us.” Davina sneered at me before gazing up adoringly at her boyfriend, Marrick. She sipped on a flute of Fae wine, and my stomach roiled. I’d never drink at this dance again.

  My fingers closed around my golden clutch, and I hissed, “Nope. Wrong table, sorry.”

  “Give it a rest, Davina,” Cass interjected. “It’s been two years, don’t you have anything better to set your vindictive sights on? Or is it because Marrick can’t get Sierra’s perfect ass out of his mind?”

  Her cheeks flamed, matching the deep crimson of her slinky dress. Marrick smothered his grin with a well-placed hand. Her eyes shot daggers as she spun at me. “I don’t understand why the academy insists on allowing half-bloods like you on its sacred grounds. You clearly don’t belong here.”

  “Agreed.” I whirled away, catching Cass’s hand as I stormed off. “Gods, I hate her!” I screeched as I dragged my best friend through the crowds to find another table.

  “Don’t let her get to you, Sierra. She’s just a bitch.”

  “A bitch who runs this school and will continue to make my life hell here.”

  Cass planted her stilettos, and we ground to a stop in front of the bustling bar. “Unless you stand up to her,” she said. “Or make her pay for humiliating you all those years ago.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Let’s give her a taste of her own medicine.” She eyed the bottle of lavender liquid across the bar. My thoughts swirled. Cass was a whiz with potions. There was nothing she couldn’t make with the right ingredients.

  “Are you seriously talking about drugging her?”

  She waved a nonchalant hand. “When you put it that way it makes it sound so horrible. I just wanted to get her a little tipsy then maybe she accidentally trips and finally gets what she deserves.”

  I wrapped my arms around my friend and squeezed her into a hug. “I love that you’re willing to do that for me, but I refuse to sink to her level. But you’re right, I should confront her. I’m not a scared little sixteen-year-old anymore. It’s my eighteenth birthday after all, and I’m an adult. I should start acting like one.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  I marched back toward the Mandrake table, determined to tell that nasty witch what I really thought of her. With each step, the anger intensified, coiling and uncoiling like a venomous snake. I rode the high, the surge bolstering my confidence.

  When I reached Davina, I opened my mouth and a snarl tore from my lips. Her perfectly plucked brows arched and she leaned into Marrick, nudging him in the side. “Oh my, I think the big bad wolf is here, baby.”

  He chuckled, his shoulders bouncing up and down and the entire table turned their curious stares in my direction.

  My fingers rolled into tight fists, and my nails pierced my palms. “You have no right to treat me like garbage,” I growled. “So I’m a half-blood, so I don’t have magic. Who the eff cares? Two years from now, you’ll mean nothing to me. I’ll be long gone, living a happy normal life far away from all of you freaks!”

  Davina’s smile morphed into a scowl, and a sharp sting burned my cheek. The smack reverberated across the soaring ceilings, echoing through the hall. Now at least three tables turned to stare.

  Fury roiled through my veins, and my hand shot out before I could stop it. My fingers curled around a fistful of her bleached-blonde hair, and I yanked. She screeched and dropped her drink, the crash of glass hitting the floor tearing everyone’s eyes from us to the flying glass.

  I raised my arm just in time to cover my face, and only a few shards pierced my forearm. I bit back a curse as Davina’s cries filled the air. I glanced down to see blood dribbling down her long legs. Oops.

  “You bitch!” she screeched and lunged.

  For a high society witch, the girl knew how to get down and dirty. I crashed onto the stone floor, the unyielding surface smacking all the air from my lungs. I must’ve hit my head too because the room was suddenly spinning, the stars through the skylight twirling in a frenzied dance.

  When I finally got my eyes to focus, Davina sat on top of me, clawing at my face, yanking my hair. Cass’s voice in the background finally registered and I started to defend myself, blocking her hits with my wounded forearm.

  “Enough!” Professor Kasar appeared from the circle of students surrounding us and jerked Davina off me. “Ladies, what is going on here?” His scathing glare darted down at me. “Did you attack Ms. Spellwright?”

  “No! She’s the one that started it.”

  The professor continued to frown at me before turning his indulgent gaze on my archenemy. “We need to get you cleaned up, my dear.” He escorted Davina and a doting Marrick through the crowd. The students parted at their approach like she really was the queen witch.

  I pushed off the floor, careful to avoid the remaining shards of glass and teetered on my high heels. “No worries, Professor, I’m just fine. Thanks for asking.” It was the story of my life. No one cared about the half-blood.

  Cass took my hand and wrapped a steadying arm around my waist. “Oh goddess, Sierra. You’ve got cuts everywhere. Do you want me to take you to the healer?”

  I shook my head. It would only remind me of the last time I was there with Hunter. Where was that mysterious jerk anyway?

  The mass of students had receded, some had drifted back to the dancefloor and others trailed after poor Davina.

  “I’m proud of you, girl. You stood up for yourself and now Davina will think twice before messing with you.”

  “Right… too bad she pretty much handed me my ass.”

  Cass laughed as she steered me toward the bathroom. “Nah, it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Did I miss seeing your beautiful bare cheeks again?” The familiar deep timber stole the air from my lungs.

  I spun, wriggling free of my friend’s hold and my heart catapulted against my chest. Dragon Boy. He wore the same golden mask, the sharp dragon teeth shockingly lifelike. A sleek black suit clung to his thick chest, hugging every dip and valley of his torso as if painted on. His black pants were tight around his muscular thighs, and I imagined the satisfying sound of dragging that zipper down and shimmying those pants down his hips. Heat rushed up my neck, and I lowered my gaze to the floor.

  “How is it that you just appear from thin air like that?” I blurted, slightly breathless. Had he heard me call him? I chased away the crazy thought. Maybe I had hit my head worse than I thought.

  “I didn’t just appear. You’re simply not very observant when you’re in the middle of a cat fight.” The corner of his lip curled before he dipped his head at my friend. “Cass, nice to see you again.”

  “I’m surprised you remember my name, you know, since it’s been an entire year.” She narrowed her eyes at him, and I jabbed my elbow into her side.

  “Cass, can you give us a minute?”

  “I guess, since that’s all you’ll get.” She stormed off, and my chest tightened. I knew she was just looking out for me, so I pushed away her hurtful words.

  Hunter’s arm came out from behind his back and a single violet rose was clenched between his fingertips. “Happy birthday.”

  I took it, my heart melting into a puddle as I sniffed the delicate fragrance. “Thank you, for rememberi
ng.”

  “It would be physically impossible for me to forget this day.” His smoldering gaze traced my face, then tracked down over my gold dress and across my arms. His appreciative smile twisted as his eyes landed on the bloody cuts. “You’re hurt.”

  “It’s okay, just a few nicks.”

  “Let me take you to the healer.”

  “No!” I barked. “I’m not spending one second of our limited time at the infirmary, not again.”

  His eyes darkened, the brilliant golden hue melting to a tarnished amber. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I know it isn’t fair—”

  “No, it’s not fair. I want to know why I had to wait an entire year to see you again.”

  Hunter’s lips pressed together and though I couldn’t see his jaw, I knew it was clenched tight. “I told you last time. I’m not supposed to be here. If anyone found out that I was, there’d be hell to pay. Not just for me, but for my family.”

  “Then why do you keep coming?”

  “Because I can’t stay away from you!” he growled, then dragged his hand over his face, fingers searching for hair hidden beneath the dragon mask. “Because I tell myself I won’t return for three hundred and sixty-four days and then the night comes, and I can’t stop myself.”

  Despite the anger, my heart melted into a puddle at his words. At the barely contained intensity behind them. I inched closer, closing the space between us. “Then don’t,” I whispered.

  “I wish it were that easy.”

  The weight of his words pressed into me. I leaned closer unable to stop my traitorous body. The scent of cedarwood and warm vanilla enveloped my senses and that overwhelming maleness washed over me. Something stirred inside, something that had been dead for an entire year.

  Hunter tipped his head forward, and his warm breath tickled the shell of my ear. “Dance with me? We can fight later.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Still Two Years Ago, AKA The Third Time I Met Dragon Boy

  I wanted to say no, to insist on talking now, but my head bobbed up and down. Hunter’s warm fingers closed around my hand, and he tugged me forward. Instead of heading toward the dancefloor, he led us to a quiet corner of the great hall. The talking, the laughter, the music all fell away, leaving us in a peaceful bubble all our own.

  Hunter’s arms wound around my waist, drawing me into his firm chest. The heat that radiated from his body scorched my bare skin. In the best way. My hands traveled up his silky jacket to rest on his broad shoulders. He began to move slowly, rocking from one foot to the other and my body moved with his.

  There was no stumbling, no awkwardness. For the first time in my life, I was dancing and actually enjoying it. I floated over the parquet, my golden dress set aflame by the candlelight as he twirled me in a tight circle. Hunter pulled me closer, his arms pressing me to his chest and a sigh rumbled in his throat.

  “You feel so good in my arms,” he whispered.

  I hazarded a glance up to meet those golden irises, and our eyes locked. He captured me in his piercing gaze, a fly caught in a beautifully lethal web. I rose to my tiptoes and curled my hands around his neck. The cold plastic of the dragon mask grazed my skin. Closing my eyes, I pictured him in a golden half mask, similar to my own, instead of the hefty one covering his entire face so I could at least make out the cut of his jaw, the feel of his skin. Much better.

  Emboldened by his words, I snuck my fingers beneath the helmet, tugging on a few strands of soft hair. What color was it? I’d imagined it a thousand times, dreamt about running my hands through it. It seemed longish at the back. I tried to imagine Hunter’s face with wisps of hair framing a strong jaw. I’d fallen in love with a man whose face I’d never recognize.

  “What color is your hair?” I blurted as I wrapped a lock around my finger.

  He stiffened, and the firm muscles of his chest went taut.

  “What? I can’t even know that tiny little detail?” I couldn’t disguise the hurt in my voice, and mostly, I didn’t want to. As much as I cherished these moments, the other three-hundred-and-sixty-four days without him were hell.

  “Dark brown,” he finally answered.

  Another piece of the puzzle twisted into shape. Eyes, lips and now hair. It was all I had to feed my endless dreams.

  “I love your hair.” The confession came out on a sharp exhale. As if he needed to get it out to keep breathing. Love? Even referring to my hair, the word made my heart sing. His big fingers tugged on a few locks that Cass had expertly curled. The deep purple shimmered beneath the chandeliers as the curly tendril bounced. “That came out wrong,” he added, his eyes meeting mine once again. “There’s so much I want to say to you, but I can’t seem to get a single sentence out right.”

  I knew the feeling. I’d imagined this moment for an entire year, planned out exactly what I’d say and now, all the words were stuck in my throat. I couldn’t get my brain to process a coherent thought. Not when his hands were searing into my dress, my body ignited by his proximity. Did he feel the same way?

  I forced my addled mind to clear and organized the jumble of questions. “Why is it like this between us?” I still didn’t have much experience with guys, but even I knew this intense attraction wasn’t normal. I barely knew him, and I was completely in love with him.

  He blew out a breath and regarded me with those mesmerizing eyes. “There’s only one rational explanation—I believe we’re mates.”

  A punch in the gut would’ve surprised me less. I staggered back, compelling my lungs to keep functioning, but Hunter’s hold on me only tightened. “We’re what?”

  “Fated mates. Two people destined to be together. I know you’re new to the supernatural world, but you have heard about it, right?” A hint of amusement played on his lips.

  “Well, yah, but, we don’t have that. Witches and warlocks and all the other magical species. That’s reserved for shifters and Fae and maybe the Sons of Heaven, but I think that’s more of a soulmate…” I was rambling now, but I couldn’t help myself. How could I have been so blind? Maybe a part of me had suspected it all along but had been too scared to admit it. Hunter wasn’t a witch, warlock or a wizard at all. “What are you?”

  His eyes darkened, those damned lips pressing into a tight line.

  “You’re really not going to tell me? You drop the mates bomb, and that’s all I get?”

  Hunter released me and cracked his knuckles, spinning in a tight circle. He paced back and forth in front of me as I waited. “I’ve told you before, it’s complicated. I can’t tell you certain things. I hate keeping the truth from you, but there’s only so much I can say.”

  I dragged my hand through my hair, frustration and anger bubbling in my core. “None of this makes any sense, Hunter. If I’m a witch and you’re a---whatever, how can we be mates? You’re driving me crazy. Just when I think we’re finally getting somewhere, you shut down again.”

  “Just because we’re mates doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together.”

  I glared at him, my brows shooting up. “Um, actually, that’s exactly what it means! For someone who’s supposed to be familiar with the term, you seem to be confused.”

  His pacing turned to stomping, his big hands balling at his sides. “There’s so much more to it. Things you don’t understand.”

  I grabbed his arm and jerked him to a stop. “Then explain them to me. You appear once a year, then you vanish without a trace. You kissed me, and now you say we could be mates, but we’re not supposed to be together? Please, help me to understand, if you care about me at all.”

  Hunter’s eyes blazed, smoldering gold shimmering beneath the candlelight. His hand snaked around the back of my neck and his lips crashed into mine, the dragon maw looming right above us. His mouth captured my lips, devouring them with an intensity that sucked all the air from my lungs. I planted my palms against his chest, set on pushing him away, but my feeble attempts grew weaker with every maddening stroke of his tongue.

  He pressed fo
rward, pinning me against the wall, trapped between the cold stone and his raging heat. Corded arms caged me in, and I surrendered. My palms glided down his shirt, exploring the intricate planes and valleys of his sculpted torso. I moaned into his mouth as his hard length pressed against me. Desire pooled in my core, the fiery intensity like nothing I’d experienced in my life.

  As he continued his assault on my lips, my hands roamed over his body. Every touch, every caress unleashed a dam of pleasure over my heated skin.

  “Oh gods, Sierra, I need you,” Hunter muttered against my lips. “I’m tired of fighting this. I just can’t anymore.” His mouth released mine, drifting across my jaw before dipping down my neck and across my collarbone. He paused, running his fingers over the light brown patch of skin. My birthmark. His eyes met mine, and an unreadable expression flashed through the brilliant gold.

  “Get a room.” The snide comment by a passing student barely registered in my lust-addled brain, but Hunter must have heard it loud and clear. He wrenched his lips from my neck and shot the masked mage a scathing glare. A deep growl shook his shoulders, the profound snarl vibrating across his body. The sound was more animal than human, and a realization smacked me in the face. Shifter. Hunter was a shifter, a fearsome beast by the sounds of it.

  A dragon? How could I have not seen it? The mate thing? I stared at his back as he growled threats at the student. The dragon mask—was that too obvious?

  Hunter spun around a moment later, the fire in his burning irises waning. “Let’s get out of here.” He took my hand and tugged me out the double doors. As soon as the music emanating from the grand hall faded, he tucked me into a dark alcove, a mischievous grin curling his lips. The lips that had been all over me a second ago.

  He stalked closer, planting me to the spot with that relentless gaze. His lips claimed mine once again. I melted into him, the feel of his body against mine draining my willpower. He was right. It had to be the mate thing. I’d never acted so brainless, so spineless in my entire life.