Home > The Monster Ball Year 3 : (A Paranormal Romance Anthology)(4)

The Monster Ball Year 3 : (A Paranormal Romance Anthology)(4)
Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Bronx turns his nose up at my ticket. “That can’t be real.”

This asshole has to be messing with me.

“What do you mean?” I shove the slip of paper closer to his face. If it wasn’t real, I wouldn’t be standing in front of him. Would I?

Lex steps in and pulls the ticket from my grasp, smoothing it out between his palms. “You should take better care of this, or you may not be invited back, swe—”

I cut him off before the pet name can fall completely from his lips. “Again, if I’d had more notice, maybe I would have.”

“Alright, I think we’ve had our fun, Lex.” Bronx steps to the side with a broad smile. “You can come in, but you need to go find yourself some clothes before The Proprietor finds you. She likes to keep things classy.”

So much for coming here with hopes of attaining my beauty tail. If Tori could see me now, she’d either sigh or roll her eyes at my predicament.

The gargoyle winks at me, and I really want to tell him to fuck off, but I keep my thoughts to myself as I squeeze between the twins.

Ready or not, I step through the door and hope like hell I don’t bump into tattoo guy again.

 

 

3

 

 

Darkness descends around me as soon as I step through the door. My stomach drops as I’m swept away. The scenery rapidly changes once my feet are back on solid ground. My vision blurs, and I blink a few times until my surroundings come into focus. I’m on one big-ass ship.

Before me is an opaque glass door. Standing beside it is a ghostly butler whose vacant stare makes me shiver.

“Uh, hi. Those two big dudes back there took my ticket,” I say, hoping my mere presence means I’ll be allowed in.

He nods, a polite smile gracing his pale and wrinkled face. “Welcome to The Monster Ball, miss.”

As the door opens, the sultry hum of music captures my attention, drawing me forward toward a grand, wooden staircase. The staircase descends to yet another door through which the music floats. I push the door open to find a room with a dark, yet alluring interior. It’s filled with so many supernaturals that it causes my inhibitions to relax for the first time in much too long. Nobody knows me here—or knows I’m that kitsune who is about to fail her tasks.

The thrumming beat that lured me in comes from a ghostly band that floats between nearly naked women who are working the crowd into a frenzy. The sexual tension inside the room itches across my skin as I pause halfway down.

From where I stand near the door, I spot a small bar in the back and decide to head in that direction, trying to avoid the sudden stares I’m receiving because I’m severely underdressed. So much for anonymity. I guess I’m going to stand out one way or another.

Others around me wear designer suits and ballgowns—both sexy-short and sultry-long—their bodies adorned with jewels I could never dream of owning. Even on my best hustle day, I’m happy to make enough to pay my rent and buy food. The glitz and glitter here are nearly more than I can stand, so I move swiftly toward the bar, deciding to take the clearest route around the edge of the room.

A stiff drink sounds like a grand fucking idea at the moment.

Before I can make it halfway, a wave of immense power curls around me, making me miss a step. I press against the wall as my defensive instincts soar. My gaze darts around the dancing supernaturals, the ghostly band, and even as far as the bar. I may not be able to tell for sure what kind of supernaturals they are, but nobody in the crowd is giving off a powerful enough vibe to make me feel like I stepped into an ocean of magic.

So, where did it come from?

A compelling voice makes me swivel to a woman in a red ballgown with intricate black lace that curves around her waist and up one of the straps. She is suddenly standing before me, partially in shadow. She’s tall and graceful, and appears to be trying very hard to hide a smile, pressing her lips together as her bright gaze passes from my hair to my toes. Her expression changes as she goes—I sense approval when she sees my hair, sympathy when she gets to my shirt, and a ‘hmm’ rests on her lips by the time she takes in my shorts and tights.

“You were a late addition, but I’m sure you’ll find what you desire,” she says, with an unapologetic wink.

A laugh escapes my lips. “Leaving things to the last minute seems to be my mode of operation.”

My annoyance at being whisked here without any warning finally evaporates. After all, it’s in keeping with the way I seem to do things. Late tails. Late invitation. It certainly keeps my life interesting.

“If you’re looking for something to wear, seek out Sarah,” the woman says. “She’ll be easy to spot, wrapped in a silvery gown that glitters like the moon and stars. Her magic has a way of capturing the light just so.”

I follow the woman’s gesturing hand to the far side of the dining room.

Scanning the crowd, I easily spot the silvery glow and a woman moving around the tables on the back side of the room.

When I turn back, the woman in red is gone. She said I was a late addition, but only a few supernaturals would know that and one is The Proprietor herself. I can’t help my sigh that quickly melts into a small grin. I’m determined to find Sarah-with-the-silvery-gown, because—fuck it—I want to enjoy this evening.

Darting and dodging between the tables, inhaling the sexual tension as I go, I follow the woman as fast as I can without drawing further attention to myself. It is a little difficult given my attire and the speed with which I’m moving.

I veer around the crowd gathered beneath the dancers and finally spot the woman again that I think is Sarah gliding back toward the exit. I’m determined to catch her before she leaves the room so I can make the most of every moment in this place.

Every movement Sarah makes is luminescent, her silver gown floating around her. I have no idea what kind of supernatural she is, but—damn—I wish I had that kind of grace.

Catching up to her, I take the chance to call out, “Sarah?”

She half turns, her jewel-encrusted bodice catching the light and her long, straight brown hair flowing across her shoulders and down her back. The moment her green eyes land on me, they widen and she spins completely.

“Oh, honey.” She shakes her head. “You won’t have any luck with love looking like that.”

Another time, I might have been offended, but I’m not sensing a shred of malice from her. She’s beguiling in a completely disarming way.

“I’m not here for love,” I say, even if my statement leaves a small hollow in my heart. Male kitsune avoid me, because everyone seems to know about my tails—news gets around quickly among our kind—and the flings I’ve had with other supernaturals and even humans haven’t lasted long. I never allow myself to become too attached to anyone.

She arches an eyebrow with a gentle smile. “Everyone’s looking for love, even if they don’t want to be.” Inclining her head toward a shadowed area just beyond the dining tables, she takes my arm as if she’s known me for years. “Come this way. I’d rather not show off my skills to everyone or they’ll all want a dress like the one I’m about to give you.”

Sarah moves through the crowd effortlessly, and we stop at a small alcove with a plush lounge seat in it. The seat is black with a back shaped like a bat’s wings. She stops me in the middle of the space and gives me an appraising glance, studying my eyes, hair, and figure.

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