I’d almost made it to the counter when the elfin bartender asked if he wanted another drink.
“Not at the moment, thank you,” the elf replied, turning his head slightly my way.
I froze in place. I knew that voice and those condescending brown eyes.
Jhaeros.
His name hissed through my mind.
What in the seven hells was he doing here?
I swung around and hurried away before he had a chance to see me. Blindly, I rushed through the crowd clustered at the edge of the ballroom, barely seeing where I was going, as though the eyeholes on my mask had sewn themselves shut. Silks, satins, and tulle brushed against my arms as I fled through the throng—until I ran straight into a very large, solid form. My head lifted, giving me an up-close view of the towering male I’d plastered myself against. He had golden eyes, dark hair, and a beard.
Another shifter, I wondered? I really needed to visit the human realm if the males at this ball were an accurate representation of the sexy creatures on Earth.
“Pardon me,” the male said gruffly, jaw tight.
As I took him in, my mouth gaping open, he seized me by the shoulders and moved me aside as though I weighed no more than a dining chair.
“I’m sorry,” I said, but by the time I found my voice, he was already moving away at a hasty clip.
The rest of the gathering seemed to know better than me and swiftly moved aside as he barreled through.
I stood momentarily dazed, trying to remember where I’d been going. I blinked, and the ballroom came back into focus. Oh, right. Nowhere. Away. Out of sight from a certain priggish elf who held himself above everyone else, especially me. Well, I wasn’t the naïve elf I’d once been. I was a princess. A widow. A female who could look out for herself.
The band’s upbeat tempo died off, changing into a haunting melody as a mystical blue-haired siren sang into the microphone. Her seductive voice felt like a lulling wave rolling over the gathered assembly. The creatures around me quieted and turned their heads to the siren who appeared naked beneath her long blue hair until soft light from the chandeliers reflected the crystals on her nude gown. The siren’s lashes lowered as she closed her eyes, lips brushing over the microphone as she sang.
“We’re living like monsters, in a cage, villains of society. We’re nothing but monsters. So, take your place. Choose your lover. Choose your enemy. Welcome to the revelry.”
With determined, sweeping steps, I made my way back through the crowd, toward the bar where Jhaeros sat. I wouldn’t allow him to scare me off as he’d done in the past. I’d grown up since then. Besides, he wouldn’t recognize me in my mask, especially not since “blossoming” in Faerie as Liri had noted on many occasions. I shuddered. At least I hadn’t seen the murderous Fae. Yet. I’d tolerate Jhaeros over Liri anytime, anyplace.
Something tugged at my heart as I neared the bar. As unwelcome a sight as Jhaeros was, he represented a part of home—Pinemist—with both the good memories and the bad.
Tonight, I was happy to be ignored. I’d ignore him right back.
Chapter Six
Head held high, I flounced up to the counter, three feet away from where Jhaeros sat nursing a short glass with amber liquid—no ice. His head craned the opposite way, staring into the crowd. I followed the direction of his nose to a plump brunette elf in a plum empire-waist gown. Typical. He definitely had his type.
“Hello, there,” the elf bartender with the blond fauxhawk said to me with a kind smile. “Enjoying the ball?”
“I am,” I said, grinning back. “I even met a jaguar shifter.”
Jhaeros grunted but didn’t look over. Ignoring him, I pressed my palms against the counter and continued, “It’s a rare treat to mingle with so many supernaturals in one location.”
“Yes, there’s no other event that can compare to The Monster Ball. I’m Elohir. What can I get you?”
“Nice to meet you, Elohir. How about your signature drink?”
The elf’s eyes lit up as he grinned. “One Frostbite coming right up for the lovely lady in yellow and gold.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the blue-haired vocalist as she repeated her earlier chorus.
“I love this song,” I said before facing the bar again.
Elohir’s fauxhawk bobbed as he nodded. “Chilling, isn’t it? It’s called ‘Monster,’ the hit single by Pot & Kettle.” He continued conversing as he mixed my drink. “In a little bit, when the band takes a break, our DJ, Nix, will get the place pumping. She’s in the overhead cage.”
I followed Elohir’s gaze as he tilted his head up. High above the stage, in a cage suspended from the ceiling, a petite, barefoot, dark-skinned female in a white sweetheart gown with ribbons wrapped around her ankles swayed along to the rhythm of the band. The pixie’s bright aqua hair was twisted into two buns on either side of her head.
“Maybe you’ll find someone to get your groove on with—perhaps a shifter,” Elohir suggested, icy blond eyebrows jumping with mirth.
“Or a Fae,” the female bartender called over before returning her attention to a couple leaning over the bar in front of her.
I was done with Fae, but I held my tongue, not wishing to offend the female bartender.
Elohir’s gaze drifted to the frown over my lips.
“Or you could always take a turn with a fellow elf.”
As his eyes shifted slyly in Jhaeros’s direction, my heart plummeted to my stomach and breath stuttered to a stop.
Jhaeros stiffened. The younger version of myself wished briefly to crawl behind the counter and hide. Aerith, the widowed princess, lifted her nose. Before Jhaeros had a chance to huff, or grunt, or—worse—dismiss the notion altogether, I said, “I’m not inclined to dance at the moment.”
Elohir grinned from pointed ear to pointed ear and slid a frosty blue drink across the counter to me. “Perhaps after a drink you’ll be more inclined to warm up.” He winked and moved over to Jhaeros. “You gonna sit here sulking all night, friend?”
“Attending this function wasn’t my idea,” Jhaeros answered gruffly.
“You do know that most sups would kill to get a ticket to The Monster Ball?” Elohir asked incredulously.
“I’m not most, and I’m not a ‘sup,’” Jhaeros said in an arrogant voice.
It was my turn to grunt. Jhaeros’s head jerked my way. I kept my gaze pointed straight ahead at the purple glowing shelves, thinking I was safe until a pair of penetrating brown eyes found mine in the mirror’s reflection. My entire body froze in his heated gaze. When I glared, Jhaeros’s jaw relaxed and he tilted his head slightly as though puzzled by my reaction.
He broke eye contact, and in the mirror’s reflection, I saw him turning to face me.
My heart sped up, pounding up my chest to my exposed neck. I snatched my drink, cold biting into my fingertips, as I said a rushed, “Thank you, Elohir,” and hurried away from the bar.
My heart fluttered with each footstep, the long, loose skirt of my gown swishing against my legs. This time I watched where I was going so I didn’t end up spilling blue slush down someone’s ball gown. As soon as I saw an empty spot on a table, I ditched my drink yet again. I really needed to stop ordering cocktails.