“Yes, there’s only one Dunston on the island.” She giggled. “Where have you been all this time?”
“Why would he have my measurements?” I cringed. That vampire knew way too much.
“After a millennia or two, a vampire picks up all sorts of talents,” Annalise said as she examined the gown. I couldn’t understand what she was looking for — it was flawless.
“Enough chatting, ladies,” Dunston shouted through the door. “We should’ve left an hour ago.”
“Yes, my Lord.” She pressed the dress against my chest. “Get dressed.”
I slipped on the gown, reveling in the silky fabric.
Annalise tugged at the bottom, so it lay smooth. “Gorgeous.” She spun and opened the door.
Dunston stood right outside, facing the door with a grim expression. “Fit for a ball.”
He didn’t look pleased. If he didn’t like me looking fit for a ball, then why did he go through the trouble of making me that way?
“Yes, but…”
“What now?”
Dunston was the last person I wanted to get advice from, but I had no choice. “I’m down with staying out of jail and going to the ball to meet your prince, but... what if I hurt someone? You already know what I did to Jack. How do I know I won’t do that to someone else tonight? Maybe even your prince?”
He didn’t look pleased. “Has nobody trained you? Have you not going through obedience school?”
“Huh?” Great. Such an intelligent response. Winnie has suggested obedience school and it had seemed normal at the time. But when it came out of Dunston’s mouth, it sounded like somewhere you’d send a pet to learn how to behave. Actually, it kind of made sense in my case.
“The guidance counselor at the high school should’ve flagged you immediately and given it to you as an elective, like they do with all supernaturals.”
I shifted my weight from sequined high heel to sequined high heel. “Right. So… got any behavior tips for the new girl?”
He studied me a moment, then scowled. “Yes, keep yourself under control. If you ruin this ball for the prince… Well, if you’re smart, you won’t.”
He took my arm and led me toward the limo. “You may drive with Annalise and Marco. I’ll go on foot and get there faster. Don’t make me wait long.”
I got into the waiting limo and Dunston vanished. Annalise sat beside me, making last-minute adjustments to my hair as the limo pulled away.
Fingering my silky gown, I stared at out into the black of night. My nerves ached and my stomach knotted. What if I hurt someone? What if that person was the prince? What kind of trouble would I be in then?
Chapter Eleven
Remy
“Is she here?” I leaned over the balcony and searched the faces in the ballroom below for anyone who could be my Cinderella. But I didn’t feel her presence.
“You tell me,” Dunston answered.
I reached out one more time like I had all evening, trying to sense her. “No, she isn’t.” I couldn’t keep the disappointed tone out of my voice.
He shrugged, still unconvinced. “She’s on her way.”
“You’ve seen her?” My heart leapt and I glanced at the entrance one more time.
“Yes.” Dunston stared at the dancers below without volunteering anything else.
“What was she wearing?” Not because I needed to know, but because I wanted to picture what she might look like now. It had been way too long.
He kept his gaze ahead. “A gown.”
Dunston was grating on my nerves. My eyes narrowed. “What color?”
He turned to me, a taunting smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “No clues. That would be cheating. You’re on your own, Remy.”
“Why?” I struggled to keep my frustration at bay. “You should at least tell me her real name, in case she doesn’t show up. Then I can search the island until I find her.”
“I will do no such thing. If she is here and you can’t sense her, then we’ll know your bond was never strong enough and she isn’t meant for you. You will have to choose someone else.” His lip curled up. "For the good of your country."
“There’s no one else.” But as our reunion neared, I began to doubt myself. After all this time apart, would I be able to sense when she arrived?
Dunston exhaled. “Prepare yourself for the possibility that she’s not the same girl you once knew. She’s older now and she’s been through trying times. Not to mention, she has a peculiar dislike for royalty and for obeying the king’s commands.” He shook his head as if that kind of rebellion were unthinkable.
It sounded like the Cindy I’d known and renewed hope electrified my chest that I’d see her again soon.
“Even if she’s overjoyed to see you…” Dunston stared off at the crowds, “she won’t want this kind of life.”
I knew he didn’t mean to hurt me, but his words stung, just the same. That had been my fear years ago and why I’d never told her my true identity. I would try anyway. Leaning over the balcony railing, I squeezed my eyes shut and telepathically found each person below on the dance floor, all the way to the guests on the outskirts of the room.
There. Near the doorway. “She’s here,” I whispered.
I opened my eyes and found her. My lungs had frozen, but I didn’t need to breathe — my eyes remained fixed on the girl wearing a green strapless dress that molded to her ribs and waist.
“She’s more beautiful than I remembered,” I whispered. I fought the urge to jump over the balcony and land in front of her. I wanted to drag her up to my room and kiss her like we had that last day. But I couldn’t. Instead, I faced Dunston with my brows raised expectantly. “What’s her real name? You have to at least give me that.”
“Cydney Ella Marsten.” He flourished a hand in Cydney’s direction. “What will you do if she doesn’t recognize you?”
I had my Cinderella back. Finally. I’d worry about the rest later. “I’ll remind her. Then I’ll make her remember why we belong together.” I turned and headed toward the stairs.
By the time I’d traveled the long and winding staircase, the crowd parting as I walked through, she’d made her way to her family. Her back was to me as I approached.
“Miss Marsten?” I asked. All eyes were on me, except hers. Slowly, she turned.
“Your Highness,” the woman behind Cydney said.
The woman and two girls curtsied in my peripheral vision while looking positively baffled. “You’ve already met my niece?” the woman asked.
I couldn’t take my eyes off my Cinderella. Couldn’t concentrate on anything, but her.
“Prince… Remy?” Cydney asked, eyes narrowed. Did she recognize me?
“May I have this dance?” I held out my hand, noting the rapid pulse at her throat. My instincts wondered how she would taste. I’d heard drinking werewolf blood enhanced vampire senses — and everything else. As if we needed more power.
She put her hand in mine and an electric current darted through me, just as it had the day we hiked to our picnic.
“Of course, Your Highness.” She seemed dazed, like she’d seen a ghost. I assumed that ghost was me. Maybe she’d believed she killed me? More likely, she didn’t see me as her old friend and my title had put her off.
I led her to the dance floor. Taking her hand in mine, I held the other at her lower back. I took a step forward and our waltz began.
But she wouldn’t look at me. She avoided my gaze just as intensely as I watched her. Did she remember me? Did she only accept the dance to be polite?
I pressed into her back to bring her toward me and she didn’t resist. I closed my eyes and inhaled. Strawberries. She still used the same shampoo. Somehow, that comforted me and gave me hope that she hadn’t changed that much since I’d last seen her.
“Cinderella,” I whispered.
She stiffened under my hands, but I pulled her closer.
“Turns out you’re a prince,” she hissed. “You didn’t think that was
something I should’ve known?”
“C’mon, Cydney. You didn’t give me your real name either. We were upfront about hiding who we were. Besides, if you had known who I was, what would you have done?”
She remained silent, so I pressed on. “Those summers with you… it was the only time I could be a regular kid. I wouldn’t trade those days with you for anything.” I felt her relax in my arms and I eased her closer. “I’ve missed you.”
She tensed again, her spine straightening. When she met my gaze again, her mouth was set in a hard line. “Anything we might’ve been to each other was over the moment I lost control and sank my fangs into you.”
I stared at her incredulously. “It was an accident, Cydney. It happens with young werewolves.”
She lifted her chin defiantly. “It could happen again at any moment. How can you stand being this close to me?”
“I find it very easy.” I gently steered her to the outside of the dance floor. “Besides, you won’t lose control that way again. You won’t let that happen.”
I danced us into a corner of the room and released her. She was tense and I wanted her to relax, to know I wasn’t going anywhere ever again. I had to reassure her. “Even if you did bite me, it won’t kill me.”
“Seriously?” she scoffed. “You’re willing to risk it?”
“I’m willing to risk it for you,” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. “Besides, I’m a vampire now. Sired by one of the oldest vampires around, which makes me more than your average fledgling. I can take care myself.”
“But you’re a vampire because of me.” Her lower lip quivered.
“Dunston would’ve eventually turned me anyway. I was sick.”
She gasped, barely audible to human ears.
I hoped that meant she still had feelings for me. “I had a very weak heart and didn’t have long to live. The plan had always been to turn me. You just sped things up a bit, that’s all. Cydney, it’s okay.”
“How can you say that after I nearly killed you?” Her motions were jerky and she looked everywhere except at me as she tried to squirm away.
I trailed my hands over her shoulders and cupped her face. “You know, I never stopped worrying about what that must’ve done to you.”
“To me?” Cydney blinked and a tear pooled in the corner of her eye. “Jack — I mean Remy — it’ll never work. You’re a prince and let’s not forget you’re a vampire. I’m a werewolf. We don’t mix and we never will.”
“Do you still feel the same way about me?” I asked even though a big part of me was terrified of the answer she might give.
She covered my hands with hers as she studied me. Her fingers slipped under my palms and she removed my hands from her waist. “I’m only here because Dunston threatened to throw me in jail if I didn’t come.”
I’d have to thank Dunston later. “You still feel what I feel, don’t you Cindy?"
Her face hardened and she finally looked me square in the eyes. “No. I don’t feel the same.
My heart sank and I let my arms drop to my side. If she gave any signs that she still cared, or that we stood a chance, I could handle her objections over the whole different species thing. But she gave me nothing. “So you had a bad day and it just magically erased any feelings you ever had for me?”
Her gaze fell to the marble floor. “What can I say? It was a traumatic experience.”
“And that’s why you’re crying?” I brushed a tear from her cheek with my thumb. “Why are you lying?”
Cydney took a shaky breath. “I can’t be with you. Even if I wasn’t worried about losing control and hurting you, we’re too different. You don’t even eat normal food.”
“But werewolves do?” I raised one brow.
She fidgeted and averted her eyes. Just because she wouldn’t admit she still cared for me didn’t mean it wasn’t true. Or that I couldn’t make her fall in love with me again. I’d be patient, not pressure her and let her get to know me again. Now that I had her real name, I could find her again anytime I wanted.
But I still had tonight.
“What if we were both human? Just normal people, like before?” I asked.
“That would be nice.” Her face softened. “It would be like summer again.”
“Then tonight, I’m not a vampire prince and you’re not the hottest girl I’ve ever seen in my life.” I grinned and twirled her again.
“Okay. Just two normal people.” A slow smile spread over her face. “Until midnight.”
“Yes. Like it used to be.” I circled her waist and guided her back onto the dance floor.
Chapter Twelve
Cydney
The music stopped and Remy steered me to the French doors that would take us outside.
Spending time with him clashed with everything I believed was right. I didn’t belong in his world and falling in love with him all over again was one of the stupidest things that could possibly happen. But my heart demanded I get in every last moment with him. Soak up his love and let it fill me. Our time together would end soon enough without me rushing it.
I scanned the ballroom looking for Aunt Mina, Gavin and my cousins. They were all watching us, looking a little nervous — probably worried I’d morph. I gave them the most reassuring smile I could muster before following Remy out onto the balcony.
Three men wearing black suits followed us out. Remy spun and gave them his best you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me glare.
“King’s orders,” one of them said. “We’re not supposed to leave you alone.”
“What can happen to me out here?” Remy’s voice was deeper than it used to be, which made him sound confident. And the words flowed easily, like he was used to giving orders. “If you’re right inside, you’ll be blocking the only way to get to me. We’ll leave the door open and you guys will be just a few feet away.”
They nodded and backed into the ballroom, hovering just beyond the threshold to the balcony.
I turned to face the ocean. Foam lapped against the sand below and moonlight cast a glow over the shimmering water. And up ahead, the silhouette of a wolf howled at the moon.
“You were at Pierre’s earlier today,” Prince Remy said.
I snuck a peak at his perfect profile. He was way sexier than I remembered. Taller, stronger. “That was you?”
“I wanted coffee. The guards wouldn’t let me out of the car though. They’re quite protective. I thought I sensed you inside, but the men couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“I didn’t want to be found.” But Dunston had found me anyway — thankfully. Though I knew my heart would break at midnight, I couldn’t regret reuniting with Remy.
“Why?” he asked.
Taking a deep breath, I refocused on the shore in the distance. “That answer will lead us to our real lives. We’re just normal humans tonight. Remember?”
“Yeah.” He laced his fingers through mine and a shiver shimmied through my palm and up my arm.
“So you drink coffee, huh? I thought vampires only drank blood. You and Dunston are blowing away all the myths.”
“We drink blood mostly. But some of us still like things from our old life.” Remy was silent long enough for me to glance over and find him studying me.
“What?” I asked.
“After Dunston turned me, I waited for you in our spot in the woods. Every day,” he said softly. “But you never showed.”
“No cheating, Remy. We’re not talking about anything that happened that day or after.” It thrilled me though that he’d never stopped liking me. Still, I needed to steer him away from the subject of us. The real us wouldn’t work and we only had a few hours left together. “I had no idea vampires could be out in the sun until I met Dunston.”
“Most of us can’t, but my maker was ancient. I got my strength from him.”
“That’s handy, considering you’ll be king one day.”
“Yeah.” His gaze drifted to the waves beating against the shore below.
“It
wouldn’t bother you being king?” I asked.
“It’s not like it’s my dream or anything. The job is mine if I want it.” He lifted a shoulder, then dropped it. “For a long time, I didn’t want anything to do with ruling. But when I imagined what it would be like if we had a real douche as king, I started thinking about all the good I could do. We have such a beautiful country. I want to make sure it’s protected.”
Did the king feel that way also? Maybe my attitude toward him had been unjust. Maybe not… My brows bunched together in confusion.
“I always thought the royals were too busy feeling superior, like when they threw that tourist in jail for trespassing.” I didn’t say it with heat. Wasn’t even sure I felt antagonism toward Ile de Paix’s royalty anymore.
“He was hunting, which is forbidden. What if he killed a shifter thinking it was a regular animal?” He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, then swept his thumb along my skin.
“I realize that now. But back then, I thought they made that law simply because they could. You must’ve thought I was such a dork.”
He smiled as he brought our hands up and pressed his lips to my fingers. “Never.”
I glanced away, not wanting to get lost in his eyes. I needed to remember that he wasn’t mine to keep. He would make a great king one day, I just knew it. And I had to admit, at least to myself, the country was strong and the inhabitants happy. King Lefevre was a good ruler.
If Remy stepped down, someone less honorable might take over the throne and anything could happen. Even voting someone in didn’t always work out for other countries. Ile de la Paix already had a workable system. Why fix something that wasn’t broken? Except…
“If you’re in power, you’re the guy everyone wants to take down,” I said.
“True. But if anything happens to this country, these people… I wouldn’t want to be around anyway.” His gaze drifted to the clouds floating past the moon.