A Bite's Tale: A Furry Fable (11 page)

“I know what you did, why your mother took you away and never brought you back.” The vampire moved closer to tower over me. “But I’ll keep your secret. All you have to do is go to the ball.”

My eyes burned and I wiped a tear from my cheek with the back of my hand. How did this guy know about that? “Jack… did he live?”

I held my breath and met the vamp’s dark eyes.

Finally, he nodded. “Yes. But that doesn’t change the laws of our land.” His eyes narrowed and his voice lowered menacingly. “Assault and near-manslaughter are still illegal and punishable.”

Yes.
That single word echoed in my ears. I hadn’t killed Jack. A sob escaped and I mashed my lips together, battling the relief that racked through me.

The vamp waited, motionless, as I fought to get a grip.

“No one will ever know what happened if I cooperate with you this one time?” I bit my bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

“I made a deal with your mother years ago. She was to keep our conversation quiet and never speak of Jack or what happened to him. Not even to you. And if she took you away, we wouldn’t press charges. You’re back now, which means our arrangement is null and void. There’s no statute of limitations for attempted murder.”

“How did you know it was me?” I asked. “Did Jack tell you?”

“He didn’t think I knew about his little excursions to see a girl he called Cinderella. But it’s my job to know everything that goes on in the castle and outside it. You don’t get this old without learning how to be unseen.”

“Yes. I promise.” He could lead me to the party, but he couldn’t force me to socialize. If I got really lucky, I’d skip any contact with the royal family.

“My only condition is that you make yourself available to the prince for introductions and at least one dance, should he ask.”

I groaned.

“Being thrown in the dungeon is a better option for you then?” Somehow he managed to sound so British and proper while still scaring the hell out of me.

“Meet the prince. Dance — maybe. Stay until midnight. Got it.” Sounded like torture, but it was better than juvie. I nodded vigorously.

“Very well then. We must hurry.” He opened the door and swept me inside, calling out to Annalise on his way in.

An hour later, she’d finished my make-up and handed me a mirror. Any imperfections had vanished, but surprisingly, I didn’t look all plastered down and fake. Somehow, Annalise had magically secured most of my red curls at the top of my head. A few strands cascaded around my temples and a few more tickled down the nape of my neck. The rest looked ready to topple at any second, but she assured me it would stay.

The way she’d transformed me so quickly made me wonder if she was a witch and had worked some spell to make me look that pretty. Forcing my unruly hair into an unnatural state definitely required magic or a miracle.

“And now for the dress.” Annalise snatched the mirror from my fingers. “Marco!”

He swooshed into the bathroom and began unzipping the garment bag he’d been carrying earlier. Silky green peeked through the opening. He hooked the bag on the back of the door and slipped out without a word.

“Oh, yes. Come here, my dearest,” Annalisa purred to the gown. She gently slid it out of the bag and tugged on the folds of fabric, then held it up so I could see.

“Yes.” She waved a hand. “Designer and Seamstress. Dunston provided me with your measurements and coloring and I took over from there.”

“Okay, wait up. That vampire right outside is
Dunston
, the king’s advisor?” I’d been so terrified of the vampire and doing my best to avoid him, I’d never thought to find out his name. Obviously, he worked for the royal family, since he’d been following their orders to get every girl on the island to the ball. But the king’s most trusted advisor? Wow.

“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.

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.

“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.”