A Bite's Tale: A Furry Fable (12 page)

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.

“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.”

“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.

His dedication to our country inspired my loyalty. In a big way. I stifled my urge to volunteer for his army. With my lack of control, I’d probably end up helping the wrong people by killing everyone on our side.

“Cold?” He moved behind me, then took off his tuxedo jacket and laid it over my shoulders. His hands stilled a moment, then gently slid down my arms.

The heat from his body warmed me and he leaned into me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I relaxed against him and let the back of my head fall against his chest. My eyes closed as I inhaled his scent. The metallic smell didn’t bother me so much anymore. In fact, now that it belonged to Jack, I found it enticing. I wanted to snuggle closer and get a good long whiff.

The drawbacks of being a werewolf — we wanted to sniff everything.

His steady arms around me soothed me and the years melted away, as if we’d never been apart.

I had no idea how long we stood there spooning as we stood looking out at the coastline. I didn’t have a watch nice enough to wear with the gown and had no idea how much more time I had with him before it ended forever. Every moment became precious. I gingerly moved his arms from my stomach and turned to face him. Then I curled my fingers around the nape of his neck and drew him to me.

His mouth touched mine and I opened for him. Stretching up on my tip-toes, I tilted my face to take the kiss deeper. No, his metallic scent didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I wanted more of him.

What seemed like minutes later, he stopped. I took in a shaky breath as my boneless limbs struggled to keep me standing.

More than anything I wanted to kiss him again. Through the French doors and past the guards, I searched for a clock. Finding one, I exhaled in relief. “We still have a whole hour.”

I’d promised Dunston that I’d stay until midnight. I’d keep my word. But when the little hand hit twelve, I’d leave. I had to. I couldn’t allow myself to indulge. The wolf in me hadn’t threatened to emerge tonight, but it was only a matter of time. Every second I spent at the ball with all those people, I endangered lives. I would rip myself from Remy, even if I had to sneak away — no matter how much I wanted to stay with him.

“My deal was to pretend to be human for a while, the way it used to be with us.” Remy shook his head. “The real us never has to end.”

“Our worlds are too different, Remy.”

“That’s not it. Ile de la Paix is probably the only place in the world where being different is practically required. Try again,” he said softly.

“Remy, you’re asking me to risk doing to others what I did to you.” I wiggled out of his embrace. “I get this uncontrollable urge to shift. What if I end up killing someone next time?”

“If I got that hungry, we have bagged blood or willing donors. If I got desperate enough, animals would do. In any case, I’d never drink from you without your permission.” His voice grew gravelly. “Ever.”

Something about the way he said it gave me the impression it wasn’t about food. “But would you
want
to drink from me?”

“I… Cydney, I’m a vampire. It’s instinct. But it doesn’t mean I have no control.”

Instinct. His. Mine. The only thing that could change our basic nature was death. It wasn’t as if I’d harbored a hope that we could be together. I didn’t. But the heart wants what it wants. And time was running out.

“No more talking. Let’s just enjoy our last moments together.” I raised my chin and leaned into him. “Kiss me again.”

Gathering me up, he held me close. Soft kisses rained on my neck and I had the overpowering desire for him to do more. Moments ago, it had seemed dangerous. But Remy said he’d never hurt me. I trusted him. And I wanted him to touch me like that, be connected to me in that way — especially if it gave him pleasure. “You can bite me.”

Remy tensed, but instead of withdrawing, his teeth grazed the skin over my jugular.

“Do it. I want you to.”

He held me closer. Not as though I was his prisoner, but like a lover he couldn’t get enough of. I melted into him and his teeth punctured my skin sending electrical tingles through my body.

I closed my eyes as tiny little ripples of desire coursed through me.

When I knew for certain I wanted him never to stop, he withdrew his fangs and licked my neck. “Vampire saliva heals,” he murmured against my skin.