I was sick of her games. The entire kingdom was.
With one last wave, I turned away from my royal watch dogs then broke the surface, climbing easily onto the rock ledge beside me. Water beaded on my scales then dried, thanks to the swift breeze coming in from the east. The weather was changing. Doughtry was right. Coronation Day would be here before I knew it. Maybe when I was queen, Priscilla would finally stop trying to undermine me.
I snorted.
That sea witch would never give up in her quest to destroy me.
My hair whipped around my face while I waited to be swept away. By the time I managed to smooth it back, my tail had become human legs. Another snap of my fingers, and magic wove around my smooth skin to form a gown. Turquoise fabric shimmered against the moonlight. I ran my hand over the fabric, admiring the color.
My thighs strained against the confines of the skirt, and I frowned, drawing a line with my finger from ankle to thigh. The magic complied, ripping two neat slits, one up each side.
I wriggled my legs, satisfied.
My hair remained wild from the salty wind, but I didn’t care. Tonight was about blending in. My tiara would make that hard enough, but maybe wind-blown hair would soften the regal edge I was forced to exude the rest of the year.
Destan would have loved both personas. The parties and the responsibility of ruling were a yin and yang for him; equal parts amusing and fulfilling. He always had fun no matter the occasion.
I hated that I was living his life.
My shoulders sagged as the cold sea air raised goose bumps along my freshly formed human skin. Winter on the northern coasts were brutal for humans, but the water fae had scales and thick skins that protected us against the cold or any other threat.
Legs were much more vulnerable.
The magic of the Ball was the only reason my parents had once agreed to let me venture onto land. After they died, it was one of the few social gatherings I continued to attend. But I didn’t go for them or for the schmoozing I’d promised I’d do on behalf of my newly inherited kingdom. I went for Destan. For his memory and his love of people.
A beam of moonlight landed on me, and I sent a burst of magic through my fingers. The invitation I’d tucked into an invisible pocket of air appeared in my hand.
I looked down, re-reading the script that invited me to a party for the ages. Whoever The Proprietor was, she knew how to keep a secret. The realms were constantly buzzing with speculation. Once, years ago, Destan had claimed to know who was behind the Ball, but it was one of many secrets he’d taken to the grave.
I smiled, remembering that last summer we’d had together. I’d spent nearly a year at the academy with human legs; so long that returning home and donning scales had felt strange. Leaving school had felt even stranger. Donning my crown and stepping in to lead an entire kingdom under the sea had taken years to get used to. Or maybe it was the loneliness that clung to my new role.
Another face flashed in my mind, but I forced it away. Even after all this time, I could see his smile crystal-clear, and it made my heart ache almost as much as losing Destan did.
Rather than lingering on the past, I lifted my head to study the moonlight and waited. When the beam glowed bright, I shut my eyes and let the magic transport me to this year’s secret location. No matter where I landed or who I saw tonight, I made a promise to myself to enjoy it as best I could.
Tonight’s for you, big brother.
Chapter Three
Breck
The alley grew darker and darker as I went. My senses sharpened as the light grew nearly nonexistent. The scent of something foreign hit me, and I tensed, forcing my feet to carry me forward. Death and decay, I realized as another shoulder brushed mine.
The creature turned and aimed a pair of bright red eyes at me.
Vampire, I realized with a start.
He lifted his mouth in a menacing smile, undead eyes glittering. Before I could react, he turned back to his date. She smiled at him, her features stunning but razor-sharp. Whatever she was, I knew then and there it wouldn’t go well to get on her bad side.
I followed them slowly, my years’ of training kicking in so that I assessed every move the male vamp made. Silently, I reminded myself of what I’d learned about this gathering. No death allowed—the magic surrounding this place made sure of that. But until I was inside, I wasn’t taking any chances. And even then…
The couple stepped up to a bright red door flanked by two massive gargoyle statues carved in intricate detail. I stopped a few paces back and looked around for some sign of life.
Did we just walk right in?
But the vamp hesitated, and a second later, the stone gargoyles began to move. They came to life as easily as if they’d done it a thousand times.
“Ticket?” one of them asked in an accent that suggested they were locals. Their features were identical with dark skin, dreadlocks, and muscles that nearly bulged out of their stylish jackets.
“Of course.” Without missing a beat, the male vamp handed over an invitation identical to my own. The redhead on his arm did the same.
The gargoyles studied the tickets, both of them eyeing the vamp suspiciously. I tensed, wondering if something was wrong, but then the gargoyles waved them through.
“Enjoy the party,” one of them called.
The vamp flashed his fangs as he and his date disappeared inside.
I stepped up, noting the couple over my shoulder who waited behind me. They weren’t nearly as threatening as the vamp though it could have had more to do with the fact that neither one smelled like death incarnate. The woman smiled at me.
“Ticket.”
I turned back to the gargoyle on the left and handed over my invitation. He studied it then me. “First time?” he asked.
“That obvious?”
He grinned. “Newbies are always fun to watch.”
His twin waved me forward, and his white jacket strained around his biceps. “Have fun, but no hunting tonight.”
“Thanks,” I muttered and stepped past them and through the front door. I wasn’t sure how he knew what I was—or at least knew the half of my heritage I’d embraced—but I decided not to ask.
A darkened hallway waited on the other side.
Before I could take a single step toward the far end, the front door shut behind me with a resolute click, and I knew there was no going back. Dim fluorescent lighting flickered ominously overhead then blinked out completely, plunging everything into blackness.
I tensed, hoping like hell the vamp from earlier hadn’t decided to wait in here for me. Who knew if the magic prohibiting death extended to the entryway? If it didn’t, that undead asshole was going to get more than he bargained for from me.
My years’ worth of werewolf hunter training could be just as useful against vamps; my training at the academy had made sure to prepare me for anything.
I felt for my blade, but it was gone.
“Shit,” I muttered.
I’d heard no weapon would make it inside, but I’d hoped. So much for that idea.
I put one foot in front of the other, shuffling forward warily. I hadn’t gone far when I heard music drifting from somewhere ahead. It grew steadily louder until the thumping beat drowned out everything else.
Up ahead, rainbow-colored lights streamed out from an open doorway. I headed for it, and the darkness began to lighten. A moment later, I walked out of the narrow hallway and into a large open space blinking with fiber-optic lights that pulsed in time to the techno-esque music blaring from all sides. The colored lights flashed red then green then purple, bathing the space until everything glowed.