Page 31

Dove

As a reward for finishing midterms, Firefox Academy put on a ball for all the students. As I prepared in my room, a certain Fated male decided to make things difficult.

“No, I’m not dancing with you, Fated,”

Seven snarled, still wearing his normal clothes as the rest of us already were dressed. “Do not fucking pout at me. You’re not going to convince me. What will the rest of the students think if they see me dancing?”

His lip curled up in disgust at the word.

Enko sidled up next to me. “I don’t know, maybe that you love our girl and want to make her happy?”

“I have other ways to show my love,”

Seven argued.

Rhys laughed, “Maybe leaving a dead demon or two at the foot of her bed as a gift?”

“No, I think he was talking about eating her out and gushing about strawberries.”

Enko grinned.

I blushed, but none of the men seemed to notice.

Seven bristled, “Goddess, you two are such ass—”

“Calm down, all three of you.”

Kairos entered the room with his serious face on until his eyes glazed over as he looked at me. He immediately strode forward, pressing his lips to mine. He kissed me deeply and when he released me he grinned sheepishly. “On second thought, maybe we should stay in tonight.”

“Stop thinking with your cock, Kairos. She wants to go,”

Enko interrupted. His fists didn’t clench. Progress. He knew how I’d feel if he hurt one of my other Fated males. And if there was one thing that kept Enko’s feral side in check, it was knowing something would upset me.

The floor length gown I had chosen was black—obviously—with gold embellishments and black gemstones embedded across the bodice and trailing down the skirt like scattered black stars. Kairos had gotten it for me when he realized I wasn’t so quick to wear any of the other fifteen he’d purchased for me in all different colors and styles. When I told him he could return them, he merely insisted that another occasion to wear each of them would come up. Now they were stuffed into the closet never to be worn. I’d have to secretly donate the rainbow prism of dresses.

Rhys checked his watch. “We’re going to be late.”

“The driver is waiting outside. Everyone ready?”

Kairos said, eyeing Seven but thinking better of saying anything as we all headed down the stairs.

Seven used his super-speed to get into a suit and even managed to slip a black rose into his jacket pocket before we made it out the door. “I swear all of you are slow.”

Outside, Kairos had a vehicle waiting, a long black limousine with a driver in a pure black suit holding the door open for us.

Kairos gestured for me to go first and I took his hand as I stepped in, finding a square area of black leather seating and I immediately crossed the open space. In the center there was a champagne bottle in a bucket of ice and five glasses.

I frowned. Kairos had gone out of his way to disclude Damon. But at least I got to see him in my dreams, a private date none of the others ever got to attend.

The others crawled in after me and I had a small giggle at Enko trying to fit through the smaller car door, mumbling something about a Hummer. Seven and Rhys sat on either side of me, while Enko and Kairos planted themselves across from us.

Once we were all in, Kairos popped the champagne, spilling over the luxurious carpeting without a care as he poured a glass and handed the first to me.

“To being Fated,”

he said as we all held a glass and outstretched it toward the center.

The glasses clinked and I took a small bubbly sip. Before I knew it, the car came to a stop and we were in front of Firefox Academy.

The school was lit up like the millions stars in the sky, flashing along the stone walls. Torches of the Forgefire lit our way, and Holy Foxes stood beside each of them. I knew it was their duty to make sure none went out on the chilly winter night.

The symphony of music fluttered to my ears, violins, a cello, and a viola of a string quartet growing louder as the students stood in line in their fanciest outfits, but all I could do was observe each of my handsome Fated.

First, Rhys, who had been a tad bit ashamed to be around me at first. But now he stood in a bottle green suit, slightly darker than his eyes.

Seven, in all black to match me but his ruby eyes assessed the crowds around us, scanning for a demon to kill.

Enko, so huge that I wondered what tailor had custom-made his perfect tuxedo.

Kairos, his tie sparkling with black gemstones that matched mine and holding out his arm for me. “Dove,”

he offered and I grasped his arm, mainly to guide me as my eyes wandered over the beautiful decorations.

Seven possessed my other arm without permission and I grinned, leaning over to plant a wet kiss on his cheek, if only for those ruby eyes to glare again. Rhys and Enko took positions behind us as we walked up the steps inside the academy.

Inside was even more magnificent. White flowers hung from the ceilings, twisting around the white and copper lights. Couples danced and I was giddy with excitement at the thought of dancing with each of my Fated mates. Then I frowned when I remembered one was missing. If not for ruining the night, I would have chastised them for it, but they clearly wanted me to have a good night. Besides, I had made other plans for Damon.

“A dance, little fox?”

Enko asked first.

The others glared with envy.

But I took his arm, assuring them, “I’ll dance with all of you.”

Seven’s arms crossed. “Not me. I want something else from you instead.”

Enko swept me out onto the dancefloor, his hands gripping around my waist as he twisted us in circles under the lights, not a care in the world for the other couples around us, who scooted away like my hunky giant was something to be afraid of.

When we finished, we found our way back to my group of jealous and grumpy males.

“I need a drink,”

I said, and Enko scared away all those around the refreshment table. I only got a sip before Kairos took his turn, and then Rhys.

The students all around us murmured. The music stopped. Rhys stopped dancing and tucked me close to his chest, his eyes glaring at the entrance.

Damon stood, wearing a fancy pinstripe suit, his blond hair slicked back. Some of the students gasped, but a rope of Fate tugged me toward him.

“Why is the Lord of Nightmares here?”

some student whispered.

Rhys held tightly to me, holding me in place. “Vixen, don’t you dare,”

he whispered in my ear.

But then Damon zoomed across the space between us, causing at least three of the students to scream. “May I have this dance, Dove?”

My smile couldn’t hide my excitement, even if all the guys were glaring at me. “Yes.”

He was so polite and gentlemanly, and smelled of amazing orangy citrus, how could I refuse?

He took my hand and Rhys’ hand remained planted on my waist until I gave him that look. And he finally released me.

“She’s Fated to the Lord of Nightmares too?”

I heard the students whispering.

Damon danced me through all the steps of a fancy dance even though I didn’t know them, and we were the center of attention in the room. The bright lights shone down upon us like the most beautiful starlight. The students surrounded us in a circle, whether because our dance was so beautiful or because the Lord of Nightmares was so scary, I didn’t know.

Seven snagged me away. “My turn, Fated.”

He didn’t ask for my permission, or Damon’s. But Damon bowed his head and backed away. But a circle of fear remained around him as Seven danced with me now.

“I thought you said you didn’t dance.”

I beamed. I loved being the center of their attention. If only I could dance with all of them at once.

“Stop grinning at me like a fool, Fated. I was only saving you.”

“I think you have a twinge of jealousy. Your eye is twitching. Do you even know how to dance?”

Seven glared. “I can give you more pleasure when we’re not dancing, Fated.”

I grinned harder.

The song ended and Seven still clung tightly to me, holding my waist possessively as we joined the others and allowed the other students to have a turn on the dancefloor without shitting themselves in fear.

“What are you doing here, Lord of Nightmares?”

Kairos growled.

“Just ‘Lord’ is fine, Kairos. No need to be formal.”

Damon winked to show he was joking.

Kairos glared. He didn’t like being challenged. “That’s not an answer.”

“I wanted to see my Fated. And she wanted to see me. Seems our girl loves to dance—”

“Our girl?”

Enko growled.

“Yes, Beast. Our girl,”

the Lord of Nightmares responded.

“Oh my goddess, can you guys just get along tonight,”

I groaned as I noticed we were gaining an audience as my giant mate and my mysterious mate’s hostility blazed. I pivoted to Damon. “I’m glad you could make it.”

He bowed to me. “Thank you for the invitation, Dove.”

That turned the outrage onto me.

“Vixen—”

“Little fox—”

“Fated—”

“Dove, you wily fox. Are you looking to get yourself killed?”

Kairos demanded, silencing the others.

“Maybe.”

I winked as Damon placed a corsage of black roses on my wrist. By the end of the night, my cheeks were sore from smiling so hard.