Page 2 of Reveal Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: All Hallows’ Eve #2)

P resent Day -All Hallow’s Eve

Niamh

I sat at the barstool, my tea warm and comforting in my hands, the mug steady against my fingers.

The amber liquid was smooth, a calming balm against the growing restlessness in my chest. The sounds of clinking glasses, the low hum of chatter as people moved toward the exit, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the space around me.

None of that drowned out the enthusiastic bout of sex leaking through the door behind the counter.

I took another sip of my tea and picked up my pen. The nib descended with a smooth click as it touched the Sudoku puzzle I was working on. I didn’t use a pencil—just the pen. No erasing mistakes. If I was going to mess up, it was going to be permanent.

“Closing time,” the waitress said, glancing over at me with a raised brow. She was moving past me, her feet soft against the worn floorboards.

“I’ll just be another minute.” My voice was casual, unhurried, as I filled in another number. “I’m waiting for my boyfriend.”

The waitress glanced behind me at the closed door, where the sounds of bedroom escapades hadn’t quite reached their crescendo. Her eyebrow arched in disbelief. “Jimmy is your boyfriend?”

I nodded, taking another sip of the tepid tea. It was chamomile, which always had a soothing effect on me.

The waitress looked back toward the door. Then back to me. Her mouth formed a bit of a tight line. “Jimmy? The one who—” She paused as if reconsidering how to word it. “He never mentioned a girlfriend.”

I shrugged, keeping my focus on the puzzle. “He’s a fuck boy. I’m not surprised.”

The waitress gave a soft chuckle, a touch of sympathy behind her expression. “Well, at least you know who you’re climbing into bed with.”

My friend Tori had said something similar. She accused me of only getting involved with men who weren’t ever going to stay. The truth was that fuck boys were the best in bed. And I didn’t need anything more than that skill from a man.

The waitress said nothing more. Her gaze softened before she moved to attend to other things.

The bar was empty of all its patrons now.

There was only the sound of the ice clinking in the bottom of a forgotten glass, the soft hum of the refrigerator in the back, and the occasional creak of the wooden floors as the cleaning crew shuffled around.

Oh, and the fucking going on behind the closet door.

It sounded like the big finale was coming, and so was Jimmy.

True to form, a few minutes after his Oh God, holy fuck, the door behind the counter creaked open, and out came Jimmy.

His face was flushed, a stupid grin plastered on his lips.

When his eyes met mine, his smile faltered.

“Niamh?”

“No, you did not just ask me what my name was after putting your dick in my ass.” That came from the waitress Jimmy had dipped into the room with. Her ponytail was lopsided, and her name badge hung off her shirt with the pin undone.

I lifted my hand and wiggled my fingers at Crooked Ponytail. “He was talking to me.”

“Who are you?”

This was my least favorite game to play.

It’s when I wished my parents had named me something else.

Because the way my name looked and the way it was typically pronounced by anyone who wasn’t Irish or from a Celtic background were two different things.

Surprisingly, my soon to be ex-boyfriend came to the rescue.

“Niamh, baby, I thought you were going to a party?” His words came out in a nervous stutter.

“I am.” I lifted my chin, sipping my tea like nothing had changed between us. “Just wanted to say goodbye first.”

Jimmy glanced nervously at Crooked Ponytail and moved closer to me. “I was just helping Jessica rearrange some boxes.”

“Dude, don’t touch me with another woman’s cum juices on you. That’s just rude.”

“Is this your girlfriend?” asked Jessica of the Crooked Ponytail.

“No,” both Jimmy and I said at the same time. And then that fool had the nerve to look at me with a hurt expression at my answer.

“He was my boyfriend, up until ten minutes ago, when he started fucking you in the closet.”

“Jessica and I were just moving boxes in?—”

“You can do anything you want to her box. I’m leaving you.” The words felt like they should have hurt. But honestly, they felt like freedom. “I just stopped by to break up with you in person. Cause I’m decent like that.”

Jimmy’s face twisted, confusion and frustration battling on his features. “She didn’t mean anything, baby.”

“Excuse me,” huffed Jessica, ponytail swinging toward Jimmy.

“Oh sweetie, I know that.” I patted Jimmy on the chest like I was calming a nervous animal. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m leaving. I’m off to meet my fated mate.”

His eyes widened, a mixture of disbelief and irritation flashing across his face. “You have a fated mate? And you’ve been sleeping with me all this time?”

“Don’t be insulted. I’m going to reject him, too. But it was nice knowing you. Thanks for all the orgasms while I waited for this day to arrive.”

Just as I turned to leave, I saw Jessica wobble on her legs and reposition her stance as she turned to glare at Jimmy.

“Oh, girl, it looks like our boy did the thing with his ring finger for you?”

Jessica’s ponytail swished toward me. She pursed her lips, shifted her weight, and then her mouth split into a huge grin. “Yeah, he did.”

“Next time, ask him to add his tongue.”

“Oh? Will do.” The ire left her gaze, and she gave me a nod of respect.

Meanwhile, Jimmy looked indignant. What did he expect being community dick? Girls talked. Why’d he think I bought a ticket to ride? It certainly wasn’t for his scintillating conversation. I had girlfriends for that.

Both girlfriends were off world right now. Tori was on Tartarus with her forever boy toy, just as happy as she could be. And Stella? She had found out she was royalty and was now about to marry the panther king’s right-hand man. She’d asked me to be her maid of honor. How could I say no?

No, really. I’m asking; how could I tell her that I didn’t want to do it? Not because I didn’t love her. I adored Stella. The problem was she was getting married in the one place I didn’t want to be: Panthera. Where my fated mate lived.

I’d known all my life that I was destined to marry the panther king. Between my Irish father, descended from the Leanan Sidhe court of the fae, and my West African mother from the Asiman fae court, I’d had my future confirmed twice over. But that didn’t mean I had to rush toward it anytime soon.

I’d been able to bide my time since there had been no portals to Panthera for decades after a crazed god lost his marbles and locked the whole world down. No ins or outs. That had meant I could play while my fated mate was safely tucked away. And then a few months ago, he came down to Earth.

I’d freaked out when word came that King Dion of Panthera had arrived at Blood and Beryl through a newly opened portal from his world.

Thankfully, he’d stayed in Portland and soon left.

He hadn’t come for me. Of course he hadn’t.

Because he, too, was a fuck boy. The rumors of his prowess had made it from Panthera down here.

Well, I wasn’t one to run from a problem. I had my big girl panties on. I’d just get myself to the planet, reject him, and come back home.

I still had some time before my portal travel. And I had an invitation burning in my pocket. I’d been invited to the All Hallows Ball. I’d spend the night getting my kicks before going through the Crossroads Portal to turn down a crown.

I walked briskly down the dimly lit street, my heels clicking against the pavement, the cool night air brushing past. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out the black envelope, its gold seal gleaming in the low light.

The invitation, with its promise of mystery and mayhem, had arrived earlier that day.

I ran my eyes over the bold, glittering script that adorned it.

A night of mischief, magic, and mayhem awaits you.

You are cordially invited to the first All Hallows’ Eve Ball at Crossroads.

Arrive by the stroke of ten, dressed in your finest enchantments, or forfeit your place.

Masks are optional. Secrets are not.

I took a deep breath, feeling the crisp night air fill my lungs, and walked toward the light. This was where I belonged tonight.

I watched as a girl in a shimmering black ballgown raced out of the house and headed down the street.

She looked familiar. Kasha, I think her name was?

She was being trailed by a tall, dark drink of water in a gray dress shirt with blue eyes that cut through the dark of the night.

He scanned the area as he dogged her steps.

With the way his gaze didn’t leave her for long, I’d bet they were mates.

Though, with the hurry she seemed to be in, I wondered if she was running from the bond.

You go, girl , I wanted to call out. Though it didn’t look like she was going to get far from the determined man chasing after her. I took note for the future when I plan to sidestep my fated mate. For now, I was going in to find a boy toy for the night.

The opulence inside the venue was staggering.

Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, their prisms catching the light and scattering it in a kaleidoscope of color across the high ceilings.

The walls were draped in rich tapestries, each one telling an ancient story—heroes, battles, and gods.

The air smelled of vanilla, musky incense, and some faint, intoxicating scent that made my head spin.

There was every type of beauty—tall, dark, and brooding; pale-skinned and ethereal; colorful-haired with pastel eyes.

They all shimmered under the candlelight, their clothes flowing gracefully, their eyes gleaming with secrets they’d never share.

I took them in, my gaze drifting over their figures. And then, I locked on to the men.

They were handsome, sure. I could tell instantly who’d be good in bed—the ones whose presence alone drew a woman in like a moth to a flame, one that she knew would burn her if she dared to get too close.

I found one moth, his broad shoulders set beneath a fine, tailored coat, his sharp jawline a perfect contrast to the glint of challenge in his eyes.

He stood out from the rest, and I had no doubt that in the sheets, he’d make me burn.

I was about to make my move when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the princess who doesn’t want to be queen.”

I turned, eyes flickering up to meet the speaker.

She was nothing short of stunning. Tall with molten gold skin and hair that shimmered in a way that couldn’t be natural.

Her eyes—unnaturally green, glowing with an otherworldly light—pulled me in.

A fae, no doubt. And like most fae, she could see that I wasn’t who I pretended to be.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Niamh.”

I raised an eyebrow. Waiting for me? A part of me was suspicious, but the other part, the part I’d long since learned to ignore, whispered that perhaps this was exactly the kind of trouble I needed.

“And you are?”

“Vaelora, the hostess with the most testosterone guidance system that you’ll ever find.”

That got a snort out of me. I liked her instantly.

“You have a duty, but I know your heart seeks something else,” Vaelora continued, her words like honey—sweet and smooth but dripping with an underlying sharpness.

“I have something special for you, something that will satisfy your curiosity before duty comes knocking on your door.” Vaelora gestured elegantly toward the grand staircase at the far end of the room.

“That door at the top of the stairs? Behind it lies exactly what you need. The distraction you crave.”

Now, my mama didn’t raise no fool. I was talking to a fairy. Her words were thick with promises and double meanings. For some reason, likely my future about to catch up with me, I wanted to play her game.

I shook off the doubts, feeling the pull of the unknown that had always been my constant companion. Curiosity—it always got the best of me—nudged me forward. A distraction. That’s exactly what I needed right now.

So I dipped my head in thanks and took her direction. The sly smile I gave her was meant to convey that I wasn’t intimidated or fooled. But boy oh boy was I about to be proved wrong. Without another word, I turned toward the staircase.

My heels clicked against the stone steps, each sharp sound echoing in the otherwise still corridor. The excitement inside me bubbled, rising with every step, each one bringing me closer to the door—toward whatever awaited on the other side. With a steadying breath, I opened it.

What lay beyond wasn’t a luxurious bedchamber or the secret den I’d expected. No, it was a forest. A real, live forest. Thick trees rose up around me, their branches whispering in the wind. But that’s not what beckoned me through the door. It was the scent of the flowers.

The bitter tang of poison ivy. The sweet undertones of hemlock. The earthy tang of damp soil mingled with the cool, crisp bite of the night air. It smelled like… me. My senses were overwhelmed, the fragrances of both beauty and danger pulling at me, coaxing me toward the forest.

I took a step forward and immediately felt a sharp tug. I felt myself being pulled. The world around me spun, the edges of reality blurring like a bad dream. The warmth of the room faded, and suddenly, I was falling—no, being sucked—into the space, the air humming with ancient magic.

I blinked and immediately recognized my surroundings. I was at the Crossroads portal. And then I was being pulled again. A second portal jump.

I gasped, panic rising in my chest, but it was too late. The pull was too strong. I hadn’t even been ready for this, but I’d never been ready for anything in my life, had I?

When I opened my eyes again, I had no idea where I was. Well, no factual idea. But I had a logical suspicion.

All around me were poisonous plants. Above me, the sky did not look like the one I’d looked up at every night of my twenty-five years on Earth.

No, this sky was from an entirely different galaxy, and I bet I knew which one.

I bet I knew which planet. I’d bet my weight in arsenic that I was on Panthera.

That damn tricky fairy!