I was ready to see what this whole dance thing was about.
23
There had been a lot of talk about this dance, but since I hadn’t expected to go, I’d deliberatelynotpaid attention to it. I had no idea where it was being held, and when we ended up in the practical magic area, I was surprised. I’d say sixty percent of the school was familiar to me now; I had classes in all quadrants, and even if I hadn’t been in every room, I had a good idea of what was around.
The dance was in a room I hadn’t ventured into. The ice land.
I shivered as we stepped across the threshold onto a white carpet. “Uh, should we have brought coats?” I asked, rubbing my arms.
“No,” Ilia said, shaking her curls. “The carpet walk is chilly, but the dance will be magically warmed. They really just want the winter wonderland theme. The first dance is always winter themed.”
We slowly walked along the carpet that led across a land of white snow. Despite the chill, I didn’t rush, enjoying the white rolling hills and snow-covered trees dotted about. Twinkling lights filled the sky as music drifted across to us from the band. One of the few whispers I had heard were over this band. Apparently they were a big deal in the supernatural communities.
“Packmates,” Larissa said, her voice high and excited. “They’re the hottest band in the world. I’m already dying.”
“All shifters?” I guessed, based on the name.
She nodded. “Oh yeah. Two wolves, a bear, and a panther. Neil, the panther, is my favorite. He plays the drums.”
More of the main dance floor was coming into sight now, and their music grew louder. It was a mix of rock and jazz, with lots of guitar and a strong drumbeat. When we reached the main platform of the dance floor, which was wood, circular in shape, and absolutely massive, I looked back along the carpet to find hundreds of formally dressed supes trailing along.
This was going to be insane. Half the school was here already.
The moment my heels clicked onto the wood floor, warmth surrounded me, and I let out a low sigh. It was almost too hot after the icy walk, but soon my skin adjusted and the temperature felt perfect.
I had a pretty clear view at the setup—there was a raised platform across from us that held the band. They needed the height for security reasons—they were already surrounded by screaming chicks. I watched them for a moment; the lead singer was covered in tattoos, his hair falling just below his ears in scruffy curls, and his voice was damn sexy. Husky and deep, it sent tingles down my spine.
I could see—and hear—why they were so popular.
“Drinks first,” Ilia said, dancing her way across to the long bar that bisected one section of the round floor. “I need a cocktail.”
“They let you have alcohol?” I asked, astonished. We weren’t considered adults in the supernatural world, and back home, no school dance would serve alcohol to underage students.
They both laughed. “Of course,” Ilia said. “The only drink off-limits to under twenty-fives is faerie wine. I’ve been so messy on that stuff, so it’s probably for the best.”
And now I wanted to try faerie wine.
Our first drink was fruity and strong, and I took a long sip, enjoying the orange zestiness as it tingled on my lips. “Your metabolism will burn through these pretty fast,” Ilia said, smiling as she downed hers in one go. “If you want a decent buzz, trust the expert. You need to drink three fast, and then you can slow down with the rest.”
My grin grew. “Challenge accepted.”
Ten minutes later we were four drinks in and finally ready to leave the bar. The dance floor was packed now, and I waved at a few students I knew. I’d become a little friendlier in class, and while the Clovers kept some people from associating with the “human scum,” plenty ignored them.
The music grew louder as we walked toward the main section set up for dancing. Finishing my fourth drink, I dropped it on one of the tall tables that were scattered around. Magically, it disappeared, and I shook my head at the wonder of it all. Over a month here, and I still wasn’t used to this.
“Let’s dance,” Larissa said, seeming a tad more inebriated than us.
I hadn’t danced in years, but somehow my body knew what to do. The beat was sexy, perfect for slow hip swings and bodies grinding together, and after some time, I noticed we were drawing attention.
I was just drunk enough not to care, when normally I might have stepped back.
Josh appeared, dressed in a black suit, the open collar showing a slice of tanned chest muscles. He swept his arms around Ilia, growls rumbling his chest as he nailed all the guys around her with a dark look.
Shifters were possessive bastards.
Ilia spun in his arms, wrapping herself around him as they moved together to the music. “Possessive lion,” I heard her murmur. I hid my smile because I’d thought the exact same thing.
He leaned down and whispered something, and she shot him a slow smile, followed by a seductive nod. It had taken me a while to get used to the sexual nature of supernaturals. To ignore it when I found them frolicking half naked in the long fields out the back of the Academy. Or the passionate kisses which could happen anywhere, anytime. They were free in a way humans weren’t, and the human-raised side of my brain had struggled with it, but now it felt much more normal.
