I’d always had a high sex drive, and I finally understood why.
“Look at them,” Larissa said wistfully, staring at Ilia and Josh. “There’s too much pretty there for one couple. If they had kids … they’d be perfect.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s lucky Ilia is our friend or we’d have to hate her for being a goddess.”
We laughed and fell about each other, the alcohol kicking in stronger.
“Shouldn’t your date be here soon?” I asked, looking around.
Larissa shrugged, throwing her arms out to the sides. “I’m not sure. He didn’t seem that happy when I changed our plans, so … maybe he won’t show at all.”
I hugged her. “If he doesn’t, then he’s an idiot, and it’s totally his loss.” I pulled back. “You look smokin’ hot.”
She smiled and waved her hands wildly. “It’s cool. I’m used to being alone. Vamps don’t like to date the daughter of their princeps.”
“Why don’t you try another race?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Ilia and Josh, that’s not really a normal situation. We mostly stick to our own races. Everyone is looking for their true mate.”
We’d learned about true mates in class last week. Apparently it was a rare but very strong connection between two supes of the same race. It was a magical bond. Like … a soul mate or something. I had no idea if I believed in it, especially since it seemed that most supes did not have that sort of bond in their lives, but I understood why it kept them from straying outside of their race when dating. It was an elusive fantasy they were all chasing.
A new song started and the crowd around us screamed. I blinked before figuring out that this was a favorite Packmate song. Larissa grabbed my hand and we spun and swung our hips together. Ilia was still close by, but she was kissing Josh like he was the last supe on earth.
Just as I’d decided to get another drink, heavy hands landed on my waist and I was pulled back into a hard body. A gasp left me, and on instinct I jerked away. Spinning around, I faced a tall, blond shifter I didn’t know.
I stared at him, noting that he was good-looking with a lazy grin and golden eyes.
“Lion?” I guessed. This academy had more than a few lion shifters at it, despite them being a somewhat rare animal.
“Tiger, actually,” he all but purred. I snorted out a little laugh.
“Okay, then. How about don’t touch without permission, tiger.”
His face turned from smarmy to scowly in a heartbeat, and I dismissed him by turning my back and stepping toward Larissa, only to find she was now in the arms of a tall, dark-haired vamp. They were smiling and chatting together, and I figured this was the elusive date. He’d finally arrived.
Thankfully the tiger had taken my not-so-subtle hint and disappeared, so I decided to head to the bar again. I ordered two tequilas from the fey serving and downed both of them fast. The burn spread through my chest. In my old life, I didn’t drink much. No time or money for that. But on the three occasions I’d managed to get drunk, it had taken a shit-lot of tequila to do it.
“Would you like to dance?” a low voice asked from behind me.
I wiped my mouth as I turned, just in case any tequila escaped. I smiled when a dark-haired supe came into sight; Damon, a magic user from my Sword and Sorcery class. I didn’t know him well, having only exchanged a few words before, but I knew his weapon was a broadsword and he was insanely strong. I could barely even lift the sword, let alone swing it.
“Sure, I’d love to dance,” I said.
He grabbed my hand, leading me through the crowds of supes. When we reached the edge of the dance floor, he pulled me a little closer, and we awkwardly swayed together.
“Come here often?” I said with a smile, hoping to ease the tension between us.
He let out a low chuckle. “I like that you joke. It was the first thing I noticed about you.”
I shrugged. “Humor is my shield, a deflection. It’s also helpful when schooling idiots who need a quick lesson in life etiquette.” Sarcasm and snark were considered humor too, right?
“I’ve noticed.”
I could tell by those two words that he enjoyed my smart mouth, and that made me feel a little more comfortable with him. Not everyone got my sense of humor. Plenty of guys took it as an insult, their tinyegosunable to handle any sort of teasing.
“How are you doing with finding a weapon?” Damon asked, his arms tightening as he brought our bodies even closer.
I grimaced. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Nothing is calling to me. I’m only halfway along the wall, but still, almost everyone else is weaponed up.”
