“Yes,” said Asher, boring into the man’s mind. “Let’s talk about Hailey.”
Chapter thirty-seven
The Seven Trumpets Ball
“Speak low, if you speak love.” - William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Tacked on doors and message boards all over campus were flyers announcing the upcoming Christmas Ball and Parents’ weekend.
Hailey was gawking at one of them when Giselle caught up to her. Each day saw the banshee looking more and more like an angel—long, golden hair, crystal eyes, disappearing wrinkles…
Until she smiled.
It was the razor-sharp demon teeth that gave away her true nature. That and her grumpiness.
“My dress just came,” she barked, and Hailey waited to hear why this was a bad thing.
Hailey dipped her chin. “…and?”
“That’s all. But I observed that yours hasn’t arrived, and the ball is this weekend. Will you be wearing your sweat pants or going naked?”
Oh shit.Hailey’s eyes widened. Between completing her term project without Asher’s help (he found the experimental vibrations far too annoyingly close to his own death frequency), counting books in the library, reading Professor Woodfork’s chronicles, andnotlearning how to use her new “evil-detection” gift,because despite his promise to teach her, Asher rarely even talked to her outside of her dreams anymore—somehow, she had totally forgotten to get a dress.
Now, with only three days left before the ball, she had precious few options. Maybe Fin could drive her into town on Thursday?
She rushed home that Tuesday, hoping to find him before hockey practice. But what she found instead when she opened her door was a gorgeous black and gold gown with iridescent embellishments in hunter green hanging in her closet with shoes to match. Her in-between soldier pants kept it from wrinkling and her jellied shirt nodded its approval.
Asher.
She smiled, running her fingers over the rich fabric. He’d been fairly distant for several weeks after her date with Fin, but in her dreams, he’d promised to be more attentive and hadn’t even mentioned ripping her soul out, which greatly improved their relationship—and created for her quite the quandary.
She was intrigued by Asher—by his supernatural strength and new-found emotions—and Fin was right. She was flattered by his attention. Seeing him was mesmerizing, and not just because of his hypnotic gaze. He was simply gorgeous, in a dark, mysterious, brooding sort of way, with his smoldering eyes, thick, dark hair, warm embrace… and he ignited a fire in her that consumed her very reason.
But then there was Fin. Fin talked to her every day, touched her every day—always kissed her hand or her cheek when they parted… Only her hand or her cheek, and she really wanted more. Oh, how she wanted more! And though he hadn’t taken her out on another date since their overnight at his cabin, she’d been so busy with school and he with hockey, she’d chalked it up to nothing more serious than a scheduling conflict.
So, when the night of the ball arrived and Fin showed up with a date on his arm, Hailey felt the unmistakable sting of the green-eyed monster as she walked with Giselle to their table. Asher hadn’t shown yet, and as Hailey stood and gaped at her thirty-something-looking supermodel banshee roommate flirt with David, a pair of arms surrounded her from behind.
She jumped, and Fin buried his face in her neck, kissing her softly.
“You are a vision of beauty,” he murmured. “Save me a dance.”
“I will.” Hailey smiled broadly.
“And make it early, because I think Asher is going to kill me for good tonight,” he called over his shoulder as he returned to his date.
“If he bothers to come,” she muttered, but only Giselle heard her.
Dinner came and went, and Asher was still a no-show. While Hailey drummed her fingers on the table, Fin seemed to be having quite a good time laughing and snuggling with Adelaide Martin, the long-legged, blond-haired beauty queen he’d escorted. Then the music started and Hailey’s face drained. She grabbed Giselle by the arm, yanking her away from David and into the ladies’ room.
“Giselle, you have to help me, I don’t know how to dance like a normal person.”
“Let me see.”
Hailey tried a modified Irish jig, and Giselle raised her lip.
“What am I looking at? You look like a tree on a pogo stick. Try bending your arms or turning or something.”
Hailey sighed and pulled her elbows up as she bounced and moved in a circle.
