Nanok’s head bumped under my arm, demanding a good scratching before I abandoned him for the night. Working my fingers over his head, ears, and chin, I pressed my palms to each side of his massive cranium. “Wish me luck, old friend.”
Nanok responded by using his gargantuan, bluish-black tongue to slather my cheek with a slobbering kiss.
Wincing, I dragged the back of my hand over my face, ridding it of bear saliva, and patted his head. “Thanks.”
It was already half past seven, and I’d purposely waited to avoid looking too antsy. Creating my icy rink trail, I calmly skated through the woods, resorting to a regular walking stance once I reached the plaza. Several other townsfolk were also arriving, and wearing elaborate gowns and tuxedos. They also wore some form of amask—an important detail left out of my impromptu invitation.
Improvising on the fly, I called on the ice surging through the veins surrounding my eyes, allowing the creature to poke through there and only there—for now. It worked its way under my eyes, to my temples, over my nose, and covered my entire forehead. Once satisfied that the monster wouldn’t try to take over more than what I was allowing, I moved for the door, holding it open for a female with light purple skin. Her crimson eyes flashed through her onyx mask as she walked past me, fangs glistening from the moonlight when she smiled. Offering a neutral grin in return, I ignored her frown and let the door shut behind me.
It took only a single moment to spot her through the crowd. My lungs forgot how to breathe, my heart refusing to beat as I gawked at how absolutely fucking radiant she looked. The snow-white dress I created hugged her every curve, and the filigree branch designs with rhinestones and captured snowflakessparkled from the candelabras. Her hair was more voluminous, with wisps of silver and blue to match the tint at the ends. She wore no mask, but silver stardust spattered her cheeks, her wings and ears on full display.
“After all of this,he’s not going to show. I can’t believe I actually put this dress on and have been looking at the door for the past half an hour like an idiot,” I huffed, dipping a cup into the gigantic glass punch bowl filled with some form of tropical punch laced with ambrosia wine thanks to Dionysus.
“You’re overreacting,” Aella said in a sing-song tone. She wore a flowy blue dress with torn sections that mimicked water, leaving trails of silver glitter wherever she walked.
“Maybe. But I was already on edge about him. The least he could do is show up on time.” Grumbling, I watched Chelsea and Dion dancing. She looked beautiful in her wine-colored sheath dress, Dion wearing a shirt to match, his usual torn jeans, and combat boots. Chelsea hooked a finger around one of his curved horns and brought his lips to hers, kissing him. I sighed and turned away, filling my glass with more punch.
“Maybe he’s making himself look extra hot for you.Youweren’t even on time, Sylvie. Remember? All fussing over yourhair? Wanting it more poofy?” Aella mimicked my bodacious, voluminous hair by raising her hands above her head.
A group of males, two demons, and a gargoyle chatted in a corner. One demon groaned and flicked his spade tail at the wintry surroundings.
“This place is lame. I heard they opened a burlesque on the outskirts of town. We should go check it out,” said the antsy demon.
The gargoyle sighed and clicked his talons together. “Whatever.”
“When you say burlesque, are we talkingallfemales?” The other demon asked, appearing unamused at first.
“Nope,” the other demon countered, crossing his arms. “Place is advertised asanythinggoes.”
“I’m in,” the suspicious demon said, all smiles now.
Growling, the gargoyle pointed between them. “Fine. But if you two get drunk off your asses this time, I’m not flying you both home. It’s embarrassing how much you flail around andsing. Do we understand each other?”
The band leader demon slid an arm around the gargoyle’s shoulders. “Of course, Vorthak. If we drink too much, we’ll call for a Port-me-There, right Daevas?”
The other demon held up a pinky. “I’ll pinky swear on it. Come on, Vorth, make use of your night off.”
The gargoyle rolled his eyes and shoved Daevas’s hand away before storming for the exit, the two demons in tow.
Mayor Tibbs approached us, his glowing, amber, reptilian eyes glancing around the elaborately decorated space. I’d hardly taken a moment to appreciate it, being so preoccupied with a certain Frosty the No-show Man.
Tibbs was a dragon who often donned his more human form, considering he’d scarcely fit anywhere in full form. The townspeople had elected him as head protector of the Cove longbefore I arrived. Tibbs scratched his head between two vertically curved black horns, the smaller version of his brown dragon wings folded behind him, the talons on the arches twitching as they moved. “I don’t believe Town Hall has ever looked as festive. You all really outdid yourselves.”
I popped a sugarplum into my mouth with an extra dose of pride. “Thank you, mayor.”
Tibbs’ copper, scaled tail whipped back and forth, dusting the floor, escaping through a custom hole in the back of his pants. Several females whispered, giggled, and pointed at Tibbs’ handsome features, his long chestnut hair falling in waves to his chin.
“He’s the only reason I ever attend town meetings,” one female said, biting her thumbnail.
If Tibbs heard them, he paid it no mind, ever the professional. He lifted a pewter goblet to his lips, his hands matching the scaled texture of his tail, fingernails replaced with deadly black talons. “Have fun tonight, ladies.”
“Tiberius, you old dog. Get your ass over here,” Finneas yelled, waving the dragon mayor over, his long horns vibrating as he laughed.
Though his visit was brief, it was more interaction than I’d had with him in months. He always kept himself busy and obsessed over the Cove’s safety. As he sauntered away, I noticed for the first time that he didn’t wear shoes, his scaled, taloned feet clicking on the floor as he moved. My fascination with his reptilian form soon came to an abrupt halt.Jack. His calming scent, faint from this distance, hung in the air, and I closed my eyes, inhaling greedily.
“Sylvie? Is something—” Aella started, but cut her words short when she caught sight of Jack. “—Have fun.” She leaned in to kiss my cheek, and I dragged my fingertips there, still staringthrough the crowd of Cove residents at Jack’s resplendent choice of attire.
Jack’s eyes met mine for a moment before a smirk played on his lips and he disappeared within the crowd. Blinking, as if I’d somehow imagined him, I turned circles, hitching my skirts to keep from tripping on them. My movements had become far too erratic, and I smoothed a hand down my bodice. My wings hadn’t gotten the memo and continued to flap excitedly.
