The Ball (2)
1107 Words
Loredana's POV
Mortou had just left, Mike still had his arms wrapped. around me. The anger had dissipated, but he had not let me go. I did not mind nor did I fight it. He was just standing there holding me with his eyes shut. It had been a few moments, that I wondered what I should do.
"Hawk and I had a chat about you just before I came looking," Mike's voice fell onto the wind. It surprised me. I looked up to see his brown eyes staring intently at me. They were soft and warm.
"You were talking about me?" I wasn't sure if I should be upset or worried. Or both.
"We were, when you touch me I feel shocks and tingles of warmth. When another male I don't know touches I want to rip their arms off." A growl slipped out which even surprised him for doing it.
I couldn't help but giggle at his own reaction. "I feel them too, your touch is calming which surprises me with how comfortable but uncomfortable I feel around you," I commented back with nervousness clearly there.
"Hawk thinks we are mates," Mike blurted looking down to gauge my response.
"Tiffany said the same." I looked up to his eyes noting the shock there. "I didn't think I would have a mate." I fidgeted with my hands.
Mike used his index finger, he lifted my chin, rubbing his thumb lightly over my parted lips his eyes held intense passion, "you have no idea how the very thought of you has captivated my very soul." His lips descended to mine as he put every ounce of want and passion into that kiss. My hands slid up his torso meeting around his neck as my own need met his. The ball and the whole world melted away in that instant. I knew nothing but his strong embrace, the scent of his cologne and soap as it wrapped in a blanket around me This was truly my first kiss.
We parted breathlessly as the world around us snapped into focus. It was the excited giggles and clapping that drew our attention to the patio doors. My face flushed a tomato red as our eyes landed on the entire royal family, with Hawk, Amber, Elder Braun, and Pinky. They were grinning and clapping. I ducked my head into his chest trying to hide mortified beyond anything hoping a hole in the ground would open up and swallow me at that moment.
I heard Maya shoo everyone back inside. I felt her presence near us shortly after. " We don't mean to embarrass you but we have all guessed for a while now that you two may be mates." There was a warmth in her voice and the hand she placed on my shoulder that had me lookup.
"How did we not know?" I whispered.
"Mike can't scent and you are not a shifter so you wouldn't have scented either." She smiled it was a motherly one. "There were odds against you, but I knew if we kept you together long enough the bond would fix the missing bits." She hugged us both then walked with a skip in her step back into the ballroom.
As Maya exited the patio balcony, inside the ballroom there played a slow dance. Mike, used his finger to my chin to meet his eyes, "dance with me?" his voice rough and husky.
I just nodded as he began to move with surprising grace for a man so massive. We slow danced under to full moonlight as I wrapped my arms around his waist. We said nothing as the song progressed. Our bodies moved in sync as if had never been our first time dancing. I never felt more safe or protected at that very moment.
The moment was shattered seconds later a shrill scream and clattering glasses fell to the floor. Mike instantly pulled me behind him as he stalked up toward the patio door to look in. Inside the room, as I peered around Mike's big frame was the ghost of a face. The eyes glowed a brilliant orange flame.
"That was one of many labs you destroyed!" the ghostly see-through head roared. "I have many more!" The form hissed out exposing fangs.
"I have no problem destroying any I find," it was Hawk who stepped forward. A smirk formed on his face, "this display also tells me you are worried old man." He took another step toward the apparition.
"Why would I ever be worried of you," huffed the voice in annoyance.
"Because you know damn well who I am." The voice that came from Hawk this time was not his own but his beast. He was eyeing the people around the head. Looking for the source of its projection. He found it in a strange-looking skinny man with heavy black rim glasses. "There," he growled as Mortou, Ace, and Athens charged the man. He shot past Mike and me falling to the ground and scrabbling up.
"Stay," Mike snapped at me as took off at a run. I hugged myself as Athens sped past me the wind of his speed lifting the edges of my dress.
Shortly after Mike and Athens brought the skinny odd-looking man back to the patio as our group met them. I stood back and to the side. Mike left to come back and wrap his arms around me. Athens held the little man as King Joe came forward. "How did you know to come here?"
The little man snickered, "we know all the places and times you will be," came his creepy slimy filled voice. He glanced at Mike and me before returning to look at the big group in front of him.
"What are his plans?" King Joe grabbed him lifting him in the air dangling off the ground.
The nasty little guy spits on King Joe, who automatically flung him over the railing in disgust. As Athens and Mortou bounded down the stairs. "He is not here!" They shouted from the place where he would have landed below.
"I am right here." the slimy voice giggled. Mike and I looked right next to us as we saw the skinny little man and another who resembled a disfigured mad doctor, flicking a switch in his hand, he had before they disappeared. I couldn't help it I screamed. All eyes turned to us staring at nothing.
"What happened?" King Joe's voice boomed.
I did the only thing a damsel in distress could do at that point I plastered my face to Mike's chest and cried some more.
- Writer
