Page 86 of Shattered Illusion

As we come to a stop in front of Hudson and the group he’s with, I let my eyes rove over him, appreciating the sight before me. The corner of his wolfish lips tip up in a bit of a smile at my perusal of him, and I flush with embarrassment, darting my gaze away before his magnetism can pull me in.

There’s no way I can deny that man is gorgeous, even in his lycan form, but who he is as a person, the person he introducedme to when we first met, is not someone I can see myself mating. He may be my goddess-blessed soul mate, but he needs to do some personal soul-searching before he is worthy of one.

“You ladies look beautiful tonight,” his deep voice rumbles, sending shivers down my spine with his deep timbre.

“Thanks, big bro. Now, back the heck up. This wolf is on the prowl for a real date.” I snort a laugh at Marion’s comment, laughing even harder when Hudson’s wolfish face looks more like a gaping fish instead of the predator he is.

“Well, if I’d have known you were going to ditch me, I would have brought someone else,” he grumbles, backing up a step. His words pierce straight through my heart, making me flinch and leaving me bleeding internally. His own mate is standing in front of him, and he would have brought someone else. “Shit,” he breathes, obviously catching the hurt on my face before I can mask it. “Bailey, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Axel’s unnatural coolness shields me from Hudson’s hurtful words as he pulls me back into his chest, wrapping his arm around my waist. I lean into the safety of those arms as a large hand folds into mine, drawing my attention. Looking over, Luka’s face is pinched in a scowl, staring down the lycan. His mouth opens to say something, but before he can, we’re interrupted.

“Bailey.” Thaddeus pulls me from Axel’s hold, giving me a tight squeeze even as the vampire grumbles his displeasure at the fae for taking me away from him. “You remember my girlfriend, Veronica.” Thaddeus steps back, holding out a pale blue hand for his lavender-skinned date. She tucks herself into his side, her hand resting possessively on his chest.

“It’s good to see you again, Miss Matthews.” She’s polite as always toward me, but there’s no mistaking the tightness around her eyes. My insides squirm as I shift under her scrutiny, feeling like she’s picking apart every bad thing about me.

“You, too, Miss Izzicle,” I murmur, retreating back into the safety of my dates’ arms.

A loud gong rings around the ballroom as the music cuts out abruptly, and conversations cease as all eyes turn toward the dais. Large reptilian wings are all I can see over the other patrons until they come to a stop next to the still-empty thrones. My eyes widen, and a quiet gasp escapes my lips as I see my very first dragon. It’s one of the supernatural types I’d always thought was nothing more than myth, which I then confirmed in my time thus far at Stonewell since there were no students—or professors otherwise—that looked like one.

But shit. They actually exist. I want to squeal in excitement and race over to him and ask so many questions, but Axel’s hold tightens, and a rumbling hiss emanates from the vampire at my eagerness to get close to another supe.

Before I can placate him, the dragon lifts his scaly arms, and smoke billows from his nostrils as he starts speaking. “Welcome, everyone, to the annual veil-shattering gala. It was on this day, in this very spot, fifty years ago, that we escaped the shadows and showed ourselves to the world.” He pauses as everyone cheers. When they quiet once more, he continues. “Since then we’ve thrived in this world, and we have the council to thank for that.”

Doors I didn’t even notice behind the dias open, and a flood of robed individuals practically float into the ballroom, each one stopping next to a throne. Ten. There are ten council members, and hoods obscure their facial features, making me uneasy. We’re nowhere near them at this very moment, but I swear it feels like they’ve collectively got their eyes on me. Which is freaking ridonklous considering there are thousands of other people here tonight.

The dragon fades into the background as all but one council member takes their seats, leaving themselves in the spotlight.

“Who’s that?” I murmur quietly, knowing one of my guys will hear me.

“That’s the head of the council,” Luka replies in his own whisper. “They have the final vote, the tiebreaker if the council can’t decide on something.”

Anticipation is thick in the air as everyone waits for something to happen. I shift from foot to foot as that foreboding feeling from earlier rises with a vengeance, making my breath catch.

“Let the festivities begin,” a disembodied voice booms through the silence before the head council member takes their seat with the rest.

Praises echo around the room as partygoers acknowledge their council, and then glasses are raised in the air, toasting to the greatness of the ten members in the center of the room. I follow suit so I don’t stand out, wanting nothing more than to blend in even when my eye roll game is almost strong enough to overpower me.

The DJ kicks the music back on, the beat flowing around the room like it’s a tangible thing. Groups of supernaturals break apart, some heading toward the tables while others shake their groove things on the dance floor.

Cool lips brush my ear, and I have to swallow my moan as I remember what those lips can do. “Dance with me,cor meum?” I snort, eyeing the supes who are already out there. What they’re doing cannot be considered dancing. In any way, shape, or form. It looks like they’re fucking. Straight up fucking in front of everyone.

“I thought we were supposed to be meeting your mom.” I’ll take any excuse I can to keep from bumping into the dance-fucking couples in the middle of the room.

Axel chuckles at my obvious deflection. “She’s not here yet,” he murmurs, pulling me closer into his orbit.

“How do you know? There are thousands of people here.”

“She would have stolen you from us by now,” he grumbles indignantly, making me giggle. “So, come on, just one dance,cor meum.” It sounds suspiciously like he’s pouting again, but instead of pointing it out, I head in the direction of the dance floor, knowing both of my dates are right behind me.

Lady luck must be shining down on me this evening because the moment Axel pulls me into his lithe frame, the music changes to something slower, sultrier. Almost like it was planned from the beginning.

A husky, feminine voice croons about lost love, the potential for new starts, and finding the one she’s meant to live for as we sway in each other’s embrace. It resonates deep within me. Ten times over being in the arms of my vampire. While Luca may have been the first one there after my change, Axel was the one who welcomed me with open arms, allowed me to cry my woes on his shoulder, and has been there every day since, even if when it was only in a friendship capacity.

Emotions bubble up inside me, and while it may feel too soon, I know exactly what it is. Love. A love I chose, not one that was decided for me. It doesn’t make what I feel any less when it comes to Luca and our soul bond, but this whole thing with Axel feels different. Like I’m grabbing life by the balls and doing it my way.

Tears gather in my eyes as I lift my head from his chest, ready to utter my emotions out loud for the world to hear.

But as I go to say the words, panic that he doesn’t feel the same way threatens to overtake me. Before I can loose my nerve, I swallow the panic down and turn to our mate bond. You can’t lie about how you feel when there’s a powerful bond at play.

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