Chapter 1: Halloween
I hadn’t planned on coming along to Aurora's Halloween party at Nord Manor, but Ellie had convinced me it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. At the time, she had no idea how right she was.
I caught sight of Bella and Aurora when I entered the spookily decorated ballroom. "Very creative, Aurora. I give you that," I called out but got distracted by the woman standing next to them.
She caught my gaze as if by a spell, the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She had soft white long curls and deep green eyes set in a sharp but delicate face.
“I’m Alex!” I said and quickly reached my hand out.
She was tall and slender, and her skin was like porcelain. She was dressed in a white eighteenth century dress. She almost looked like one of the ghosts.
“Angèlique, I’m Damion's little sister,” she said with a French accent and voice so pleasant that it almost gave me goosebumps. Her voice truly was like music to my ears. She gave me her hand and met my gaze intensely.
I felt a spark when I took Angélique’s hand in mine. As if possessed I lifted it to my lips and kissed it. It was warm and soft. I wanted to keep kissing it. I’d never been this instantly and intensely attracted to a woman before in my life.
When I looked up again, I was completely captivated by her smile. I didn’t even notice my friends moving on, leaving me behind.
“So you’re an umbra? A demon hunter?” Angèlique asked, smiling cryptically at me.
“Not tonight, I’m not. Tonight, I’m a pirate,” I joked and winked at her. I felt a strong need to be close to this woman.
She laughed. It was probably the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.
“What about you? I didn’t know Damion had a little sister,” I asked, curious. Angèlique didn’t have an aura. I couldn’t tell what she was. But she couldn’t possibly be a normal human if she was Damion’s sister. It was likely that she was a powerful witch, too.
“No, it’s not common knowledge,” she just replied.
She leaned in closer with a seductive smile. Something suddenly flashed in her eyes, and for a split second, she looked furious.
But then her smile returned, and she sneaked her hand along my arm and pulled me along. “Let’s get a drink,” she said, like she was commanding me.
“I’d go anywhere with you,” I admitted and chuckled at her dominant manners.
She just giggled at my words. We went past Aurora’s ghostly drink fountain and to a bar at the corner.
“Two glasses of the aged merlot, please,” she said to the bartender.
“How old are you?” I asked Angèlique while the bartender poured the wine. She moved with such grace and her taste seemed peculiar for a young woman.
“Older than you, I assure you,” she answered with a devious smile. She could be really old then, if she was immortal like Damion.
“What about you? How old are you?” she asked.
“I’m twenty-eight,” I answered and tasted the wine.
“And is it your first time here? I was very surprised when I heard Aurora invited umbra this year,” Angèlique admitted.
“You don’t like us?” I asked, referring to us hunters.
“Not normally, but I’ve honestly not been in much conflict with umbra, not like Aurora has,” she said with a flirty smile.
I was so entranced by her smile I barely registered her words. I wanted to kiss those lips so badly and couldn’t take my eyes off them.
“Want to get out of here before Aurora starts her second round of pranks?” Angèlique asked like she’d read my mind. She grabbed my hand and guided me out of the ballroom before I'd even replied.
As soon as we were out of sight from the crowds, I made a bold move, hoping I'd not read her wrong. I pulled her to me and kissed her.
She tasted off fresh raspberries and pine; it was odd but perfect. She answered the kiss but only for a moment, then she pushed me off and grabbed my hand to pull me along.
"Trust me, Alexander. I desire you, but you should be a little weary of me. You might end up regretting it if you move too fast," she said, very straightforward and sounding amused.
It made me laugh at her.
"I doubt that," I winked at her, unable to resist the thought of how much I wanted to unlace her bodice.
Her smile got cloaked in mystery. "Let's go somewhere more private, this place might get crowded by ghosts soon," she whispered in my ear, making my body react before she entangled her finger with mine and pulled me along.
We soon found a window seat where she dragged me down with her. There, she pulled me in and her lips met mine.
I had probably not kissed anybody like this since I was a teenager. I longed to touch her skin, but her dress made it difficult and Angèlique didn’t make it easier.
She chuckled softly against my lips when I tried to reach for her lacing and guided my hands to her waist instead. I wanted more, but I let her keep the pace.
I wasn’t sure how much time that had passed when I suddenly heard Bella call my name. It was the wake up call I needed and I pulled away from Angèlique and looked around after her.
“Aurora really did turn you all into ghosts,” Angèlique said in surprise.
I was surprised too when I saw what she was looking at. No wonder I hadn’t seen her at first, Bella was pale and transparent, blending in with the darkness.
“What the hell happened to you, Bella?” I said in shock.
“Aurora talked about how fun it would be to turn everyone into ghosts and have them look for their bodies. I didn’t think she’d actually go through with the idea,” Angèlique explained, sounding fascinated.
“Why aren’t we ghosts?” I asked her suspiciously.
She giggled. “Because we didn’t stay at the party very long,” she answered and looked at me with devouring eyes, making me want her to myself again.
“Well then, Bella! You should hurry and find your body,” I said, not taking my eyes off of Angèlique.
“No, don’t be silly. Of course, we have to help her,” she said and got up on her feet.
“You didn’t hear this from me, but you never quite know with Aurora. She can be a little rash with her decisions and spells, ” she explained.
I was very disappointed. “Cockblocker,” I whispered as I passed Bella.
“Not at all, I wasn’t planning on sleeping with you just yet, Alexander,” Angèlique said. She was quite a bit ahead of us. Her hearing must be amazing. It worried me. But not as much as her words.
Of course, she must have been planning on sleeping with me. You don’t kiss a man like that if you don’t want him? “It’s going to take forever to find you in this house,” I sighed as we had travelled through a few corridors. Angèlique giggled. She knew I wanted her badly.
“Hello, Erik,” she said as she rounded the corner. He was looking for Bella. He had found her body.
“Well, Bella, we will see you in the morning,” Angèlique said and waved to Bella. She then grabbed my hand and led me along with her.
“Let’s go to bed, I’m getting tired,” she said, making me hopeful again.
“You said you weren’t planning on sleeping with me,” I pointed out to check her intentions.
“Well, I wasn’t referring to sex, I still want you close,” she said possessively.
Her words would normally have been a huge turn-off for me. My ex was very possessive. I, however, wanted to remain close to Angèlique too so I accepted them.
Her room was big and all the furniture was white in a very modern style.
“Would you mind helping me out of my dress?” She asked after she tried untying all the lace herself.
I smiled seductively at her while I helped her with the lace and removed layer after layer. She smiled smugly back at me.
“Is this an authentic dress?” I chuckled. It felt a little ridiculous at the same time it was kind of sexy.
“Yes, it is,” she answered when I was at the last layer, a thin white short dress. It was transparent, and I could see her body under it. She only wore a pair of panties. She raised her arms, urging me to remove the last dress.
My breath caught in my throat. Her body was perfect, she was so beautiful. The heat pulsing low in my was hard to ignore, but I couldn't and didn't want to turn my gaze away.
She walked over to a dresser and pulled out a silk nightgown that she pulled over her head. She had a devious smile when she walked over to me. I stood still as she unbuckled my belt and let my pants fall to the ground.
“These clothes are ridiculous,” she said as she removed all of my pirate props. I laughed.
“Don’t laugh,” she said while unbuttoning my shirt. When she was done, I let her push me down on the bed.
I fought the urge to move when she got on top of me and ran her hands over my chest, pushing my shirt to the side. She must have felt my erection, but ignored it.
“Who did this to you?” She asked while she touched the bite-mark on my shoulder.
“My crazy Lycan ex,” I admitted, stiffly.
“I want the name of the one who did it,” she said firmly, almost threatening.
“Emily Gren,” I answered in disgust, feeling compelled to answer. I felt the mood die a little.
“Yes,” I replied, struggling not to touch her.
“Did she make you distrust Lycans?” Angèlique asked as she lay down beside me, snuggling her head on my chest.
“That’s a shame,” I heard Angèlique mumble before her breathing steadied.
“Are you asleep?” I asked, surprised. I didn’t get a reply. She had fallen asleep very quickly.
“Well, fuck me,” I sighed. I craved her and her sweet scent of roses didn’t help.
