Wonder: A Soul Savers Collection of Holiday Short Stories & Recipes (21 page)

FERVOR

This next tale introduces a couple of new characters and also brings in some you’ve already met. With a conflict between brain and heart, a dash of faerie mischief, and a masquerade ball like nothing in the earthly realm, this little story is loosely based on a love story familiar to all little girls. I hope you enjoy it as much I loved writing it. This story has nothing to do with the main series, but who knows … maybe we’ll see Jessie and Jack again in the future. 

Chapter 1

Being a were-panther is pretty cool ... except when you’re in love with a werewolf.

That was the story of Jessie’s life. At least, her more recent life, since the day some werewolves found her starving in the Georgia woods six months ago. The Daemoni were-panther who had bitten her and caused her change had disappeared long before, leaving her to die at the ripe old age of nineteen. Lucky for her, Sundae’s pack took her in and converted her to Amadis. She had a job at Sundae’s bar and a place to live, and although she’d never really be part of the pack, she had friends. Or, at least, people who knew and accepted exactly what she was and still let her hang around. Life was better than it’d been a year ago and she’d be forever indebted to Sundae, but it was still far from perfect. Especially when she could never have the only guy who’d ever made her knees tremble and her stomach turn flips.

“Hey, Jack, what are your plans for tonight?” asked Gray, one of the pack members and Sundae’s younger brother. He sat at the bar with his new girlfriend, Rissa, who also worked there now. Jessie envied their relationship, but as soon as her mind would wish a wolf had bitten her instead of a panther so she could be a member of the pack, she’d shudder and gag at the thought of being a
dog
.

Her ears perked up to hear Jack’s answer. Of course, her ears always turned to him when he was in the room so she wouldn’t miss a word. His voice alone sent pleasurable shivers up her spine. Looking at him didn’t hurt either, with his dark hair and contrasting blue eyes.

“I don’t know yet,” Jack answered as he eyed the cue ball on the pool table while leaning on his stick, looking like a model posing in a tight black t-shirt and jeans. Jessie’s gaze lingered on his hands—big yet steady and talented. She knew this because he did most of the pack’s tattoos. “I haven’t heard of any parties this year. Guess everyone has other plans for New Year’s Eve.”

“Did you get the invite to the big ball?” Gray asked.

Jack chuckled. “I guess there’s that party. What’s up with that anyway? Who does
balls
these days?”

“Well ...” Rissa started, and Jessie giggled, knowing where the only other female’s mind had gone—straight into the gutter. They were often worse than the guys. That’s what she liked about Rissa and Sundae. No girly pretensions about them.

Gray chuckled and shook his head at his girlfriend.

“I love your dirty mind,” he said before leaning in to kiss her jaw.

“Seriously, dude,” Jack said, ignoring their PDA. “A ball sounds so ... Cinderella-y.”

“It’s a faerie thing,” Gray said. “You know how they are.”

“Which is exactly why I won’t be going,” Jack said as he bent over the table and made his shot. “It’s not safe for single guys.”

“Good thing I have Rissa now,” Gray said with a sappy grin. “But come on, dude, you never know who you might meet there.”

Jack’s eyes slid over to Jessie, but jumped away when he saw she was watching him.

“With the faeries, though, you don’t know if the vibes you’re getting are real or another of their games,” he said.

“Not all the girls going are faeries,” Rissa said as she twirled a dark lock around her finger. “You’ll know they’re real if she’s not one. You’re going, aren’t you, Jessie?”

Jessie’s eyes widened when the conversation spotlight turned on her. She hadn’t expected anyone to care what she was doing to bring in the New Year tonight.

“Um, no, I don’t think so,” she said as she scrubbed her rag on a non-existent spot on the bar.

“Aw, you should. I need someone sane to keep me company,” Rissa said.

Jessie cleared her throat. “I think I’ll just stay here, in case anyone comes in.”

“I’m pretty sure everyone’s going to the faerie ball,” Gray said.

“Doesn’t seem like something a wolf pack would want to do,” Jessie muttered, forgetting they all had just as good of hearing as she did.

“The faeries call it a ball, but it’s really a big party,” Gray said, “and we don’t ever miss a good party. Right, Jack?”

Jack didn’t answer, but banked another shot instead. The red stripe dropped into the pocket.

“I’m not letting it go,” Gray persisted. “Everyone will be there. And not everyone’s lucky enough to meet the girl of their dreams in the woods like I did. Yours just might be at that party tonight.”

Jack leveled him with a glare. “Who says I haven’t found my mate already?” he deadpanned.

Jessie’s stomach sank at this rhetorical question. She hadn’t noticed any of the signs that he’d found his life’s mate, and she suspected he was only trying to get Gray off his back, but just the idea of Jack being with anyone else made her queasy. She’d have to accept it at some point, so she could only hope she’d find her own life’s mate before he did. She didn’t think that very likely, though. As far as her heart was concerned, she’d already found him, even if the idea was not only preposterous but absolutely impossible. She couldn’t help what she felt.

Jack, who’d been playing against himself, sank the last of the balls, and took off without so much as a goodbye to anyone. Gray and Rissa were too caught up in each other to notice, and they left shortly after. By seven o’clock, the entire bar had cleared out. Sundae hadn’t asked or required it, but Jessie stayed in case anyone did decide to ditch the faerie ball and come to the pack’s favorite hangout. The place felt large and lonely, but it was still better than sitting in her little studio apartment in Sundae’s basement. Especially when there was the off chance that Jack may return. After all, he’d said he wasn’t going to the ball, hadn’t he?

Jessie sighed as she grabbed the mop handle and steered the wheeled bucket out to the front of the bar. She really needed to get a life. She had her own invitation at home, and Sundae had tried to talk her into going to the ball. Instead, here she was, in a big, empty bar all alone with midnight only a few short hours away and pining for a guy she could never have. But a faerie ball? She couldn’t fathom herself there, and being surrounded by faeries as a single lady wasn’t exactly a bright idea. No, she was better off here, alone. At least she’d have no regrets in the morning.

By the time she finished mopping the floor, she knew Sundae and Gray had been right: Nobody was coming to the bar tonight. She lay on her back on the pool table and stared at the ceiling, debating whether to hang around anyway—they may come in after midnight, looking for something to eat in their drunken state, she thought—or to go home and snuggle up in bed with a good book.

“Aren’t you coming to my party?” asked a female voice, making Jessie jump so high, she clung to the ceiling.

Chapter 2

Jessie retracted her claws and dislodged herself from the foam ceiling tiles. She landed on her feet and wiped her hands on her pants as she took in the newcomer. Long purple and black hair, smaller than Jessie who was a petite thing herself, and smelling like faerie. She wore a tight-fitting black dress that barely covered her ass and sheer black tights with stiletto heels. Jessie suddenly felt ugly and underdressed in her t-shirt and torn blue jeans, her chestnut hair pulled into a sloppy ponytail.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone,” she said as polite as she could muster.

“Of course you aren’t. They’re all at my party. And I was wondering why you’re not there.”

Jessie had been walking toward the bar, but she stopped and looked at the woman whose brown eyes glinted with faerie mischief. Her age was difficult to discern—she was a faerie after all—but she looked to be in her early twenties.

“It’s not exactly my kind of thing,” Jessie said.

“Oh, please,” the faerie scoffed. “It’s a
faerie
ball. It’s everyone’s thing!”

Jessie’s hands went to her hips. “If it’s your party, why aren’t
you
there?”

“It’s not just mine, of course. There are lots of faeries there to ensure everything is okay. Don’t worry. Nobody will miss me ... as long as I don’t stay too long.”

Jessie stared, waiting for her to announce what she needed so she could get back to her party. “Well ... what can I do for you?”

“You can come to my party.”

Jessie rolled her eyes. “I told you. It’s not my thing.
Faeries
aren’t my thing.”

The faerie stuck her bottom lip out and gave Jessie puppy-dog eyes. When Jessie didn’t give in, the faerie put on a big smile and held her hand out.

“Let’s start over, okay? I’m Becca. It’s nice to meet you, Jessie.”

“You already know my name?”

“Well, yes, silly. I came here to get you.”

Jessie huffed a breath of exasperation then continued her walk behind the bar.

“Why?” she demanded as she turned to face Becca, who had sauntered up to the other side. “Why are you so adamant about me coming to your party? Why do you want someone there who obviously doesn’t want to be there?”

Becca giggled. “Trust me, once you get there, you’ll definitely be glad you came. Your presence is missed, and not just by me. All the Amadis are there. Including someone ... special.”

Becca’s body twisted side to side as she clasped her hands in front of her and batted her inch-long eyelashes. Jessie’s eyes narrowed, and she opened her mouth to speak.

“I suggest you reconsider before rejecting this offer,” Becca cut in, her voice less sweet and more threatening.

Jessie let out a sarcastic laugh. “The last thing I need is a favor from a faerie.”

“Oh, this isn’t from a faerie. Yes, it comes from the Otherworld, but not from the faerie realm.” Becca tilted her head, her brows raised and her dark eyes challenging.

Jessie’s breath caught. If not from the faerie realm but from the Otherworld, the only two options were Heaven and Hell.

Becca smiled when she saw that her message had gotten through to Jessie. “Trust me. It’s good. So ...” The faerie reached over the bar and grabbed Jessie’s hand. “We need to get you ready!”

Jessie knew better than to trust a faerie, but she also knew better than to ignore anything sent from Heaven or Hell. If the Demons or the Angels had something for her, they’d find a way to deliver it, and if it did happen to be from Hell, she certainly didn’t want to be alone when it came.

“I don’t have anything to wear,” she muttered.

“Oh, that’s not a problem!” Becca appeared in front of her and waved her hands in the air. Jessie’s jeans and t-shirt disappeared, replaced by black leather pants and a black tank top decorated with rows upon rows of sequins. Black boots that reached her knees and lifted her five inches on their heels replaced her Converse All-Stars. “You need a little something here, too.”

Becca’s fingertips brushed Jessie’s cheeks, and then her hands flitted over Jessie’s hair. After a few minutes, she took a step back and scrutinized Jessie as though analyzing an art project. Then she gave a sharp nod.

“Perfect!” she said with a clap of her hands. “I know you want to see, so go check yourself out.”

Jessie hurried for the ladies’ room, grateful that Sundae knew the need of hanging a full-length mirror in there. Her breath caught once again. She’d been afraid the faerie would have gone over the top, but Becca had made her up just right. She looked sexy as hell.

“What do you think?” Becca asked, appearing right next to her.

Jessie’s eyes cut toward the faerie. “Are ... are you my ... faerie godmother?”

Becca’s face blanched. “Oh, god, no! Do I look like such a hideous creature?”

Jessie turned to face the faerie fully. “Of course not! I don’t know what a faerie godmother looks like.”

“They don’t even exist except in those Norman fairytales. And those make us faeries look old and grandmotherly.” Becca shook herself as though a shudder ran through her.

“Okay, then ... are you trying to earn your wings or something?”

This time Becca snorted. At least, she made a strange little sound although Jessie didn’t think faeries actually snorted.

“I’m a
faerie
, not an Angel. Not that Angels earn their wings like that anyway. What’s with all the mythical accusations?”

“Why are you doing this?” Jessie demanded, cutting to the chase this time. She flipped her hands toward the mirror, indicating her new look. “Why do you insist I go to the ball?”

“I told you. It’s for your own good. And believe me, you’ll be glad you did.” Becca grabbed Jessie’s hand and held it tightly, indicating she wouldn’t let go for anything. “Come on. I’ll take you there.”

All of the air in Jessie’s lungs flew out of her as though a vacuum sucked it out. She’d never flashed before. Were-creatures needed a mage’s help, and she’d never needed to do so. In fact, she’d only met a few mages in the short time she’d been a were-panther. Apparently, faeries could help her flash, too, because she no longer stood in the bar. Rather, she was outside and at the bottom of a broad stairway that led to a white, marble mansion towering over her. A heavy bass—all she could hear of the music from this vantage point—throbbed from inside and colorful lights pulsed in the windows and arched doorways. Jessie felt a sudden and dizzying need to be inside, to join the party, to have the time of her life. Everything about the place tugged at her, creating an overwhelming desire to discover all the promises held inside.

“Oh, can’t forget this! It’s a masquerade ball, after all.” Becca waved her hand over Jessie’s face, and something immediately covered it. Jessie’s fingers touched it gingerly and moved to take it off. “Nuh-uh. It must stay on for the entire time you’re here. Otherwise, you’ll ruin the magic.”

The curiosity of what the mask looked like didn’t kill this cat. Needing to know what was inside that mansion just might, though. She pretty much forgot about the mask on her face as the draw to climb the stairs and join the party overcame her.