Devour (8 page)

My dress is beautiful.
For once, I feel like the real royal princess that I am. It lifts my spirits. The last time I felt like a royal princess was when Jane and I would play dress up when we were younger. Times don’t seem to have changed.

Finally
, the activity dies down and someone clears their throat. We all take the hint and grow silent.

“It’s almost time
, ladies. In about five minutes, we will have your parents meet you at the top of the center stairs. You’ll descend on their arms as we announce your entry into the vampire community. Each and every one of you looks stunning tonight and I can’t wait for you to be presented.”

The maid that spoke stepped aside and they all exited the room as quickly as they came.
The silence dissipates and everyone begins to chit chat. I rush over to Jane and wrap my arms around her.

“Oh
, thank heavens, I’m so glad to see you!” I tell her.

She pulls away, all smiles.
Her dress is absolutely amazing. She’s sheathed in silver satin and, from the waist down, is covered with glittered tulle. She looks like a ballerina, only in a longer dress. I should have known that no one would be able to outshine Jane. She’s gorgeous.

“It’s only been like twenty-four hours
, you know.”

I forgot that she didn’t know about all the crap that rained down on me since yesterday.
I quickly compose myself.

“
I know. I just missed you at drinks with the Gregorias and Lucias tonight. I wish you had been there.”

“Yeah, how was that?
Was Thayer as annoying as ever? Did Cody look hot? He totally has it bad for you.”

“Thayer was acting strange.
He actually hugged me and asked me to save him a dance. I’m still not sure what to make of it. Yes, Cody looked super yummy. But he doesn’t like me; it’s just your imagination.”

“Whatever Callie.
I know how he looks at you. You should really consider getting to know him if he doesn’t get snapped up tonight.”

For some reason, the thought of Cody with someone else sends a wave of unease through me.
I couldn’t be jealous could I? I’m fond of Cody, but I’ve never really thought of him like that. Maybe now, I see him as more than a friend. Hmm, that’s interesting and worth investigating.

“So, um, Jane, I have something to tell you.
I changed my mind about tonight. I want to find a mate tonight. It’s time. I know what I said before, but my parents have put things in a new perspective for me.”

“Seriously Callie?
I’m not buying what you’re selling. Try again.”

I grind my teeth as I try to think
of something believable. That’s easier said than done.

“It’s just that this whole thing has made me think.
I don’t want to lose a potentially great guy because I’m too afraid to try. You’re right. Guys like Cody will get snapped up and then what? What if I don’t ever meet a great guy? I can’t be stuck marrying someone like Thayer. That would be the worst kind of hell.”

I try to be as convincing as possible with my little revelation and hope that it t
akes. If she doesn’t buy into this, she might get suspicious and dig. I can’t have that happening. If she finds out about Chase, she will kill me herself, without the council.

“It’s about time you came to that conclusion!
I’ve been trying to tell you that all along. I’m glad you pulled your head out of the gutter in time for the blood ball. You look to die for and are going to give those guys a heart attack. Just remember, I get first pick!”

I sigh in relief.
She bought my spiel just as I’m beginning to believe it myself.

“I don’t know
. You’re the one that looks like Cinderella tonight. That dress is unbelievable. You are going to have to beat the guys off with a stick.”

We both laugh and I’
m thankful for this reprieve from my nerves. She’s put me at ease and I’m mentally prepared now for this.

I look around the room and the other gir
ls are chittering away like nervous birds. Everyone’s wearing a different color dress, at least. I see gold, blue, red and black. I think the red and black are a little cliché for vampires, but whatever.

I’
m startled back to reality when there’s a sharp knock on the door before a maid steps across the threshold. She has our attention and I realize that this is it. I’m going to go downstairs and pick my life mate. I can do this. I have to do this.

“Follow me
, ladies. We will meet up with your parents at the stairs and then go over the order of your introductions.”

She made a hand motion to follow her.
I grasp Jane’s hand and tug her out of the room and down the hallway to where our parents are waiting. When we get there, the adults are making conversation among themselves. All talking ceases when we arrive.

They are taking in our appearance.
We are all drop dead gorgeous tonight. (Ha, ha, drop dead, get it? Ugh, a tangent again, I promise to behave now.)

We take our places between our parents and wait for instruction.
The maid is crisp and clear with her commands.

“We’
re going to be lining up in front of the staircase in the following order,” she explains and then continues. “First, Alice and her family and then Hannah and her family go second. Jane and family enter next. Lastly, Winter and then Callie.”

I sigh in relief.
I’m going last. Thank goodness for small favors. I’ll have a chance to watch the others before me and gauge the crowd’s reaction. Being last is more dramatic anyways.

Everyone takes their place and forms a line.
My mother settles at my left and my Dad wraps his arm around my right arm. I’m ready. At least, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to make life altering decisions.

My blood high is wearing off now and I can’t wait to get downstairs and find another drink.
I don’t physically need it, but I do need the high to get through the night. I want everything to be perfect and I’m much more of a sparkling conversationalist when I am satiated.

The crowd below hushes and I know that Alice is getting ready to descend.
A man at the bottom of the stairs announces her and she disappears down the staircase. People clap and a few whistle. Then, the man must have made some sort of hand gesture because the crowd falls in a hush again.

It goes on like this as each girl exits the second floor
down to the ball. Jane turns and gives me a wink before making her own way down and into the fray. After Winter goes, I’m the only one left. I take a deep breath as the man announces me.

It feels like I am floating as
Mom and Dad usher me out of the hall and down the staircase. I can’t see the crowd because the lights pointed at me are so bright. I smile and gracefully continue forward. When we reach the bottom of the stairs, the crowd goes wild and I can’t help but smile.

Dad
leans in and kisses me on the cheek and then Mom does the same. They both look so happy. For once, I know I’m doing something right. Then, I’m there at the bottom of the staircase engulfed in light, on display for everyone to see.

I try not to fidget as I stand there and everyone watches me.
Then, Cody is there. I grin at him. He’s the perfect person to ease me into this thing. I want to spend more time with him anyways. I need to see if we have that connection or not.

Cody leans forward and kisses me on the cheek.
I feel a tingle zip through me from where his lips have touched my skin. That’s definitely a good sign.

“May I have the first dance with you
, Callie? I don’t want to wait until later.”

He wink
s and a grin spreads across his face. I smile and nod. Then I let him pull me onto the dance floor where everyone seems to be congregating in a circle.

A slow song
comes on and I notice the others have dance partners already too. I refocus on Cody and he pulls me in until we are touching. His hands are resting on my waist and I wrap my arms around his neck. His hands feel intimate, considering all that separates them from my flesh is a thin layer of silk.

I look up into his eyes and find a wanting in them that I haven’t noticed before.
Maybe he really is into me like Jane says. The thought makes me smile. He leans in and his lips touch my ear before he speaks. Shivers race through me and I am completely caught off guard by how reactive I am to him. I mean, this is Cody, the great guy for anyone but me.

“You look so amazing tonight
, Callie. I’m glad I get to be the first to dance with you. Maybe if I am lucky, you will show mercy on me and honor me with another dance before the end of the ball.”

When he pulls away, I feel a loss where his lips were.
I don’t yet understand this thing between us, but I want to give it more time to find out. He leans back a bit and looks into my violet eyes. Then it is my turn to lean in and bring my lips up to meet his ear.

I can see him tense as my lips brush against his ear.
“I would love that, Cody.”

I pull away and am facing him once more.
He smiles wide but doesn’t say anything. I spend the rest of the song just soaking up the essence that is all him. He smells of cinnamon and I wonder what he will taste like if he becomes my mate.

Just like that, too soon
, the song is over and we reluctantly break apart. Cody brushes a hand against my cheek and then turns to go. He calls over his shoulder, “don’t forget our other dance, princess.”

He’
s gone, vanishing into the crowd. My thoughts are chaotic and my body is on fire from our emotionally charged encounter.

When I look u
p, I realize that I am just standing in the middle of the dance floor like an idiot. I move off of it and meander towards the waiters with the trays of blood. I go to swipe a glass when someone else is quicker and has placed one in front of me.

I look up to see who was so kind and stop.
I try not to let my emotions show. It’s Thayer. Well, maybe it’s good to get this out of the way.

“I believe you were searching for this,” he says as he offers the glass to me.

I smile and nod. “Thank you, Thayer. That’s very kind.”

Sipping the contents, I let my eyes slip closed and savor the taste.
When I open them, I have finished my glass and Thayer is staring at me, his expression calculating. Uh oh, thinking on a guy is never a good sign.

I don’t even have time to
react before everything happens in a burst. A waiter scoops in and relieves me of my glass and Thayer has my hand in his. He is tugging me forward, the crowd parting for us.

When we finally stop, my thoughts are spinning.
I take a deep breath and try to slow everything down. I look up and notice a breeze. We are on one of the many balconies. Great, now I’m alone with Thayer. This can’t be good.

“I’m glad I was able to find you alone so quickly.
I’m sure you will be beating us off with a stick by the time tonight is over.”

A playful grin spreads across his face and I can’t help but smile.
I don’t want to, but his expression is contagious. Before long, we’re laughing and I don’t even care what we are laughing at. When our giggles finally slow, Thayer grows serious.

“Look
, Callie, I know I’m not your favorite person. I have been terrible to you in the past and I’m sorry about that. I’ve grown up a lot since then and I’m not that same boy anymore. I have no right to ask for a chance, but I’m going to anyways.”

This turn of events has me squirming under his scrutiny.
How do you crush a guy’s hopes? I can’t give him what he’s looking for.

“I’m sorry
, Thayer. You’re a great guy, but it’s not meant to be. We are better off as friends. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.
I just had to ask, to make sure.”

With that, I turn and rush back inside.
I can’t stand to see the hurt I’ve just caused. Once inside, I don’t make it far before I run smack into a brick wall. Well, okay, maybe it isn’t a brick wall, but the muscular chest I slammed into might as well have been.

His hands wrap around my shoulders to steady me.
“Are you alright? It’s Callie, I’m assuming?”

I look up into his eyes and holy cow.
I get lost in their brown depths. His expression is friendly, sincere even. His hair is blonde and cropped short. He’s so tall. I bet he towers over my five foot five by at least a good foot.

“
Yes, I’m Callie. Sorry to mow you down like that. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” I offer as I shoot him a playful smile.

“I’
m Devon. It’s my pleasure to have stopped you. Would you like another drink?”

Around this guy, hell yes I needed a drink.
He makes me nervous and jittery in a good way.

“Um, sure
. That would be great, Devon.”