39. Catriona

39

CATRIONA

T he smell of spiced cider permeates the Warrington's ballroom, and children squeal as they play the games set up in the back.

But I'm not interested in bobbing apples or playing ring toss for caramel corn or pastries. I weave through the crowd, wearing the same bluebird gown as last year, careful not to hit people with my feathered wings. Felix and I only returned to Valette a few days ago, and neither of us had time to come up with new costumes.

"Catriona, don't you look lovely!" a woman I recognize by face only says, catching my arm. "Congratulations on your marriage. We only just heard the news! You'll have to visit me soon. We'll have tea!"

I nod, a bit bored of the attention, as this isn't the first time I've been stopped. As predicted, the high society mothers with unwed daughters narrow their eyes at me, sticking their noses in the air and turning away. The ones with children who are already happily married greet me warmly, vying for my attention.

It's going to take some time to adjust to being one of the elite.

Cyril grunts a greeting as I pause in front of him, looking acutely uncomfortable amongst the merrymakers. He's not in a costume. Instead, he wears a fine waistcoat and a hand-me-down jacket that's slightly too large for his wiry frame. Someone even tamed his hair.

I lean close and drop my voice. "You're allowed to enjoy yourself."

He gives me a tight smile. "I didn't realize when I signed up to become a hunter I was volunteering to attend balls."

"You have Felix's father to thank for that. He likes us to be involved in the community—it's good advertising."

From across the room, Elizabeth catches my eye, waving. Benjamin stands next to her, looking as excited to be here as Cyril. Our executive director's pretty wife takes him by the arm and directs him toward us, smiling warmly.

"You two match." My eyes go between them, and I attempt to suppress a grin.

Elizabeth's resplendent gown is silver and trimmed with white fur. Gray wolf ears are tucked into her pale blonde hair, which she's curled into long ringlets.

She grins. "We do."

"You make a fine sheep," I say to Benjamin. "I cannot help but admire your fleecy waistcoat."

He gives me a dry look. "In your absence, Elizabeth asked my sister to help prepare our costumes."

"Ah, yes. This looks like Danielle's work." Unable to stop myself, I laugh. "My apologies."

Elizabeth grins. "Greg warned Benjamin not to wander into any open fields, lest he confuse him for a real sheep."

"Enjoy yourselves while you have the chance." Benjamin smiles, shaking his head in good humor. Then he narrows his eyes on me. "While I have you here, we have something to discuss."

"I turned in my paperwork. If Felix hasn't, go nag him, not me."

"It's not that, though you did forget to initial page fifteen."

"Then what is it?"

"You were gone for almost a month, yet you returned with seventy-eight clocks."

"What's your point?"

"What were you doing all that time?"

"Hunting werewolves?" I say incredulously.

Elizabeth laughs, subtly gesturing across the ballroom. "Among other things. I'd say it was a successful hunt."

I follow her gaze and find Felix.

He leans against the wall, just as he did a year ago, wearing his jester's outfit. He smiles when our eyes meet, his eyebrows raising in roguish invitation.

"If you'll excuse me," I say, ignoring Benjamin when he tries to draw me back into the conversation.

Felix watches me as I cross the space, his smile making my stomach flutter.

"Hello, bluebird," he says when I finally reach him. "Tell me, is there room on your dance card?"

"I'm a married woman. I may only dance with my husband."

"I like the sound of that." He steps forward, setting his hands on my waist and drawing me close.

I gently push against his chest in a flimsy attempt to put space between us. "We can't do this here."

"The ballroom is dark," he murmurs near my ear.

"Not that dark."

His lips brush over my neck, making me shiver. "Then let's find somewhere that is."

Biting my bottom lip to keep from grinning, I let him lead me out of the ballroom and onto a dark balcony. It's freezing, but we're alone.

Music drifts on the breeze, and Felix takes my waist, drawing me into a dance. He's warm and solid, and he still smells like midnight woods.

"Can you believe it's been a year since the last costume ball?" I ask as we move with the music.

"Yes. I felt every single one of those long, long days."

I lean up, kissing the underside of his jaw. "You know, technically, we're still breaking the rules."

"How is that?"

"You're still my apprentice."

Though Felix was right—no one cared.

"Oh, the jokes I could make," he says.

"Thank you for keeping them to yourself." I rub my hand over his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his silken fabric shirt. "I've been thinking about Millie lately."

"Why would you do that?"

"You saved my life, you know. And Cyril's."

"I did?"

"You shot the tranquilizer dart. If you hadn't, Millie wouldn't have dropped us when we were so close to the ground."

"Who knew the puppy sedatives would come in handy?" he says flippantly.

"You're a good hunter and a good man. I take back every bad thing I said about you."

He snorts. "Did you say a lot of bad things?"

"So many," I laugh.

"I forgive you."

"You're still awfully squeamish for a hunter, though."

"We all have our faults."

"We should get back inside. Neither of our costumes is warm enough for this."

"All right, but first, I must tell you something."

I pause, wary of the sparkle in his eyes. "What?"

"I bought land in Braunwin."

"Where?" I demand, laughing a little in surprise.

"Cyril sold it to me. He didn't want me to pay his training fee and seemed genuinely eager to get rid of it."

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

"Are we going to live in his shack?" I say skeptically.

"We can, if you'd like. But I thought we'd build a little cottage and surround it with flowers—make it our own retreat away from the world. We can visit it when we're tired of hunting monsters."

"There's one flaw with your plan—the area is overrun with redcaps."

"The local huntress keeps their population in check." He smiles down at me. "What do you think?"

"I love it, Felix."

"Felix…"

I roll my eyes, laughing as I pull him back through the door. "No."

"You know you want to say it."

"I don't."

" I want you to say it. Come on—for me."

Turning back, I sigh, so ridiculously in love with the man. "Felix Dear. "

Grinning, he wraps his arm around my waist, avoiding my wings as best he can. "Can I call you kitten now?"

"No."

"Darling?"

" Felix. "

"I can't call you Felix," he teases. "That's my name."

Growling, I drag him toward the ballroom. "How did I get stuck with such an infuriating man?"

He leans close, his breath warm against my ear. "You just got lucky."

I laugh. "Will you look at that—you finally understand the meaning of the word."

"Does that mean I'm a real hunter now?"

I tuck myself close to his side as we walk back into the ballroom. "I suppose it does."

Thank you so much for reading!