Eternal

aching for more.

“Let’s go down to the lawn,” he said, his voice low and silky smooth. “Perhaps we’ll find a hedgerow maze to get lost in.”

Wordlessly, he led me down the wide steps to the flagstone path below that wound through the hotel grounds. We’d taken only a few steps when I stopped, dead in my tracks. Matthew stood a dozen or so feet away, with a woman. And they were arguing—loudly.

“It’s just that I don’t like surprises. You know that,” he said. “You should have told me you were coming.”

“Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise,” the woman said sharply.

Charlie. It had to be Charlie.

“You’re putting me in an awkward position,” Matthew said. “I’m supposed to be chaperoning. Not . . . with a date.”

“Technically I’m here with my father. I’m his date. This is about her, isn’t it?”

Matthew shook his head. “No. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Look, Matt, if you’re willing to give up everything for her, don’t you think I at least deserve to meet her? Can’t you at least give me that?”

For some inexplicable reason, I chose that moment to test our connection. I reached out to him psychically: Megved. There was that click again, and then he was there, right inside my head. For a split second, our consciousnesses merged. I could feel everything he felt—panic, discomfort, confusion. And then just like that, he disengaged.

As if in slow motion, he turned toward me. The woman followed his gaze, her eyes meeting mine, and then she looked back to Matthew.

His face said it all.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” the woman asked, a brittle smile on her face.

I launched myself into action, hurrying over to where they stood in silent standoff. “Hi, I’m Violet,” I said, forcing a neutral tone into my voice. “You must be Charlie. I’ve heard so much about you!” I held out a hand to her, and she took it, pumping it twice before releasing it. “Oh, and this is Aidan. My boyfriend,” I added pointedly, offering him my best besotted-girlfriend smile.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Violet,” Charlie said. “Obviously, I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”

She was tall in heels—almost as tall as Matthew. Her hair was pale blond, pulled back into a neat French twist, and her eyes were the same light blue as Kate’s had been. She looked older than I’d imagined. Older and more sophisticated.

And she loved Matthew—I could sense it. Really loved him, in a desperate kind of way. I’d never felt so low in all my life.

Because I was the one keeping them apart. She’d never have him all to herself—ever— and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. No amount of reassurances, of promises that my heart belonged elsewhere, would change that. As much as I liked to think that I was in control of my own destiny, there were some things that fate controlled—like centuries-old blood-borne legacies that couldn’t be denied, no matter how hard we tried or how badly we wanted to ignore them.

Just then my cell, which I’d stowed away in my little purse, let out a screeching chirp. “Sorry. I need to get this,” I said, digging it out and glancing down at the screen.

Where are u? the text read. They’re about to do king and queen!

“We have to get back inside,” I said to Aidan. “It’s crowning time.”

He just nodded, clearly anxious to extricate himself from this uncomfortable little tableau.

“It was really great to meet you,” I directed at Charlie as I stuffed my cell back into my bag. “Maybe we can . . . I don’t know . . . go out to dinner or something after graduation?” It was a stupid suggestion, but I was floundering for something appropriate to say.

“It was good to meet you too,” Charlie said.

“We’d better hurry,” Aidan said.

I made it back just in time to clasp Cece’s hand and give it a squeeze before they called her name, declaring her prom queen. The room erupted in cheers as she made her way to the center of the dance floor and accepted the sparkling tiara.

Standing beside me, Joshua wolf-whistled loudly as Queen Cece made her curtsy, scepter in hand.

“She looks beautiful up there,” I told him, nudging him in the ribs.

“She looks amazing,” he agreed.

“And now for the presentation of our prom king,” the announcer said.

I rose up on tiptoe, trying to see who had the mic. It was Suzanne Smith, I realized, head of the prom committee. I made a mental note to congratulate her on a job well done.

“As this year’s prom king, the senior class has chosen . . .”

A lengthy drumroll followed, during which I glanced over at Joshua, looking hopeful.

“Not a chance,” he shouted over the din. “Who would vote for a shifter?”

“. . . Aidan Gray! Come on up and join your queen, Aidan,” Suzanne chirped cheerfully.

“Well, this is awkward,” Joshua quipped while Aidan just stood there, looking a little stunned.

“Go on,” I urged, giving him a little shove forward. “You just got promoted—from viscount to king.”

I had to stifle a laugh as Aidan was crowned, looking about as stiff and uncomfortable as anyone possibly could. The senior ballad was announced, Cece and Aidan were shoved together, and the dancing finally began.

And, okay, a teeny-tiny part of me was jealous to see the two of them up there dancing—my boyfriend and my best friend. But I had to admit that they looked spectacular together. Cece’s silvery white dress set off her dark skin and hair flawlessly, a perfect foil to Aidan’s fair, golden-boy looks. It almost looked planned, as if they had coordinated their outfits and everything.

Halfway through the song, Suzanne took up the mic and invited the rest of us to join in.

Joshua tapped me on the arm. “I guess you and I . . . I mean, why not, right?”

I tried to look coy. “Are you asking me to dance, Josh?”

“Well, you know, I just thought since my date is a little occupied at the moment. With yours.”

“Let’s go, then.” I reached for his hand, dragging him out onto the dance floor.

“I’m not a very good dancer,” he warned as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “There’s not much to it. Just rock back and forth.”

“Okay, but this is just weird,” he muttered. “With you, I mean.”

“Hey, thanks a lot! At least you’re taller than me now.” I had to look up to see his face. “Way taller. Wow. What happened to you?”

“Just a late bloomer, I guess.” He shuffled around so that he had a better view of Aidan and Cece in the center of the throng. “Damn, why do they have to look so good together?”

I turned to look over my shoulder at the pair of them gliding elegantly across the floor. Aidan met my gaze and winked. In return, I blew him a kiss.

“Are they waltzing?” Joshua asked. “Seriously?”

“Just hang on. It’ll be over soon and you can reclaim her. Sheesh, you don’t hear me complaining. I’m going to lay my head on your shoulder for a second, okay? Try not to flinch too much.”

His mouth curved into a smile. “Are you using me to make him jealous? I don’t approve.”

“I love this song. Shhh, let me enjoy it.” My head still resting on Joshua’s shoulder, I sang along as we swayed awkwardly.

When the song finally ended, Suzanne reclaimed the mic. “Let’s get this party started!” she shouted, and the DJ obliged with some pumping bass.

A relieved-looking Joshua released me just as Aidan and Cece hurried over to us. “Switch!” Cece commanded.

And then she and Joshua were gone, swallowed up by the crowd.

“I missed you,” Aidan said, ducking his head down toward my neck. His lips tickled the skin beneath my ear,