Soon, we veered off into a hidden street I knew was one of the supernatural areas. I began to see more wings. Even a gargoyle was walking around with his claws and wings out in the open. Drew reached out and took my hand. I was suddenly too shy to say anything in reply. Drew led me to a large steel door. He knocked three times. The door opened and music came pouring out. The guy at the door looked at both of us.
“You’re a little young, aren’t you?” He said.
“This place allows people of all ages,” Drew said. “You know that.”
“Why should I let you in? You’re cocky for a student.”
“I’m a gryphon.” He pointed at me. “And she’s a dragon. And the rest of us are all animages.” The guy narrowed his eyes as he looked at us. Then he nodded. “Come right on in.”
Drew went first and held tight to my hand as we pushed past the guy and entered the nightclub.
Blaring music greeted us as we walked through the door. The sound assaulted my ears. Drew sensed my hesitation and squeezed my hand. His concern radiated through me and I was able to concentrate and adjust the sounds to a more manageable level. Our friends melted into the crowd and soon it was just Drew and me. I didn’t think a group of teenagers in ball gowns and masks would’ve been able to blend in, but it was no ordinary crowd gathered here.
I spotted a group of vampires at the bar. At night their pale skin was exposed. They all glowed under the fluorescent lights coming from the dance floor. Charlie joined them, throwing her owl mask onto the bar and hailing the bartender.
Drew pulled me onto the dance floor. It was even darker there, and we had to dodge gargoyle and faeries wings, arms legs, and even the occasional tail to make it to the middle. The air was humid from the bodies pressed around us. The music thumped all the way through my body. Dressed in our outfits and masks, I truly felt like I’d been swept up in a fairytale.
We danced and danced. The music was fast and exciting. Drew’s body was pressed up against mine. Sweat made my hair cling to my neck and mask. Somewhere along the way Drew abandoned his jacket and rolled up the puffy sleeves of his shirt. A slow song began, and Drew circled his arms around my waist and pulled me towards him. I hesitated a beat before putting my arms around his neck and laying my head on his chest. In the dark and out from under the watchful eyes of the professors, it was easy to get close to each other. I was intimately aware of all the places our bodies touched. Our hips, our stomachs. The tops of his wings grazed my hands. We swayed back and forth. Much too soon, the song was over.
“Want to get something to drink?” he whispered. His breath was hot against my ear. I nodded. He took my hand and led me through the crowd to a bar over by the wall. I sat on a stool while he ordered us two sodas. The coldness of the drink shocked my system. It was so hot in there, I was starting to sweat.
“Enjoying your night?” he asked. I nodded again, still too mesmerized by the dancing and the boy I was with to speak. “How about we get out of here and go for a walk before we have to head back?”
“Sounds good,” I managed to say. We left our glasses and headed back out of the club. The cold January wind was a relief from the humidity inside. It cut through the fog in my brain. Drew took my hand again, and we walked up and down the New York streets. It was almost 2 a.m. and there were less and less people out as we walked along.
“You know, I was surprised when you actually said you wanted to go out with me,” Drew said.
“Really?” I asked. “Why?”
“At first I thought there might be something going on between you and Hudson.”
“No, Hudson’s ju—just a friend. Was. He was just a friend.”
“I don’t think you’ve noticed the way he looks at you,” Drew said. “Besides, I thought you were out of my league.” I snorted which, startled a laugh out of him. “What? It’s true!”
“I thought the same about you,” I said.
“There’s no way I’m out of your league. Your league is so far above mine I can’t even see it. I mean you’re smart, and tough, and so sure of yourself. That first night of the Immortal’s Club the older students didn’t know what hit them. Here you were a brand new shifter who busted through their crap and made your own rules. It was great. And plus, you’re pretty hot.”
My heart fluttered, and I knew I was blushing from my chin to the roots of my hair. “You didn’t want to go out with me just because I’m a dragon?” I asked. Maybe it was the night that was causing me to be so bold and ask the question that scared me the most.
Drew pulled me off the sidewalk and into an alleyway. He backed me up against the side of a building. “Sophie, no matter what your animal is, you would still take the world by storm.” He leaned down and kissed me.
“Hey Drew, you ready to head back?” We jumped apart like we’d been shocked. Drew cleared his throat while I was suddenly concerned with straightening my dress as Penelope made her way down the alley to us.
“Uh—yeah, sure. We probably should.” Drew grabbed my hand, and we headed to catch up
