Before I knew it, I was laughing as tears of joy leaked onto my cheeks. He set me on the ground and pushed my hair out of my face, then cupped it in his hands. "I love you vampire girl." "You do?" I believed him, but needed reassurance as my hands curled around his wrists. "More than I believed it was possible to love." He bent his head and gently touched his lips to mine, his eyes still open and on me. I kissed him back, as a gurgle of happiness shot through me. The sweet kiss turned hot and needy. I loved him and wanted him and didn't care who knew it. He pressed my mouth open, deepening our kiss as his arms went around my waist and he lifted me off the ground. "Hey you two?" It was my Mom. I froze and opened my eyes. Troy was watching me again. "Should we tell them?" he asked. I knew he was talking about our engagement. "Now's as good a time as any," I said as he set me on my feet. Troy took my hand and I turned to face the group. "We have an announcement," he said. The
"Are you ready?" I asked. We were standing outside on my balcony. I took Troy's hand as my wings fluttered behind me. My engagement ring sparkled in the midday light and I couldn't help but admire it. Troy had asked Jesse and the gargoyles to create the ring for me. A thick platinum band with vines filigreed on either side leading to the center where sat a delicate jasmine flower made of diamonds and blue topaz."Are you sure you can do this?" Troy was teasing me, pretending to be nervous about me flying him around Sharra. "There's only one way to find out," I said, and leaped into the air. Troy whooped out a holler as he clung to my hands, his body dangling below."Don't drop him, Jasmine. It isn't every day you find someone crazy enough to fall for you," Abrea said beside me, her pixilette wings fluttering gracefully. "True." I laughed and the action felt really good."Jasmine? We need to leave for the wedding," my mom called from back in my room. I rolled my eyes and glanced at
That night, after all of the festivities were over and we said our goodbyes, Troy and I went back to the small house that used to be my mother's. Now that Sharra was no longer a threat, the chayot set up a meeting between several of the heads of different countries in the human realm and me. There, with the help of the chayot, we discussed relaxing the laws for supernaturals. Together we came to an agreement and I created a magical system with the help of Heathcliff and several other human scientists. After much discussion, I became aware of the KPID, a supernatural government agency known as the King's Paranormal Inquiries Division. The organization had been tracking supernaturals for hundreds of years, at first in the United Kingdom, but in the mid seventeen hundreds, they'd moved over to America as well. Given access to the KPID's super top secret information, I was able to update and strengthen the magic already in place as well as add some newer, more technical attributes with He
"I've had several seriously sexual daydreams about the new guy. Have you seen him, Snow?" Cindy fanned her face with her hand while she spoke. "Cin, too much information. I don't need to hear about your boy crazy fantasies." We forced our way down one of Salem Academy's busy hallways as we spoke. Directly in our line of sight appeared Jesse, a guy from the football team. He was handsome, except for the fact that I'd known him since elementary school and knew he was a walking turd. He winked, and I blanched, thinking for a split second that he'd winked at me. "Cindy. Babe. Looking good." He made a point of checking her out. "Don't you know it," Cindy said, giving him a coy smile. He hadn't been winking at me but at Cindy. I wasn't wink worthy. Whatever. I was fine with that. I had plenty to deal with, and worrying about what guys thought of me wasn't one of them. Except that wasn't totally true. We exited the throng of bodies to my locker. I turned my combination and lifted t
"Snow? C'mon." She smacked me playfully on my super white knee. I couldn't help but notice how sun-kissed and perfectly shaved her legs were compared to mine. I'd missed a spot or two - or three - in the shower this morning.Sighing, I nodded reluctantly and pulled up my tube socks."What's the only thing that runs slower than Snow White?"I double-knotted my shoelaces, waiting."Come on, ask.""Fine." I grimaced, leaning my elbows on my thighs. "What?"A strangled snicker escaped her glossed lips. "A snowman," she said, laughing hysterically. "Get it? Because it's snow, and it can't run because it has to legs."I forced a smile. "Yeah, that's funny." Standing, I slammed my locker with more oomph than intended. The noise reverberated through the locker room. I wasn't angry. No point. It was true. Running and me were like oil and water, or rocks and battery acid; we didn't mix. Still, I didn't enjoy hearing the jokes very much."I'll see you later." I stood, clutching my fists at
I didn't have my driver's license yet. Two more months and then it was look out world, figuratively and literally. What I did have was an old purple Schwinn, which was what I rode to meet up with Cindy. The night air was clammy - the kind that made me wonder why I bothered to shower that day - and the sky sparkled with crisp stars and a full moon.The perfect night for magic, I thought only half wistfully and snorted. But I did live in Salem, after all. If magic were going to happen anywhere, it'd be in our town.Our regular spot was a movie rental place called Warehouse Video. Classic movie posters were plastered on the windows, and a neon sign hung along the top. It actually said AREHOUSE VID thanks to several missing light bulbs, but I liked it that way. It was "our house."The place probably would've closed up a long time ago, but the owner's son got the brilliant idea to add a coffee shop. The inside reminded me of what I thought a seventies disco would look like, and it sm
There were six other brothers, all of them good looking. Besides, I thought Cindy liked the new guy, Chace. "What about Chace?" I asked, desperate for her to tell me she was joking. Her glossed lips pouted, and her perfectly lined eyes got all dreamy. She looked like one of my stepmother's fairytale figurines."Nah, I'm over him." Cindy headed toward the horror section and started browsing. I followed, studying her too-perfect features as she picked up a movie. I plucked it from her hands and put it back on the shelf. After several movie denials, she crossed her arms. "All the girls like Chace. Besides, I talked to him and - " She didn't finish but shrugged. "He isn't for me."I had a feeling Chace hadn't gushed over her, which was what most guys did, including my guys, my best friends."Besides, Gabe is gorgeous and so sweet."She'd noticed he was sweet. When? How? Had he done something to impress her recently? This was just not good. I had a crush on him. "How about S - " She
"Gatsby, c'mon kitty," I called quietly into the darkness that was my backyard. From my porch, I searched the night, waiting to hear the soft patter of his running feet. After five minutes, he still hadn't come. Obviously, he must still be upset with me over the screaming fiasco. I stepped back inside, shutting the screen door while keeping watch.Cin had left already with a quick hug and a promise to call Sunday afternoon when she returned from the Cape. The guys hadn't ever shown, and Gatsby didn't seem to want my company either. Stifling a shiver, I wrapped my arms around myself. I wasn't cold so much as unsettled. The disturbing dream thing, along with that scary movie, had me all messed up.Instinctively I searched the trees beyond my yard, studying between the low hanging branches that smelled of peppermint, their leaves soft as butterfly kisses. Would he be out there? The man who watched me in the dream.A noise like crunching leaves pulled my head in its direction. My pu