Mingle Till You Drop
Councilman Taylor has been as good as his word so far. Following a formal dinner, the guests were guided to a ballroom, with the councilman giving a few words to open the annual event, after which he threaded through the crowd to locate his daughter.
The decorations inside the ballroom are gilded gold and florals, but tastefully done.
Dinner was a bust for me in terms of making any headway with people. To be fair, I didn’t go out of my way to initiate any conversations. I’m hoping Starla can give me some inside information on the attendees later tonight, since she’ll likely recognize some of them from when she grew up.
The witch is currently dancing with a man wearing a pale purple suit and a sneer that detracts from his otherwise handsome features. She’s giggling prettily. With all the fake laughter she’s doing, her cheeks will be sore later.
Exos is prowling along the outskirts of the crowd. The gargoyle wears a stern expression as he watches the witch spin in another man’s arms. Then again, he has that face regularly, and it is fitting for a conscientious bodyguard.
The councilman, with his daughter occupied, makes his way over to me. Another man is trotting at his side. He’s got dirty blond hair and brown eyes.
“Carolina,” Councilman Taylor says as they draw close.
The name grates on my nerves, but I won’t be correcting him.
Leena is for my friends, and he is not a friend.
“This is Jon Wickham, son of an associate of mine. His father’s a warlock with a key for invisibility, and his mother’s a grey elf, but don’t hold it against him. Kidding, of course, Jon.”
Councilman Taylor claps the man on the back as he delivers the relative insult, and Jon’s smile tenses, but he laughs along. Guess we’re not the only ones faking it with Starla’s father.
“No offense taken of course, sir. My father is notable. And what about you, Carolina? What’s your magical pedigree?”
“Excuse me?” I should have anticipated this. Councilman Taylor showed plenty of interest in us. It stands to reason his guests would be just as nosy.
Of course this man wants to know what kinds of talent everyone around him brings to the table, so he can view them as an asset or a waste of time. That’s how Councilman Taylor views his daughter, and he must keep company with people of a similar outlook.
“I’m a naiad,” I volunteer.
Jon clears his throat.
“I see. How, um, fascinating. Do you enjoy swimming, then?”
“Carolina has additional talents beyond that though, don’t you, dear? I seem to recall that you have a way with song, if I am recalling correctly?”
He waits, eyes fixed on me. Jon perks up, leaning in.
“Oh?”
I blink several times. Grammy Pearl must have given him information on my siren song when she was finalizing the details of this deal. She didn’t tell us exactly how much she divulged to Councilman Taylor.
Maybe my genuine reaction is the key to leading us to our answers?
I’d wager almost anything that she hasn’t mentioned my associated curse, which I can only imagine would detract from the councilman’s enthusiasm.
I grit my teeth but force a smile.
“The councilman is correct. I possess siren abilities.”
“A powerful magic,” Councilman Taylor says, tone jovial. “I’ll leave you two to get better acquainted. Now, don’t go singing him out of the ballroom just yet, dear. I have a grand evening planned, and I’m selfish about the attention of my guests. At least on the opening night.”
I laugh along with Jon and accept the half-elf’s offered hand as he leads me to the dance floor.
I was worried about how Starla might respond to the suitors, but she’s doing a marvelous job.
In between the waves of introductions, her face falls flat and expressionless, but each time her father brings over a new guy, she manages a convincing and demure smile.
Not to mention a wave of curtsies and dances.
Great tides, she’s likely thought of and bit her tongue on so many comments by this point that her mouth is on fire from holding it back.
Still, she’s put on a convincing showing.
Until she doesn’t. What if she’s dancing with Leon’s unknown partner? What if they’re aware of who she is, and decide to eliminate a threat?
That could be me projecting. It’s all I’ve been able to do to speak without my voice shaking to all the new individuals, each one a suspect.
Based strictly on appearances, I’m the one having the roughest time.
Jackal’s been mingling with the crowds, managing to have several conversations filled with laughter and smiles, no matter what he says about how these people view him.
And Ji-hwan is having no difficulties, from what I can tell. I spy him walking away from a gaggle of ladies, and they are unabashedly focused on the Were’s backside as he makes his way across the floor and over to a new set of people to seduce.
Any one of them could slip. It only takes a single mistake.
The chandelier. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the garden. The trays of champagne. The stringed instruments playing live music. The table of snacks.
After identifying several things I can see to help ground myself, I decide to list things I can taste and make my way to the snack area.
It will be a nice break from the attention Starla’s father has foisted on me. No doubt another gentleman will find his way over soon, directed my way by Councilman Taylor.
Picking up what appears to be a miniature quiche, I take a bite and try to swallow my worries along with the pastry crust and egg.
I miss my dog, and I want to be in Jackal’s arms, not twirling around the dance floor with another boorish son or nephew of one of Councilman Taylor’s powerful friends.
Not to mention, I am tired and grumpy. Other than my occasional late nights at Starla’s bar, I would normally be in bed by now. Lately, I’d be in bed with Jackal, doing much more exciting things than eating subpar mini quiches.
And if not there, I’d be under the waves enjoying a moonlight swim.
I have no talent for this.
Looking across the room again, I see Jackal throwing back his head and laughing along with a particularly inebriated group of men.
Maybe he’s learned something to make it worth his time.
That’s another thing irking me. I’ve learned nothing useful.
You’re going to be stuck cursed. You’re not smart enough to figure out Grammy Pearl’s hints, and your friends will suffer because of it.
Not now, please, I mutter to my own mind.
Councilman Taylor finds me at the refreshments area, yet another mid-thirties man in tow. Where is he finding all of these people, and why in the world is he wasting so much effort on me? Does he really think this will win his daughter’s approval?
Although, it seems he doesn’t truly understand how deeply she loathes the attempts he makes with her.
He has to suspect she’s against the matchmaking, but I’ve gathered he thinks it’s more rebellion than anything.
Perhaps he thinks that showing a similar level of care for me will convince her that he is in fact taking her priorities into account.
Maybe it would force me to have a sliver of sympathy for the man, if I weren’t sick to the sea of these introductions already.
“Arloc is a vampire who leads a coven in the north of England,” Councilman Taylor says as he introduces us. “He’s not been a vampire very long compared to most who lead a coven, and he’s got a loyal and lucrative following.”
“My coven is in the jewelry business,” Arloc says, flashing some of the dazzling rings that adorn all of his fingers. I see at least a few rubies, which are similar in color to his deep red eyes.
“Stunning,” I say.
“They certainly are,” he agrees as he watches me hungrily.
Although perhaps I am imagining that part, guilty of stereotyping.
I’ve met some vampires in the late nights at Starla’s bar, and I know their eyes shift between all shades of red and even pink, based on their thirst. His indicate he’s fed recently.
I go through my own introduction, parroting the information about my naiad and siren abilities.
“Siren song? Fascinating. Many people think all vampires can compel others, but that isn’t the case.
Your siren song, however—well, imagine if a siren were to be part of a vampire coven.
It would be nearly as good as having a vampire who could actually compel people.
It would certainly breed the appropriate amount of fear and respect in the surrounding supernatural factions.
Not to mention the positive impact on our profit margins if the talent were put to use in negotiations.
We deal not only in typical gems, but also prized supernatural items.”
He misses my disgusted expression as Councilman Taylor wags a finger in the younger man’s face, although he’s grinning.
“Now, now, Arloc, you sound ready to propose. Don’t be too greedy with Carolina’s time. I still have many individuals to introduce her to, but I do believe she has time tomorrow. Who knows? Relationships have certainly started with less.”
“The councilman fancies himself a matchmaker among the supernatural elite here in England,” Arloc says.
“True, I do. But it always benefits all parties,” the councilman says.
Him, primarily, I’m sure.
How is it possible that my own brother runs a dating app, and yet I’ve never felt pressured by Cannon regarding my romantic life—while one evening with this warlock and I feel like a cow being sold at market.
Poor Starla.
I’d heard her stories, of course, but this sort of meddling didn’t begin until a couple of years before she officially joined Grammy Pearl’s coven, and it wasn’t nearly this pushy.
At least not the way she describes it. But the councilman has his final opportunity over these three days, and he must know it.
Arloc and Councilman Taylor decide on my behalf that the vampire will act as my escort for a double date with Starla and whichever suitor she’s assigned tomorrow for an afternoon tea.
“You can utilize the observatory. It’s easily closed and kept dark during the daylight hours,” Councilman Taylor assures the vampire.
Right. Sunlight.
My brain conjures visions of a life where I’m locked away in a vampire coven during the day and only allowed out at night.
If Arloc even tried such a thing, my friends would come for me. Jackal would tear through walls to get to me—and that confidence anchors me.
I grin, holding back a giggle.
He’d probably bring Never along. The Were runs a vampire mansion, and while I don’t know the full story, I know she must have overthrown a vampire to manage it. And perhaps she’d be willing to do so again.
Councilman Taylor mistakes my expression for enthusiasm.
“See? Carolina is just as excited for the date. Now then, Arloc, I have another warlock I’d like to introduce you to. I think his shipping business would be of interest to you.”
Almost as soon as the two are lost to the crowd, a pleasant tingling sensation dances down my arms. I turn to see Jackal tapping my shoulder.
This time, my smile is natural, but I turn my head to hide it from any onlookers.
“Yes?” I ask, hating how disinterested I sound.
“I have someone I think you should meet.”
By the time I look up, he’s already headed for another crowd of people.
The hyena has found his prey, and if he’s got a clue, I want in on the hunt.