Cherie Colyer - Hold Tight

A guttural growl escaped his lips. With one last look at the meadowsweet on the floor, he said, “We will meet again.”

I met his ice-cold glare. “If that’s true, then I hope it’s as friends and not enemies.”

“Brea, are you coming?” he asked.

“In a moment.” She hopped off the counter and faced me. “Isaac said it was you who had insisted on finding a way to, how did he phrase it?” She tapped a finger to her lips. “Oh yes, ‘shove Reed’s ass back through the door without killing him.’”

I twitched a shoulder. “I consider you a friend. I didn’t think you’d feel the same if we slaughtered your brother. Besides, the last thing we wanted to do was ignite a war between our people.”

Brea smiled at her brother. “Will you not admit now that she is different from the other?”

Reed punched the barrier, turned, and stormed through the door. For a fraction of a second, I could see tall trees capped in snow and a violet-blue sky. Then the shimmering, out-of-focus doorway returned.

Brea sighed. “He’ll probably spend the winter stewing over losing this fight.”

Kaylee looked around the kitchen. “Where’s Josh?”

“About him…” I scrunched my nose. “Brea, I know you don’t owe me, but Reed did that trick of his with the ice, and it takes a kiss of summer…I’d be in your debt if you would, you know, defrost him.”

“Defrost?” Kaylee choked on the word.

Brea shook her head. “I warned him about upsetting my brother.”

“You did, and I’m sorry for earlier.”

Her hands went to her hips. “He owes me an apology too.”

“Well, if you were to pop over to the cemetery, I’m sure he’d agree.”

“I think I will.” She disappeared.

“He froze Josh?” Kaylee asked, horrified.

I put an arm around her shoulder. “Like a Popsicle, but it’s temporary. He’ll be good as new as soon as Brea gets there.”

Isaac gave me a hug, lifting me off my feet and twirling me around. “You did it!”

“I did,” I replied with a smile, letting him hold me. “And I needed this.”

Brea went home shortly after she and Josh returned. Isaac and I sealed the door before we cleaned up the meadowsweet. And, as he said he would, Caden stopped by exactly twelve hours from the last time I’d seen him. He only came into the house as far as the foyer.

“You haven’t undone the damage from eating their food,” he said with a frown.

His hand held my chin as he examined my eyes. Out of my peripheral vision, I could see Isaac’s fingers clenched in fists as he pretended it didn’t bother him that Caden stood so close to me. He couldn’t hide the hint of steel that was his jealousy, though.

“I feel better now that Reed’s gone,” I said. “And the longer he’s away, the stronger I’ll get.”

Caden released my chin. “It’s a temporary fix, until he returns.”

“He won’t,” I insisted. “We closed the door, and Isaac’s going to lock the Fae book away someplace safe.”

“Very well.” Caden opened the front door.

I grabbed his arm, ignoring Isaac, whose mouth had fallen open. “I thought you were going to collect on the debt I owe. Wasn’t that the point of the deadline?”

“I wanted you ready for when I need you.” Caden smiled. “If you’d like to continue our conversation, I haven’t eaten yet. I’d still love to hear how Emma screwed up so badly she ended up in the psych ward.”

Energy sizzled between Isaac’s fingertips. That story was not one to be told any time soon—and definitely not over dinner with another guy.

“You need to stop goading Isaac.” I let go of Caden’s arm.

He leaned in and whispered, “Where’s the fun in that?” With a wink, he left.

Kaylee came up next to me and watched Caden walk to his car. “After everything that’s happened today, it’s a good thing you don’t have to do a demon’s dirty work too.”

“He knows exactly what he’s going to have me do. He’s stalling.” I gave a fleeting glance to Isaac, now brooding on the couch. “I’d like to get whatever it is over with before they end up fighting again.”

One wonderfully uneventful week later, the school gym had been transformed into a winter wonderland for the dance. Bright blue spotlights helped set the mood. White and indigo balloon pillars had been erected next to the deejay’s table, glistening snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and fake snow dusted the floor and bleachers. The dance committee had really outdone themselves, and the packed room proved the students appreciated their efforts.

“You really do look amazing,” Isaac said for the sixth time. His gaze traveled from the tiny floral bobby pins in my hair, over my crimson silk dress, and down to my black heels. “The red lipstick is a nice touch.”

“Thanks.” I adjusted his black tie and kissed him. He wore a dark tailored suit and a deep red shirt. “You’re quite dashing yourself.”

“Why, thank you.”

An upbeat song ended, and a soft guitar solo drifted out of tall speakers. Several guys on the dance floor wrapped their arms around their dates’ waists, holding them close as they turned in slow circles. Small groups of students who’d gone stag made their way to the bleachers and refreshments.

Isaac tilted his head to the side. “Shall we dance?”

“I thought you didn’t know how.” When he flashed a smirk, I asked, “Did you do a little hocus-pocus”—I wiggled my fingers—“on your shoes?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” He held out his arm.

We joined Josh and Kaylee, Mark and Sarah, and several of our classmates on the dance floor. I had been right about the black dress Kaylee wore: Josh couldn’t keep his hands off her. Right now they were on her hips.

Isaac held me close, his breath warm against my cheek. His thumb gently rubbed the silk ribbon on the back of my dress as we swayed to a slow song. When it reached the last notes, he slid his hand to the small of my back, spun us once in a circle, and then lowered me gracefully into a dip.

“I’ll have you know, those moves were without the aid of witchcraft.” He pulled me up, the grin on his face telling me he was pleased with his dancing abilities. “My parents taught me the basics,” he confessed. “I can slow dance, do a simple box step, and am now awesome at the Chicken Dance.”

“Really?” I giggled, but I was honored that he’d spent the time to learn a few steps just to take me to a school dance. “I want to see you flap your arms and wiggle your butt.”

“You laugh, but if the deejay plays the song, I’m ready.”

“Oh! It’s so on!” I took a step toward the deejay. “I’m going to place a request.”

Isaac grabbed my arm, tugging me close to him and nuzzling my ear with his nose. “Or we could enjoy the slow songs he’s playing.”

“If you insist,” I said with an exaggerated sigh, but the truth was, I hated the Chicken Dance.

We kissed as we moved with the other people dancing. His lips lingered on mine just long enough to steal my breath away and raise my pulse.

“This is nice,” I commented, resting my head on his shoulder.

Sarah and Mark were to my right, and Josh and Kaylee weren’t far behind Isaac. I had just made a mental note to get a picture taken of the six of us when I felt a light tap on my arm. Caden stood to my left wearing a burgundy dress shirt and black pants under his coat. Isaac and I immediately stopped dancing.

“I need to borrow you for a little while,” Caden said over the music.