Big Bad Academy

I remember going to school dances as a teen and feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Yeah, overall, I was a cocky sonofabitch, but I had my moments where I was just like everyone else: a little bit awkward. A little bit uncomfortable.

Tonight’s dance is different.

Tonight, I walk into the ballroom with the most beautiful girl at the academy on my arm, and oh, she really is perfect.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers as she looks at the space. It’s true that the ballroom has been completely transformed. It no longer looks like a gathering place at the school used for announcements or performances. Now it looks like a magical haven.

There are white lanterns hanging from the ceiling and there’s beautiful music playing. Every single student, teacher, and parent who is here tonight is dressed to impress, and everything looks completely perfect.

I don’t notice any of that, though, because I’m so busy looking at Heather. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the only person here tonight. She’s the only person I care to look at because Heather really and truly is my mate.

I didn’t expect to be kidnapped by her vampire stalker.

I didn’t think that she’d come to the academy only to win everyone over, including me.

When I captured her, I thought she was involved in the kidnappings somehow, which was technically true, but it ended up not being her fault. More than that, she did more than just convince everyone how lovable she is. She completely stole my heart.

Now, as we move through the ballroom to the center of the dance floor, I wonder how I ever managed to live at all without Heather by my side. I pull her close and we start to dance, and I breathe in her scent.

“This is nice,” she whispers.

“A little more than nice.”

“Okay, it’s perfect,” she says with a dreamy sigh.

“Have you ever been to a high school dance before?”

“Flynn, human high schools aren’t quite this big or fancy, and their dances aren’t really anything like this.”

“So that’s a hard no?”

“That’s a no,” she says. “I mean, I know dances are supposed to be lame, but I never got invited. I was always kind of a nerd.”

“Your classmates were idiots if they couldn’t see how perfect you are.”

“Or maybe I was just destined for something better,” she whispers. She looks up at me and cups my face, and then Heather kisses me as we dance. Together, we move in unison, and I realize how very much I’ve been missing.

I never knew just how wonderful having a mate could be.

Oh, I’d heard stories.

I’d listened to the fables.

I’d heard the whispered dreams and rumors, but none of them compare to the reality. Kissing Heather, dancing with her, and just being near her is the most incredible and magical thing anyone could ever want.

Now that we’re mated, the dreams have stopped for both of us. There will be no more visions of our partner because now those visions have morphed into reality. It’s okay, though. Sleep feels more restful now because when I fall asleep, it’s wrapped around her.

Heather holds me as we dance in the center of the room, moving beneath the lanterns. I look over and catch my dad and Maxwell dancing, too, and he catches my eye. I smile at my father and he smiles at me, too. Then, in true dad fashion, he flashes me a little thumbs-up sign. I should probably roll my eyes, but he’s so genuinely happy for me that I can’t bring myself to.

Heather and I are going to have a wonderful, incredible life together, and I, for one, can’t wait to get started.

“I love you,” I whisper to her as we dance.

“I love you, too,” she whispers. “Mate.”

I press my lips to her forehead, and I wonder how I got so lucky to be with the most beautiful girl in the world. Not only are we together, but we’re destined mates, and no matter what happens next, I’m going to have Heather by my side. Together, the two of us can do anything.

We can change the world, if we want to.