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In movies, the female leads go hot when the male lead touches them. In novels, they feel an electric current. They melt, but eventually, I was forced to believe novels were all made up. Even the movies.
Every prom, I had a date. My date was never bad. They were always good-looking, at least in an average way. They were always nice—little Prince Charmings—but not once during a dance had I felt anything close to heat not to talk of electric.
Instead, I'd wished for the date to end, and for me to be back in my room, curled up with tons of novels. After all, novels were the only places in which I truly existed.
But here… when I took his hand, I felt the heat. When my back hit his chest, I felt something rising within me, and when he spoke close to my ear, oh! It was the electric current that jolted me miserably. It was then all the words in the novels I'd read came rushing back to me.
'...the electricity the street had lost came alive in me.'
'...the rising wave nearly devoured me.'
'...I was electrocuted by his hands on my skin, and his bass voice in my ear.'
Now, I understood.
I stiffened as Hayden turned me back around to face him. The violin kicked off, along with the piano, as his hands came round my waist, fitting perfectly with it like my waist was made to be touched by him.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, and the other one on his broad warm chest, while my eyes melted into his. Honestly, it was an evil urge that filled me as I watched his hair. I wanted to touch it, to run my fingers through it.
"I'm scared. You seem like you'd gobble me up," he said dryly, as we began to move according to the rhythm.
I blinked, looking away from him. He seemed to be commanding various things in me.
Stop, Ceci, stop. Vampires have all the allure, and the charm, but Dad warned you against them. Damien is fine. Yes, Damien. He's an Alpha, but he's still better than a vampire. Wolves are loyal compared to these blood-sucking, damned good-looking vampires.
He twirled me around, and the long piece of fabric on my arm twirled around beautifully. He caught me from behind, my back to his chest.
He had one arm around my waist, while he held my hand with the other.
I placed my hand on his. They were tender, and honestly, I wanted to slip my fingers through his.
I closed my eyes as we danced, and it felt like I could see us in a cafe in the human world, books in front of us as we discussed our interests. Hayden would be a calm, always-smiling guy who was super interested in me. Because, whether he liked it or not, he and I shared similar traits.
He liked to keep to himself. I also did. I liked to read and immerse myself in worlds, and more than twice, I'd watched him get lost in a novel.
He spun me around again, and I came to face him.
"Humans. I never knew they were this twisted with desire," he commented with a raised brow, his pink lips gently moving to form his words.
"What?"
"Your heart's beating like a drum from a mere dance," he smirked.
"I'm afraid, my Lord that it's the sound of your own heart beating," I returned sarcastically.
His brow went higher, while his delicious lips pulled slightly into a smirk.
"Your eyes are filled with so much lust that I'm ashamed. I feel naked."
"Desire?" I scoffed, "Why would I desire you? I don't feel any desire for you. My eyes are just, you know, watching…they just look like that."
There was that evil smile again as he bent, his lips close to my ear.
"No? Not desire?" He asked, and damn! I closed my eyes, as his smooth voice traveled straight into my ear, pushing against the barriers of my heart, "Then what is it?" He asked, looking back at me again, those evil pink lips carrying their smile.
I blinked, swallowing, "Not lust. I have no such feelings for you."
"Then can you explain why my lips have to keep on bearing the weight of your heavy eyes?" he said, and it was then I realized my eyes were on his lips, and I'd been watching them move and form words all along.
My eyes went back to his, and his smirk was one of triumph shining through his eyes. Embarrassment turned my cheeks pink, and I lowered my lashes in defeat.
Hayden and I twirled around the dance floor, my hair and dress restless as we turned and swayed with the rhythm. I kept my eyes strictly on his chest. Nope, I wouldn't make the mistake of looking into his eyes. Honestly, it seemed as if we were moving on clouds.
My heart was light; my body was effortlessly moving according to his rhythm.
Finally, the music began to fade, and the ladies were leaving their men, bowing.
My hand slipped out of Hayden's, almost reluctantly, and I bowed gently.
Applause began, and soon, the whole hall was ringing with applause.
"That was beautiful, Mysia High," the host began, hands behind his back, as he spoke into the mic, "It was splendid, and even more splendid to think that we'd be selecting a King and a Queen from you all! A King and Queen to represent Mysia High for the entire session. A King and Queen to uphold the school, and enjoy benefits from the society. After this, we'll have our little coronation ceremony, and have our dinner. Who wants to get the crown!?" He asked, suddenly bringing his hands forward, and then, he threw a massive golden crown out towards the eager crowd.
I gasped, not prepared for the rush that came like a storm. Everyone rushed to catch the golden crown which was still in the air. Hayden pulled me to him, his arm around my waist, the other in his pocket, as he watched everyone race for the large crown with an expression of total calm.
Jets of colorful magic burst out everywhere as magical folks battled to get the crown in the air. They missed, and as the coveted crown fell, they all dived like hungry worms on a corpse. Only a few people stood, watching in amusement.
"Aren't you… joining?" I asked Hayden slowly, still shocked, my eyes tearing off the rabid people to look at him.
Hayden looked at me, "Apex Predators wait… watch… Apex predators…" his gaze seemed to burn into me, and for some reason, goosebumps climbed up my skin as he completed his words.
"...pounce."