Queen of Ruin

The ticking of the Grandfather clock synced up perfectly to the tapping of Jasper's shoe against the black-and-white checkered floor until he finally shifted his eyes to the stairs. "Hurry up, Sugar!"

After he tousled the dark curls on his head in the mirror, his eyes dropped to Teddy's reflection. "Will you go drag your sister down here, please? She's going to be late for her own goddamn birthday party."

From the warm, burgundy wall he leaned on, Teddy pulled his hand from his pocket and pointed his finger gun at his father. "Don't you worry about a thing, Daddy; I'm on it."

The ting of his fingers bouncing off the cast-iron spindles of the staircase kept time with his shoes sliding across the Oriental runner that led him to Tessa's room.

Her lips made a perfect pout as she slathered on her red lip gloss and shook out her dark, curly hair. "Hell's Bells! I'll be down in a minute, Daddy! You think a face like this grows on trees?"

While she peeked down over herself, she straightened her simple black dress and tugged nervously on her pearl necklace. "This is my party; I'm supposed to make a grand entrance. All those pricks can just wait until I'm good and ready to show up."

Just hours shy from thirteen now, Tessa prepared herself for the first formal affair she ever attended at her Order.

These were the days when the witching world's families introduced their children, hoping for them to find their someday mates, or at least like someone enough that a future marriage can be arranged.

Among the Savannah elite, alliances start early and tonight promised to be interesting because a new family recently arrived from Morocco with five sons, one close to her age.

"Aren't you ready yet?" Teddy leaned against the doorway and shared the mirror with his sister.

While he tried to tame the wayward curl that kept poking his forehead, he tilted his head to the side as he appreciated his reflection. "We're all waiting for you, you know. You're being rude as hell to our guests."

"I give nary a shit about any of those parasites." The nerves she battled all day long dripped from her fingertips as she shook out her hands and turned to face him. "Do we really have to go to this thing? I don't feel very well."

An amused smile came to his lips, and the always relaxed Teddy winked his green eye at her. His sister never turned down an opportunity to complain, and he never wasted the chance to support her. "Time to find you a mate, Tess; you're nearly an old maid."

Her arms wove across her chest, and her eyes rolled in an arrogant act of defiance. No matter the outcome of tonight's party, she would be unimpressed by any specimen presented to her. "No goddamn way. You know I don't believe in that old-timey bullshit."

He chuckled to himself as he pointed at her because he expected nothing less from her smart mouth. Although her mother was a regal, graceful woman born of royal blood, Tessa inherited her father's quick temper and love of profanity. "That's it. That kind of talk will sweep any potential suitor right off his feet."

"Like I give a damn." While she wiggled her toes into her high-heeled shoes, she flipped him the middle finger. "I can't believe I'm going through with this. This whole mating thing is one tradition that needs to die."

As Teddy took one last look at himself, he straightened the bow tie he never could quite figure out.

Only a smidge less vain than his sister, he puckered his lips at his reflection and shrugged off her concerns. "Don't go working yourself up into a tizzy over it yet, Tess; it's only a party. No one said you have to jump the broom tonight. Nobody will expect that of you for a couple of decades or so."

While they walked down the hall, she continued her list of grievances about her over-privileged lot in life. "I wish I were human; they can decide for themselves who they end up with."

The antique, textured burgundy and gold wallpaper tickled the ridges of his fingers as he slid them across while he did his best to calm her down. "Yes, that's true, but they often pick poorly. Your mate is hand-picked for you by the Fates; these things are meant to be. Go with it for once and see where it leads you."

Her head shaking rebelliously, Tessa delivered her usual response to anyone who disagreed with her as he opened the front door. "What a load of shit! No one's going to tell me how I'm going to live my life, especially not some crusty, old sky wizard that doesn't even know anything about me."

His fingers wrapped around her arm as they came down the stairs because Teddy was more than a little worried she might throw herself down them in an attempt to avoid tonight's obligation. "Whether or not you believe in the old gods, they sure as hell believe in you. If you're not careful, someday you're going to get struck down by lightning for your blasphemy."

Her eyes rose to the full moon above her, and she held up her arms as she dared Fate to test her. "Well, now would be a perfect time, you sons of bitches. Why don't you go on and put me right out of my misery?"

When they met their parents on the other side of the street, Jasper wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked across the park. "Are you excited, Sugar?"

The arched brow he liked to give to those who dared to cross him shot back at him as she shook her head no. "Absolutely not! This is so sick. These cotillions are like one of those livestock auctions they have out in the country."

While he tipped his head to the people walking by, Jasper laughed out at the comparison. "I just want to introduce you to some people. After that, you're free to go hide in my office the rest of the night if you want."

He pulled her closer to his side and kissed the top of her head. "I wanted to show off my number one girl. All those guys brag on their pathetic daughters, but they haven't met anyone like you before, Tess. I guarantee it."

His arm around her shoulder tugged her tighter as he waved his hand at the building before them. "You're going to run this whole show one day; believe me when I tell you that this world is a hell of a lot easier when you have someone loyal and strong by your side to back you up."

Even the guard who manned the front door dressed to the nines, and he lowered his head in respect of his leaders before he parted the thick, wooden doors for them.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, she gasped at the flip-flop sensation in her chest. A slow, steamy breath blew from her mouth, and she fanned her face to collect her nerves.

The unconscious primal side awoke as her whole body buzzed, and the little beast's eyes darted around, searching for the other racing heart that called out to her.

Her entire world blurred into a messy smear of faces that melted into nothing as her mind tried to narrow her focus and zero in on its prey.

When Jasper stretched his neck, he caught her tugging at her pearls from the corner of his eye and smacked her hand away as he gave her his disapproving squint. "Don't you show them any weakness, Tessa Mason. These people are vultures; they'll use any tactic to gain the upper hand with you. Don't let them see they can intimidate you."

Realizing how much he was putting on her shoulders at such a young age, Jasper sighed out a breath of regret as he slid his hand on her cheek. "Sometimes I have to remind myself that you're a kid because you two just act so grown up. This life we live isn't an easy one, and I want you both prepared for the realities of it."

One of the few people in the world who she respected at all, she gave him a sweet smile and nodded. "I know that, Daddy. You don't have to worry about us; we can handle ourselves just fine."

"I do not doubt that at all." He pushed her hair back off her shoulder while he beamed with pride at his most treasured work of art. "These folks are only spectators in your world wanting to see you fail; don't give them the satisfaction."

Already ten minutes late, he used one last second to brush down his jacket and check the shine on his shoes as he gave her some last words of wisdom. "Burn the entire world down and kill them all if you have to, but you make them understand you're not the witch to mess with. Don't give mercy because they won't be so kind as to offer you any. You get what I'm saying, Sugar?"

A sneaky smirk curled up on her lips as a spark flashed across her emerald green eyes. Even though the rest of the world tried to hold her back, only her father truly understood her nature and gave her permission to be the foul-mouthed, wicked witch she was. "Perfectly, Daddy."

With his fakest smile plastered on, Jasper lifted his chin at the doorman. "It's showtime, Sugar."