Exton

Just before we head out, I take Raina aside for a quick whispered conference. Afterwards she smiles and kisses me, and that's that.

Raina hops on the bike and Gareth and Ky take their respective elvensteed. I take to the air in bat form, and we're off.

It doesn't take long to get to the party/wake. Oh hell, call it what it is! It's a party, and that's exactly what Grace intended. I drop and shift back to man-form while Raina parks the bike and the elves Gate their horses back to fairyland.

They've blocked off the street and what I had thought was an indoor party has become an outdoor gala. The whole street is lit by soft, subdued colored lights with the odd diffused spotlight here and there. Music is provided by musicians scattered throughout the crowd. The effect is something like a live band - but how do they coordinate their playing…?

Damnation. Looks like we didn't get the word in time. Several people - most, in fact - are in costume, dressed as elves, pixies, werewolves, vampires, and various other "fantasy" creatures.

I guess we'll just come as we are….

Not that "what we are" is bad at all. Gareth is dressed in his usual snug jeans and t-shirt, Ky in a short skirt and belly-baring top. Raina is in her leather pants and halter, and I'm wearing my usual leather pants and t-shirt.

Well, no time like the present….

I offer K'thyri my arm. "Would you like to dance?" Her eyes go wide with surprise and she takes a step forward, then stops. She looks back at Raina, who gives her a smile and a nod, then Gareth leads her away in a dance of their own.

"You set this up, didn't you?," Ky whispers as she steps into my arms.

"Guilty as charged," I admit cheerfully. "Talked to Raina before we left, and Gareth and I have talked about it too." She's warm and soft in my arms and she moves with an all-unconscious grace. I move a hand up to touch the bare skin of her back and she makes a soft sound at the coolness of my touch. She moves closer to me and I can feel the blood surging through her veins, her slightly elevated heartbeat.

"Nervous?," I murmur.

"No!… yes. I don't know. This is sort of strange" - she looks up, smiling - "and very unexpected - but I like it."

"Good." I tilt her face up and give her a light, almost-chaste kiss, but letting her feel the passion behind it. She shivers a little and presses her body closer still.

"Vamps have a bad rap as seducers," I say, smiling. "not entirely without reason. It's the way some of us choose to survive. But just to set your mind at ease, I want you to know that I'm not going to do that with you. If you come to me, you do so of your own free will, not because I've mesmerized you or made you so horny you can't think straight. Besides" - my smile goes broader, exposing the points of my fangs - "you have a couple other options available to you."

She smiles then and kisses me again, longer this time. "That's good to know," she says when it ends. "Do I make you horny, Nick?"

"You know the answer to that, darlin'."

"Well, a girl likes to know she hasn't lost her touch."

I laugh quietly. "I don't think that'll ever happen to you, Ky…" Then Gareth and Raina are beside us and we exchange partners.

Raina's eyes are alight with curiosity. "Well? How'd it go?"

"Well, I think. At least I don't think she's afraid I'm going to eat her some dark night…."

Raina's smile grows wider. "I wouldn't object if you wanted to eat me… tonight…."