"I know," Kersti said, voice equally soft, and she pressed a tender kiss to his shoulder. "When we're done here, we'll go home, okay?? You can relax a little and hopefully nothing else will happen today."
    Gift raised one brow at Adrian. "Is there any other??"
    "Obviously I didn't properly imply how she was going to reduce our pay," George said with a faint smirk. His own eyes ran over the crowd and he didn't look at his friend when he spoke. "Almost positive. I told Gift, and she had the kind of reaction that would back up that idea. Which makes it worse, of course, but at least it's something."
    "My cross to bear for being such a naughty boy in my younger years," Ry said with another brilliant smile. "I've learned to handle him, at any rate."
    He nodded in agreement. "Vegas seems to be having some temperamental problems lately. But yes, I can imagine taking you up on your offer sometime. It seems like a good place to wind down."

    "Shot that adage to hell, didn't I??" Mace rumbled cheerfully past his mouthful of pizza. Ahh, there was joy in the world as long as there was pizza. Though he didn't miss the way Sahar was looking at him, and just kept the box waaay up in the air.
    "No way, 'cause they might smell the leftovers and come in here and steal it when we're not here," C.J. protested, stuffing another huge bite into her mouth to back up her words. She was not willing to relinquish her pizza, that was for sure.
    Chewing happily, she nuzzled Darshan's collarbone before looking up at him. "Are /you/ okay??" she asked, with sudden and overwhelming concern. He'd said he'd run into Terra but didn't mention if he'd been hurt in the process.

    "Not the caffeine, just the sugar," Price protested, winking at the Drache. Before he blew out a pained breath. "You two sure know how to ruin some good news."
    "Sorry," Keller said, sounding totally unsympathetic. Price made a face at her and she chuckled, before turning to Galen. "She said she could meet us in an hour."

    A blink, followed by a little giggle as Julianna considered Irene's words. "I might have to try that sometime, just to see what happens. I wonder if I'd get hit." A bit of a concerned look came to her face. "Are you sure about that?? From what I've heard, Blaire doesn't confide in her lackeys anyway, so it might be for nothing."
    A thoughtful line formed between Julianna's brows as she looked at the sidewalk, clearly thinking. "Laurie Frost. Laurie Frost. Gods, I know that name. How do I know that name??"

    "Gamble," Jasper greeted, voice just indifferent, but he was used to that by now. She stepped past him, glancing briefly around. "Not in a while. That last package Gift got from you has been keeping us amused."
    Her eyes dropped to that level as several very large dogs hurried into the ample living room. Gamble's ranch was a haven in Las Vegas, a home away from home for the RoA. And not just because pretty much every free space of wall was covered in guns and various other weapons. Just looking around made Jasper's fingers itch, wanting to explore. Gamble always had something new up every time she visited. The fun was finding it.
    "They don't bother me," she told him as the dogs reached her, snuffling about her. She took a last drag on her cigarette, then licked her thumb to put it out and flicked it into a nearby trash can. Fingers scratched idly behind several dog ears as she looked at Gamble. "Looking for Kiriyama. Seen him lately??"

    Sonya returned the nod briefly, before her eyes moved the numbers above the door, impatiently tracking the movement of the elevator. Finally, the doors slid open. These things were just too slow for her liking, but there was really not alternative when carrying luggage.

    "I'm not entirely certain that home is such a good idea," Adrian said, his brow furrowing with concern. He looked at Gift, figuring she would have a better idea of what should be done, even as he explained to Kersti. "Terra knows that I'm here. She lured me into a trap earlier."
    A bare smile skated across his lips at the older woman's response, and he inclined his head in agreement. "So Daybreak is involved now, too?"
    "Laugh while you can," Tristan muttered. He continued to scan the crowds, nodding in acceptance to George's explanation. Gift didn't think that it was someone else on their team, and although she probably wasn't infallible, it was enough for Tristan.
    "Someday, you'll have to teach me the trick of that," Edan said, clearly amused. She didn't comment on the first part of what he had said, but she did give him a considering look. No, something made it hard for her to doubt that he had been, and probably still was, a very naughty boy.
    "It's usually cooler around this time of year, but never this cold," she mused, placing her fingertips against the cool glass of the window before continuing towards the door. "But yes, please do. I'll leave orders with the housekeeper to let you in if you come around, although I don't doubt that you could charm your way past her if you wished to do so."

    For a moment longer, Sahar considered the box with a predator's gleam in her eyes. Then she simply went up on her toes, and took a bite out of the piece of pizza already in his hand. She leaned back again to chew, a little smugly.
    The look that Darshan gave C.J. was a little amused. "I don't believe that any of Mace's gang are particularly interested in entering this room as long as we're staying here."
    He smiled down at her, and stood, doing a slow turn for her benefit. "Do I not look okay?"

    The look that Galen gave Price was a little pained. Goddess knew he loved the boy, but that nose of his ended up in just about everything, these days. "I'm sure you'll find something else to entertain you."
    He nodded to Keller, and slid out of the booth so that he could stand. "Will this meeting include anyone else?"

    "From what I've heard, this particular knight is not feeling very chivalric these days," Irene replied. "You probably would get hit. Rightfully so, I might add, if you actually went so far as to say something like that. I thought that spies were supposed to be tactful?"
    Her smile held all the self-satisfied pleasure of a cat well fed on canaries. "I'm more interested in Blaire's lackeys confiding in me, frankly. Besides, I would be staying right here in Las Vegas, so you could always arrange to pull me out if things turn sour."
    "It's familiar to me, as well," Irene agreed. "We'll know as soon as my man sends me the information." She cast a vaguely irritated look at her watch. "For now, shall I continue?"

    The indifference in Jasper's voice actually made Gamble smile. Ah, but he was fond of the RoA, with all their little foibles. He cast her a knowing look, and gestured to the living-room walls, covered as they were in weapons from just above couch level all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. "Feel free to look around while you're here, even if the last package is still keeping you amused. I expect the lot of you will be in here doing your Christmas shopping soon," he added lightly.
    He had taken one dog by the scruff of the neck, preparing to move it out the door, but released it when she reassured him that she wasn't bothered. "Well, alright then." He reached up to scratch his chin at her question, and nodded. "Yeah, you just missed him. He was in about an hour ago to do some shopping of his own. What's up?" Dreamy hazel eyes turned sharp as he considered her. "Is everything okay?"

    Paul stepped into the elevator and politely inquired of the other pair, "Lobby??"
    "Yes," Christian said briefly, waiting for Sonya to step in before following her. Positioning himself just right between her and the other man. He was feeling on edge, what could he say.
    Nodding, Paul punched the ground level button and the elevator doors slid smoothly shut.

    Kersti's head immediately jerked upwards, eyes widening as she looked at Adrian. "Terra lured you into a trap?? Are you..." Her eyes moved to her mother. "Why didn't you tell me??"
    "He was already free and well by the time we got here," Gift said calmly. "I saw him walk into the house, Kersti. Terra didn't damage him." At least physically, but she didn't imagine Adrian wanted Kersti to know whatever had gone between him and Terra.
    Kersti was still frowning, gaze worried as she looked back at Adrian. Gift shrugged at the healer. "As for your location, it hardly matters. You won't want to leave Vegas and I don't much feel like forcing you right now, so Terra will find you no matter where we move you. Maybe if you stay out in the open, she won't feel so desperate to get you right this second, and will focus on other things first." Like Mace. What a happy thought. "But you will have bodyguards, and you are not to go anywhere without them."
    Nolan couldn't help it, he raised his hand a little. "I'll volunteer." Not that he didn't love the band, but it was a chance to confer with Adrian some more in a more private setting.
    Gift considered that, then shrugged a shoulder. "We'll see. And yes, it would seem Daybreak is becoming involved. But not too much, not yet."
    Smirking a little again, George saw his dinner as she started to walk past. "Be right with you," he muttered to Tristan, then went to intercept her.
    Ry smirked again. "Just bring up his father. He'll roll right into a long, drawn-out story and whatever he's currently doing to annoy you will be forgotten."
    Nodding in acceptance and some agreement. "I appreciate that. Do tell Kawada I'll likely catch up with him later as well, if you don't manage to monopolize his attention for the rest of the night." He gave a brief smile, clearly showing that Kawada was a fool if he didn't let his attention be caught and kept by her.

    Mace blinked at Sahar's actions, then smirked. "Well now that was clever enough to be rewarded, I'll give you that." He gave her the three-fourths eaten piece. "Here ya go. Enjoy." Reaching up, still keeping the box above her head, he pulled another whole one free and took another happy bite from it.
    "I don't know, I don't think I'd pit a hungry shifter's stomach against his common sense," C.J. said with a little grin, finishing off the piece in her hand. She only had one more to go and was now wanting to savor it, so she didn't pull it out immediately.
    When Darshan stood, her brows lifted in question. Then he turned and another grin tripped over her lips. "Oh baby, you /always/ look okay. But." She reached out, catching his shirt and pulling him forward again. Her hand still in his shirt, she pulled it up and out a bit, moving her head under it so she could nuzzle at his belly.
    Giving his skin a quick lick, she inhaled deeply. Then again. And one more time before she tilted her head back to frown up at him. "You smell like Adrian. He healed something, didn't he??"

    Price brightened, flashing a guileless grin at Galen. "Well yes, I suppose that's a possibility. How nice of you to remind me."
    "Price, stop being mean to Galen," Keller said ruefully, nudging his leg under the table.
    A gray eye closed in a wink at the Drache prince. "Oh, he's used to it by now."
    Keller rolled her eyes and looked up at her soulmate. "I don't think so. It wouldn't require anyone else, unless Julianna showed up, but she's probably off on her own now."

    "Shock factor," Julianna said cheerfully. "Never know when it might be useful." Though she'd hardly be the one to do such a thing. It would be mean.
    Her mouth opened at Irene's next words, then closed with a grin. Because Julianna knew better than to suggest Irene couldn't find out information from lackeys. Please, look who she was talking to. It'd be an insult. "That might be an idea then. Though she might want to pull you to France just for a brief stay, to get you caught up and stuff. And then look at all of the stuff you'd be missing out on here."
    She nodded in agreement at Irene's words, because she was far more patient than most people of her acquaintance. "Okay, next."

    Jasper gave Gamble one of her rare smiles as he gestured about. "Maybe in a little while. Though all of us are here, so be expecting more company before too long. And I imagine you'd be offended if we went anywhere else for our Christmas shopping." Because only a stupid person wouldn't know what the RoA gave each other for Christmas.
    Cold eyes narrowed slightly at his news, as she gently drew her fingers up the side of a dog's muzzle. "That's yet to be determined. Gift and Ethan are looking for him. I won't even toy with the idea that he told you anything about his future plans. Did he pick up anything out of ordinary??"

    "Thank you," Sonya added quietly, her eyes once again becoming fixed on the slow countdown of numbers once they were in the elevator. She wanted to be gone, and she wanted to get down to the business at hand. There was a lot to be taken care of, including official resignation from Blaire's forces.

    "I'm fine," Adrian reassured Kersti. "Terra didn't touch me. Your mother and Darshan arrived before anything unsavory could happen."
    "Darshan?" Fang wondered, and he looked puzzled. Tala and Nona exchanged a look. Trust a lamia not to notice how much power was right under his nose; it seemed that there was a difference between knowing that a person was a dragon, and realizing how powerful that made him.
    "Is this Terra lady still alive, then?" Tala wondered, a little doubtfully.
    Adrian started to answer, then stopped and simply turned his attention to Gift and away from the question of Terra. He nodded in time to what she was saying. "You're right," he admitted reluctantly. "Besides, I know Terra. She's going to be too angry at you and Darshan to think much about me. Frankly, I'm more worried about Kersti and C.J. than I am about myself. We know from the past that Terra isn't above striking at them to get to you."
    Finally, Nona lifted her gaze from her coffee to Gift, her eyes shadowed. "I'd volunteer along with Nolan, but against a dragon, I'm going to be more trouble than help."
    Strangely enough, it was Fang who frowned when Gift spoke of Daybreak. "Well, that's nice. They can rule the world, but when the going gets tough... Aren't they supposed to be protecting people? When did they stop doing that?" He sounded a little annoyed, still defensive after C.J. had gotten hurt not once but twice. After all, she was a member of his band, and he was closer to them than his own family, no matter how much he went out of his way to piss off Jacob and Tala. After all, that was what the annoying little brother was supposed to do.
    "What a good question," Anna said, as she dragged a chair up to the table next to Fang and sagged into it. The lamia looked at her, and seemed to be considering apologizing, but finally just set his lips and shrugged.
    "Tell me about it," Edan said. "As far as I know, his father is a chef, an architect, a politician, a doctor, and a clown. A very multi-talented man, it would seem."
    She chuckled and nodded. "I'll tell him, but I'm sure that you'll be able to claim him for an hour or two. One of my cousins didn't make the barbeque, so I'm going on a mission of mercy to make sure she doesn't starve." And to make sure that she knew what the family had decided, but he didn't need to know that. She smiled softly. "Of course, after that, he's all mine, and I had better not see your face before morning, Mr. LaGaro."

    "You're a mean man," Sahar reasserted, and pouted at him, although she did accept the piece of pizza... or rather, what was left of it. "Come on, Mace. If you don't feed me, I'll get all bony, and there will be no more ass to grab." There was an edge of laughter to her voice, but something about that made her a little uncomfortable, too. Ass to grab. Not all of today's ass grabbing had been entirely pleasant.
    "That's fair," Darshan agreed.
    He waited patiently as she pulled up his shirt and buried her face in his belly, a soft breath escaping his lips as she nuzzled at his stomach. "Nothing that a good meal wouldn't have fixed," he replied, conveniently dancing around the truth, "but you know Adrian. If it had been a stubbed toe, he would have felt compelled to heal it."

    Price's grin made Galen close his eyes in pain that was only half fake. "Fine. Just don't let your entertainment include blowing up things, please." All the same, he nodded when the younger man said that he was used to it. There was really no denying it, after all.
    "There's no telling with Julianna," he replied, opening his eyes to look in the direction that the spy had gone. "What did you make of the woman with her? Lisa Green?"

    "Ah, but I know you," Irene said. "You would never be so mean. You're not me, after all."
    "We'll see what happens," she agreed. "I think I might just show up at their hotel and wave the message from Blaire around. I do have something of a reputation; it's not so inconceivable that I would simply realize that some of her people are in town and decide to join them. Oh, I'm sure that someone will contact her about me sooner rather than later, but even if she decides to pull me back to Paris, I'll have some time to sniff around here." She paused, considered. "Besides, there are other factors involved."
    "Damon Salvatore," Irene rattled off, watching her friend to see if she recognized the name.

    "That's good," Gamble said, "I like it when you all drop in on me. You know that you're welcome here anytime." He smiled at her. "And don't tell me that there's somewhere else for you to go? Not to go fishing for compliments, but has someone better than me come on the market?"
    At her answer, Gamble nodded, and didn't ask any further. He was smart enough not to go digging into his best clients' business unasked. "Darlin', you know that he's not big about talking on anything, much less his plans. Nothing too out of the ordinary in his order, at least not at a glance. A few new trinkets, and more of my special ammunition than he usually gets. I could write you out a list, if you like."

    Paul was casting surreptitious looks from the corner of his eye, still trying to figure out exactly how he knew the woman. And the man, because that niggling sense of familiarity was there too.
    It wasn't until the elevator dinged and the doors opened that he finally realized it. He turned his head but the taller man was already moving his companion out, a hand at the small of her back. Dark eyes were locked steadily on Paul's face and any words he was about to speak died on his tongue.
    Instead, he smiled. "Have a good day."
    The man snorted just slightly and followed his lady friend out. Paul made a mental note, following more slowly. Christian the vampire should not be approached when Sonya Dayton was near.

    It didn't quite ease all of the worry in Kersti's eyes and she put her empty glass back on the table.
    Gift merely smiled at Fang. Probably the less he knew, the happier he'd be. Especially since he would most likely be out of the main picture from now on. Tala's inquiry brought her gaze to the wolf though, and she simply gave a single shake of her head.
    Attention returning to Adrian, she inclined her head this time. "Darshan is going to have C.J. taken care of and I'll have bodyguards with you and Kersti, and likely several Hunters patrolling your property. But you have to listen to them. If they tell you to move, you move. If they tell you to pack up and leave, you pack up and leave. Don't question, don't hesitate, because Terra's going to want you both." Likely everyone knew keeping Kersti and Adrian together wasn't wise, but that was another fight Gift wasn't in the mood for yet.
    Kersti found Adrian's hand and laced her fingers through his, squeezing tightly, as she nodded at her mom. Terra still petrified her on some level, even though most of what had happened in her tender care had been shrouded by memory fog. She was mostly scared on Adrian's behalf, because she knew what Terra did to him.
    Looking at Nona, meeting the wolf's eyes for the first time since sitting down, Gift only nodded. "I know. You'll stay with the band, probably with George. I'll give Nolan and Tristan to Kersti and Adrian. We'll see how that arrangement works, since the band shouldn't require much attention now. I wouldn't plan any gigs for a few days though, until this situation gets sorted out."
    Jacob frowned but didn't say anything. Nolan nodded, what he hoped wasn't too eagerly.
    Amusement came again to Gift's face when Fang spoke. "The sentiment is nice, Mr. Acacia, but it isn't Daybreak's choice to make. Terra has allies they wouldn't know what to do with, and I'm not in the mood to have to deal with their attempts at helping the situation. The more it's controlled, the better it'll be for everyone."
    "But maybe if you're calling on Keller, it might be okay to get some bodyguards from them," Kersti said softly. "It'll be easier than importing Hunters, since most of Daybreak is still here."
    Gift considered that as Anna appeared, drawing a surprise look from Jacob. "Anna, what are you doing here??"
    "That's it??" Ry asked with a wry smile. "I guess you don't talk much after all." Her follow-up words made him actually laugh. "I like that, and I can see why he likes you as well." They reached the door and he pulled it open for himself. "Again, a pure pleasure, Ms. Pyrrhus. I look forward to seeing you again." He gave her another smile, then ambled out and down the stairs of the mansion.

    Eyes dropped speculatively to said ass as Mace chewed lazily. "Eh, you can afford to lose a little before there's any risk of no ass. I'm willing to sacrifice it for a whole pizza all to myself."
    C.J. frowned, scooting the pizza box aside so both her hands were free. With ample practice, she had his shirt unbuttoned in seconds and slid up his abdomen, then his chest, up to his neck. Sniffing all the way. "Honey, you smell like Adrian /everywhere/. You're saturated with it." Her hands moved to his back, starting to search for any obvious wounds. Not that she expected to find any, since Adrian /had/ healed him.
    Her eyes were on his as her hands moved. "I know you're trying to protect me, but be honest right now. You got hurt bad, didn't you??"

    A protesting look overcame Price's face. "Well that's equally unfair. Taking away what I do best."
    "Price," Keller said, a note of severity in her voice, and Price just grinned guilelessly again.
    They both looked at Galen when he spoke, and Keller answered slowly, "I think there's more than what they said."
    "I don't think she works for Julianna," Price chimed in. "With, maybe, but not for."

    "Well don't let it get around," Julianna protested with a playful grin. "Ruin my image, and all. Spies have to be tough and ruthless and stuff."
    The concerned look didn't completely leave her face as Irene spoke. "You'd tell them your real name?? Considering just the people I know on her side, I don't think that's a good idea, Irene."
    The following name brought another blink, before her amber eyes widened. "Oh my god, are you serious?? Damon Salvatore??" A helpless little giggle erupted. "I wonder if Blaire knows he and Ethan have a past."

    "I'll be sure and pass that around, so we'll all converge on you at least once before we leave," she commented, a hint of a thaw coming to her eyes as she smiled at the weapons maker. "And no, no one even close to you, as I'm sure you know. There's an ongoing bet between us that you secretly wipe out your competition before it becomes anything serious."
    Jasper nodded slowly as he spoke, then inclined her head. "I'd appreciate that. And, though it's unlikely, if you see him again in the near future, let Gift know. Perhaps try to detain him until she gets here. Show him a new gadget or two."

    Sonya said nothing, simply lifted up her suitcase and exited the elevator, hardly even registering the comfortable weight of Christian's hand on her back. She waited until the were a fair distance ahead of the young man to speak. "To your house next, then?"
    Outside, the gray of the sky had taken on the slightest tint of orange, the first traces of sunset peaking out from beneath the heavy, dark blanket of clouds.

    There was the slightest hesitation, before Adrian nodded in acquiescence. He owed Gift too much to disobey a request of hers without good reason, especially when Kersti's safety could be on the line. "Of course. What the bodyguards say, goes." He looked down when Kersti laced her fingers through his, his thumb sliding over the back of her hand in a gentle caress.
    "Okay," Nona said to Gift, and finished the last cold dregs of her coffee. She frowned faintly at Nolan, a sure indication that his nodding had been a little to eager.
    "I'll talk to our manager after lunch about canceling the rest of our Las Vegas shows," Tala said, reluctant but willing to see the reason of such a move. "I'm not sure what I'll tell him. I'll think of something."
    "Tell him that Jake had a nervous breakdown after being kidnapped by a group of fans," Fang said, the annoyance on his face melting, either in response to Gift's words or simply because he had been given the opportunity to taunt his bandmate.
    Anna cringed at Jacob's question. "Telling you that the Paris Hotel is requesting that you vacate the premises as soon as your meal is over. Management would also like you to cover the damage to the room. On the bright side, I managed to convince them not to have security escort you from the hotel immediately." She looked around the table. Her eyes lingered on Gift. "Hi."
    "I may be leaving out a few things," Edan admitted. "I have trouble keeping track." Of course, there was truth in that as well; they didn't talk much.
    "It has been a pleasure. You have a good day," the witch told Ry, by way of farewell, and shut the door behind him.

    "You're a very mean man," Sahar said for the third but probably not final time, "and old. Old, too." She eyed him balefully from beneath her lashes. "What's it going to take to get some of that pizza, Drache?"
    "Not by Terra," Darshan said, wrapping his arms around her and gently tugging her off the bed to stand by him. "Please, don't be concerned. As I said, it was nothing that a meal wouldn't have fixed." Had he been able to move enough to hunt the food needed to get his body to heal. "Adrian's intervention simply sped the process along."

    "I know," Galen said, "we take away all of you options for fun. I'm sure you'll think of something to occupy your time, though. Something which involves neither Gift Redfern nor explosives."
    "That was my impression, too," he admitted. "She didn't really act like anyone's employee." There was a certain sort of subservience implied in working -for- someone that he simply hadn't seen in the woman.

    "Stuff," Irene repeated, with a smile. "Personally, I prefer cunning to brute strength. I think that your reputation is safe."
    "The invitation was extended to Irene Adler, through one of my outside contacts," she said, with a shrug, not bothering the point out that it wasn't her real name she would be using, in any case. "I would have to use my own name. I would not, however, have to use my own face." She paused, using their linked arms to draw Julianna to a stop as well, and closed her eyes. At first, the changes were subtle, barely noticeable. Her lips became plump and set in a perpetual pout; the bones of her cheeks became narrower and her chin became sharper. There was a small, audible pop when her nose moved outward, becoming hooked and beaky, and Irene winced, as if the change had hurt. "Better?" she asked, reaching up to press the offending feature with her fingers. "Even if they look for me after this, they won't know what to look for. I've spent years hiding behind the name Irene Adler; not many people could attach a face to the name, even those people who work for me."
    She let out a long breath and opened her eyes, taking a moment to recover from the expenditure of Power before moving back to the topic of Damon Salvatore. "She might, but I doubt that it bothers her. Terra and Jayden have history with some of the people that Blaire is trying to recruit, and that didn't stop her. She seems to expect everyone to ignore past differences, hold hands, and come work for her."
    "Past or no," she added, musingly, "he is a beautiful man." Her smile was a little wicked. "I won't mind watching him."

    "Good," Gamble said, with an easy grin. The grin only widened when she shared the RoA's pet theory. "Ah, not really my style, darlin'. Even if it was, I'd never tell." He reached out, running a finger over an elegant snakewood fighting stick hanging on the wall near the window. He bobbed his head at her request. "Of course. Would you like something to drink with that list of yours?"

    Christian nodded silently and led the way down the street. His walk was casual, almost an amble, and his eyes kept flickering back and forth, constantly aware of everyone around them.
    Paul watched them go for a minute after he'd stepped from the hotel, then headed in the opposite direction. Well, obviously, he held much esteem for his pretty head, and didn't want to risk losing it this early in the game.

    Gift waited until Adrian had responded in the affirmative before looking away. Biting her lip now, Kersti was still looking worried as she gently squeezed his fingers between hers. She knew better than to suggest Adrian scampering away to be safe and hide, because she knew her healer boy would want to be here to do what he did best. Didn't mean she didn't entertain the thought though.
    Another nod from Gift, at both Nona and Tala's words. Nolan gave his team member a bit of a guilty look, and finished the last of his watered down tea. Jacob sighed, shooting Fang a lethal glance. "Or Fang decided he liked having all of those girls at his beck and call and went out to get kidnapped again. Actually, that's not a bad idea anyway. We can lock Fang out tonight and see what happens."
    A bit of glee there, before he looked at Anna. And just kept looking for a long minute. Until he finally just cracked up. Real, genuine, slapping-the-knee kind of laughter there, which made the tension flow from his body in almost audible waves. "Oh Anna, that's great. That's the best news I've heard all day."
    Nolan looked a little baffled. Kersti was looking at Jacob in concern. Gift just looked at Anna. "Hello, Anna. I'll have the band's hotel tab paid. Only fair, since we messed it up so bad."
    That reminded a few people that Gift and her crew had indeed gone up to see the bad boys after the band and others had come down. And most of those people decided they didn't want to see the current state of the band's suite and surrounding areas.

    "Since I'm so old, I need all of the food I can get to keep up my energy," Mace replied promptly, smirking down at the wee lioness. "Whereas you, as young and in your prime as you are, can go a little while longer without sustenance. Nice try."
    Another big bite of pizza, maybe a bit gloatingly, before he shrugged. "Surprise me. I can't think of anything right off the top of my head that's worth my pizza, quite honestly."
    C.J. frowned, worry slipping behind her eyes as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Yes, she /knew/ he still wasn't being completely honest with her, but the fact that it wasn't Terra who'd hurt him eased the worry a bit. Nothing was worse than Terra.
    Burying her face in his chest, she sighed. "This is going to take a long time to fix, isn't it??"

    "But those things together would equal the ultimate fun," Price said thoughtfully, unable to hide the teasing glint to his eye. Keller just shook her head, because they were hopeless.
    "And she seemed to be rather deep in the details of what's going on, which I don't think an employee would be," she said after a moment, thinking about the woman and all of the information she'd spat off in tandem with Julianna.

    "Oh good," Julianna said happily, eyes dancing. Because she was clearly terribly worried about her reputation. Reps were important and all.
    Nodding along with the other woman's words, Julianna stopped obligingly and watched as Irene's face...changed. Just subtle little changes that, in the end, produced a whole different face. A wistful sigh escaped her lips. "I wish I could do that. That must be terribly handy." She nodded in agreement to Irene's words, since no one was going to mistake a face. "Very good. Master of disguise indeed."
    A thoughtful look came to her face as she considered that. "Blaire knew her parents had histories with some of these people. Why would she send them over to try to do some recruiting then?? Honestly, that seems really dumb and Blaire doesn't strike me as a dumb individual. Unless she has a weak spot for her parents?? Maybe she just wanted to make them happy so let them get a headstart??" It was rather frustrating for a spy to have so many tidbits but nothing that made a whole picture.
    She grinned at the description of Damon. "He is, isn't he?? You just want to fall into those eyes after a while."

    Jasper chuckled slightly. "I never said I was in on the betting, I'd just like to put an end to it." She gave him a considering look as he touched the fighting stick, but didn't pursue. Another time. Same place though.
    "No thank you," she said politely. "But I think I will take that look around." A glacial eye closed in a brief wink before she set off along the walls, studying and scrutinizing as she moved.

    Sonya flicked one quick glance back over her shoulder towards the man they had shared the elevator, then turned her attention to the sidewalk in front of her. Her suitcase remained balanced in one hand, but the other hand slid to rest lightly on her hip, nearer to her gun. She let Christian lead, content to lapse into silence.

    The guilty look that Nolan gave her just made Nona roll her eyes. "Just be careful, and let Prieten escape your questions long enough to sleep and eat, okay?"
    "Hey," Fang protested, "you are so not throwing me to the sharks... fangirls... same difference."
    Tala considered Jacob sympathetically. Anna's eyebrows rose, and she glanced around the table, as if she was hoping for an explanation. "Did I break Jacob?"
    Her gaze swung to Gift again when the other woman spoke, and she managed a wry sort of smile. "You messed it up, Gift? In that case, I'm sort of surprised that we didn't find more than broken glass, bullet holes, and blood in the room. Maintenance really isn't happy right now." Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and a frown tugged at her lips. "Were you responsible for the parking lot, too?"

    "Ah," Sahar said, waggling a finger at him, "but when you're old, your metabolism slows down. You wouldn't want to get fat from eating all that pizza, now would you?" She reached out, and tugged up the corner of his shirt, as if to check that the process of becoming fat hadn't already begun.
    She tilted her head thoughtfully when he said to surprise him. "Sexual favors?" Not that this was terribly surprising, coming from Sahar's mouth.
    "That depends," Darshan said, sliding one of his arms up her back in order to cradle her more firmly against his chest. "It could. I'm hoping that I'll be able to speak to Gift and Christian sometime tonight. Between the three of us, we should be able to work something out."

    "I give up," Galen muttered, but he smiled when he said it, and there was no real reproach in his voice.
    "You never know with spies," he said, "but yes, I think that you're right. She was a little bit too well-informed to be a mere underling, even one of Julianna's underlings."

    "It hurts like crazy," Irene said, cheerfully, still rubbing her nose, "and I'm going to need to feed soon in order to maintain it, but I can't deny that it's useful. Of course, you can achieve the same effect with putty or masks, but this seems more reliable for anything other than a short-term assignment. There will be no danger of anyone ripping off my cunning disguise, hmm?" She fluffed her newly shortened hair. "Dying, cutting, and extensions still work better on hair that any sort of mojo-ing."
    "Maybe they didn't give her a choice in the matter," Irene replied, her new lips taking on a cynical twist. "Can you really picture Jayden Sadi dancing to the tune of a woman - even his daughter?"
    "Mmm, those eyes, those lips, that nose," she said, lifting a hand to her cheek, as if to cover a nonexistent flush. "Of course, our menfolk are much prettier," she added, out of a belated sense of loyalty. Not that it was untrue. She would take Patrick and his stomach over Damon and his eyes any day of the week.
    The thought made her smirk, just a little.

    "I'm sorry," Gamble said, with a grin, seeming not at all sorry that the betting wouldn't be coming to an end any time soon.
    The wink made him laugh outright, and he ambled across the livingroom to a door on the far side, which led into a large office, its walls also hung with weaponry. "I'll get you that list while you look. Will you be wanting anything while you're here? Ammunition, or any repair work you need done?"

    Seeming content to move along in silence as well, Christian walked with sure steps among the crowded sidewalks. He even waited for lights to change before crossing streets. What a fine, law-abiding citizen he is.

    "Eat, okay, but we'll have to talk about the sleeping thing," Nolan mumbled against his glass, tossing a wink towards Adrian.
    "I didn't say anything about throwing you to them," Jacob said calmly. "I just think it's only fair to give them an...opportunity. They want you so bad and all."
    Then came the laughter, and the worried looks all around. He chortled a few more times but got himself under control, checking his cheeks to make sure no tears had sprouted. "No, I'm fine. Just...long day. I needed that, actually."
    Kersti gave the vampire a sympathetic look and returned her head to Adrian's shoulder.
    A brow rose in Anna's direction, a little smile coming to Gift's lips. "Are you implying I can't clean up my messes?? It would've been wiped clean, but that wouldn't seem realistic to the hotel, so I left a little bit behind. Figure it'll give them something to gossip about for a while." She picked up her glass of water and took a sip, before putting it back down. "The parking lot, no. Not my work. I am aware of a few participants in that disaster though." And that was all she seemed inclined to say about that.

    "I think my shifter metabolism will stay in gear for a while longer," Mace said easily, watching as she tugged up his shirt. He flexed, because he couldn't help it, showing a nicely defined six-pack under deeply tanned skin.
    He considered her offer, seeming neither surprised nor impressed by it. "What do you think would deserve some of my pizza??"
    C.J. pressed as close as she could into her dragon, just breathing in his scent as he spoke. Another moment passed, and she took a deeper breath before nodding. "Okay. If anyone can figure it out, it's you guys." She pressed a kiss to the hollow of his throat. "I guess I'll get back with the band and we'll have to figure out what we're going to do. We have quite a few gigs we need to work on."

    "You're so smart," Price complimented lavishly, still grinning at the Drache.
    Keller nodded in agreement with Galen's words. "That's what I think. I wonder if we'll ever see her again though."

    "But it's so pretty," Julianna said blithely, grinning again at her friend. "And does that mean it won't accidentally disappear no matter what, like if you get tired or something??" Her head tilted in thought. "Can you actually change your hair with magic like that?? At least seriously, and not an illusion??"
    That thought about Blaire made Julianna pause. "That's a scary thought. If she's not in control of parents, can we trust her control over anyone else is as good??"
    A giggle bubbled up then. "It's not really fair that we're subjected to such pretty men on a day-to-day basis, is it?? I fear we may one day become...immune." Dramatic hand-to-the-forehead pose.

    "You'll probably be sorrier that you're not in the poll," Jasper said, rather dryly for her. "Last I heard, it was at twenty-five hundred."
    Her attention caught by a particularly nice-looking nine millimeter, Jasper hmmmed thoughtfully. "No repair work, but I think I'm going to take another case of those wood bullets you have. White ash, preferably, if you still have some on hand."

    Never more than a step behind Christian, Sonya's impatient looks were quickly transferred to the older vampire. The steady beat of her steps took on a staccato rhythm every time they stopped at a light, although she continued on in silence.

    "We'll negotiate," Adrian agreed, with a shy smile. Nona raised her hands and let them fall to her sides again, a gesture which managed to convey both exasperation and defeat.
    "Well, if that's the case, you'll have to be right out there with me," Fang said, smirking. "They absolutely loooooooove you, Jakey." He stopped and stared when Jacob started laughing, his eyes going a little wide as he wondered much the same thing that Anna had. Had he broken Jacob? He hadn't meant to break Jacob. Tala would be made if Jacob was broken. They couldn't play if Jacob got broke.
    When the laughter ceased and the vampire explained, Fang breathed a little sigh of relief.
    "I'm glad to have helped," Anna said, still a little baffled. "But if the best news you've had today is that you're not going to get manhandled off of the hotel grounds, then it's been a rougher one than I thought."
    A vaguely pained expression crossed her face at Gift's words, since it only confirmed that there had been a mess to clean up. Which in turn confirmed that it had, indeed, been a rougher day than anyone had guessed, and likely to get worse before it got better. Or perhaps that was simply Anna's inner pessimist speaking. Fang looked down at her sympathetically, although it was more than likely that sympathy was simply a convenient excuse to sneak a look down her blouse.

    The obvious flexing of Mace's stomach muscles made Sahar grin, because it was just such a guy thing to do. He couldn't be feeling that upset anymore, not if he was mugging for her appreciation. She trailed very appreciative fingers over his abdomen, and let his shirt fall back into place before she had any more bad ideas about eating pizza off his very nice abs.
    Since further talk of sexual favors would most definitely lead to such bad ideas, she chose a different course. "Well, if you're not going to share your pizza, I'll just have to wander into the kitchen and make something to eat, won't I?" Her eyes glittered with a predatory gleam not usually seen in the lioness. "I'm thinking something that involves using the blender. Or maybe the microwave."
    "No," Darshan said, but gently. "Just because we intend to work this out quickly doesn't mean that anyone should be so careless as to make a target of themself, least of all you. Call Tala if you like, but I believe that your band was already talking about canceling or postponing their concerts here until things with Sadi and Terra have been worked out to everyone's satisfaction."

    "I'm smart enough that you make my brain hurt," Galen said, with a mock-scowl at the younger man. God, had he ever been that energetic? There must have been a time. He vaguely recalled pulling a beautiful panther off of an enraged dragon, long long ago. He shook his head to himself, and returned his gaze to Keller.
    "You never know," he said, with a shrug. Whoever and whatever the woman was, he had the feeling they wouldn't be seeing her unless she wanted to be seen, much like Julianna and Gift. Speaking of which... "Do you have anything that you want to take care of before we go to meet Gift?"

    "I would have to be very, very tired," Irene assured her friend. "Most likely if I was injured severely or starving, I would revert to my natural form, because my body wouldn't have the excess energy to keep me shifted. It's just like when one of my kin assumes an animal form." Here she looked a little wistful, since in spite of the strange way that her shifting ability represented itself, she had never been able to take the shape of an animal. "Feeding more frequently is a precaution, and it keeps me from feeling drained with the effort of maintaining the shift."
    "I don't trust her, in any case," she said, with a dismissive wave of her hand, "and whether or not she can control her allies is one of the things I intend to find out once I track them down." Julianna's giggle drew a sly smile to Irene's lips, and there was a drawling note to her answering murmur. "Personally, I don't think it's fair that I'm not more... subjected... to them."

    That drew a laugh out of Gamble. "Really? That high? Betting for or against my killing off the competition?"
    "Of course," he replied, his voice floating out of the office. "I know that they're your favorite. Let me finish this list, and then I'll walk on over to my workshop and get you a box."

    Christian smiled just because he knew Sonya couldn't see it. Though her impatience was obvious, he never walked faster or disobeyed any kind of jaywalking laws.

    Nolan grinned happily at the other witch and seemed content with that. He sipped some more at his tea as Kersti chuckled. "You get used to it, after a while," she told Nona.
    A rude sound was Jacob's only reponse to Fang, and a few choice mental ideas on what he could do to him to make sure the fangirls never let him go again. Well...
    Then the laughter and the looks and he just shrugged at Anna. "I've definitely had better," he said, with a faint grin.
    Gift shrugged in Anna's direction. "Got to have the bad to balance the good, or no one appreciates the good while it's there."

    Mace grunted his enjoyment of that idea as Sahar's fingers moved over his skin, making it twitch longingly under her touch. Seemed even his skin was horny. Damn.
    He observed the lioness through half-open lids, though it was hard to tell if he was glaring or just staring at her. Another slow bite of pizza, chew chew chew, then shrug. "I'm willing to sacrifice them. This pizza's damn good. And going fast, so you'd better hurry up." Smirk, as he peeled another piece from the box. It was still warm. All was good.
    C.J.'s eyes widened slightly at his words. "I didn't mean..." She trailed off as he continued speaking. "You mean, /all/ of the concerts?? But we've got, like, five in the next few days. Our agent's going to be mad." A brief worried look, as her brain mercifully switched roads to a more productive train of thought. "We can't afford to do that, the fans will go bonkers."

    Price's grin merely widened. "Wait, does that mean I'm smarter or dumber than you??"
    "Price, stop it," Keller said, though there was more amusement in her voice than any kind of reprimand.
    She nodded in agreement with Galen, thinking if they saw her again, they saw her. Either way, it didn't particularly concern her now. "No, not really," she said. "I want to talk to Gift before we talk to my team or your parents, so we have a better idea of what's really going on. You should go talk to Anna, get her take on this," she added, looking at her son.
    "Okay, I know when I'm not wanted," Price said dramatically, sliding gracefully from his bench. He leaned over, dropping a kiss on Keller's sweeping cheekbone, then winked at Galen. "Good luck." Then he ambled out of the Starbucks, rather glad to be seeing the end of it for, hopefully, the rest of the day.

    Julianna nodded in understanding, patting Irene's arm at the look on her face. She could understand it; before she'd known she could turn into a wolf, she'd been a bit envious of those who could.
    "Then definitely keep up on your feeding, especially if you're going to team up with Blaire's people," she said, the concern in her voice softening it to more of a suggestion than a command. But that was Julianna.
    "And if anyone can, it's you," she chirped cheerfully, seeming neither mocking or envious. She knew Irene was really good at their business and was just glad they'd become such good friends. Sometimes it didn't work out that way, as she'd experienced through her sister.
    Another giggle and Julianna winked at her friend. "Well whenever you wanna be subjected to them, just lemme know and I'll arrange a meeting for you, how's that??"

    "Now that would be telling," Jasper tsked with a faint smile. "Perhaps if you really want to know, you'll tell us the truth on the matter."
    She sent a wordless agreement in his direction, attention already captured and held by various new toys. Gods, she loved this house.

    In spite of her growing suspicion that Christian's pace was a deliberate attempt to irritate her, Sonya said nothing, just continued to drum out a beat on the pavement every time they stopped to observe some nicety or another. After a while, a faint smirk started on her lips as well, although it kept threatening to dissolve into a scowl.

    The look on Nona's face was frankly disbelieving, although she tried to cover it. "I guess."
    "Sorry," Anna told Jacob, not without sympathy. "Tell me if there's anything I can do in the next half hour or so. After that, I'm pretty sure that you're expected to be gone, and since I'd like to continue to work here..." she shrugged apologetically, a hint of humor warming her eyes, as if she was inviting him to share in the joke. As he had said, he seemed to need a good laugh.
    At Gift's comment, Anna's lips twisted into a wry smile, and she reached out to raise Fang's untouched glass of water in a vague toast to the older woman. She wasn't about to argue with that.

    As Mace chewed on his pizza, Sahar's eyes drifted upwards, from his stomach to his mouth. There they lingered, as the lioness seemed to descend into some kind of deep contemplation. Finally, she leaned forward again, tongue darting out to touch the corner of his mouth.
    "Sauce," she explained cheerfully, and turned to bounce behind a few other shifters. Because it was starting to feel distinctly warm in here, and the flirting was starting to become more distracting than the food. Besides, flirting with Mace was probably wrong and bad, no matter how nice his tummy was. God, she had blown up his toaster when she was thirteen. How could it get more wrong than that?
    "C.J.," Darshan said, rubbing a tired hand across his face, "Jayden has already made an attempt on your life. Please, love, don't make yourself a bigger target than you have to be. Your agent or your bandmates will come up with some kind of excuse. Your fans will understand. Please." The word 'please' felt strange and not entirely pleasant on his tongue, but if it kept C.J. from putting herself in danger, it would be worth it.

    "I don't know," Galen said, since he had no doubt that whatever he said, Price would find some kind of grinning retort, and it seemed best to just avoid it entirely.
    He watched the young man go, and shook his head, resigned and amused both. "I love your son, but there are times when he's too smart and daring for his own good. Should we be on the lookout for a tail when we go to meet Gift?"

    "Of course," Irene said, with a devil-may-care smile that was meant to reassure her friend. "It will be expected, won't it? They fancy the idea of being the next Council, and the Council was always big on the idea of human as chattel. I'll be fitting right in, if I feed frequently and deeply." Not that Irene had ever held back when it came to hunting, but she didn't overindulge the way that some of her kind did, killing for the kill alone. As she saw it, she was a predator, and a predator hunted in order to eat and nothing else. Nature was brutal, but it wasn't cruel.
    The praise brought a glow of pleasure to her face, and she smiled once again at Julianna. "Thank you, my dear. I'm sure that you'll be busy as well. Between the two of us, there shan't be a stone left unturned in all of Las Vegas by nightfall, yes?"
    The smile turned into a smirk at Julianna's next words. "Of course, you would have to introduce them to Ms. Green and not Ms. Adler. It doesn't seem fair that the price of my anonymity is celibacy. Especially when there are so many choice male specimens wandering around."

    "Perhaps," Gamble demurred. "We all have our secrets, don't we?"
    He emerged from the office, piece of paper in hand. He waved it through the air to get her attention, and set it down on the coffee table before retreating towards the back of the house to get the promised bullets.

    The smile eventually turned into a chuckle and Christian turned down a quickly darkening neighborhood, that appeared to be completely residential. Indeed, he went right up to the front door of one, pulling a key from his pocket and slipping it into the front lock. A twist and a push and he bowed her inside. “Make yourself at home.”

    Kersti giggled softly and smiled at the shifter. “Just try not to be present when they /really/ get into it. Some of the conversations are kinda dirty.” She gave her healer boy a teasing look and leaned over to kiss his cheek.
    A smirk peeled up Jacob’s lips and he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Anna. You did a marvelous job while we were here anyway. Far more than /I/ ever expected.” He sent a rueful look in Fang’s direction, only wishing he could include C.J. in it. Not entirely sure if they really /expected/ the grand treatment, or just took advantage of it while they had it. Who knew.
    Gift gave Anna a faint, amused smile, then glanced around. Catching the waiter’s attention, she gestured for the check. “Sorry to break up the party, but I want to see Kersti and Adrian home before I leave. You,” she cast a glance over the band, and Nona with them, “are welcome to stay for as long as the hotel deems fit. Try not to cause anymore messes, hmmm??”

    The feel of Sahar’s tongue just teasingly touching the corner of his mouth was almost enough to make Mace give up his whole box as long as it’d lure her to his bedroom. Damn, he was hungry and horny and here she was, teasing him about both.
    He made a half-hearted swipe at her as she bounced away, eyes starting to blaze a bit beneath the half-lowered lids. It was tempting, oh so tempting. Maybe time to hit the bar after all.
    Eyes moved around and he saw several people looking at him. Brows lifted at Queenie and Wes, who held up their hands with faint smirks. Luke saluted him with a beer bottle and Mace rolled his eyes and turned back to his pizza. Couldn’t cure one hunger, so focus on the other.
    The fact that he said please twice was telling enough and C.J. tightened her arms comfortingly around her dragon. “Okay, D, okay,” she said soothingly, pressing another kiss to his neck. “I’ll stay inside so…he…won’t find me. Out of sight, out of mind, yanno?? I‘m sure Tala and Jacob can handle all of the PR stuff.” She kissed him again, still hugging him tight. Then it seemed to occur to her exactly where she was, and she grinned against his skin. “I’ll just hang out with Queenie a lot.”

    Price chuckled richly and winked at the shifters before heading out. Keller couldn’t help the fondness in her face as she looked after him, then squeezed Galen’s hand gently. “He’s infinitely nosy, which has always been a gift and a curse. But we’ll see what happens. If it gets too dangerous, I might get Thierry to send him back east for a while.”
    She pondered his words for a moment, then finally shook her head. “I don’t think so. She wouldn’t have anyone follow us and not many people are all that aware of our relationship, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Though of course she’d be watching anyway, but that was habit for her.

    Julianna rolled her eyes playfully at her friend. “Well now you have an excuse, don’t you??” she teased. As a vampire herself, she sometimes got the urge to just keep drinking. But it was always once in a very short while and she never indulged the urge. It just…wasn’t her style.
    “Oh yes, Las Vegas will be our cracked oyster in no time,” she said cheerfully. Because there was little better than a secret, and this city was just full of them.
    “That might cause a problem then, since Ethan and Ezio know who you are,” Julianna pondered. “But I can introduce you to others. Or there’s always that fine Ry fellow we met last night.” She wiggled her brows at her friend.

    “That we do,” Jasper murmured, but didn’t say anything further. It was up to every single person to decide which secrets they would keep. Sometimes those secrets could be pried free, but she knew how and when it was proper to do so.
    She was aware of his entrance and departure but kept her attention fixed on the piece of art in front of her. Fingers lightly slid along the barrel, feeling the cold steel warm under her touch, and she sighed. Yes, it seemed she was going to be picking up a new best friend while she was here.

    "How very... suburban," Sonya commented, after examining the front of the house. It wasn't a complaint, although she did wonder if he had chosen the house because of his own preferences or because no one would come knocking on his door except for salesmen and Mormons. After all, who would look for a bounty hunter in this quiet, residential neighborhood?
    She stepped across the foyer, carefully setting her suitcase aside until she could take care of it later.

    "Gruesome, at the very least," Adrian admitted, with a wry smile for Kersti. He released her hand long enough to squeeze her shoulders in a hug. "We'll try to keep it to a PG-13 rating, at least while others are listening."
    "What do pockets of blood in reattached limbs count as?" Nona wondered. "PG? R? And are you allowed to put a rating on it, when Acacia is in the room and will undoubted try to turn the conversation into NC-17?"
    The lamia in question giggled.
    "I'm glad to have helped," Anna said, with a shrug.
    "I suppose we should have known you were Daybreak when you didn't go questioning us about the quantities of raw meat goin' into the room and not comin' out again," Tala muttered.
    "That?" the girl said, with a smile. "I didn't even thing 'shape-shifters.' I just figured that musicians were entitled to their little eccentricities."
    Tala snorted, and Fang reached out to snag the check as soon as the waiter brought it over to the table. He grinned cheekily at the man, who still seemed mildly aghast at the group's state of undress.
    "No more messes," he promised Gift as he looked over the bill, "not even the fun ones."

    "That was mean," Zeke said mildly to Sahar, and the other shape-shifter leaned against the counter next to him.
    "So is denying me pizza," she responded cheerfully, and eyed the half-empty box that he was standing guard over, having been successful in his earlier quest to procure food from the gang's younger generation. Old age and treachery always overcame youth and skill.
    Except when old age just didn't want to argue about it, because Zeke simply sighed, rolled his eyes, and scooted the box closer to her. Then he poured another two fingers of scotch into his once again empty glass. He looked at the lioness, reconsidered, and made it three.
    "Thank you," Darshan said.
    Then she mentioned Queenie. He tried hard not to wince.
    "Sahar is here, too," he said, and there was a hint of dawning horror beneath Darshan's usually cool exterior. He controlled it. He was an ancient and powerful dragon, and it would not do for him to run downstairs to Mace chanting, 'oh god, oh god, we're all doomed.' He would... walk. Calmly.
    "Yes," he managed to say, "I'm sure that you'll have a very good time."

    "That might be idea, although I'm not entirely certain that I want to be there when Thierry tries to convince him to go," Galen responded.
    He cast Keller an ironic look while she mused about the possibility of their being followed, and his voice held an edge of the same resignation that he had regarded Price with earlier. "That's good, love, but I was actually referring to your son." It made him smile a little, though. They were older now, but Keller was still her ever-vigilant self.

    "Tch, do you really think that your boys would ruin my fun?" Irene wondered. "Ah, well. That will teach me to show my real face on a whim." There was a dark gleam in her eye that made it seem doubtful that she ever did anything because of whimsy alone, and a wicked curve to her mouth.
    "I actually spoke to Patrick about him," she said, when the subject of Ry was brought up. "There was something not quite right about that boy, and I want to know what. Of course, for all I know, he's a bigamist on the run from the law, or some such, but I don't think so. He had that air of 'professionally deadly' that your lovely sister exudes like a fine perfume."
    She paused to examine her reflection in the window of a shop, smiling at what she saw. It was still Irene's smile, all smug, sharp edges. "Well, now that I have my game face on, I suppose I should go and meet my new best friends. I'm still working on finding names for two of them, but I'll contact you when I have more information."

    Gamble re-entered the livingroom, a two boxes of ammunition in his hands. He watched silently as she trailed her fingers across the gun with the care that most people reserved only for a lover, and a smile lit his eyes. "Ah, that's why I like you all. You know how to treat a lady with respect. Do you like her?"

    A faint smile. "I'm still waiting for the neighbor to come over to ask for a cup of sugar." Or offer a cup of sugar. Either or.
    He closed the door behind her and headed for the kitchen, having no doubt that Sonya would indeed make herself at home.

    Kersti chuckled. "Oh don't soften it on our account," she said lightly. "You do what makes you happy, sweetie." Though the idea of Fang trying to turn a healer's discussion into something very bad gave her pause. Because from what she knew about Fang's normal conversations...ew.
    Jacob gave Anna a faint smile, tapping his fingers lightly against the table. Impatient now?? No way. Maybe just waiting for the next disaster.
    Gift raised a brow at the waiter, who quickly scurried away, then nodded at Fang. "Good boy, Mr. Acacia. If you get bored, I'm sure it's fine if you want to visit C.J. and get some work done, as long as you don't mind being in the line of fire again."

    "See, that's not fair," Luke murmured as he joined the pair. "Mace went so far in denying her, and you just roll it out. Tsk tsk." He winked at Sahar and finished his beer.
    C.J. grinned again, once more snuggling happily with her dragon. Now that she knew Queenie and Sahar were in residence, it all seemed better. Except... "Does that mean you're not going to stay here??"

    "Of course not, because it won't take him long to realize why Thierry decided to do it now of all times," Keller said, a mite dryly. But she was still protective of her friends, especially her family, so she'd keep the option open if necessary.
    The fact that Galen thought Price might follow them made Keller blink, then give a short laugh. "Ah, I didn't quite follow that thought through all the way, did I?? I guess it's possible he'd follow us." A musing look. "Though doubtful, I think. He knows he can get the information later from someone, and that we'd both be mad if he did." And though sly and nosy he may be, Price had never been stupid.

    Julianna giggled. "Well, maybe not," she said lightly. "Knowing who they were talking to might make it more exciting for them. Maybe they'd try to squeeze some pillow talk out of you." She winked at the vampire, poking her lightly in the ribs.
    "He did, yes," she agreed, because it would be dumb to deny it. As lovely as he'd been, he'd walked just like Gift and Ethan, and had many of the same mannerisms. "I'll have to ask my sister about him eventually, I suppose. He was awful pretty though."
    Another giggle and Julianna slid her arm from Irene's, reaching up to smooth a stray strand of the vampire's hair. "Okay, my phone's always on so it shouldn't be a problem. And if anything happens...well, my phone's still always on." She smiled cheekily. "Have fun."

    Jasper didn't look away from her current interest and finally removed the gun from the wall. "I like her a lot," she admitted, fitting her hand around the butt, feeling the weight. "And I think she likes me as well. How much??"

    "Hmm. Do you have a neighborhood watch?" Sonya asked, amused.
    There seemed to be no problem in Sonya's mind with making herself at home in Christian's house. She left her suitcase where it was, and moved into the living room, making a curious circuit of the room before settling herself into an armchair. The image she presented would have been one of a cat, black and sleek with her legs curled up under her, but Sonya could never be compared to anything as tame as a domestic feline.

    Adrian smiled at Kersti, and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. It was... nice, to have someone who was actually concerned about whether or not he was happy. It was why he would do anything, even face Terra again, in order to make sure that Kersti was safe from harm.
    The smile brightened a little when he looked at Nolan. "Do you have a specialty? With the Hunters, I would think some kind of combat magic, but I wouldn't want to assume."
    "Well, I'm sure that I can find -something- to entertain myself with, if I get bored," Fang informed Gift, with a grin. "Besides, those guys were nothing. You should see some of our fans. Now they are scary." It was obviously bravado and humor rather than either real bravery or arrogance, but he managed to pull it off fairly well.

    Sahar, who had already shoved most of a piece of pizza into her mouth, finished chewing and grinned widely in response to Luke's wink.
    "Well, I felt that there could be some unpleasant confusion if she started offering both Mace and myself sexual favors," Zeke said, his tone dry. "So it was better to just give her what she wanted."
    "Oh, I never offer sex in exchange for food more than once in an hour," Sahar said airily, waving the crust of her pizza in a dramatic gesture worthy of the stage. "It makes me feel slutty."
    "Of course I'm staying," Darshan said, flatly, but punctuated by a gentle stroke down her spine, like he was petting a big cat. "I don't intend on leaving unless I absolutely have to. If anyone wishes to speak with me, they're going to have to do so here." He would have to run that by Mace, actually. After the trouble this morning and what Sahar had said, he had no doubt that... people... would wish to speak with him, and they possibly wouldn't be people that the Drache would feel comfortable welcoming into his home.

    "He's a good boy," Galen conceded, "and you're right; he wouldn't do that, knowing that it would make both of us uncomfortable." He chuckled, and shook his head. "Price is just so curious, and that worries me sometimes." He looked at her, his eyes sparkling with laughter. "I think he picked up more from you than anyone ever supposed. He's stubborn, and smart, and more than a little fearless." Which was another cause for worry, because the same qualities of Keller's which made him love her so desperately were also the ones that led her to do things like... well, like try to kill a dragon single-handedly, at the cost of her own life.

    "Well, it always worked for James Bond," Irene said, with a laugh. "Although I can't see Mr. Aquila pillow talking anyone." Ezio just didn't really seem like the suave, gilt-tongued sort. Of course, he barely talked at all, so it was difficult to tell.
    "Perhaps I can sleep with the enemy while I'm off working myself to the bone," she said, lightly. "That's supposed to be one of the benefits of espionage, isn't it? Lots of beautiful adversaries for one to seduce information out of." Ah, if only. In reality, espionage was about eighty percent tedium, ten percent trying-not-to-get-killed, and then maybe another ten percent of just plain fun.
    She laid an affectionate kiss on Julianna's cheek, and inclined her head in a regal nod. "Of course. You as well, darling. Remember to ask your estimable sister about our acquaintance from the other night."

    "Ah, but I do have a weak spot for pretty ladies, especially when they get along so well together," Gamble said, with an easy grin. "Consider her an early Christmas present. Or would that be Solstice for you?" He shrugged, and set the two boxes down on the coffee table. "I have the white ash you asked for, and something else you might want to take a gander at."

    "I'm sure," Christian said blandly as he disappeared into the kitchen. Though he just dared some neighborhood vigilantes to start watching him. They might see something they don't want to, and he'd be forced to mercifully put them out of their misery.
    Ah, it was a day for violent thoughts, wasn't it??
    He got himself a glass of water from the sink before wandering back into the living room. The house was typical for their type: comfortably and completely furnished, but devoid of any personal possessions. "There's an extra key in the silverware drawer, so you can come and go as you like." A smile tilted at his lips as he sat easily on the overstuffed sofa. "Got to pretend to fit in with the locals, so there won't be any flying out of windows and the like."

    Returning the smile, green eyes soft and warm, Kersti touched his jaw very gently before he looked at Nolan. Her own gaze slipped past Adrian to see her mother looking at them, a speculative look over her face. One dark brow rose and Gift just smiled.
    Nolan nodded with a wry grin. "You'd think, but combat's really never been my kind of thing. I mean, I can sling fire when I need to, but I'm really best at shielding, warding, that kind of thing. So I mostly stick to the bodyguarding side of The Hunters, and some security stuff."
    "Not to mention some/ones/," Jacob muttered, but a smile quirked at his lips. It was getting too late to drudge up any kind of heat.
    Amusement still in her eyes, Gift inclined her head towards Fang. "I'm sure the fans are scarier than anything you've faced today. Or will face in the future. I don't imagine I'd care for someone kidnapping and trying to molest me."
    Jacob's brows shot up in some surprise but Gift just smiled some more.

    "What, you couldn't share??" Luke joked at the older shifter, grinning wryly. "I'm sure there's plenty of Sahar to go around."
    Then Sahar spoke and he hmmmed. "Well, only forty-five minutes to go."
    "Oh. You said you wanted to talk to Gift and Chris tonight, so I figured you were going out again." She purred softly against his collarbone as he petted her, thinking today wasn't so bad after all. She had her dragon, and would soon have friends, and she knew Mace kept an /ample/ supply of liquor in his house. All she needed was a joint or two and she'd be set!
    "We can have a party," she suddenly decided, eyes lighting up. "That way we can /all/ have a good time."

    Keller laughed softly, reaching over to flick a piece of his gold hair. "The way you said that, I don't know whether it was a compliment or an insult," she teased. "And I'd probably be more worried if I didn't know just how resourceful Price can be. He did indeed study with the best." She absently lifted his hand to press a kiss into his palm, eyes thoughtful.

    "Who knows, maybe he's a real jabberbox when you get him out of that coat," Julianna giggled. "Though there has been that rumor that he literally /never/ takes it off. Think you could get the bottom of that??"
    Another bubbling laugh. "Yes, and such a hardship for you too," she predicted. "I can't imagine how ugly you'll feel after forcing yourself into Damon's company. Or even Ash's, though his bed might be harder."
    A brief, fond smile at the vampire. "Of course. I'll let you know of anything in particular I find out too." A sudden movement caught her eye, and she looked sideways to see Zabri heading towards her. "Which might be sooner than we expected. Better hurry or there'll be more introductions to sigh through."

    "You're far too generous," Jasper commented, her eyes not heaving left her new friend yet. Long fingers gently stroked up its length, before she hit the clip release. It slid smoothly into her palm, the gun still a nice weight, and when she shoved it back home, there was a satisfaction on her face that so few things in this world were capable of producing.
    Finally looking over, she raised a brow. "Something else??"

    "Ah, yes, the home owner's association would get very peeved with you if they thought you kept carrion birds for pets, wouldn't they?" Sonya asked, still very obviously amused by the thought of her friend, her beautiful and deadly friend, living in any place that smelled so strongly of suburbia. "Should I start dressing in floral patterns and birkenstocks while I stay with you, as well?"

    "Warding," Adrian said, turning the word over in his mouth before smiling. "Do you like it? Is there a lot of variation, I mean, different kinds of wards? That was never really something I learned much about. You must be good, though, or you wouldn't be working for Gift." Because even Adrian knew that Gift didn't hire anyone but the best.
    "He is," Nona put in, simply unadorned truth.
    "There is that, too," Fang said to Jacob, completely without shame. Tala shook her head, but there was a trace of wry affection in her expression, as if she too was feeling the effects of the day too strongly to take umbrage at Fang's words.
    While Jacob's eyebrows shot up, Fang just grinned. "You are so awesome," he told Gift, point-blank. "Just please tell me that whoever told you that didn't get it on tape or anything? I like to know when my naked ass is floating around on video."

    "Uh-uh-uh," Sahar said, before Zeke could get a word in, waving her crust reproachfully at Luke. "Two-on-one is not the proper way to go about things. I like to be able to devote my full attention to a person while..." she failed to find a fitting word, and chose to use a dainty little pelvic thrust instead, in order to illustrate her point properly.
    Zeke had closed his eyes, as if in pain. He downed the contents of his glass without looking at them, then set it down on the counter. "I am going to go outside and find Oblivion." Because Oblivion did not talk, and that was more and more sounding like a really good thing.
    "Maybe not tonight," Darshan said, his hand still running slowly up and down her spine, stumbling only a little when it slid over the blood-encrusted slit on the back of her shirt. "I think that everyone needs a chance to rest and relax for a while." Then, as if he had read her mind, which wasn't entirely out of the question if one took the soulmate connection into account, he added, "There is a joint in the pocket of the jacket, if you wish to go get it."

    A laugh trickled from Galen's throat, and he gathered her into a quick hug before releasing her. "Have I ever done anything other than compliment you? Should I try again, since this one was so ineffective?"
    "And he is, as I said, smart," the shape-shifter prince agreed, brushing his fingers across her cheek when she kissed his palm. "I'm sure you're right. He'll be fine."

    "It's already been confirmed," Irene told her friend, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I'm not sure that I believe it, though. What would Ezio be without his coat? Are we sure that there's a person in there under all that canvas?"
    "I've always been a little wary about sleeping with men who are prettier than I am," she said, with a sharp little laugh. "Besides, this great new beak of mine will likely scare them off." She pushed on her new nose again. Although her own nose was prominent, this one dominated her face, stern and hooked. Actually, she rather suspected that she had modeled it off of Ezio's. The sharp humor in her face faded a little at the mention of Ash, and she shook her head a little. "Even I have some boundaries. Ash Redfern is sad enough without someone having sex with him, and then... well, screwing him." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'm going to be making a few new enemies in doing this, I imagine. How refreshing."
    "I'll check in with you every night," Irene said, soft and serious, when she saw Zabri approaching. "If I miss more than a day, you probably have cause to worry." She reached out and grasped Julianna's hand in a brief farewell, smiled brilliantly, and stepped off the curve. A limo pulled up, as if it had materialized at her command, and she climbed in, before woman and limo disappeared around the corner.

    "Nothing wrong with generosity," Gamble said, with another shrug, "and it would be almost criminal to charge you for a piece that fits you so nicely. I obviously made that little beauty with you in mind. Allow an artist his eccentricities, eh?"
    "A new kind of ammunition," he told her, with relish. He sat down on the couch, and opened one of the boxed, withdrawing a bullet from within. It was plain steel, but there were runes engraved deep into the metal. "They ignite as soon as they find their target. There ain't nothing, Night Worlder or human, that likes fire over much. I worked on them with a witch girl I know; bit of an intellectual, couldn't quite resist the challenge. Claims that she's a fair hand with fire, and after seeing these, I believe her."

    "They'd likely try to fine me," he said with some amusement, stretching his legs out in front of him. For the first time all day, he seemed to really relax. Hard to tell if it was the surroundings or just the company.
    Granted, the idea of Sonya in a floral house dress made a quick grin flash across his face. "Would you?? You could see if you'd ever be interested in the housewife gig."

    Nolan smiled back, nodding with more enthusiasm. "I really do. Not a lot of people have really gotten into that field, so it's exciting because a lot of it's still new." A bit of a modest blush came to his cheekbones when Nona spoke, but he merely shrugged off his greatness. "There actually are quite a few variations in wards. Maybe later I'll show you some."
    "That'd be nice," Kersti told Nolan warmly. "You can never have too much protection."
    Jacob just rolled his eyes but chuckled because he couldn't help it. It was just so...Fang.
    Another brow raised at Fang and Gift just kept smiling. "Rest assured, if there is, it will wind up in my private collection and nowhere else."

    Luke studied Sahar's pelvic area for a second after she thrust, but there was no hint of sexually anywhere on his face. Must've been a first for her. "I love your ability to communicate nonverbally," was his final comment, with another grin.
    Most of the people in the kitchen had already had their fill and were starting to file out anyway. The TV in the den flipped on, a radio in another place, and laughter started raising in the air. One of the females was parading around Mace, wagging her tail, making eyes at his pizza. And other things. Mace was just watching her, lids still half-lowered.
    "Relax," C.J. sighed, a yearning note in her voice. Minus the sleep she'd had earlier, she hadn't relaxed since she'd woken up this morning. She felt his hand stutter a moment on her back and realized she was still wearing the clothes she'd had on this morning as well.
    The fact that Darshan had gotten her a joint made her laugh throatily, and she hugged him with real tiger strength then. "I love you. I love you. I love you." She kissed his face between each declaration. "You're adorable, and I love you more than myself."
    Cheeky grin before she most reluctantly detached herself from him. "But I'm going to take a shower right quick. Do you think you could get me some clothes from Queenie, or one of the other girls??"

    Keller laughed again, smoothing her hair back when he'd released her. "No, no, or you'll likely never stop," she teased. "I apologize for even maybe misinterpreting your words, dear."
    She mmmed when his fingers touched her skin and kissed his palm again before releasing his hand. "He will be, but I might make a mention to Gift that he needs to be watched anyway." While Thierry might be able to send Price away to safety, she knew Gift was capable of keeping him safe in this city.

    Julianna laughed again. "Maybe he's just a construct and that's why he never smiles," she pretended to ponder, tapping a finger against her chin. "The coat is what keeps him operating properly."
    Another teasing look. "Uh oh, if you're against that, you probably shouldn't set your eye for any of our mutual acquaintances. They do set the bar pretty high." Another rib poke, because they both knew Irene was gorgeous anyway.
    "Yes, I think we should leave Ash off of the books for now," she agreed, voice softening as she thought about the lamia. She'd never found her soulmate so she couldn't pretend to understand, but she knew it would hurt. A lot. "And enemies are lots of fun. You should see my list." Another cheeky grin.
    She looked after Irene for a moment, some concern on her face as she thought about it. While tempting to talk to Gift, get someone to shadow Irene and help her if it became necessary, she knew better. Irene was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. And Julianna would just be hyper-vigilant on the market for the next while.
    "Who was that??"
    The question from her side swung her attention that way, and she grinned at Zabri. "Just a friend. Another spy, so don't even pretend you know her."
    Zabri smirked. "Fair enough, but give me a picture of her and I'll be able to identify her now."
    At least for a day or two, Julianna thought with a giggle, but grinned at the human. "That's what I love about you. Such a smart little human."
    Golden eyes rolled playfully before she looked at Julianna seriously. "You seen Kiriyama lately??"
    "Kiri??" she echoed with some surprise. "Not really, why??"
    "Let's walk."

    "Don't hear me complaining," Jasper agreed with a faint smile. "I do appreciate it, Gamble."
    She put her new friend aside for a moment, looking with interest at the new bullets. "Does it work on every creature, without fault??" Fingers reached out before her gaze lifted to Gamble's. "May I??"

    "It would certainly be novel," Sonya said, after a moment, her expression blank. "I wouldn't work, though. Where would I put my guns? Down the front of my flowery frock?" She leaned forward, resting her elbow on the armrest of the chair and tucking her chin into the palm of her hand, studying Christian with an intent gaze not unlike that of the bird she shifted into.

    "That would be wonderful," Adrian said, and seemed honestly enthusiastic at the prospect. "Do you know, I don't think that I've ever seen a real ward cast. Healing comes naturally, but I'm afraid that I'm almost entirely uneducated when it comes to other kinds of magic." His knowledge was still just barely more that what any witch child would know. The teaching that parents or family friends would usually have provided had not been an option for him. He was doing what he could to remedy that, but there was a great deal to catch up on.
    From his seat, Fang executed a little bow in Gift's direction, mock-gallant. "Much obliged. I just hope that they caught the good side of my ass, you know?"
    Nona knew that she was going to regret it, but... "Your ass has a good side and a bad side?"
    "Of course," Fang replied, matter-of-factly. He smirked across the table at Tala. "The bad side is the side where Tala has been kicking me all these years."

    "I can say anything I want with my eyes," Sahar sang dramatically, with a wide grin at Luke. Of course, in this case it was her pelvis and not her eyes, but she was an actress, after all. When the normal sounds of the house started up, the laughter and the faint murmur of the television, some of the tension she hadn't even realized that she had been carrying in her shoulders drained away, and she relaxed into the counter, a sprawl that placed most of her weight on her elbows. It was nice here, comfortable and oddly comforting.
    When she saw the woman prancing around Mace, she made a small, sympathetic noise. That man could certainly be very stingy with his food. Since Zeke was no longer there to protest, she took another piece of pizza for herself, then closed the box and placed it on the floor. She used the side of her foot to shove it across the floor, and it slid along until it hit the woman in the heel. There. She smiled triumphantly and turned back to Luke. "Did I ask how you were doing? I hear that things became ten different kinds of sucky after I left this morning." 'Left' being one way of putting it. 'Got shoved out the door with an adorable psychopath' was another.
    The hug and C.J.'s words drew a smile out of Darshan. He released her reluctantly so that she could go shower, and he himself moved towards the bedroom door. "I'll ask," he told her. More likely, he would ask Mace or Sahar or Luke to ask. He still felt strangely uncomfortable with the subservience offered by some of the gang, and didn't think that making even the most innocuous of requests would help matters any.

    "If you're sure," Galen said, answering the teasing note in her voice with one of his own.
    He cringed inwardly at the thought of asking Gift to watch Price. "You could always ask Winnie or Nissa to tail him, if you're worried about it," he suggested. He couldn't deny Gift's skill, but the members of Keller's team were good too, and he really didn't like asking favors of that woman if it could be avoided.

    "Doomed to be the ugly duckling among so many handsome ducks," Irene joked. The following poke to the ribs simply made her smile serenely.
    When Julianna spoke of Ash in that soft voice, Irene's eyes became hooded, but she didn't say anything. There was really no point in telling her friend, who was so much kinder than her, that she would trot out every dark secret that the boy had and do her best to rip him into little bloody emotional threads if she felt she had to. She was just sympathetic enough that she would find an another way if such an alternate course was both possible and plausible. No, Julianna didn't need to know that, if she hadn't guessed it already.
    So she smiled and hopped into her limo, where she picked up the phone installed in the back and called one of her many contacts. "Where did they go?" she asked, as soon as he picked up the phone. The answer was given, and the phone was hung up, and she gave directions to her driver, who peeled away from the curb and turned sharply in the direction of the Bellagio.
    As they drove, she flipped open her compact, and made some last minute adjustments. She gave the corners of her eyes a slight, exotic outward tilt, and changed their color through more conventional means, using contact lenses stashed in the bag which she kept in the back of the limo. A nice, ordinary hazel, more brown than green. From the same bag came a pair of tailored black slacks and a button-up white shirt, simple, almost masculine garb. It obscured the shape of her form just enough, and a pair of black dress shoes with flat soles instead of her usual heels would change the way she moved, just enough so that she wouldn't trigger anyone's memory if they saw her on the street someday. Different perfume than she normally wore, not a lot of it, but a strong, citrus smell that would obscure her scent.
    She was taking no chances. She didn't want any of these people to be able to identify her when this was over. Because she hadn't been joking about making enemies.
    By the time she had squirmed into her new clothes and finished her preparations, they had pulled into the parking lot of the Bellagio. She picked up her bag, smiled briefly at the driver, and stepped out of the limo.

    "Damned if I know," Gamble joked, before turning serious. "I really can't test it, unfortunately, but my little collaborator said that it should light up most anything. How effective they are probably varies depending on who or what you're shooting at. A garden variety vampire or shape-shifter, probably, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be shooting at someone like, say, Gift with these little beauties. Or really, with anything." He shrugged. "They'd be good for demolitions too, I imagine. A couple shots through a window, and the whole place is alight. Sure, go ahead and touch them. Toss them in the air, if you like. I've been assured they won't combust unless they actually get fired through and gun and hit something."

    "Oh Sonya," Christian said with a smile. "You might have to give up the gun to don the flowers." Which was just a funny and totally unrealistic thought. Sonya without a gun was like vampires without fangs. It's what made them what they were.

    "Oh man," Nolan said, shaking his head, but with a grin at the other witch. "Well we'll fix that right up, don't worry. Probably by the time we're done, you'll be as good at wards as I am."
    Kersti was still smiling, glad to see Adrian so happy and enthusiastic about something. Her healer boy really needed some more friends. Friends that wouldn't use him for their convenience, at that.
    "So that just means the bad side is purple and blue and stuff," Jacob said. "Doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. Some women get off on that." Rather hastily, he looked up at Gift. "Not that you're one of those women, but you know."
    Gift shook her head. "Just stop right there, Mr. Miller, and you're fine."
    Jacob sighed.

    "Among other things," Luke said agreeably, moving over to fetch another beer. He watched her disposal of Zeke's food and shook his head. "All those attempts at Mace's, then you just throw it away. Women."
    Mace seemed to be having the same thought, as he rolled his eyes in Sahar's direction and left the kitchen with his pizza. The girl had pounced on the box and was gobbling it up enthusiastically.
    Chuckling, Luke looked back at Sahar. "I'm better. Things got shitty but they seemed to turn out okay so far." It eased his guilt a lot knowing Adrian was no longer with Terra, and he was going to try his damndest to make sure that never happened again. At least when he could stop it.
    Looking out the window past her head, he saw a van arrive. Oblivion walked over and spoke to the driver as its side door opened, emitting a group of vampires with building supplies. Walking back towards the house, gesturing about, Oblivion was clearly instructing on what needed to be done.
    "Thank you D," she said with a sweet smile, then hopped through an adjacent door. As suspected, it led into a private bath. Bless Mace.
    Flipping on the water, she got it steamy and good before stripping. She threw the clothes away, sad because one of Darshan's shirts was ruined now, but she didn't want to see those things ever again. Too many memories.
    Shaking herself, she hopped into the shower and sighed deeply with ecstasy. She wasn't leaving anytime soon.

    Keller shook her head with a faint grin. "I'm sure." His suggestion made her frown, because it was a good one, but... "The way things are going, I'm going to need them with me. Gift has people to spare." She touched his hand again. "I know you don't like it, but she's never asked me of something I couldn't give before, Galen."