Not looking particularly fooled by her innocent expression, Price shook his head. "No, I think I'll just pretend I know for certain. No need to take this any further than this table right here." A full out grin tilted his lips. "It is, isn't it?? Which is kind of creepy, since I've never had an Oedipal thought before." He paused, as if considering it. "Nope, not a one. Plus I don't think Mom would ever pass Galen over, even for me." A smile, because that made him happy. Keller was always happy when Galen was there, and that was good enough for him. And he liked the Drache well enough, of course.
    His grin turned ingratiating again. "Yep, I am a very greedy individual. But just imagine, the idea of a thong under that school girl uniform. I'm already half wild just thinking about it." A laughing eye disappeared behind a wink as he drained the rest of his beer.

    Julianna nodded in understanding, smiling warmly at the vampire. "You're so good to your dogs. And pretty much everyone you know." She followed his gaze out the window and nodded, catching her lip briefly between her teeth. "It is a little weird today. We might be in for a storm." Especially if Christian kept getting...upset.
    She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a hard hug before disappearing into the barn. Approaching Daisy's stall, she started speaking slow and comfortingly to the mare, whose tail swished in response. Smiling, Julianna ran her hands down the horse's slick fur, before kissing her nose and going to retrieve her favorite saddle.
    Not even ten minutes later, Daisy was saddled to perfection and Julianna led her out the barn by her halter. A proud smile was overtaking her features because she'd done it all by herself the first time.

    Patrick laughed at Ai's perfect summation of the fryer individual, and it remained in his eyes and on his lips when she spoke. "There's no' too much can be done tae champagne though, since it comes from a bottle and stay there 'til it goes in yer glass. People pay a lot more fer first class, they expect tha extra special flavor."
    He nodded at her words. "I've been 'ere, 'bout," he paused to consider, "three weeks, I s'pose. Came originally wit' Ethan but then I started lookin' at tha market, and got caught."

    "No, he wouldn't," Gift agreed with a chuckle. "He would fight until his dying breath and he would be killed on sight. His only combat experience is with a five horned dragon and even that doesn't compare to the amount of power Blaire would be laying at his door." She didn't sound particularly upset about that idea, regardless of her friendship with Galen's soulmate.
    Her brows rose as she evaluated the logic behind Darshan's words. "If Galen was killed, Mace is the legitimate heir to the Drache throne. If Terra takes him and controls him, there's no reason they couldn't set him up as leader of the shapeshifters." She absently scratched an itch at the back of her neck. "Then again, that seems like too much for Terra. She'd want Mace to herself, and she'd just take over the shifters on the side."
    "Do you really think a significant amount are ashamed of how they followed you??" Christian asked curiously. He himself hadn't seen any such shame, aside from those in Daybreak, but he'd never associated with too many shifters anyway. "And yes, the old Council pretty much set themselves up for a rebellion among the shifters. As you say, Daybreak's trying to fix it, but it's happening too slowly."
    He picked up a new bottle as Gift said, "That sounds likely. Again, we just need to figure out exactly who she has on her side right now, so we can try to determine what they would want the most. And what Blaire could've offered." She nodded in agreement with that; though she'd feel just as uncomfortable with someone so easily swayed at her back, if they could just get the people to stay neutral through it, that would work just as well.
    Though her train of thought went down the exact rail as Darshan's, and she raised her own brows at Christian. Who gave a half-smile, eyes vague with a memory. "I'll not argue with that, Sonya does seem to change sides with alarming frequency. But if there's one thing you can be sure of, she'd never betray me." There was no doubt in his voice and no room for argument, so Gift merely shrugged. She'd never known a relationship quite like theirs before, so if Christian was certain, it was good enough for her.

    C.J. giggled and blew a kiss in Sahar's direction. "Total and utter love for you, ya drama queen. You're adorable, and sooo hot in that shirt." Another giggle, as she accepted her own drink and immediately started gulping it down.
    Queenie rolled her eyes playfully. "This is so not fair," she complained, eyeing Sahar's drink. "I'm going to be carrying you two home, like /always/. Why can't I be the one who gets pass out drunk, just once??"
    More giggling, as C.J. licked the last traces of alcohol from her lips. "You can," she assured the lioness sweetly. "We'll just all help each other home. How about that??"
    Opening her mouth to mention that they should probably refrain from having the cops called on them, Queenie was then distracted as a bounty of male flesh went waltzing by. C.J. grinned and motioned for another drink.

    Jon just nodded slowly and seemed disinclined to move, looking at Peter with his dazed gaze. Thoughts tried to push through the fog in his head, urgent, immediate thoughts that he knew he needed to listen to, but they were just so hard to see. So hard, especially when Peter was motioning him forward. "Yes??" he murmured, obligingly stepping forward.

    "I think it's mostly psychological now," Galen admitted. "I drink it, and convince myself that it keeps me awake. I'm not sure how much of an effect it ever had, with my metabolism. I know how much alcohol a shapeshifter has to drink in order to get drunk," more through his association with Mace than through personal experience, "so I can't even imagine how many pots of coffee it would take to keep one of us awake."
    "That's true," he said, as he pulled into the parking lot of the Venetian. Whatever else he might have said was cut short, as he rolled down the window in order to pay for a parking pass.

    Anna laughed at that. "Well, you can bet that I'm glad that you don't have an Oedipus complex," she said. "Your mother is beautiful; I don't think I could compete with her. I'm sure that your mother is glad too, because she won't have to choose between Galen and your charming self."
    "Not even for you will I court a permanent wedgie," she said promptly. "Besides, white cotton is really the only appropriate thing to wear under a schoolgirl's uniform. Anything else is simply out of character."

    "I do try," Gamble said, casting another upwards glance at the stormy sky. "I don't always succeed, but I do try. People usually treat you like you treat them, so I don't see the harm in being pleasant."
    He gave a soft 'oof' at her sudden, hard hug, but squeezed her back before she disappeared into the barn. When she emerged, he was already waiting, his own horse saddled and standing placidly beside him. He stepped up to Daisy, and checked over the saddle quickly, making sure that everything was in place, before smiling sheepishly at Julianna. "Perfect." Not that he had really doubted it, but he wanted to make sure before Julianna actually got into the saddle.

    "There's not much that can be done to it, but the quality does vary," Ai responded, wrinkling her nose a little. "Needless to say, the stuff that gets served in first class on a major airline is not going to be exceptional."
    "Three weeks," she mused. "I know what you've been up to, but do I dare wonder why Ethan is here? Or is that one of those questions that I just should just not ask?" Because with this group, there were definitely things better left unsaid, and Ai was smart enough not to pry where she wasn't wanted.

    "No, from what I've seen, Terra would be unwilling to share Mace with the world," Darshan agreed. "I believe that the plan is still to have a dragon in control of the shapeshifters. After all, the primary reason that the Draches rule is that they're directly descended from the dragons."
    "I think that the numbers are more significant than most people assume," he said, after a moment's consideration. "Most of the shapeshifters alive today have grown up in a much more civilized setting, living among humans. The old days were bloody, and I'm sure that there are many shapeshifters who wouldn't condone a return to that kind of lifestyle, and who are ashamed that they once lived that way. That won't keep them from turning to a dragon, though. They might not want a return to the old days, but they do want the power and respect that they were granted then, and they want it now, not when Daybreak manages to give it to them. That could take generations or more, considering how long-lived vampires are and how ingrained the idea of shapeshifters as the lower class is. No, I think that the dragons are still considered the shame of the shapeshifters, but I don't think that will be a powerful determent, in the end."
    "No threats," he said. "I think Terra has proven how effective that can be. If we can turn them away from Blaire with sweet promises, then so be it, but if we threaten them, they'll simply come after us with a vengeance. We've already established that these people are strong willed, and strong willed people do not bow before force." As he had proven, again with Terra.
    Gift shrugged, and Darshan echoed her a moment later. If Christian was sure that Sonya's loyalties were with him alone, then the dragon wasn't going to argue.

    "Thank you, gorgeous," Sahar said, with a little mock-bow from her seat. She looked down at her clothing with a thoughtful frown. It still looked more like a dress than a shirt to her, albeit a short one. Not that it really mattered, and she quickly became tired of contemplating her clothing, and returned to contemplating the yummy and naked men on the stage.
    She nodded enthusiastically while C.J. encouraged Queenie to get a drink. "Yeah! This is a very special night, and C.J. and I should not be drinking alone. We'll manage to get home, even after a few drinksies." But it didn't seem like Queenie was listening anymore, and who could blame her, with the amount of man flesh wandering around?
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw C.J. wave for another drink, and chuckled.

    Peter placed his hands on Jon's shoulders, and smiled beatifically into the young man's face. "There's a good boy. It pleases me when people listen to what I say. You want to please me, don't you?" It was almost ridiculously easy to cloud the human's mind, to fill it with the thoughts and feelings that he wanted to be there. Ah, but this never got old.

    The chuckle became a full laugh, soft though it may be in the darkness of the car. "That I can understand better, as you've always had an extraordinary mind and will. And however much coffee it would take, it wouldn't be healthy. Same with alcohol." Though it was probably a very long, very arduous process, enough liquor would eventually have its effects on the shifter body.
    Falling silent, she hid another yawn behind her hand as Galen collected their pass and chose a parking place. She unbuckled her seatbelt and slid from the car, slowly stretching out her lower back as she straightened. She was actually looking forward to laying down on a bed.

    Price laughed, light and free, and absently licked a bit of foam from his fingers. "Nah, she's not real competition for you. Though you will have to worry when she becomes your mother-in-law," he added teasingly, because the thought of his mom as /Anna's/ mom was just hilarious.
    "What if it's only for like five minutes??" he protested, wiggling his brows again. "Just long enough for me to see, and take them off. And you know how men are." He waved an expansive hand about. "They want a lady in the parlor and a harlot in the bedroom. So the school girl with thongs is just about right."

    "No harm whatsoever," Julianna agreed, smiling, because it was rather rare in her line of work to meet someone who shared her own philosophy. "It doesn't hurt to be nice to everyone, and it will usually make their day better, so why not??"
    She grinned at him again when he checked her work, expecting nothing less. The proud look only deepened when he agreed with her perfection, and she rubbed Daisy's nose gently. "Now the fun part," she murmured, pushing some hair behind her ear before taking hold of the saddle. Yes, she was a being born from lines of grace and agility. It was in her blood. Which made it all the more embarrassing to remember how many times it had taken her to mount a horse the first time.
    Daisy remained stock still and patient as Julianna fit her foot into the stirrup. Recalling Gamble's advice, she bounced on the toes of her free foot three times before heaving herself up and over. The saddle shifted just slightly as her leg actually came all the way over and her backside rested comfortably in the saddle. Daisy shifted a bit, becoming used to the weight, and Julianna beamed again at Gamble. "Look at that! First time again. Tonight is going to be a good night."

    "Better than an'thing tha's served in coach," Patrick amended with a wink. "No' tae mention those reclining seats. Plus, if ya drink enough o' tha champagne, it all tastes the same after a while an'way."
    For a long minute, Patrick looked at Ai. Clear blue eyes intense and studying, without blinking. And when he spoke, his voice was soft. "I'll tell ya this 'cause, dependin' how long yer 'ere, ya might need tae know. Ethan, Gift, and /all/ o' their friends are 'ere, luv. So if ya can't 'andle some 'eat right now, personally or professionally, ya might wanna hurry an' get yer stuff done an' leave Vegas as soon as ye can."

    Gift merely nodded in acceptance of the dragon's words, because that about covered that idea. Terra wasn't going to share Mace, but she'd be happy to take over the shifters. More than happy, actually, now that Gift thought about how quickly she'd taken over Mace's gang.
    She poured herself another drink as Christian nodded slowly, listening to Darshan's considerations. "If enough of the shifters, especially under the Draches reign, didn't want to follow a dragon, could they prevent the others?? Or would it dissuade the others from joining a dragon, if enough of their kind were against the idea?? Assuming the Draches survive and Terra doesn't take control of the main figures afterwards." He gave Darshan a shrewd look. "Even you, let alone Terra, couldn't take control of the /entire/ shifter population, right??"
    They both nodded again at his suggestion. "No threats." Gift leaned further back in her chair, causing it to go back on two legs. "Threats would have little effect against Blaire's promises, when the end result we offer is death anyway. Death won't be a problem for those thinking they're the most powerful thing to ever have an idea like this."
    "We might could coerce them, though," Christian observed thoughtfully. "Or some of them. Mr. Sadi, for one. I didn't get the impression he has a true vested interest in this, aside from hurting the people he hates. So if we threaten him, or his Clan, something might come of it." He downed another shot and refilled it. "Or we could just stick him in a basement somewhere and let him rot. Aside from his reputation, he's not as strong as he likes to think he is." Something bitter twisted his lips and a gleam of pure savage satisfaction came briefly to his eyes. Seemed he liked that idea. Then again, the man had been stupid enough to threaten Sonya.

    Giggling some more, clearly leaving any hint of seriousness out the door, C.J. winked at Queenie and looked at the stage. The men who worked here had to be descended from gods, or something. It couldn't be just a mortal person who had such beauty. Uh huh.
    Queenie rolled her eyes at her friends, but when the waiter came back, she ordered an impressive amount of shots. C.J. whooped and ordered double that, getting some impressed looks from the waiter before he disappeared again. The tiger then pushed from her chair and started to dance right there next to the table, seeming completely unself-conscious. Probably wasn't as surprising as some would think.

    Jon's jaw was just a little slack as he stared at Peter, eyes even more cloudy as those blue eyes expanded to fill his world. Nothing mattered but seeing that smile again, seeing those eyes happy and satisfied.
    "Yes," he whispered, even as the jangle of the phone started in the background. He blinked at the sudden noise, as it clearly didn't fit into the scene.

    "I usually limit myself to a cup or two," Galen assured her, no doubt thinking about what that amount of coffee would do even to a 'shifter's stomach. He climbed out of the car after her, and watched with a faint smile as she stretched herself out. "Looking forward to a rest?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and guiding her towards the front of the hotel.

    "You know," Anna said, her tone thoughtfully, "I don't think I will marry you. I like Keller, but the thought of having her as my mother-in-law terrifies me beyond all reason. Please, don't take it personally."
    She cast him a mock-scandalized look, her mouth set in a prim line but her eyes filled with mirth. "Buster, you're not going to get to take anything off, if you keep calling me a harlot," she teased. "Or a lady, for that matter. I'm highly offended by the implications of either word."

    "Why not," Gamble echoed in agreement. Of course, there were certain situations in which you just couldn't be nice, but those were rare. Even then, he tried to at least be courteous. There was absolutely no point in being deliberately rude, not when you could get your point across just as well while being polite.
    He vaulted into the saddle with the ease of a longtime horseman, his hands on the reins firm but not pulling. The horse shifted impatiently beneath him, ready to be off as soon as he was in the saddle, but he waited patiently while Julianna mounted, his eyes sharp on her just in case she needed help getting into the saddle. When she managed it on the first try, he beamed like a proud parent. "That's a girl. You're really getting the hang of this."
    He made a vague, agreeing sound when she said that it would be a good nigh, once again peering up at the sky. "Assuming those big ol' rain clouds don't open up and drop water on us."

    "You know," Ai said contemplatively, "I've never had to fly in coach. I suppose I should be grateful for that." That wasn't to say that she hadn't traveled in some truly horrendous ways in her time, but none of them had involved a plane. "I'll have to keep that in mind, though. Consuming copious amounts of champagne, no matter how bad it is, will likely make the plane trip more tolerable, or at the very least more entertaining."
    Her expression turned serious as he continued to speak, and finally she nodded. "Thank you for telling me. I think I can probably handle the heat, but don't worry, I'll make sure to go home to Detroit if things start to boil over. Is there anything that I can do to help while I'm here?" She raised a hand and placed it lightly against his cheek, a little worried about the intensity of his gaze and his sudden switch from jovial to dead serious. There could be little doubt that whatever was going on in Las Vegas, it was bad.

    "I don't know," Darshan said, after careful thought. "I can give you my opinion, but I can't divine the future. I don't think that you would be able to drum up the kind of opposition you're talking about, though, not from the shapeshifters and not against a dragon." He tossed back the shot in front of him, then set the glass down on the table for a refill. "However, if it comes to that, I might be able to do something." He was not fond of the idea, but there it was. "I would much rather we stop Blaire and her people before it comes to that. You're right, neither Terra nor I could take over the entire population, not by force. If either of us were to try, we would be spread so thin that those with stronger wills could break free from our control completely."
    He nodded at Gift's words, then looked to Christian, his expression gone flat. "Frankly, I don't think that Mr. Sadi will have much of a choice but to rot, after his heart has stopped beating." Then he shrugged. "But I don't think that coercion would work, in any case. There are too many people allied with us that he hates. Gift, for one," he finished, inclining his head towards the woman in question.

    "I can't believe these boys are human," Sahar said, as she leaned forward to tuck a bill into the band of one man's thong as he passed. "I mean, I know Night Worlders who aren't half so pretty." She plugged her nose, and downed half of her enormous margarita in one gulp, releasing her nose with a satisfied gasp.
    She laughed when C.J. got up and started dancing, leaning across the table to speak to the tiger. "Honey, aren't they supposed to be the ones putting on the show?" she asked teasingly, pointing towards the stage and its occupants.

    "Ignore it," Peter crooned, as the phone rang. "It's not important. Only I'm important. Isn't that right, Jon?" His pale eyes remained fixed on Jon's face, entreating. "You would do anything to please me, wouldn't you?" He reached into his pocket, and slowly removed a wicked little blade, holding it out in front of him, so that it was between them. "Take off your shirt," he said, with just a hint of steel in his voice, although his face remained pleasant and charming.

    Keller couldn't help the slight disapproving movement of her head. "Two cups in a row?? Oh Galen." Once out of the car, she pressed her palms to the small of her back and stretched. It still felt good, likely always would, and she returned his faint smile. "Very much so. I miss feeling young." She leaned into him a little as they walked to the hotel, through the doors and into the formal, lush lobby. It was empty aside from a few figures leaving and Keller sighed out a slow breath.

    "Oh, that went straight through," Price declared, resting a hand over his heart. "At least now I know I can bypass that big rock in the future." He gave her another teasing grin. "Plus I don't know if Mom will give me away to you either. She might not think you're good enough for lil ole me." Yes, he knew the father gave his daughter away. But considering Keller...
    He laughed again, at her look and her words. "Well how do you propose to prove me wrong??" he taunted playfully. "Wanna be a harlot in the parlor and a lady in the bedroom, don't you?? I've always known that about Daybreak girls."

    Julianna gave him another meltingly warm smile. Gamble was so great, just all around. She felt lucky that she'd ever came to his attention, and he'd agreed to that first date so long ago.
    The smile lost none of its warmth or brightness when she was firmly seated in the saddle and he smiled back. "Yes, I am. Pretty soon I'll be in spurs and leather and wearing a hat." She took the reins in hand, giving a gentle twitch of one, along with a nudge of her knee. Daisy placidly moved over to stand alongside Gamble's horse and she just grinned so happily. She'd make a cowgirl in no time.
    Her eyes flicked upwards with his. "I don't know, it could be fun to ride in the rain," she said cheerfully, tossing another grin at him. Shifting a bit in excitement in her saddle. "So where are we going??" It always felt so /cool/ to be on a horse, to feel the power just waiting to explode beneath her. She loved to ride a horse that was just all and all running. Daisy, placid and easy-going though she may be, knew how to run.

    Patrick chuckled again. "Aye luv, ya should be verra thankful ye've ne'er 'ad tae fly coach," he agreed, the amusement flashing through his eyes. "An' it would make it bearable fer tha time bein', but ya'd likely regret it the mornin' after." Even if it didn't make vampires throw up, bad quality champagne in large amounts was going to cause indigestion problems.
    He smiled softly, to lessen the severity of his gaze, and leaned his cheek lightly into her hand. "Good. An' nah, I dun think there's much ya can do at this point. Just be aware, and dun talk tae as many strangers as ya usually do. Keep your business indoors, if ye can 'elp it. An' if strange men approach ya on the streets, dun stop tae talk."

    Christian nodded slowly, mulling that over. As much as he'd like to believe the majority of the shifters were smart enough to protect themselves over following a power-hungry dragon, that clearly wasn't the case. He was starting to be glad he didn't hang out with that many shifters, regardless of their bad luck in years past.
    "You might be able to do something," Gift echoed, one brow lifting at the dragon. "Do you mean take a stance opposite Terra and pull the shifters to you instead?? If that's the case, then I do believe we should leave that to a very last option. Because even after this situation with Blaire is over, those shifters would still be expecting you to lead and guide them to glory, no matter what you said to the contrary."
    Christian smirked. "That'd be almost as bad as aligning ourselves with Daybreak." He tossed another shot. "Funny, but bad. And your power is likely best kept in check at this point, instead of outspread like that anyway. We'll need to keep our reserves for the fights to come."
    Gift nodded, though she was chuckling as she refilled their glasses. Mostly at the thought of Darshan, trying to get back to his normal life, with a hapless group of shifters following him everywhere. Like puppies. She inclined her glass in his direction when he spoke of Jayden Sadi, a man all present clearly held much love for. "Yes, Mr. Sadi will hate me long after I'm dead and gone. If he knows you're allied with me, much less friends of mine, he'll resent you based on that alone. And he'll take any threat towards him quite personally, I'm sure."
    Christian shrugged, accepting that news with an easy smile. "So we'll kill him. Darshan, I'm assuming you'd like that honor, if at all possible." While the threat to Sonya was a new thing, Jayden had attacked C.J. way more than was good for his health.

    "You ain't kiddin' there, sweetie pie," Queenie said, fanning herself as one bronzed god smiled seductively at her. "I'd like to know where they find these boys. I'm tempted to bring one home with me."
    C.J. giggled madly as the lioness tucked some money into that man's underwear. She let out another whoop when Sahar downed half her drink, reaching over to tug her hair when the younger girl spluttered her satisfaction. "Thatta girl. Sahar, you're just grown all up these days."
    "Tonight's all about the young though," Queenie said as C.J. started dancing. The tiger couldn't seem to help herself, and she raised her arms above her head with another laugh.
    Eyes sparkled in the dim lighting as she looked at Sahar. "They're putting on a show! I'm just providing background scenery, in case they need help getting inspired." She twirled, swinging her hips to the music thrumming the club, and Queenie laughed.

    Jon blinked slowly, blood beginning to burn in his face. He felt a tug deep in his gut and took a sharp breath. "Yes," he whispered again, not even sure what he was replying to anymore. Just the need to make Him happy. Happy happy happy.
    The phone stopped singing as Jon tugged obediently at his shirt. He lifted it up and over, letting it drop lifelessly to the floor as he stared at Peter. There was a look of innocent helplessness on his face, his eyes big and waiting for the next command to please Him.

    "Yes, I know," Galen said, shamefaced. "You should see Thierry at meetings, though," he added, slightly humorously. "I've never seen anyone go through so much coffee late at night." He didn't actually think it did anything for the man, but he couldn't blame him either. Thierry had a much heavier burden to bear, these days.
    He squeezed her shoulders, and laughed softly. "Tell me about it. It's starting to feel like every day adds on another year." Although he never felt that way with Keller. She kept him young, which was strange, since she had always been the more serious of the two of them.
    They entered the lobby, and he gave her shoulders a final squeeze before releasing her and going to speak to the concierge. It only took a few minutes before the man started bobbing his head enthusiastically and rushing around behind the desk, finally producing a pair of keys, which he handed to Galen.

    The thought of asking Keller for Price's hand made Anna both shudder and laugh. Not that she really thought they would be taking that step any time soon, but... "Maybe we should elope," she said, half-seriously. "We are in Las Vegas, after all. I've always wanted to get married by an Elvis."
    "I'm afraid that I'm neither a harlot nor a lady," she said, deadpan. She spread her arms and looked down the length of her body, still dressed in her hotel uniform. "I am a concierge." The look that she cast him was mildly suspicious. "Hmm. Should I ask how you know about the preferences for harlotry among Daybreak girls?"

    The warmth in Julianna's smile was enough to melt a man straight through, Gamble decided. He grinned back, relaxed, and laughed outright at her words. "Now, darlin', as much as I enjoy the thought of you in leather and a cowboy hat, I'm going to have to object to the idea of you usin' spurs on Daisy there." Not that he thought that Julianna would ever actually use spurs on a horse. "Maybe I can get you a lasso, for wrangling cattle."
    "It's fun for the first five minutes," he said, with another grin. He considered her question; he tended to be careful in the dark, because he knew that the horse's night vision couldn't match his, but they did actually see fairly well in the dark. Better than a human did.
    "We can head out into the desert, if you like," he said eventually. His house was far enough from the city proper that he owned a fair amount of land, most of it parched earth.

    "Yes, flying coach is one of the world's evils that I have thankfully been spared," Ai said, flashing a smile. "I rather think that it must be another level of Hell, once which Dante simply forgot to mention." She grimaced at the thought of what would happen the morning after drinking so much champagne, and nodded.
    She continued to nod as he spoke, her thumb stroking absently over his cheek. "I'll be careful. If nothing else, I'll make sure that you don't have to worry about my safety." A faint, wry smile pulled at her mouth. "Of course, it's a little late to caution me against talking to strange men who approach me on the street, but I think that boy at the airport is likely to be harmless. I will be more wary if anyone else approaches me. Is there anything particular I should be on the lookout for?"

    "Yes, I would rather avoid that, as well," Darshan said dryly. "I won't even consider it unless we fail to stop Blaire now and she either eliminates Daybreak or convinces Mr. Descouedres to step down. Aside from the fact that I would never be rid of them after a stunt like that, I dislike the idea of taking responsibility for that many people." Only to these two would he openly admit that he felt responsible for those he controlled. In a way, they were his, and Darshan had always felt a deep, instinctual urge to protect what was his. It wasn't too surprising, perhaps. Dragons were always territorial and possessive. He just took it a step further.
    "I don't think that Mr. Sadi will be outliving you, Gift," he murmured. Christian's easy smile and the words that followed it drew a smile out of Darshan's usual stoicism, and he shook his head slowly. "I don't particularly care. I'm angry enough right now that I would enjoy killing him, and enjoy it even more if he screamed while I did so, but I'm practical. I can't hunt Jayden and protect C.J. and Mace's gang at the same time. If he comes to me, I /will/ kill him, but if you find him first, please feel free to do the job yourself." The look on his face turned wistful, and not a little bloodthirsty. "Of course, if you could bring me his head or his heart when you're done, I would be grateful."

    "Wes might have an objection to that," Sahar said, laughing. Her eyes swept across the stage, and she sighed happily. "Of course, some of us are single, and... Ooooh, mama." She watched with open admiration as the man they had been discussing continued across the stage, muscles rippling smoothly under bronze skin, butt very nicely displayed for their viewing pleasure.
    She rolled her eyes towards C.J., and grinned. "What can I say? I'm not much of a drinker. I find... other things... to occupy my time." Her eyes once again drifted after the young god strutting his stuff on the stage.
    C.J.'s explanation drew another laugh out of her. "Alright, but no stripping. Somehow, I doubt this crowd would be as appreciative as the gang was." Since it seemed to be made up of straight women, gay men, and the occasional couple out for a night on the town.

    The smile on Peter's face was now more cruel than angelic, but the boy wouldn't notice. He could feel the human's will crumbling, leaving only the desire to please. Ah, this was one of the sweetest pleasures there was, knowing that a person would do anything, /anything/, simply because he commanded it.
    "You're such a good boy, Jon," he said sweetly, the hand still resting on Jon's shoulder turned into a caress, somewhere between the way that a man would touch a lover, and the way that he would touch a favored dog. "You make me so happy. Now first, we're going to carve a little message. Right here," he said, and his hand trailed from the young man's shoulder down across his chest and belly. "Would that be okay?"

    A slight look of disgust came to Keller's face, just at the thought of consuming so much coffee in such a short period of time. "That's awful. He should find another way to keep alert, if that's the problem." Though her thoughts echoed Galen's; she didn't imagine a man who'd been alive for so long would suddenly need coffee to remain awake during late nights.
    "Sometimes multiple," she agreed with a little chuckle, thinking of the onslaught of information they'd received only that day. At night, alone and private with Galen, it was okay to feel the weight and strain of the day. It helped prepare her for the day to come, when she'd have to be strong and alert and ready for anything.
    She remained where she was when Galen went to talk, her eyes briefly skimming the lobby before finding her soulmate. A smile tilted her lips, just barely, and her gaze was soft as she watched him. The years had been kind to him, kinder every year, and she imagined they always would. She barely managed to keep back a chuckle when the keys were handed over, merely shaking her head in amusement. Yes, he could still smooth talk his way anywhere. Likely without needing the names of his parents, she was willing to bet.

    Price laughed again. "I don't think it counts as eloping if we're already here, and at least my family is here. Though having Elvis marry us would definitely be something to commemorate. Sounds about right for the onion ring I plan on putting on your finger too." He winked again, just imagining their marriage as they'd described it so far.
    His eyes drifted down her uniform and he smiled. "But making me imagine what's beneath that businesslike concierge persona is definitely a harlot thing to do," he offered sweetly, accompanied with another wiggle of the brows. "You little vixen." The wiggling brows rose, instantly shifting into another innocent look with the ease of long practice. "Purely rumor and heresay," he offered immediately, smiling blandly.

    "Oh no," Julianna instantly agreed, running a soothing hand down Daisy's neck in case she'd worried the animal as well. "The spurs would be purely for decoration. They'd come off when I actually got on Daisy." She grinned at Gamble, a mischievous look in her eyes. "And how about you, are you gonna don the leather and hat for me?? We'd make quite a pair, I think." The idea of a lasso made her laugh, and she was unable to keep the interest from her face. She was a spy, learning all sorts of new things was just part of her life. "Do you have cattle that I could, um, wrangle??"
    She chuckled at his amendment, running her fingers through Daisy's coarse mane. "You, my dear man, have clearly never been in a good rainstorm," she observed. "It's /tons/ of fun playing in the rain, as long as there's no thunder or lightning or stuff. Just rain, that's the way to go."
    She waited patiently for him to decide where they were going, letting her legs stretch in the right places so she was sitting more comfortably in the saddle. It did take some getting used to, no matter what people said. At his decision, she nodded enthusiastically. "Great." She kneed Daisy gently, just as Gamble had taught her, and the mare obligingly started at an amble out past the brown grass towards the desert beyond.

    "O' course," Patrick agreed without question. "Just imagine, bein' between all those sweaty, fidgety 'umans, unable tae go tae tha bathroom without gettin' elbowed and cursed at a good number o' times. Almost worth it at tha point just tae get a pilot's license o' yer own."
    He smiled at her words, lifting one hand to cup hers and move it to press a kiss to her palm. "Ah lass, I'll worry 'bout ya an'way. Just be sure yer always available, so I dun send people tae look in on ye if I can't contact ya." His eyes were still serious above the smile on his face. "As fer tha' boy, ya just be sure tae check 'im out thoroughly afore ya take 'im in." Even now, he was an equal opportunity worrier. He'd be suspicious of anyone until proven otherwise. "If ya see a man wit' orange eyes comin' towards ye, I want ya to cross tha road tae avoid 'im. I dun care 'ow silly it might make ya look, just do it. An' ye are a well-known figure, Ai, so ya might get pulled into this situation an'way. Just be wary of an'one approachin' ya, offerin' ya somethin' if ye'll start workin' for Blaire Fluores. An' if tha' 'appens, call me, then leave Vegas immediately."

    The dryness of his tone brought another smirk to Christian's face, and a chuckle from Gift. "Nor would you likely want to be responsible for the type of people who'd step behind a dragon like that," she murmured. "But the idea has been brought up, so now it can be returned to the back burner. We still have many options before that becomes necessary, so we'll focus on those first."
    "I imagine Mace and his gang are going to be bad enough," Christian had to add, with another smirky smile as his glass was refilled. The bottles were starting to line up but it would still take quite a few more before any of them started to really feel it. "Do you intend to hole up privately with C.J. as much as possible??"
    "Not to mention Sahar," Gift murmured, smiling at Darshan. "I think we'd best get on with killing these people, before Darshan snaps just from where he's currently living."
    Christian laughed softly and they both lifted their glasses in a toast to the dragon. Gift smiled again at the idea of Jayden not outliving her and they listened silently as he voiced his opinion on the death of Jayden. "I'd offer to lure him here so you /could/ kill him, but that man is a slippery little shit," Christian admitted. "It'd be typical to lead him here and he somehow manages to get past our defenses and into the nest. So I believe I'll just bring you his heart. And his head. It could be a two-for-one deal."
    Gift toasted Christian this time, and downed her drink. "Though we do have to consider something," she said, licking her lips as she refilled her glass. "Blaire is in France right now, and doesn't seem inclined to move. I don't feel like flying over there at the moment to take care of her, so we'll need to get her over here to take care of the root of the problem. What's most likely to bring her??"

    "Nonsense," Queenie said cheerfully, eyes gleaming at one pretty boy who looked like a very mature seventeen. "We'll just adopt him. I've always wanted a son." The boy winked at her and she breathed deeply, eyes going heavy-lidded.
    "Ha, you wish you could get a feel of that," C.J. taunted Sahar with a laughing grin. "Single you may be, you're still too young to be able to handle that. He needs a maaature woman." She wiggled her fingers at the bronzed one, who wiggled his fingers back.
    The tiger broke into giggles at the little lioness's preferences for her spare time. "Oh honey, you're such a horn dog," she gushed to her friend. "/Why/ have you never joined Mace's gang?? I swear, you fit right in. Ain't that right, Queenie??"
    "Mmmhmmm," the elder woman said absently, eyes fixed on another man approaching from down the bar. She had a covetous look in her gaze and clearly would've agreed to anything at that point.
    C.J. tossed a wink at Sahar. "Stripping?? Well why didn't you say so," she teased with a laugh, twirling in a circle. Her hair flew around her, the light sparkling off her belly piercing. She didn't actually have any intention of stripping because, well, Darshan wasn't there, so what was the point??

    "I am," Jon said immediately, feeling immeasurably pleased because He thought he was a good boy. Yes, just anything to please Him. A.n.y.t.h.i.n.g.
    Peter's hand moving over his skin left goosebumps in its wake and Jon eased out a happy little sigh. "Yes," he whispered again. "Anything. As long as it makes you happy."
    In the background, the phone started to ring again. It didn't phase the glazed look in Jon's eyes this time, as he just stared at Peter with a kind of anxious please-let-me-make-you-happy look.

    "I think Thierry probably has more trouble sleeping than staying awake," Galen murmured, and it was a sign of how tired he was that something so gloomy had slipped past his lips. It was true, though, and sometimes he wondered if Thierry regretted the work it took and the sacrifices he had made in order to keep the world safe for the humans, and for Daybreak. Did he wish that things were simple, and that he could just live a peaceful life with his soulmate and no horrible, life-or-death decisions to make, no danger to face? Sometimes Galen did, although he would never admit it.
    The keys in hand, he returned to Keller. "Not the penthouse," he said, with a small, teasing smile. "But we have a room." He offered her a key, and tucked the other one into his pocket.

    "I think it's still eloping, as long as we don't tell anyone before we do it," Anna said. "Maybe we can even get Elvis to sing us something nice." She grinned when he mentioned her ring, then put on an accent that would have made any country hick proud. "Now Price, you done did promise me one of them fancy plastic rings, like they sell out of vendin' machines." She took another bite of her food, and chewed it slowly, thoughtfully. "Where would be honeymoon? Nowhere that has 'Dueling Banjos' on the top-ten hits list, I hope."
    "Yeah, that's me," she drawled. "A regular sexpot, right from my glasses all the way down to my sensible shoes." She poked him under the table with the tip of one of those shoes. "Yeah, I'm sure. So all that stuff written about you on the bathroom walls at Thierry's mansion are lies, huh?" she teased.

    "Good girl," Gamble said approvingly. He had never really been fond of spurs, and now they just weren't necessary, and he wasn't about to let one within ten feet of any horse of his. He pretended to consider her question. "I don't know. I'd need a pretty good reason to put on a cowboy had. Naw, no cattle, not out here. Maybe you could wrangle a fencepost or two, though."
    "I need to be in the mood for a rainstorm," he said lightly, although he doubted that it would be difficult to enjoy one with Julianna. She had a way of making everything fun. He watched approvingly as she walked Daisy away from the barn and into the desert. "Your seat has gotten better," he remarked, then grinned playfully. "You don't look like every step is bruising sensitive areas, now."
    The air was cool and soft, and he closed his eyes as his own horse meandered forward, enjoying the slow, swaying pace and the quiet night sounds that surrounded them.

    There was only one response to give to that, and it was much the same as the one she had given to the deep fryer lover. "Ugh."
    A smile curved her lips when he kissed her palm, but her eyes remained dark and serious. "My cell phone is always on, and I'll make sure to answer any call from you, even if I'm in the middle of a meeting. If I don't pick up, you may assume that you have a reason to worry, and come charging to the rescue. Will that suffice?" She reached up with her free hand, and tucked a lock of shiny dark hair behind her ear. "I will also be very careful about who I take into my home, even more so than usual."
    "Does this man with the orange eyes have a name?" she asked softly. Another small smile at his next caution. "What would they offer me? I have everything that I want. I'll make sure to watch out for such a person, though. Who is Blaire Floures, and why might he want me to work for him? Please, Patrick, tell me something about what's going on, or else /I'll/ end up worrying about /you/. Right now, it all sounds very ominous, but I seem to be missing the big picture."

    Darshan didn't quite wince, but the skin around his eyes tightened when Mace and the gang were mentioned. "Yes," he said bluntly, when Christian asked if he intended to hide away with C.J. "I do." His expression didn't change when Gift brough up Sahar, but he did sigh and gulp down the last of his drink. He raised the empty glass in a wry answer to their toast, then poured himself another shot.
    "No, don't lead him here," the dragon said. "I'm hoping that having Mace here will draw Terra in. She never could resist him. But I don't want to risk both of them here at once. One or the other of them might do some damage, if not to me then to one of the house's other occupants." Christian's promise of heart and head deserved a toast, he decided, and he lifted his glass when Gift did, then once again sloshed the contents down the back of his throat.
    "If we kill or subvert enough of her people, she'll come," was all he said on the subject of Blaire, but that seemed to sum it up.

    "I'm not sure that you're supposed to do that sort of thing with your son," Sahar said, a little dreamily, "but if you do adopt him, can I borrow him?" Actually, looking at the boy, she had to wonder if he was legal. To strip, much less do other things with. She glanced at C.J., and smirked. "Yeah, Ceej, and you're a paragon of maturity, huh?"
    "Oh, yeah," she said, fully willing to agree that she was a horn dog. She stretched slowly, her back arching up off the chair, and shrugged at the question. "I think Mace might be driven to take his own life if he had to deal with me day-in and day-out, and I might be driven to take his life if I had to follow his orders," she said lightly. "But you know I love you all like crazy, even your mean old leader who won't let us have orgies inside the house, and I will visit you until you're sick of me for as long as I'm in Las Vegas."
    "Keep it up, and someone might stick a dollar bill down your shirt," she teased C.J. Then she glanced around. "Maybe one of the dancers," she suggested, since everyone else was, as stated, not interested.

    "Such a good boy," Peter cooed, and he handed Jon the knife. Knife touched skin, and blood was so pretty as it welled up in the newly formed cuts. Three words, cut into the smooth flesh of Jon's chest by his own hand, although Peter had to steady that hand on the last of those words, when the handle of the knife was coated in blood and treacherous muscles had started to shake, betraying the soul that was just so willing to please.
    "You're doing so well," he said, licking the blood from his fingers before grasping Jon's wrist gently. "So very well. I'm pleased with you, Jon." He guided Jon's hand, with its wicked little blade, downwards, until the tip was just resting against the front of the younger man's pants. "Now, we have to take care of one more thing. One little thing. Because Daybreakers don't have balls, now do they?" He smiled warmly, as if inviting Jon to share a joke, his wintry eyes warm.

    Keller gave him a sharp sideways look, and reached up to brush his hair back. "I'm sure Hannah helps him with that," she murmured, just as she had every intention of helping him sleep when he had trouble. It was in her nature, just as it was in the Lady of Daybreak's nature.
    She waited with semi-patience then as he got keys and returned to her. His smile sparked one of her own, and she took the key he offered. "A room will work perfectly at this point," she admitted. "As long as it has a bed." She glanced at the number on the key and headed for the elevators.

    "I don't know, we're sure not eloping very far," Price teased. "Pretty much takes the excitement out of it, yanno?? We're not running away and rebelling. Though I think Mom would burst a vessel if our wedding song was that hound dog tune of his." He wasn't familiar enough with Elvis to actually know the name, and gave an apologetic shrug for that. Though her accent caused him to grin again. "Now look here, woman, you're gonna be lucky to get a decoder ring out of a cracker jack box. Be happy with what you can get." He wagged a teasing finger and finished off his beer.
    "Ah, our honeymoon," Price mused. "How about L.A., the land of smog and snobby celebrities?? It's just a hop, skip, and jump away, and perfect following an Elvis wedding." He grinned winningly at her, almost seeming to warm up to the idea.
    He nodded knowingly at her self-description. "I've always known it. You're like those librarians in movies, who start off sweet and demure and turn into sexy harlots by the end." A brief, dramatic pause. "I always liked those librarians." He winked, then nodded firmly. "Definitely lies. And anyone who disgraces Thierry's house like so deserves a whuppin'. I'd be glad to administer it, even."

    "Well I do try," Julianna agreed modestly, winking at him. The fact that he needed a reason for the hat but not the leather made her giggle. "Oh, I'm sure I could find a reason. Like if it rains, you'll want to keep your eyes free of it, and that's what hats are for," she offered helpfully, eyes sparkling. "And I don't think fence posts count in the same category as cattle. No real challenge." A faint grimace, broken only by the laughter becoming more evident in her gaze. "Though I'd probably want to start off with the posts anyway, with how slow I'm taking to this cowgirl thing. It'll take me months to master the inanimate objects."
    Her eyes rolled back up the sky, watching the dark sky roil above them. "That's true," she conceded. "Rainstorms are pretty romantic though, which is why I prefer them to most others." She gave an easy shrug and grinned, as the horses started away from the barn. The movement was slow and easy below her and Julianna melted into it, letting her body adjust again to the rhythm.
    She tossed a grin to Gamble over her shoulder as he complimented her. "Yep, I really think I'm getting the hang of this. I've got calluses where I never expected them to be," she teased. "Pretty soon I'll have skin looking like leather and hands rough from work too."

    He chuckled at her equally appropriate summation of that situation, then nodded approvingly when she spoke. "Aye, tha' will suffice. Just be sure ya stick tae tha', no matter what." A smile as her fingers touched his ear. "Good girl. Just be verra careful while yer 'ere."
    He seemed to consider her question very carefully, before finally giving a short nod. "Aye, his name is Jayden Sadi." He wasn't sure if she would have heard it before, but he saw no harm in letting her know. If she knew, perhaps she would avoid him all the more. "An' I'm no' sure, but they would offer ya somethin'." He gave her a bit of a regretful look, but it didn't stop his head from shaking. "No luv, it's best tae leave it at tha' fer now. If ya dun get involved, I dun want ya pushin' yer pretty nose into it out of worry for other people either. Maybe they'll leave ye out o' it if ya dun know what's goin' on." Fingers lightly touched her arm before he looked up, as the waiter came back with his wine and two wine glasses. Accepting the liquor gracefully, Patrick then waved him away and opened the bottle himself.

    Gift and Christian both laughed lightly at Darshan's reactions, but neither could pretend they didn't understand. They could only handle individuals like Mace Drache in short spurts, and neither wanted to imagine what it must be like to be linked to him. Gift gave Darshan a double.
    Nodding in acknowledgement of the wise words, Christian had to agree. "I'll take care of Sadi elsewhere. But knowing Mace is here, then coming close to sense you as well," he gave Darshan a curious look, "will that cause her to run off and abandon her plans for Mace, or just attack with more vengeance because you're in her territory??" It was a valid question, and one that needed to be considered for the safety of those in the house.
    Gift nodded at that, musing privately. It seemed almost smart to move the majority of the gang away, just keeping Mace in the house. That would remove most of the baggage while still keeping the lure in place.
    Both sets of eyes looked at Darshan when he said his bit on Blaire, but neither said anything. Gift because she’d been thinking the exact same thing, and Christian because it made perfect sense. What else was there to say?? A lot of people were going to die.

    “Adopted son,” Queenie corrected with a smirk. “There’s a difference.” She wagged a finger at the smaller lioness. “And I don’t know about that whole loaning thing. Might make him feel less at home, like he’s not there permanently, yanno??” A slightly taunting wink. “Plus I’ll have to charge you. Probably on a minute basis, little cub, knowing you.”
    C.J. was still giggling, all through that conversation, and batted her lashes sweetly at Sahar. “I /am/ a paragon of maturity, aren’t I??” She did a pirouette, as if proving that very fact, and nearly fell down from laughing as Sahar spoke some more. “I notice there’s no option of Mace killing you,” she teased. “Is that just ‘cause he’s too nice to kill a woman, or what??”
    “Mace is a lover, not a fighter,” Queenie laughed, slapping the table top. “And honey, I don’t think the gang will ever get tired of you. You make the house just tremble with excitement.” She winked as C.J. stepped and turned and whirled.
    “Money??” the tiger asked, perking up at the thought. “I think I’d turn down the money just for another drink though.” She smiled seductively as the waiter came back, carrying a tray of multi-hued drinks with him. A marvelous grin was sent to C.J. as he set it down, and she pounced on them enthusiastically. By the time Queenie had unloaded all of her shots, C.J. was pounding back her last one.
    The waiter shook his head in some kind of amazement as C.J. whooped again and went back to dancing. “Should I go ahead and call the taxi??” he asked Queenie and Sahar with another grin.

    Glazed eyes stared hungrily at Peter’s face, nevermind the trembling knees and shaking fingers. Jon didn’t exactly feel the pain, though some part of his mind knew it was there. He didn’t feel the blood running down his chest, staining the floor around where he stood.
    “Yes,” he just kept whispering, every time He spoke. Anything He said, anything to make Him happy. And when He voiced his next request, Jon didn’t hesitate. Bloody fingers pulled at his pants, letting them drop just as lifelessly around his ankles. His boxers followed, and then his hands were cupping his balls as the knife dipped down.
    That kind of pain was overwhelming, short circuiting his thoughts and making his nerves scream. But Jon just continued staring at Peter, that anxious look still on his face past the hopeful smile that he was making Him happy. Even as the blood poured from his body and darkness ate at the corner of his vision, his smile was so happy, so anxious. He started to whisper something, but then darkness rolled over him and he didn’t even feel when his mutilated body hit the floor.

    “I’m sure she does,” Galen said softly. There were still times when he was amazed that he had Keller, that the whole mess between them had worked itself out in the end. If he felt that way, he could only imagine how Thierry felt after so many lifetimes of searching.
    “A bed, huh?” he said, with another little smile. “Well, you’ve never been picky. I think that you’ll find the accommodations here a little more welcoming than that.” Of course, he had no doubt that his brave panther could sleep in the most rugged of circumstances and not complain. Keller always had been tough. But for now, he welcomed the chance to pamper her a little.

    “What about ‘Fools Rush In’?” Anna teased. “That was one of his songs, wasn’t it? And it seems particularly fitting for our cracker jack ring wedding. Of course, if you really want to rebel and elope, it’s a short drive to Reno. We could get married by an Elvis /there/ instead of here.”
    She laughed at his suggested honeymoon spot, and shook her head. “L.A.? I don’t know, that may be the deal breaker for our fairytale wedding.” An eyebrow jerked upwards, although she continued to smile. “You know, I’m once again not sure which part of that to be offended by; that you think I’m a harlot, or that you think I’m such a bad harlot that I feel the need to hide it behind a demure exterior.”
    “Lies. Mmm-hmm,” she replied, with exaggerated disbelief.

    “I don’t think I even own a cowboy hat,” Gamble mused. “Then again, since you don’t seem to be letting the complete lack of cows keep you from becomin’ a cowgirl, I guess that my lackin’ a hat shouldn’t keep me from wearin’ one.” He winked at her, then nodded. “Easier to learn on something stationary, anyway. It’s not at easy as they make it look in those old spaghetti westerns.”
    “Yeah, I can’t see that snowstorms would be particularly romantic,” he agreed, since he wasn’t too fond of cold weather, anyway. “Not unless you’re inside by the fire, and enjoying it from a nice distance.”
    He let loose a bark of laughter as she talked about the calluses she was getting. “You poor thing. Of course, if you really want work-roughened hands, you could always help me clean out the stables when I do it this weekend,” he added, with just a hint of wicked humor.
    Sensitive ears picked up the soft rumble of thunder in the distance, and he made a speculative sound in the back of his throat. “It looks like you might get that rainstorm of yours, after all.”

    “I’ll be careful,” Ai promised again, as her fingers lightly touched the edge of his ear before sliding into his hair. They stayed there for a moment, before she allowed her hand to drop back to her side. Sometimes it was nice just to touch.
    If possible, her eyes darkened further when he offered the name of the orange-eyed man. “Yes, I’ve heard of him,” was all that she said. It was obvious from the look on her face that she wanted to push for a further explanation of the business around Blaire Floures, but she wasn’t about to pry when a friend seemed unwilling. “Okay,” she said, after the briefest of hesitations, a concerned note lingering in her voice. “I’ll accept that. But please, tell me if there’s anything I can do.”

    “She’ll attack,” Darshan said, with an elegant shrug, “and I’ll kill her.” He tossed back the drink, and sighed. “I would like to move the gang out of here, but they won’t be willing to leave Mace, and I worry that she would find a way to use /them/ as a lure for either myself or Mr. Drache. It bothers me to have so many potential casualties wandering around, but…” another shrug.
    He glanced up at the ceiling, and sighed again. “I think it’s already clear that the house is going to be a casualty,” he added, with a touch of grim humor.
    When both sets of eyes turned to him, he simply stared back. What else was there to say? A lot of people were going to die. Hopefully it wouldn’t be a lot of /their/ people.

    “You know,” Sahar said thoughtfully, “there is definitely something wrong about turning your adopted son into a ho. Even for someone as beautiful and talented as myself. I think the human authorities get kind of tetchy when you do something like that.” She made a face.
    “What she said,” she laughed, pointing to Queenie. “Besides, I wouldn’t kill Mace either. He’s bossy, but he’s waaaay too pretty to kill. He wouldn’t look so pretty…” pause, remember an earlier conversation, smirk “…as a zombie.”
    She watched with mild awe as C.J. pounced on her drinks, and grinned at the waiter when he walked up. “No, sugar, we’re fine. You might want to keep that in mind for later, though,” she said with a wink. Then she pointed at the margarita. “Can I get another one of these?”

    The soft, sweet smile remained on Peter’s face until Jon blacked out. Then it faded, leaving in its place a gently quizzical look, the eyes dark and dead. He stood there for a few long minutes, waiting for the moment when he could hear the heart stop its frantic pumping, the last breath rattle out of the lungs. There was a wide pool of blood on the floor, and he stepped back so that it wouldn’t soak into his shoes.
    “And these are the creatures you would have us protect, Mr. Descouedres?” he asked the silent room, his voice heavy with scorn.
    The phone was ringing again. He reached out and picked it up. “I’m afraid that Jon is unable to come to the phone,” he said, then hung up.
    He let himself out of the apartment, leaving the door unlocked behind him, and exited the building, once again whistling softly under his breath.

    Keller looked at Galen when he spoke, and reached over to brush her fingers lightly down his arm. She still wasn’t a remarkably demonstrative person, especially in public, but she couldn’t deny the pleasure she received just from touching her soulmate sometimes.
    A wry smile came to her face. “If they’re not, I think you should ask for your money back,” she teased lightly as the elevator dinged. Stepping inside, she waited for Galen before punching the appropriate floor. This close to a bed, her legs were just getting more anxious to get there.

    “Anna, you shouldn’t call yourself a fool like that,” he said disapprovingly, laughter still turning his mouth. “It can’t be healthy to have that kind of self-image.” The idea of hopping, skipping, and jumping over to Reno made his eyes light up playfully. “Why now that’s a swell idea. What d’ya say?? Wanna head over now?? We can pick up your ring on the way.” Because there was bound to be a convenience store somewhere that carried cracker jacks.
    “Okay, maybe not L.A.,” he amended, fingers playing over the side of his beer glass. “How about San Diego?? We can go to the beach, you can get a tan.” His eyes ran down her again, mock-appraisingly, and he grinned blandly. “And oh no, you should feel fully pleased by both comparisons. A harlot is simply a woman who appreciates her body and knows how to use it. And hiding it is just so not everyone will come knocking on your door, since they know what a good harlot is and all.” He winked again, enjoying the joke because it was so far from the truth. If Anna was a harlot, his mom really did wear thongs.
    Another wounded innocent look was given to his soulmate at her patent disbelief. “Totally. And I’m hurt that you’d even believe such lies about me. I mean---” He cut off as he felt a buzz from his hip and made a grimace of an apology to her. “Sorry, that’d be my phone, and only four other people would be calling me right now.” Retrieving it, he looked at the ID and nodded. “I knew it. I don’t even know why they’re calling me.” Clicking the silence button, because it would be rude to answer the phone when he was having quite an enjoyable…date??…with Anna, he put it back in his pocket.

    Julianna gave him a laughing look of utter disbelief. “You consider yourself a southern rancher, and you /don’t/ even own a cowboy hat?? Oh hun, I think that totally ruined your image. I’ll never be able to get it back now.” Another teasing look, before she nodded in understanding. “I’ll believe that. Nothing’s ever as easy as it looks in the movies or on TV, and I can vouch for a good deal of that.” Because gods knew she’d tried a lot of new things in her life.
    A nice little smile curved her lips as she nodded again. “Yep, snowstorms would be romantic inside and curled up by a fire. Like if all of the lights went out and we only had candles.” Her smile went a little dreamy and she mmmed in thought, twitching Daisy’s reins. Obviously, Julianna was a romantic at heart. Big surprise.
    His laughter rolled over the still desert and she gave him a mock-wounded look. “You’re laughing at me??” she teased. “I think I might have to take all of your dogs and leave Vegas now.” His wicked look made her laugh. “Sure, I have no problem with that.” Voice easy-going and calm, and she gave him a clear-eyed smile to counter his wickedness. “Seems fair, since I’ve enjoyed the horses as much as you. Plus I’m sure I’ve done worse.” An eye closed in a wink, before they rolled up to the sky again. She wondered if Christian was still upset, or if he just couldn’t always control the aftermath of his anger.
    “Rain,” she said happily, and lightly nudged Daisy into a trot once they were far enough into the desert. It was mostly flat land so there was no possibility of the horse faltering as she picked up speed.

    “Good,” he said again, fingers pressing against the side of her neck before he returned it to the back of the booth. He nodded when she admitted to knowing of Jayden, which was reassuring because it meant she’d be careful anyway. The idea of that bastard getting a hold of Ai made him just beyond angry and he sincerely hoped someone killed him before too long. He’d do it himself, if given the opportunity.
    Patrick’s expression became reassuring when he saw the look on her face. “Trust me, luv. Just take care o’ yer business ‘ere, and dun try tae become involved wit’ this o’er mess, ‘owever much ye’ll be tempted. If there’s somethin’ ya can do, I’m sure someone will contact ye.”

    Darshan’s blunt intentions received another toast from both Gift and Christian. “Yes, put her out of all of our memories,” Gift agreed. “Though if you could save the head, that would be nice. I’ve a notion to see her final expression.” She poured herself another drink as he spoke. “Yeah, having the gang apart from Mace would put a few of them into a panic just because. And it would worry and weaken Mace, as well as yourself. As reluctant as I am to have all of you in the same house, it does seem the best option.” A considering look was given to Darshan. “Do you want me to have some Hunters patrol the area?? They could lend a hand when the time comes to keep the gang safer, if you’d like.”
    “This house actually has a pretty nice feel to it too,” Christian mused, looking up as well. “It’ll be a shame to see it razed.” There was clearly no disagreement that the house would eventually become a casualty. It was just a question of when, not even how or why.
    Drinks were refreshed around the table and Gift dipped a finger into her glass. “We just need that list,” she mused. “Then we’ll know who to kill first, to get Blaire over here sooner rather than later.” She downed her drink as Christian nodded.

    “I would never,” Queenie exclaimed, putting a hand over her heart and seeming truly offended by the notion. Aside from the laughter in her eyes, which was a dead giveaway. “I wouldn’t /turn/ him into one, but I’d let him become one if he so wished. I’d let him keep all the money he made too, since he’d be such a good boy and all. Of course, he’d have to demonstrate all of his talents and new tricks for me before I let him out.” An innocent look, as she downed one of her shots.
    “At least he’ll be learning from the best,” C.J. said helpfully, grinning knowingly at Queenie. Who promptly threw an empty shot glass at her. The tiger laughed, catching it quite deftly in mid-air, and put it back on the table. “And he does seem to have the gang’s best interest at heart,” she pointed out to Sahar, defending Mace’s bossiness. She liked the hyena herself, though she wasn’t part of his gang or normal circuit, so that could be why. Plus he didn’t really boss /her/ around. Darshan got to do that.
    “He still needs to get laid,” Queenie grunted, downing another of her shots.
    C.J. mmmed an agreement and laid out /all/ of her shots. Clearly she had no respect for taking her time, since she knew how long it would take that way. The waiter just shook his head in amusement and grinned at Sahar. “You got it, honey bunch.” He was going to put a comment to the bar though, to watch out for these girls and make sure they didn’t leave with their keys.

    “I’ll do that,” Galen said, smiling, even though he probably wouldn’t. He just wasn’t one to make demands on people like that. The elevator rose slowly upwards, and opened on their floor without anyone else getting on. He stepped out, and led the way down the opulently decorated hallway to their room. He fished his key out so that he could unlock the door, then held it open for her. “Home, sweet home. For tonight, at least.”

    Anna made a face at him, but couldn’t seem to keep herself from laughing. “I’m sorry, baby. I have work tomorrow. Maybe we can schedule that elopement for later this week?” She cast an ironic glance down at the brown skin of her arm, then at his hand as it played over the beer glass. “I don’t think I need it, but maybe we can get your pasty self a little sun.” Although the thought of a vampire trying to tan was a little bit ludicrous.
    “Fine,” she said, with a resigned roll of her eyes. “I am a regular wild woman. Of course, according to the bathroom walls, I have nothing on…” She trailed off as his phone buzzed, and waved off his apology. “Don’t worry about it.”
    Her expression turned quizzical as he hit silence. Then she smiled; of course Price wouldn’t answer the phone while he was out with someone. “You can go ahead and answer it. At least see what they want.”

    “Yeah, but I own a ranch,” Gamble pointed out. “And horses. Sure that doesn’t count for something?” He nodded his agreement to her opinion of the way that things were shown in the movies, then grinned. “So I shouldn’t believe everything that James Bond tells me about espionage, huh?”
    The grin only grew as he saw the dreamy smile on her face, and he reached across the space between them to grasp her hand briefly before releasing it. “Maybe we can go down to Tahoe or somethin’ this winter. I haven’t seen snow in a long while. It might be nice.” Being cooped up in a cabin somewhere with Julianna hardly sounded arduous.
    He gave her a wounded look when she threatened to leave Vegas with his dogs, but couldn’t help laughing again when she agreed to help him in the stables. “It’s a date, although I’m not sure how romantic that’s goin’ to be.” He nudged his horse into a trot, catching up with Julianna, determined to enjoy both the ride and the coming rain.

    “Okay,” Ai agreed, and sighed, obviously not pleased with the decision, but willing to abide by it -- for the moment. “Okay.” She smiled faintly. “But I reserve the right to come busting in if I think you’re in trouble,” she said, attempting lightness. “It only seems fair.”
    Since he had opened the wine, she gently took it from his hands and poured them each a glass.

    “Anything for you, Gift,” Darshan said courteously. He pressed his lips together, considering her offer. “An order from me will send the gang out the door, if need be, but if you can offer a little help, that would be appreciated. Just as long as they know that they are to see to the gang, and nothing else. Your people are good, but I can’t see how any of them would be able to help with Terra. They would get in my way and get themselves killed.” Not because they weren’t talented, but because none of them were on the power level that Terra or the three in the kitchen were.
    He looked around the kitchen, and sighed softly. “It really is quit well appointed, isn’t it? What a shame.” Another shot was downed, and he looked grim as Gift spoke. “Yes, it all does come down to that list. Hopefully someone will be able to tell us something, at least.”

    “That’s kinky,” Sahar said, but she sounded approving, not reproachful.
    Her head fell back against the chair when C.J. defended Mace and his bossiness, but she couldn’t argue that, since she had been struck by the same thing earlier that day. “Oh, definitely,” she said, “but I think that Queenie has stuck on the core of the problem. The man /needs/ to get laid.”
    She smiled at the waiter, and downed the remains of her first margarita.

    Keller gave him another sideways look, and her expression wasn’t impressed but faintly amused. She was still waiting for that moment when Galen actually complained about anything bad that had happened in his life. Not to worry, that was her job. Luckily she’d never had problems with straightening out messes herself.
    “Tonight works,” she chuckled, stepping past him after brushing a kiss to his cheek. She wouldn’t have to be lodging a complaint anyway, it looked like. One glance around the room showed it was beautifully furnished and luxuriously padded. With a king sized bed that instantly captured Keller’s eye. “Oh wow,” she murmured, taking an instinctive step towards it. But she had to stop, and sighed briefly. She’d need to take a shower before she let herself lay on that pristine bed.

    “You want to /plan/ an elopement??” Price asked, clearly disbelieving. “Anna, honey, you really suck at this whole spontaneity thing.” He wiggled a finger. “You just wait. One day, I’m gonna come to pick you up from work, and it’s straight to Reno with us.” Looking himself at her richly tanned arm, he did have to grin. “Well, maybe you don’t need the tan so much. You’re pretty good looking the way you are. Though, I do feel I have to inquire if that tan is even…everywhere.” Another wicked wiggle of the brows as he pushed his empty beer glass to the side of the table.
    He laughed as she decided herself a wild woman, and was about to agree when she excused him to pick up his phone. An apologetic look was sent her way. “You’re sure??” When she agreed, he pulled his phone back out. Not that it mattered, because it stopped ringing right about then. “Or maybe not. If it’s really important, I’m sure they’ll call---” He stopped as the phone started buzzing again in his hand, and this time he gave it a bit of an uneasy look.
    Hitting receive, he pressed it to his ear. “What’s up Kim?? What’s---oh my god, what /is/ that??” Even across the table, Anna could likely hear the sobbing and screaming filtering through the slim phone. “Wait, I really can’t hear you. Is that Lindsay?? What’s wrong with her?? What??” Something shifted in his face as he listened, some of the laughter fading away and leaving behind a sharp predatory look. Price was his mother’s son, after all. “What do you mean, someone answered his phone?? She didn’t know the voice?? And he said what?? Well of course that doesn’t sound good, I thought you and Phillep were supposed to be over there.” He was pulling out his wallet as he listened. “Okay, yeah. I’ll head over there right now, why don’t you meet me in front. /No/, don’t go in yourselves. Wait until I get there. That’s right. I’m serious Kim, don’t. I can be there in like eight minutes. Okay. Bye.”
    He hung up, his eyes sharp and clear as he looked at Anna. “I’m really sorry Anna, but they think something’s happened to Jon and I’ve got to go take a look. Will you be okay here?? I can come back if you need me.”

    “No, not at all,” Julianna teased cheerfully. “If you don’t have the hat to go with it, it all counts for nothing.” She winked at him, then nodded with a grin. “Don’t even start me on James Bond. Do you know how many explosions I’ve been in in my life?? Two. Compared to about five that he gets in every ten minutes.” She shook her head in bemusement.
    She smiled again as his fingers enclosed hers, then nodded enthusiastically. “That sounds nice. Though are you sure, since you don’t like the snow??” A concerned look overtook her features as she looked at him. “You don’t have to do it just for me. Curling up in front of your fireplace sounds just as good, as long as you’re there.” That warm smile was sent to him again, her eyes soft.
    “Oh, just spending time with you is romantic,” she said blithely, as Daisy kicked it up to a canter. The growing wind whipped through her hair and she breathed it in deep, closing her eyes as she tilted her head back. It was nice. Definitely different from running on her own four feet, but still nice.

    Patrick laughed softly at her words, and inclined his head. “Aye luv, I willna deny ya tha’ right, when I’d take it maself if tha situations were reversed. But kindly ask afore ya bust in, as tha’ might be somewhat embarrassin’ in some cases.” He took the glass she filled with another nod of thanks, taking a sip and sighing his satisfaction. They did carry excellent years at this restaurant.

    Gift smiled at him, then nodded at his words. “Certainly,” she agreed. “As soon as you send the gang out, I’ll have the team round them up and get them away so you can take care of Terra. Mace…well, I’ll let you decide what to do with him when the time comes.”
    “Maybe they can rebuild afterwards,” Christian mused, still looking up at the hole. “It’ll be a good bonding experience for the gang, and they can make it better. More to their liking, perhaps.” He shrugged and downed a few more shots.
    Refilling her drink again, Gift nodded. “Juli should be able to get the big names at least, and from there we can get the smaller names if necessary.” She opened another bottle as Christian took the rest of the current one.

    Queenie smirked. “His job will be to work those kinks out, worry you not, sweet pea.” She nodded firmly at Sahar’s agreement. “Definitely. He’s not usually this up tight, but he just hasn’t been getting out as much lately. Don’t know what his deal is.”
    “Maybe he’s found a lady and he’s saving himself for her,” C.J. chimed, motioning for more shots as the waiter went to get Sahar’s margarita. “Yanno, he’s getting on in age, maybe he’s ready for kids. Wanting an heir and stuff.”
    “Which means you clearly don’t come here often enough,” Queenie laughed. “I don’t know if he’ll ever settle down. And Mace with kids?? Oh Jesus, save us now.”

    The ding of the elevator made Ash raise his head again. Bleary eyes stared at the door for a minute, before he rolled over and up to his feet. An empty bottle slipped from his fingers and he blinked at it, not even realizing he’d still been holding it. At least it was empty so no stain spread across the carpet.
    Shambling over to the door, he pulled it open and stuck his head out. A woman had just stepped off the elevator, carrying what looked like an empty ice bucket. Leaning against the doorframe, a slow blond brow rose at the girl as he looked her over. Seeing her pretty long neck and hearing her human blood flow smoothly through her body reminded him how hungry he was. “Lost??”

    Galen followed her into the room, closing the door behind him and throwing the deadbolt into place. He moved to hug her briefly from behind, then released her and walked across the room to open the door to the bathroom. "Jacuzzi tub," he said temptingly. Because he knew Keller well enough to know that she would want to remove the day's grime, and he figured that a Jacuzzi tub was almost as nice as a king-sized bed.

    "So we have it all planned out, and this way, I'll only have to fear your mother after we return," Anna said brightly. She followed his gaze to her arm, then looked back up at his face, wagging her eyebrows in a clear imitation of him. "Wouldn't /you/ like to know?"
    She waved him on when he went to answer his phone, and took the last bite of her food. The phone stopped buzzing, then started again, and her eyes sharpened perceptively on his face. It was important, then. Then she heard the sobbing and screaming that came filtering through the phone, and she waved down the waiter for their bill without even having to ask. While he talked on the phone, she paid for the meal, her attention still focused on the half of the conversation that she could hear.
    "You won't have to come back, because I'm coming with you," she replied, when Price turned to her. "I drove, remember?"

    "That's so sad, but I suppose I'll have to live with it," Gamble said easily. "I'll just be some guy with a ranch and horses. Actually has kind of a nice ring to it, don't you think?" He tilted his head, and looked at her through the dark. "Honey, do I want to know what kind of circumstances you were in that led to things explodin'?"
    "I like the snow just fine, as long as I'm not in it," he replied, a teasing light in his eyes. "We're talkin' about sitting inside and looking at it, not goin' clomping through it. Besides, Tahoe is real nice to look at, no matter what the season is. A little bit of a tourist trap, but I live outside of Las Vegas; I'm used to that by now."
    A soft, fond smile was the only response to her last comment, as he nudged the mare he was riding into a canter, and then into a full gallop. She was a restless young thing, and she needed the exercise. Then, because Julianna had been calling him a rancher, and just because he could, he tossed an imaginary cowboy hat into the air and let out a resounding, "Yee haw!"

    A slow smile curved Ai's lips at his words. "I'll make sure to knock at the very least," she informed him lightly. "I suppose you could always tie a stocking around the door knob if you're doing anything that I wouldn't want to interrupt," she added, more than happy to guide the conversation into more entertaining, and less tense, territory.
    She took a sip of the wine, swirling it around on her tongue and enjoying the flavor before swallowing it. "Mmm."

    "I'll get him out if I can," Darshan said. "Unfortunately, I can all too easily see Terra deciding that if she cannot have him, no one can. There's no use planning for anything so specific until the time comes. I would have to throw any battle plan out the window within five minutes; Terra is far too unpredictable." That alone made her dangerous.
    "There are very few gang members whom I would trust to handle power tools," he remarked, and ticked them off on his fingers. "Zeke. Luke." Then he looked down at the two fingers he was holding out, and closed his eyes in one slow blink. "Humm."
    He refilled his glad with the bottle that Gift had opened, and raised a silent toast to her absent but very talented sister.

    "Maybe..." But whatever explanation Sahar had been about to suggest was cut off when she gave a deep, gasping laugh at C.J.'s suggestion. She had known Mace for almost half of her life, and she... just couldn't see it. "Mace with a little woman and a pack of runts? You should mention that you him. It might scare him out of his current celibacy, just to dissuade you of that idea."
    She tossed her hair over her shoulder, and cast an amused glance at Queenie. "Am I still supposed to be holding auditions for a suitable candidate to get Mace laid?" Once again, her mind supplied her unbidden with the image of licking pizza sauce off of Mace's admittedly very nice abs, and she raised one hand and waved it in front of her, as if she would swat the thought out of the air.

    The elevator door slid open, and Katya stepped off, drumming the ice bucket in her hand against her thigh in an absent, staccato rhythm. She stopped as she stepped into the hallway, and twisted around to get her bearings. It wouldn't be that hard to locate the ice machine, since it was probably located in the same place that it had been on her floor, but...
    She looked up when she was addressed, her eyes coming to rest on the blond man standing in one of the doorways. There was a momentary pause after he asked his question, and her brow furrowed slightly. Her voice when she spoke was heavily accented, and each word was formed slowly, arduously. "No." The answer to the question. Then, "Ice." Either an explanation or a request for directions.

    Eyes half-closing just at the thought of the soak she was about to receive, Keller licked her lips. "Now the real question, where will I wind up sleeping tonight," she said, stepping beside Galen to peer into the bathroom. Yep, a Jacuzzi tub just as big as she could hope for. This hotel might receive a "thank you" card in the morning.

    Price replaced his wallet when he saw Anna was taking care of the bill, his expression only briefly disapproving since he said /he/ would be treating her tonight. He wasn't entirely sure how worried he should be feeling right now, just because a strange man had answered Jon's phone and said he couldn't talk right now. Though his team was pretty inclusive, Jon did have friends in Daybreak that most of them didn't know. Lindsay overreacted a lot.
    But the sound of her sobbing had made something hurt in his gut, and he had that chilly feeling that something just wasn't right. Which was why he hesitated for a second when Anna said she was coming with. While it would beat having to call a cab or run over to Jon's, he wasn't sure he wanted her in on this.
    Then again, this was Anna.
    "Okay, let's go," he said, rising to his feet. He took her elbow, gently, and led her outside. Expression a bit abstracted, he walked over to her car. "Let me drive??"

    Julianna tossed a grin over at him, handling Daisy's reins with the touch of someone becoming familiar with them. "Not to mention you have a ranch and horses in Las Vegas. That has a really nice ring to it." A hand waved carelessly in the dark, wiping away any importance about her being in explosions. "Oh, just typical stuff. I helped my sister find a really bad man that didn't want to be found, then I helped her find a group of people who /really/ didn't want to be found." Her expression turned musing as she stretched in her seat. "They blew up my apartment though. Was really sad. I liked that place." Shoulders lifted a "what can you do about it" shrug and she gave him another warm smile. "I haven't been in an explosion in eight years though. Let's see Mr. Bond say that."
    Giggling, she edged Daisy a bit closer to him, reaching out to catch his hand. It had to be a pretty typical scene, a couple holding hands while riding horseback, but Julianna liked it anyway. "I don't know, sweetie, if I see all that snow outside, I might be too tempted to go play in it. I haven't made a good quality snow angel in a while either. And I surely hope you're used to the tourist thing by now, otherwise maybe you shouldn't live in Vegas." She gave him a teasing wink, lifting his hand to kiss the back of it, before releasing it to take up the reins again. Still not quite comfortable when she didn't have them in both hands. Especially when they started running.
    Gamble's "yee haw" echoed over the desert and Julianna laughed, loud and just as echoing. Daisy neighed softly, slowing her pace, before Julianna nudged her on. "Now that was precious. I always wanted to do that whole rearing back thing, when your horse kicks the air and all." A doubtful look was given to Daisy's bobbing head. "I don't think Daisy can manage that though. Not to mention I'd probably fall off." A sheepish smile, because her seat still wasn't the best.

    Patrick smiled back, eyes soft and heavy-lidded in the dim lighting. "Luv, would tha stockin' make ya pause, or make ye barge in just 'cause ya couldna resist??" he teased. "Dun think I wanna put any o' ma companions in a situation like tha' an'way." Not that he'd be embarrassed, but some women were strange that way.
    He inclined his head approvingly and took another slow sip from his glass. Some liquods were meant to be pounded back, but wine was not one of them.

    "Her obsession with Mace, still after all of these years, is simply mind-boggling," Gift murmured, a hint of fascination in her own voice. Just because she wished she knew what so captivated a dragon for the younger Drache. "But yes, she's always been unpredictable, aside from a few obvious moves." Because none of them could doubt she would come for Mace again. Just depended on how and when.
    Christian smirked again and opened his mouth, then seemed to change his mind. "I was about to say the others could at least handle a hammer and nails, or something like that, but I believe I've changed my mind." He held his glass out to Gift, who promptly refilled it. "In that case, it's going to be a very long time before the new house is up. I wonder which hotel they'll crash at until that time comes."
    "Lovely word choice," Gift murmured, and Christian smiled blandly, which clearly meant he'd chosen it just for that purpose.
    They both raised their own glasses in the silent toast to Julianna. "It would've been quite interesting to know the parents who spawned such children," Christian said, with a small wink at Gift, who simply smiled and tossed another shot.

    C.J. hmmphed at the lionesses, seeming offended on Mace's behalf. "You two just have closed minds. Maybe he could change?? People change. He could want a family now, what's wrong with that?? It hits men eventually, most of the time."
    Still grinning, Queenie nodded agreeably. "No arguments there. But I'm with Sahar. Tell Mace that and see what he says." The grin turned into a smirk as she glanced sideways at Sahar. "Or what he /does/." Clearly she had no delusions about her much beloved leader.
    Nodding some more, Queenie doused another drink before saying, "Oh yeah, sugar beet. I expect the first auditions to take place tomorrow. Poor Mace needs something to make him happy, after what happened today."
    After done two more hip-shaking twirls, C.J. fell into her chair, making a face. "I can understand that. Poor Mace." Her expression became dark and maybe just a touch frightened for a moment, as she recalled her own day, but the waiter came back then. With Sahar's bowl of a margarita, and...more shots!
    C.J. crooned incomprehensible things as he lined them up with her, tucking the tray under his arm with a grin. She grinned back. "Oh, you want to see a show?? Oh fine, I can handle that." Sitting up straight, clearing her throat, doing some nifty hand turns, making a big show of it, C.J. winked at her girls. Then she, quite calmly but with some scary speed, downed the entire line of colorful shots.  Again.
    The waiter shook his head as she dropped the last empty glass on the table. "Damn girl, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. Want some more??"
    "Oh yes," C.J. giggled, picking up a glass and licking the rim of it. "Plllleeeeaaase."

    Ash looked at the girl for a moment, the accent obviously heavy to his ears. He didn't know it, off the top of his head. Maybe German?? It sounded a little harsh.
    "Ice," he repeated, slowly running his tongue over his suddenly aching gums. "Yeah. Come on, I'll show you." He pushed off the doorframe, leaving the door ajar as he started down the hall. About halfway down, nestled into an alcove with a vending and Coke machine, was the ice maker. "There," he said, pointing with a finger. His eyes, a sickly shade of green, focused on her neck when she passed him.

    A soft chuckle escaped Galen's lips, and he placed a light kiss on her temple when she stepped up next to him in order to examine the bathroom. "Well, I promise that I'll keep you from drowning in the tub, if you fall asleep," he said. "Of course, you might turn into a giant prune, if you spend too long in the water." Not that he wouldn't still love her if she was turned into a giant prune of course.
    He looked over the bathroom, and gave a contented sigh as his eyes ran over the Jacuzzi tub and the big fluffy towels hanging beside it. Yes, there was nothing to complain about in regards to either the bed or the bathroom.

    The briefly disapproving look that Price gave Anna was met with an apologetic shrug. "Next time," she promised serenely, then waited through his hesitation over whether or not she was going to come with him. He agreed, and she allowed him to guide her outside, although she did hesitate briefly when he asked if he could drive.
    "Okay," she said, after a moment. She unlocked the passenger side so that she could get in, then handed him the keys. "They think that something has happened to Jon?" she repeated, turning it into a question as she climbed into the car and buckled herself into the seat.

    "Technically, I'm outside of the city limits," Gamble said, in a mild voice. He cast her a sideways glance as she spoke of the explosions she had been in, an amused tilt to his lips. "I think I'm a bit worried about what you consider typical, sweetheart. Too bad about your apartment. I'm sure your new place is just as nice, though." When she said that she hadn't been in an explosion in eight years, he inclined his head in a gratified nod. "Now that's good to know."
    Another smile, this one more tender than amused, crossed his face when she caught his hand. "Well, then, you can romp in the snow, and I'll watch, and help to defrost you when you're done. How's about that?" He gave an elaborate shudder at the thought of tourists, but didn't contradict her.
    His laugh echoed hers. "I don't think anyone but you has ever called me precious, darlin'. That's a new one by me. Daisy there could probably manage it, but she wouldn't be happy about her. Why don't we hold off on the rearin' back, for now?" Like a smart man, he neither confirmed nor denied that she would fall off if she tried anything so tricky on a horse.

    The look that Ai gave Patrick was a little indignant. "Please, Patrick. I /do/ have better things to do than play the voyeur for you and one of your light-of-loves." She did smile a little bit at the thought, though. Patrick was lovely to look at, and it was a shame that voyeurism had never been one of her kinks.
    Rather than state this, she took another little sip of her wine. "You have good taste," she murmured, not sounding particularly surprised.

    "I've never truly understood that," Darshan said, swirling his drink around in its glass before tossing it back. "I mean, I'm certain that Mace is a handsome man, and he does have dragon blood in him, but..." But really, what else was there to attract a dragon to him? He cared for his gang in a way that impressed Darshan, but Terra wouldn't care about that. He was intelligent, but not in any really remarkable way. If he had the same sadistic streak as the dragon did, he was much better at hiding it, because Darshan had never seen any real sign of sadism in the younger Drache. So what was it?
    "Ah, yes, Terra's obvious moves," he said, sarcasm heavy on his voice. "Molest Mace, attempt to kill you, and occasionally poke me with a stick in order to see if I will bite. Have I missed anything?"
    He simply shook his head at Christian's words. "Did you see the remains of the toaster in the sink?" he asked. "Gift, Terra and I were not responsible for that. Of course, you both missed the earlier display on the stairs, but I'm not sure I can blame the gang for that, since one of the people involved was not a gang member, and the other was my soulmate." Another shake of his head. "I will simply suggest to them that they don't relocate to the Paris. We've done enough property damage to that particular hotel as it is."
    A sideways glance was slanted at Gift, and he smiled faintly. "I always assumed that Ms. Redfern sprung from the ground, fully formed and gun in hand," he said, a little dryly.
    Of course, when it came to springing from the ground fully formed... he couldn't really comment, could he?

    "Who he does," Sahar corrected promptly, and cheerfully. Because if C.J. managed to provoke Mace into jumping the first woman that he came across, well, that made her job easier, didn't it? Well, maybe the second female he came across, because he couldn't very well jump C.J. Mace wasn't that stupid.
    She pasted on a mournful look. "/I/ thought that an orgy on the stairs would cheer him up, but obviously I was wrong. Maybe I shouldn't be picking out a woman for him, after all." She watched with wide dark eyes as C.J. finished another round of drinks, then chortled gleefully. "Daaaaamn, girl."
    She took a demure sip of her own drink, then returned to the previous topic of conversation. "I met his brother today," she said, and made a vague gesture near her head, which might have indicated a crown or a pair of horns. Or maybe she just thought that Galen had pretty hair. There really was no way to say for sure.