“He has a girlfriend,” Bosy suddenly whispered.Alta scoffed. “He has a girl he’s been fucking for a few days. Hardly girlfriend status.”“Point. And your humans?”“They’re just humans,” Alta said and then cringed. “God, I hate having a conscience about stuff like this now.”“I doubt Francel Gumaka’s gay, or even bi. Wolves aren’t like that. Very one-mate-for-life kind of creatures.”Alta rolled his eyes. “I doubt he’s going to be mating with this cat for life.”“Or a faerie. Look, he’s probably going to end up with some girl in his pack because of some type of status builder.”“How do you know so much about it?”“Vampires are the same way. That girl Tsuki wanted to be clan leader. She decided she needed a mate, and bam, guess who that was? Eventually we took over the clan. We were pretty powerful, ruling together and then she let it go to her head a bit, and I started pulling away from her. She started lying about me, and then suddenly the pack turned on me, and I was kicked out. Tsu
“Yes. Or until they kill each other off.”Daniela glided to the wall and leaned in close. She sniffed Bosy, and then her nose wrinkled. “You’ve been drinking elf blood.”Bosy didn’t try to deny it.“Your band mate?”“Yes.”“Why?”Bosy laughed. “He’s got a bit of a fang fetish, if you’d believe it. And it beats the shit out of animal blood.”“But he’s an elf.”Bosy sighed. “Yes, he’s an elf. But he’s also cute, and funny and makes me laugh. He makes me laugh, Dany. I actually wrote a happy love song last night. Well, it’s not finished, but it’s happy, about being in love, and how every time it’s new and—”“Okay, okay. I get it. What about the other members?”“The faerie is still a bit annoying, but he actually called us his friends today. He’s in love with the wolf and the wolf is falling in love with him. And Ciel Karhillaz is just Ciel Karhillaz. He sits there quietly and observes us. When he does talk though, it’s usually pretty profound.”Daniela nodded and settled a hand on Bosy’s
“How many days until the full moon?” Bosy asked.“Three,” they both said.Bosy grinned at Alta. Alta flipped him off.“What are we supposed to do then?” Bosy asked.“It’s just for a night. I head to the hunting grounds before sunset, eat, and then come back.”“Savage,” Alta said, but instead of disdain, lust colored his voice.Francel shook his head. “What is it with these light creatures wanting to be with dark ones?” he asked Bosy.Alta moved in beside him and kissed his cheek. “Ever think that maybe it’s because of who you are, not what you are?”Alta left the kitchen before Francel could react.He turned wide eyes to Bosy. “Did a faerie just say that? Did that faerie just say that?”Bosy smirked. “Yeah, he did. What about your cat?”Francel shrugged. “She was fun, I guess, but this is … is …”“Better?”“Don’t know about that, but it’s different.”“You’ve never been with another guy.”Francel didn’t know why he blushed, but he did.“Don’t worry. Alta knows that. And for some reason
“Alta, you should probably start it,” Francel said. “You and Wimer Aslix. Then Bosy take the second verse.”“It would sound awesome if we harmonized on the chorus,” Wimer Aslix said.“Alright, boys, move the papers,” Alta said.He set a bowl of rice in the middle of the table. Four other platters floated behind him. As soon as there was room, he set down noodles, a plate of beef, vegetables and chicken. Another flick of his hand had dishes and chopsticks flying through the kitchen. Wimer Aslix had to duck as a carton of juice just missed his head.“Sorry sorry,” Alta said. “I’m so used to aiming for you that I got that a bit too close.”The others laughed.“And for you, my darling,” Alta said and set a plate in front of Francel. Again, it was full of practically raw meat and only a few vegetables and noodles.Wimer Aslix cringed. “That’s disgusting.”“You bathe in shit, my friend,” Alta said. “Remember that.”“Right.”“So since I’m not as arrogant, I’m not as disgusting, right?”More
Francel and Alta stayed up way later than they should have. Francel knew it, but he just couldn’t bring himself to go to bed. Even after Bosy and Wimer Aslix had retired, and then Bosy reappeared, looking flush and happy, to go patrol. Ciel Karhillaz stayed up, but finally said good night to his friends and went to bed.Francel kept massaging Alta’s feet, even though he wanted to rub higher and higher on his legs, thighs, body. They watched the rest of the news report. No creatures were happy about the rumors of an integrated group. Some of Francel’s previous band members were interviewed, and while they all agreed that he had been a good leader, they also agreed that something hadn’t been quite right with him.Alta scoffed at that. “Showing signs of a faerie kink even back then, were you?”Francel grinned. “Must have been.”And then Athena’s face was there. “It’s all a bunch of bull beep. Who cares if they’re integrating? We have to live with these creatures, why not try to treat the
When the elevator stopped, Alta held the doors shut. “Hang on,” he said and waved his hand at all of them.A brief wind blew in their faces and then settled. Alta nodded. “There. Much better.”“What is?” Wimer Aslix demanded.Alta smirked. “I have natural beauty, but you four looked like you just rolled out of bed. I glamored you a bit for the cameras.”Another wave made the door of the elevator into a mirror. Glamour-ed up was an understatement. Their hair was styled, make up done, even their clothes looked like they were tailored and expensive.“Alta,” Bosy said and tugged at gelled hair.“Look, guys. This is the first time we’re going out on camera, alright? We’re going to look good, and not look like a ragtag group of miscreants who just happened to be thrown into a group together.”Bosy opened his mouth again, but Francel stopped him. “It’s a good idea. Thanks, Alta.”“I could have turned your shirt pink,” Alta said.v-vSylver stepped into the lobby and then groaned. Extra secur
Wimer Aslix called to the front desk and made sure the car was there and ready to go. They got in the elevator. Halfway down, Wimer Aslix flung a burst of cold wind at Alta’s face. He barely looked up, so then Wimer Aslix drenched him in water.Alta’s eyes shone with blue fire. “Leave me alone.” He waved a hand and dried himself off.“I will not leave you alone,” Wimer Aslix said and grabbed the sides of Alta’s face to make him look at him.“We’re about to wade through a bunch of reporters and you need to be the carefree, smiling, gorgeous faerie you are, you understand me? They’re going to want to know what’s wrong with Francel, and by damn, you’re not going to let them realize that you even care. You want that to get out, that you have feelings for a werewolf?”“I don’t care who knows.”“I know, and in time, we’ll let everyone know, but now is not that time. Now, come on. Smile. Smile and be arrogant and gorgeous and exude that faerie grace of yours that makes humans lose themselves
“Holy shit,” Wimer Aslix said as they pulled up to Summoner's Mages.There were creatures everywhere. Segregated, of course, but everywhere just the same. The vampires were conspicuous with their absence, but there were elves and faeries glaring at each other. Zombies sitting by themselves eating. And werewolves growling at them all. There were police everywhere. And cameras and reporters and bystanders.As soon as the car stopped, uniformed security opened the door. Lots of security.“Well, let’s go,” Alta said and climbed out of the car.Everything went deathly silent for only a second and then the insults started. Even from the faeries. It hurt Alta to know that many of those faeries had been his friends. And the elves were hurling curses at Wimer Aslix. Alta kept his smile though, turning it to Ciel Karhillaz when he climbed out of the car. The zombies stayed surprisingly quiet, but still glared at Ciel Karhillaz with disdain.“This is going to be interesting,” Alta said. “Don’t f