by Erin R Flynn
10
Minutes before the party was to start, I was rushing to get ready at the club, the crazy work from the day not giving me as much time as I needed. Luckily everyone had prepared for that, so Gayle was doing my makeup as Beth did my hair in between me feeding and feeding some more to get at the top of my game for whatever else might arise.
Goran knelt before me and put on my crazy silver heels that went with my even crazier silver dress. If I was honest, the thing was ridiculous. It had one tie around my neck, the material draping over my chest, barely covering my nipples and really more to hide them… Since it was sheer. Yeah, it wasn’t just like stocking sheer, but it was fucking sheer. The slits went up to my hips, and there was no back, more fabric gathered at the top of my butt.
Everything could be seen if I leaned one way or another, and that was sort of the point.
“You’ve been quiet,” I worried when Gayle finished, smiling and thanking her before looking down at him, his orange eyes so conflicted. “Do you want to go with him?”
“No, no I truly do not want that.” He stayed kneeling, rubbing his hands over my smooth legs. “I loved him, but no more. As flattering as it is that he challenged you for the chance at me, it still means he sees me as something to barter for.” I opened my mouth to argue, and he shook his head. “Sera, he’s worked with you enough to know you’re honorable. He could have just asked . It’s still the games, and that will never change.
“It hurts that even in his best attempt to win me back, it was a game. It hurts me as someone who loved him that he won’t just move on and let go, be happy. You want that for the people you loved and grew away from. When you’re as old as we are, you want that, the petty no longer mattering.”
“It also hurts he didn’t play games in the thousand years since you ended but only once you said you were happy and free of Igor and him.”
“Maybe,” he sighed, leaning his forehead to my knees. “Thank you for this, Sera. I know it’s not easy, but thank you. I wish us both to be free. I know this brings up horrible memories for you since he’s a councilman, but I swear to you he would never do as Igor did.”
“Okay, then let’s have a different night and maybe we can just learn to have fun with some exciting games instead of fear and panic.” I didn’t think that was really what would happen, but I hoped so.
Fuck, I so hoped so.
When we left so I could officially arrive by driving around the block, there wasn’t anyone with C4 to try and blow up the place like the last big party, so that was already an improvement.
I was glad for the jacket when I waved as I walked the red carpet with Goran, relying on him to not fall in the heels that were way too high. Once we were inside, we handed our jackets to the host that was working the coat check, not doing the normal dinner and club for the fundraiser, but the rule of no phones in the club was still in effect.
I glanced around, smiling at the amazing job Gayle had done with the hosts’ costumes. They were all in body paint and not much of it. Mostly she’d painted what looked like fireworks exploding over nipples and other areas. Festive gatherings of glitter, but everyone was all out, and they’d wanted it, saying if the tickets were a thousand bucks each, what did they care to show them some skin.
Goofs.
And yes, that was how much the tickets were. Dinner and the club were included, drinks, and a huge spread. We were raising money to pay for the cost of renting trucks and drivers and help to haul away everything Laila had agreed to get out of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan once the snow and ice were gone. So really it was a fundraiser for cleaning up Chicago, which most people who lived there were for.
“I cannot believe you made me buy my own ticket,” Brian chuckled as I leaned in to kiss him.
“Hey, you make way more than me, remember?” I threw right back, shooting Galvin a glance like of course I knew the men made more than me.
“For the record, that’s more your division budget restrictions than a sexist thing,” he offered as I greeted him with a professional handshake.
“Oh, so when I made less than male SAiCs? That was budget too?”
He frowned, and Brian coughed to cover his laugh.
I shrugged. “I could be mean and go over how many more cases I closed and arrest records I had better and still made less.”
“I think you just did, Thomas,” Monroe chuckled, kissing my cheek as he handed me an envelope. “Vlad made a donation to the cause but has his own yearly event.”
“Well, that was nice of him,” I accepted, handing it to Lillie when she offered us drinks, asking her to get it to Simone. I felt him as he approached, smiling that he was in his court garments that were so flattering. “Deputy Director Galvin, may I introduce Dain Morton, one of the fairy warriors who finished training at Quantico and is helping to retrain teams from DC and Miami.”
“Nice to officially meet,” he greeted, shaking Dain’s hand. “I stopped in when you were training and was impressed with what I saw from the three of you.”
“Thank you, sir,” he accepted, dropping his hand. “Queen Laila was quite pleased at the open-mindedness of the FBI and dedication of your trainers to keep everyone safer and learn the truth of us instead of stories.” He turned and bared his neck to me. “You look a vision, Sera.”
“And you delicious in your court clothes,” I purred, leaning in and giving his neck a quick lick. “Have fun with your pass tonight.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll see. I want to keep an eye on everything and make sure there aren’t any problems with so many people attending and arriving at different times for dinner without reservations.”
I nodded. “There are appetizers upstairs, and the bar is open for any who come earlier than a table is ready. They have access to the hot tubs too. They knew it was first come first serve to be seated. Everyone won’t be able to get off work on time or have the luxury of getting ready downtown. It should be fine.” I glanced at Galvin. “Are you really up for seeing the greetings and stuff?”
“I can handle it,” he promised.
“Be careful what you agree to,” Brian warned, sharing a glance with me. “Things get a bit heavy when you’re in the party of the Alpha.”
I nodded, knowing he meant when Alpha Hinata had visited and tried to steal people from my party. “Too many humans tonight, and last night of the full moon. Everyone will be friendly and ready to have fun instead of much shoving matches.”
The bear Alpha greeted me, and so did a few of the other leaders, no problems as expected. Noe was surprising though, touching my arm gently when I kissed his neck.
“Thank you, but I’m spoken for tonight. Maybe another full moon.”
He dipped his head. “Let me know if you’re available ever, and please take it as a standing invitation.” He nodded to the others before moving on.
“What invitation?” Galvin asked quietly.
“Sex, sir. He offered to be my moon mate and have lots of sex,” I answered, smiling when he shot Monroe a look as if asking if I was kidding.
“Welcome to the dark side, sir,” Monroe chuckled. “We know how to throw a real party as opposed to stuffy DC events.”
The only other fun was when I growled at a deer who offered herself to Brian, warning her he was mine. She bared her throat to me in apology and hurried off.
“She told me to come,” Mr. Evans blurted when he greeted me. I raised an eyebrow at that, his wife about to pop with their first child and on bedrest since she was huge and we were feeding her energy to bring out her witch side. “She said I’m hovering, and I’m not playing tomorrow, so she told me to come and get out of her hair, and here she knows someone won’t try and post pictures implying I was doing something I wasn’t.”
“Have a good time then and tell whoever is serving your table I said to make sure you get extra dessert to bring home to her.”
“Thanks,” he chuckled, kissing my cheek before shaking Brian’s hand. “Glad you got a chance to
come out. A bunch of the team were talking seriously about running those obstacle courses you were talking about and go toe-to-toe with some of your guys.”
“Sounds like fun,” he agreed, smiling brightly at the idea of having an afternoon playing with some of the Chicago Bears.
Men.
Goran flinched and moved his arm around me, letting his fingers slip into my dress and play with the side of my right breast for anyone to see… And around three people who worked for the FBI, yeah, they noticed.
“Alpha, you look divine,” the councilman greeted, leaning over so I could kiss his cheeks. We’d already done the official greeting for the visit, and there was no need to broadcast I was more powerful than him in a way that could be embarrassing.
“Thank you. That is a sharp suit. I know a few men who would be nearly as handsome as you in such a suit.”
“Nearly?” he teased me, smirking. He turned to Goran, nodding when my date bowed to him formally. “Goran, you look well.”
“I am, thank you, Councilman. I was delighted you were able to change your schedule around so last minute to join us.”
“You said it was important and something I’d want to be a part of, and you never lie,” he accepted, reaching out and squeezing Goran’s shoulder before quickly letting go. He was with a sexy vampire I hadn’t met yet, one of the ten left that apparently was joining us at our small table. Interesting.
It got more interesting right away.
“Mistress,” he greeted, giving me his throat too. I leaned in and kissed him, shivering as he ran his fingers up my naked arm.
“Interesting,” I purred, meeting his gaze.
“What is?” Brian asked.
I nodded to the hand touching me. “Why play with two when you can play with three, right?” I smirked at the councilman. “Your sexy guest distracts me while you make another move? But you forget he’s now mine along with the others.”
The vampire cleared his throat, his fingers still moving. “No, Mistress. I apologize if I’ve offended you, but I offered all on my own. I would think every available man would after seeing you in such a dress as gorgeous as you are.”
“Interesting,” I repeated, not accepting nor denying the advances. I glanced at the councilman. “My apologies.”
He raised an eyebrow. “For assuming I’m starting the games already.”
I chuckled as I moved back by Goran. “They started when you walked into my office and challenged me. We knew they were going to be played the moment Goran called you.”
“Too true.” He nodded to the others. “Are they joining us?”
“No, I prefer my bosses not see my full moon and New Year’s fun. Maybe later.” I took his arm when he offered it. “We have our own private table out of the way.”
“Then let the games begin,” he murmured, looking down my dress. “Yes, indeed.”
That sounded about right.
I went in first, leaving just enough room for Goran on my right, and the councilman met me in the middle of our four person booth. The last guy sat, and I leaned over the councilman so he could see his fill. “I never got your name.”
“Carter Gomez, Mistress,” he murmured, taking in a slow breath as he looked me over.
“Can I taste you, Carter?” I purred, my hand on the councilman’s thigh. High up on it.
“Of course.” He leaned over and moaned as I fed, feeling how powerful he was and liking it.
I sighed as I sat back against Goran. “He’s powerful. Not as much as you, but I think he would be a good addition to our idea.” I smiled when he kissed my ear, his hand going back in my dress.
“Goran, are you truly happy here?” the councilman asked, skipping what else I might have said.
“I am, Apollo,” he promised, kissing my hair. “After thousands of years trapped with Igor, suffering his abuse and evil, she is a breath of fresh air.”
“You are powerful enough to be your own master,” Apollo shot back, Goran flinching. “Igor was blinded by his own ego, but most of us knew you were more powerful than him for a long time. You need no master or mistress.”
“No, but I do not wish to lead a coven.” He paused when drinks and appetizers arrived but then continued. “I am free, Apollo. She is my Mistress but not my master.”
“How can that be?” he asked, sounding frustrated and worried about Goran too.
Goran shrugged. “Her pack is a family. We have our own home next door to their mansion for security, but we are not watchdogs. I have my own workroom. Brutus gets paid to tutor the rabbits. All she asks is we help like a family. I train because she asked it of us but also because I wanted to. I found her insight, her knowledge of security—along with Noah’s—shocking at how neglectful Igor had been.
“And once a week I guard a few of the boys when they see their therapist she pays for so they can heal. She offered the same for us. She is a goddess, not a jailer, not a warden. We come help out at the club and drink our fill of strong blood. We follow the laws of this country, her rules as she is in the public spotlight as law enforcement, and live our lives. It’s peaceful.”
“You did want a bit of excitement,” I chuckled, getting us back to the topic. “You should have seen him at the bust I brought him on, Apollo.” He flinched, and the other two froze. “You’ve called me Seraphine a few times. I thought we were going to be friends enough this visit.”
“I didn’t realize I did,” he admitted, moving his arm behind me on the booth, but really so his hand would lean against Goran. “I love your name though, so it was a slip.” He shrugged easily. “We’re off the clock as you Americans say.” He smiled when I did. “The bust we heard about even? The big drug one? Goran was part of that?”
“Goran, Zlat, and Noah. They were awesome. Knocked the socks right off of everyone and saved several agents’ lives.” I kissed under Goran’s chin. “They had some much needed fun and a good hunt.”
“It was fun,” he agreed, holding up something for me to eat. “You are always fun.”
I ate the food as I felt my cheeks heat, flinching when Apollo gasped, catching on.
“You have not been together yet. Not intimately,” he accused.
“Depends on your definition,” I argued when I finished chewing. “But no, not completely. Given how we met, even if he helped me make it through Igor’s visit, he’s been patient and understanding that he was still part of one of the worst nights of my life.”
“You are worth all the patience in the world,” he murmured, giving me another bite. “I wish I had had the strength to save you from all you suffered. I wish I had the power to take those memories away.”
I tilted my neck and gave him a quick kiss. “Thanks, but I learned a lot then too. Hard learned lessons but lessons I needed.”
“So what is this idea you wanted to propose then?” Apollo asked in between bites. “This food is excellent. I did not think it was the right season for such fresh shrimp.”
“My pack sponsored some elves that needed a safe place to call home,” I explained. Then we went into the vampire SWAT team idea.
“And you wish to do this?” he checked, studying Goran as we moved on to our salads.
“I do,” he agreed, moving his hand to my thigh so we could eat easier. “Not only would it help keep my mistress safe when she has these sorts of raids, but we saved honorable lives that night. I think it an important step in showing the humans we are not just monsters of legend but assets who care as much for the community as they do.” He smiled as he cut into a tomato. “Plus, it was fun. The training and learning something so exciting has been fun.”
“You were meant for more than some guard position.”
“It’s not like that, Apollo,” he argued before I could get offended. “They are seen as elite here. There is a problem, you call in SWAT to save the day, like the best warriors or decorated soldiers. This is no joke or comedy movie of dumb police. There were piles of drugs that could have hurt thousands on that one raid. It is
far from some mall cop or muscle hired to protect a rich person from picture takers.”
“And no one says he has to do it forever,” I interjected. “He wants to do it now, help start a program that could show another side to vampires, a better side than most think, and save lives.”
“So you would not siren him but him be under your umbrella?” he checked, knowing we’d not finished the process.
“We’re still discussing that,” Goran admitted. “I wish to be tied to Sera, and the others I can sovereign. Brutus wants no part of this, and that’s fine. Leave him be and have peace. But we think it best to make it seem to others I am a master like Monroe. No threat to areas, separate as we try to make this idea a reality.”
“And you would like us to do this as well?” Carter asked, looking excited at the idea.
I shrugged. “Maybe. It depends on how well trained you all are, if you’d want to do it even. Otherwise, we have teams going in to rescue paranormals in bad spots who need the help.”
He glanced at Apollo who nodded he could go ahead. “I find it odd that you would care for what we want.”
“She is not weak,” Goran said firmly. “Do not make the mistake of thinking that. Vampires act another way—”
“Not just vampires,” I snickered. “Men tend to act that way to show they can measure up. I know I can’t because I’m missing that anatomy. There’s no reason to be mean or cruel to show strength. Now if people come to take what’s mine or start shit, I promise you I will finish it. I did last night, and he’s very dead. And I enjoyed killing the asshole, so I have no problem getting dirty. I much prefer everyone be nice and pitch in instead.”
“It’s why people are happy in her pack,” Goran added. “It’s why they were willing to die for her if need be when she was threatened. It’s her strength that allows her to be kind and not play the normal games we all hate but still play.”
“Well, I like playing some games still,” I reminded him, wanting to keep the conversation friendly. “So do you.”
“I do,” he agreed, leaning in to kiss me. I moved away so he gave chase and just happened to bump into Apollo so I was sandwiched between them better. Goran kissed me, moaning as I fed a bit.