Griff
got comfy on Pruitt’s couch, wrapping his arms around a pillow after pulling blankets up and over his shirtless frame. Visuals of firefighters extinguishing the final remaining flames at Mystic Stadium flashed across the TV screen before him as a reporter explained that the cause of the fire was unknown.
“Eyewitnesses recall a series of animal attacks occurring shortly before the arena was evacuated, though no one has been able to confirm what happened next,” echoed the voice of a handsome local reporter recognized as Jago Jones. “This is the second high-profile, multi-fatality incident at Mystic Stadium this semester…”
“All right, all right. I’ve practiced my lines enough, so I suppose it’s time for a bit of rest and relaxation before try-outs.” Turning his head, was pleased to see Uriah at the front door. The vampire was joined by Darcy.
“Hey, you,” Darcy said with a wink as he made eye contact with his fellow witch.
“Darce!” jumped to his feet, running over to greet them.
“Maybe I should die more often,” Darcy said sarcastically, a surprised look on his face as jumped up onto him, his arms and legs wrapping him into a tight embrace. “Does he act like this all the time?”
Uriah smiled as Darcy nearly fell over. The witches shared a passionate kiss.
“Well, yes,” the vampire said with a shrug before jumped into his arms. “You’ll get better at predicting it and catching him, I reckon.”
“It’s good to see you both,” said .
Uriah placed on his feet. “Think I convinced the guys to join us for try-outs this afternoon.”
“Oh, yeah?” asked, cuffing Uriah’s chin in his hands before showering him with his own set of kisses. “Does that mean you’re gonna audition, too, Darcy?”
“ Me? I don’t think so.” Darcy shrugged, then tried to walk his answer back as shot him a look. “I mean, uh, Uriah is only doing it to get extra credit in Quinn’s class, anyway, and I’m not even taking one of his classes, so…”
A guilty look on his face, Uriah poked Darcy in the ribs. “ What? I never said that.”
“Oh, right!” Darcy’s face turned red. “I, uh, must have made that up.”
Pruitt appeared in the open doorway with two fistfuls of flowers. “Darcy,” he said with a smile as he greeted him. “Gentlemen,” he nodded to and Uriah.
“What are those for?” asked before Pruitt kissed Uriah, then him.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that you aren’t planning on trying out, Darcy, because I got these flowers for you two,” Pruitt replied, nodding to his vampire and witch lovers as he pushed the front door closed with his arm. “And I’d be one bouquet short if so.”
“Sweet gesture, Pru,” Uriah said as he smelled his bouquet. “I think you’re supposed to give us flowers on opening night, though.”
“Who says I can’t do both?” Pruitt said with a smile as he handed his bouquet.
blushed with excitement. “ Nobody. ”
“I have one more surprise, too,” continued Pruitt.
“Oh?” Uriah asked, taking both sets of flowers and placing them on the counter.
The door opened once more, and was surprised to see Haven standing there, a sheepish grin on his face. “Haven!”
jumped into Haven’s outstretched arms, allowing the werewolf to spin him around in a circle before locking lips with him. “Hey, there, ankle biter. I-I hope you all don’t mind me stopping by.”
“Never, Aussie boy,” Uriah said with a wink, then a hug. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. Fantastic, actually.” Haven placed down, biting his lip as he looked to Pruitt.
“You wanna hang out here with us until we head to campus, Hemming?” asked Pruitt.
“Yeah!” exclaimed. “I turned on local news coverage of the big battle.”
“Ah, he’s a newbie,” began Uriah. “He doesn’t know that we like to sit and make fun of the excuses the local authorities come up with whenever the old Mystic Mischief causes a ruckus.”
Darcy gave ’s arm a squeeze before crashing onto the sofa. “Sounds interesting to me.”
“I’d love to,” Haven answered hesitantly, closing the door behind him. “And is that what you call yourselves? The Mystic Mischief?”
“Sure is,” Uriah nodded. “Suppose I can make us some popcorn.”
“Uh, let me handle that, big sexy vampire,” Pruitt said with a wink. “We don’t want to burn the building down.”
“So be it,” Uriah spanked Pruitt’s ass before scooping up over his shoulders and tossing him onto the couch.
Grabbing a popcorn bag from the cupboard, Pruitt leaned over and gave Haven’s hand a squeeze. “Go,” he whispered, nodding to the couch. “Be with him.”
“Thanks, Mondamin.” Haven pulled Pruitt into a hug before obliging and joining the rest of the men on the couch.
Surrounded by his loving polycule, it was hard for to believe that anything could keep him from his emotions. They were what made him human, what guided his every thought and action, and what made him a more powerful witch. His head cradled against Haven’s strong chest as he was seated in Uriah’s lap, couldn’t help but to share kisses and hand squeezes with Darcy and Pruitt as they joked and tossed popcorn at one another.
“Let me guess, Channel 10 is going to say it was another wild animal attack?” Uriah asked.
“That’s better than the school newspaper,” added Darcy. “They asked us reporters to investigate gang violence.”
“I’m just over here wondering if any of my football team is gonna make it to the game next week,” Pruitt added, tossing a piece of popcorn so that it landed perfectly in ’s mouth. “You know, between dying or getting turned into a werewolf, not sure how many of us are left.”
“Speaking of dying,” began Haven, “I already spoke to Pruitt, but I just wanted to apologize to Darcy—and to the rest of you—for my whole little murder spree.”
“Hey,” Darcy chuckled, patting Haven on the back. “It’s nothing. I give this entire group permission to strike me down if I am ever possessed or controlled again.”
Haven raised an eyebrow.
“Long story. He’s kind of the go-to guy when a big bad needs a brainwashed henchman,” explained.
“Speaking of henchmen, we sent a little somethin’ to your little Dark Moonies,” Uriah added as he turned to Haven. “Pru, Darcy, , and I all agreed that it’d be fitting to send them a little truce gift after everything that happened.”
“That’s sweet of you guys,” replied Haven.
That reminded . “Speaking of, how is everything at Dark Moon Manor today, Have?”
“Not bad at all. I think everyone’s kind of in shock, but dealing with it. Magnus and Fen, and even Alo, send their love. Everything at Moonhaven is good,” replied Haven as he wrapped his arms around the witch. “But this? This is much, much better.”
smiled.