Chapter Three
Hannah looked at the orb, and her eyes bugged out when she saw what was inside it. “That’s us.”
Neekil stared and started laughing. “Well, are you going to get at us?”
“I get at you enough.”
She lifted the orb from the statue and stared. “Oh, my god. That looks so good, but I don’t want to eat it.”
Krys walked up to them. “Don’t try and eat this one, but it is a remembrance of your wedding.” She held out a polished black wood box.
Hannah stared at the silver glyphs that moved across the surface. “What is that?”
Neekil smiled. “Our names, our lineage, and today’s date.” He unfastened the latch and opened the lid, lifting it on a silent hinge. “Benko’s work. This is stunning.”
Hannah looked at it. “Hm. I think I want to keep it in my office.”
“Why?”
“Because if I don’t, you will put it on your SUV as a hood ornament.” She laughed. She leaned over to kiss him, and they closed the box.
Hannah picked up her fork and took a piece of the chocolate on chocolate, and she put it in her mouth. She groaned and rolled her neck. Neekil poked her in the arm and opened his mouth. She got him some, and he sighed. “Fuck that’s good.”
Krys grinned and scampered off.
Hannah looked around and saw the gathering laughing, gasping, and taking photos. “Why do all of your relatives look like they are taking notes?”
“Because they are. I don’t think they considered the sculptures being edible before.”
She grabbed the chocolate and slid the legs into her mouth, sucking slowly. “Oh, wow. They didn’t cheap out on the chocolate.”
He grinned. “Me next.”
She leaned forward with the statuette in her mouth, and he came in from the side, and the depictions of them were melted in seconds.
When the consuming turned to foreplay, she broke the kiss. “Behave. We have the first dance and then something called a blessing.”
His eyes got wild. “They are doing a blessing?”
“She said it isn’t what you are used to, but it will get the job done.” Hannah smiled.
Neekil was nearly humming with excitement.
“What is it about the blessing?”
He chuckled. “You will see.”
They ate their desserts and groaned at how good they were.
Neekil smiled. “How many of your friends will get married this year?”
“I don’t know. Usually one or two. Why?”
“Because I have taken to weddings. They are fun, and the food is better than most restaurants. You have plenty of people to network with. Don’t think I missed the folks coming up to ask about local properties.”
Hannah laughed, and suddenly, things got quiet. Her father approached the mic and spoke about his daughter, the family, and how they all had hoped that Hannah would find someone special. “Hannah, as always, you may have overshot the mark.”
Everyone laughed; he congratulated the couple and mentioned that the clock was starting for grandkids.
Hannah sighed and got up to hug her father.
She laughed and whispered something in his ear. He grinned and kissed her forehead.
Neekil came up, and they shook hands. He leaned in and spoke softly. The two men stared at each other, and Hannah got the mic. “No goats were exchanged in this transaction, but I do have my eyes on a particular ass.”
She handed the mic back to the singer and grabbed Neekil by the arm.
Sable walked up and said, “If the couple would like to have their first dance, they will be joined on the dance floor by the blessing. Gentlemen, keep your hands to yourselves. Ladies, if it’s a yes, go for it.”
Hannah laughed and turned to Neekil. “This is the last mandatory ritual on the list.”
He grinned and took her in his arms. “Can we make up a few more? I am having fun.”
The song was slow and low. Hannah looked at him and smiled. “To think, when I first met you, I thought you were a creep.”
He smiled, and they swayed slowly. “And now you know I am, but I am your creep.”
“Yup, to the bone and beyond. A true soulmate. We have tested it.” She grinned. “And dark enough to keep my dad happy.”
He laughed. “You as well. You are passing charcoal and heading for midnight.”
“Heading for midnight. Sounds like a thriller.”
“Oh, I am thrilled by you regularly.”
A shiver of sound began, and Hannah looked behind him. “Oh, wow.”
They continued swaying as the group of nine women surrounded them. Neekil held her and looked around, grinning. “Wow, indeed.”
The women were wearing a mask of lace across their eyes, a halter-type wrap that supported their breasts, a wide bib of a necklace, and a soft wrap of skirts that were held down by a belt of metal chains decorated with coins that were currently still.
Jakada said, “Couple, would you like us concealed or true?”
Neekil explained what she meant, and Hannah said, “True.”
The women chuckled, and they changed. Shadows covered Hura, Vaia’s colouration was more subtle, but the connection was obvious.
There was a pearl-coloured goblin female, Krys’s fairy, Jakada’s body was covered with glyphs, an orc woman with bulging muscles and tight skin, a werewolf, a lioness, and the most startling of all, a forest lord female, with horns and rippling with power.
Hannah watched as the women started swaying, and the music turned wild.
Their hips moved in precise motions, ribcages lifting and dropping, the shivering sound of their metalwork became part of the music, and as their arms moved in sinuous patterns and they began to swirl around them, Hannah felt a very specific type of pressure.
It felt like two or three glasses of wine and then watching Neekil work out kind of pressure, and it became more intense.
Her husband pulled her against him as the dancing became more energetic, and the pressure built.
Hannah knew magic when she saw it, and it built around them, causing Neekil to shake against her. It was working on him as well.
Light danced around them, and she felt everything warm and supportive moving through her. The music got faster and faster until the pressure was as hard as having the weight of a lover on her, and then there was a final flash, and the ladies grinned.
The music changed into lighter fare, and the women moved away from the couple.
Hannah gasped. “They just danced an orgasm.”
Neekil turned her and said, “They did a lot more than that. Did you want to waste it?”
“Oh, no. That would be rude.”
He grinned, lifted her, and walked her into the shadows. They could come back to the party later. It was going to go on until dawn.
* * * *
Laughing, the ladies danced for half an hour for the entertainment of the guests, and then their time was up.
Bella glanced at the fixated glances they were getting from the male and a few female guests. Not a bad ratio.
Krys said, “The couple has sent a message: if you want to remain, you are to be treated as guests. We have set up a table for you, and there are hot meals and desserts waiting.”
Hura shrugged. “Sure. Can we dance if we like?”
“I believe that is why Neekil sent the text. If you don’t want to stay, don’t.”
Vaia grinned. “I have a date, so I will ask him if he wants me to change.”
Krys blushed. “Me, too. I will obviously stay.”
The other ladies nodded, and Krys watched as Bella chuckled. “I don’t think that anyone will recognize me as a real estate lawyer like this, so I am staying. Getting the horns out feels so nice.”
She looked around. “Oh, shit. I had better go talk to Solor. He’s looking a little ill.”
Krys asked, “Why?”
“Oh, stags are for a season. The does reign as long as they want to.”
Hura blinked. “Oh. Yeah. Better chat with him.”
Bella walked over to Solor, and he stared at her. She smiled. “Hello, my king. You aren’t looking well. I hear you are busy with a new baby. Congratulations. He will have much to learn from you, my king.” She inclined her head.
He exhaled and relaxed. “May I introduce you to my queen, Nylora, and our third, Demuel?”
“I am Bella. I do not attend court or interfere in the lives of others. I shall not interfere with your balance.”
Nylora looked at her and frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Bella pointed at her horns. “I win. Does are where life comes from. Bucks are replaceable. He was worried I wanted to rule. I am also not supposed to exist, so double whammy.”
Solor cleared his throat. “When did you get to town?”
“Twenty years ago. I keep a low profile.” She smiled. She saw the ladies waving to her and nodded. “Just wanted to let you know you can stop shitting yourself. I will not interfere with your domain or your family.”
Nylora cleared her throat. “Where can I learn to dance like that?”
“Hura. She will be teaching classes here on Wednesday nights.”
Nylora grinned. “How do I sign up?”
“Ask Hura. I am only here because the regular dancer injured her leg.” She inclined her head and swayed toward the small buffet that had been set up.
She had to sway, or she jingled like a holiday float.
She didn’t mention what the shifters would all know.
She was receptive, and that made the spell they had used on Neekil and Hannah very powerful.
She saw a few heads turn toward her as she passed. She ignored them and went to get some food. She had dumped enough energy to earn her three meals.
Bella smiled and thanked the kitchen staff for scrounging through their take-home. One of the servers said, “Krys laid in extras tonight, just in case you ladies were hungry. We just had to keep it hot.”
“Well, thank you very much. It is very much appreciated.” She smiled, and the young man blushed and stammered.
One of the ladies said, “We will bring you a tray of desserts.”
Bella and the others thanked them. She stopped by the bar for her preferred brand of soda, and they sailed to the table that Krys had exposed. She sat with them, and they ate while the dancers enjoyed the music.
Bella’s food was gone in short minutes, and she chuckled as two of the girls asked if she wanted to share the special dessert. “Nope. I don’t want to put Neekil in my mouth. Too creepy.”