Night Play (Dark-Hunter 5)

After parking his bike on a side street, he went back to Liza's for some help.

Vane hesitated as he entered the front room where two women were browsing the doll collection while talking to Liza. One of the women was an exact copy of Tabitha, except she didn't have the scar on her face.

She must be Kyrian Hunter's wife, Amanda. Vane had crossed paths with the ex-Dark-Hunter from time to time, but had never met his wife. Marissa was in Amanda's arms, playing with her mother's hair. The other woman, a short brunette, he knew well. She was Dr. Grace Alexander, the human psychologist who kept telling him nothing would help his brother until Fang was ready to be helped. Grace held her son in her arms while Amanda stopped mid-sentence.

All three women turned to stare at Vane, who hesitated just inside the door.

"He's in back still," Liza said, as if she knew who he was looking for.

"Thanks."

He heard Liza explain who and what he was to Amanda as he headed toward the back room.

Vane passed through the curtains to find the demon gone and Kyrian, Nick Gautier, and Julian Alexander talking to Ash.

He knew Nick from the number of times the young human had come into Sanctuary to see his mother, Cherise. Nick was strange, but since he served the Dark-Hunters and they loved his mother, the bears treated him like another one of their cubs. Kyrian was slightly taller than Julian, with blond hair that was a shade darker. Even though they were mostly human, the two men possessed enough authority and skill that Vane respected them.

"What's up, wolf?" Ash asked as he reclined against a worktable that was littered with doll parts and fabrics. Ash had his butt resting on it, with his legs stretched out before him and his hands braced on either side of his long, lean body.

Nick, Julian, and Kyrian stood in a semicircle between him and Ash.

Vane hesitated. He didn't relish the idea of a public consultation, but since two of the men were married to modern-day women and Nick was known to date a lot, maybe they could help him out.

"I need dating advice. Fast."

Ash arched a single brow at that. "I'm useless. I've never been on one."

The three human men turned to gape at him.

"What?" Ash asked them defensively.

Nick started laughing. "Oh man, this is priceless. Don't tell me the great Acheron is a virgin?"

Ash gave him a droll look. "Yeah, Nick. I'm lily-white."

"How did you get through life without a date?" Kyrian asked Ash.

"It wasn't an issue back then," Ash said curtly.

"Yeah, well, it's a serious issue to me," Vane said, nearing them. "Julian, how did you meet your wife?"

Julian shrugged. "My brother the sex god cursed me into a book for two thousand years. Grace got drunk on her birthday and summoned me out of it."

Vane rolled his eyes. "That's useless. Kyrian? What about you?"

"I woke up handcuffed to Amanda."

Vane could work with that. "So I need to get a set of handcuffs?"

"Not on a first date," Ash said with a smirk. "You'll scare her to death if you handcuff her."

Kyrian scoffed. "It worked for me on a first date."

Ash gave him a bored stare. "And so did having an insane Daimon out to kill the two of you. But I don't think Vane wants to go that route."

"So what do you wolves do to date?" Nick asked.

"We don't date," Vane said. "When a woman is in season, we fight for her and then she picks who mounts her."

Nick gaped. "Are you kidding? You don't have to buy her dinner? You mean you don't even have to talk to her?" He turned to Acheron. "Dayam, Ash, make me a wolf."

"You wouldn't like being a wolf, Nick," Ash said. "You'd have to eat raw meat and sleep outside."

Nick shrugged. "That sounds Like a typical Mardi Gras to me."

"What else?" Vane asked them, interrupting Nick's recitation of his Mardi Gras habits. "What did you guys do when you were human?"

Kyrian thought about it before he answered. "Well, in our day," he said, glancing at Julian, "we took women to chariot races and plays."

"Oh jeez," Nick said. "You guys are pathetic. Chariot race, my ass." He stepped forward and draped an arm around Vane's shoulders. "All right, listen to me, wolf. You get some cool clothes and impress her with a lot of cash. You need to take her somewhere good to eat. There's a place down on Chartres where you can get a two-for-one dinner"

"Nicky!"

They all turned to look at Amanda, who stood between the curtains, glaring at them.

"What?" Nick asked.

"Don't you dare tell him how to date." Amanda came over and handed her daughter to Kyrian. "Have you ever noticed that Mr. Suave here seldom dates a woman twice? There's a reason for that."

Grace clucked her tongue at the men as she joined them. "I swear, we should make all of them take a rudimentary dating course. It's a wonder any of you got married."

Julian offered his wife a devilish grin. "I didn't hear you complain when" She covered his mouth with her hand, then placed her son in his arms. "You two go home before you get into any more trouble."

"And you," Amanda said to Ash, "are old enough and wise enough to know better." "I didn't do anything," Ash said, but there was a gleam in his silvery eyes that belied his denial.

"Yeah, right." Amanda shooed him toward the door.

Ash sauntered out as if greatly amused by the women.

Nick started out after him, but Amanda grabbed his arm.

"You wait here."

"Why?" Nick asked.

Amanda pulled a set of car keys out of his shirt pocket. "Because you are going to loan Vane your car tonight."

"Like hell. Since when can a wolf drive a Jag?"

Grace looked at Vane. "Can you drive?"

"Yes."

"It's settled, then," Grace said. She turned back to Nick. "Take the Jag to the car wash and for heaven's sake clean the McDonald's Happy Meal boxes out of it."

"Hey," Nick said, his face offended. "That's a low blow. Those boxes are collectibles."

Grace ignored him. "What time is your date?" she asked Vane.

"Six."

Amanda handed the keys to Nick. "Okay, Nick, have the car at the house by five-thirty."

"But, but"

"No buts, just do it."