Night Play (Dark-Hunter 5)

"Everybody now!" Simi said.

Slowly the rest of the bar's inhabitants made their way to the dance floor.

Bride was stunned when Vane took her hand to lead her to the floor.

"Vane"

"When Simi says dance, everybody dances."

"Like hell," one of the surlier brunette men snarled from his chair at the table beside them. "I dance for no one."

No sooner had he spoken than he jumped up and started patting at his groin as if it were on fire.

"Damn you, Ash," he snarled.

Ash smirked. "The lady says dance, Justin. Get your panther ass out here."

Bride laughed as everyone, including Ash, started doing the Macarena. This had to be the strangest moment of her life.

When it was over, Simi ran with her barbecue sauce to one of the tables and grabbed an entire turkey for herself.

"You're evil the way you spoil that demon, Ash," Justin snarled.

Ash shrugged good-naturedly and strode over to where Simi sat devouring her turkey.

Bride and Vane sat down next to Fury while everyone started a line for the food.

"I'm still stuffed," Bride said.

"Me, too," Vane agreed. So they sat and chatted with the bears while they ate.

Conversations rang out in the room until Bride's ears buzzed from the happy chatter and music.

All of a sudden everyone grew quiet.

Bride saw Vane's jaw go slack as he stared at the door to the kitchen.

She turned her head to see a gorgeous man approaching them. He was a little taller than Vane and had black, shaggy hair. He had his arms wrapped around himself protectively and wore a long-sleeved black shirt and jeans.

His gaze was focused on her and Vane as he walked slowly through the crowd without speaking to anyone.

He stopped beside them. His eyes were sorrowful and brooding as he held his hand out to Bride.

Her hand shaking, Bride reached out to him.

"She's beautiful, Vane," Fang said, his voice hoarse. "I'm glad you found her."

Vane stood up, but Fang stepped back.

"Fang?" Vane asked.

Fang withdrew from them.

Bride couldn't breathe as she watched him make his way back toward the kitchen where Aimee was waiting. The female bear put her arms around him and, to Bride's amazement, Fang allowed Aimee to hold him as he returned to Peltier House.

"Are you okay?" Bride asked Vane as he took his seat.

A smile played at the edges of his lips. "Yeah. For the first time in a long time, I think I am."

"Good," Fury said. " 'Cause if he's messing with Aimee Peltier, Fang is going to need both of us to keep those bears from skinning him."

The band, which was made up of various animals, took the stage and picked up their instruments.

While they tuned them, a small monkey came running over to Bride and jumped up on her shoulder.

"Hi there," she said to him. "I didn't know there were Were-Monkeys."

"There aren't," a tall, lean blond said as he held his arm out for the monkey.

Bride remembered being introduced to him earlier. He was named Wren.

"Marvin's the only non-were in the bar." The monkey ran up his arm and perched on his shoulder.

"Oh, sorry."

Wren smiled at her. "It's okay. It took me a long time to get used to the people here, too."

She watched as he walked off.

The band broke into a rendition of wolf songs. Bride felt her face heat up as they sang "Little Red Riding Hood," "Werewolves of London," "Bad Moon Rising," and even "Midnight Special."

"C'mon up here, Vane," Colt said into the mike. "And sing for your supper."

Vane looked a bit sheepish before he left her and joined them on the stage.

"I didn't know he could sing," she said to Fury.

"Neither did I."

She expected Vane to sing some classic rock tune, so when he started singing "The Story of Us," Bride felt tears well up. Vane wasn't singing for his supper.

He was singing for her.

Dev came up to her and pulled her toward the stage.

Bride couldn't breathe as she listened to Vane. He had a beautiful voice, and when he finished his song, he pulled her up on the stage with him. There, in front of all the Were-Hunters, he went down on his knee before her.

"I know we're mated by Were-Hunter custom, but I wanted to make sure and do this right for you, baby." He put the microphone down on the stage and pulled a ring from his pocket.

Bride felt the tears fall down her cheeks as he placed the round diamond solitaire on her finger.

"I love you, Bride McTierney, and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I need you. Will you marry me?"

She couldn't stop blubbering. Heck, she could barely see him for her tears.

All she could do was nod like a hysterical loon.

She thought Vane was smiling, but she couldn't be sure.

"It's okay," Vane said into the microphone. "She cried like this on the day I met her, too. I think it's a good thing for humans."

"Ahhh, I'd cry too if I had to look at you every day for the rest of my life, Vane," Colt said.

Ignoring him, Vane stood up before her and wiped her tears away with his hands.

"I'm getting better at this, Bride. I didn't poke your eye out this time."

"No," she said, sniffing back her tears, "you didn't."

He kissed her gently, then led her from the stage.

Ash met them there with Simi, who was also crying. "That was bootiful," she sobbed hysterically at Vane. Then she turned to face Ash. "Akri, the Simi wants someone to propose like that to her. Go get that model Travis Fimmel for me and make him do that, too. Please!"

"I told you, Sim, you can't just take humans away from their lives."

"But Vane took Bride."

"No, Sim. Bride chose Vane."

"Then go make Travis choose me."

"I can't do that. It wouldn't be right."

The demon blew him a raspberry before she saw one of the bears bringing a cake from the kitchen. Her tears dried instantly.

"Ooo," Simi breathed, eyeing the cake hungrily. "Chocolate. My favorite. Gotta go now. Bye."

Ash laughed as Simi ran and literally attacked the poor bear who was holding the cake. She grabbed it out of his hands and headed off to a corner to be alone with it.

Shaking his head, Ash turned back to them. "Your father is now out of your hair and I just wanted to say Congrats again to both of you."

"Thanks, Ash," Vane said, holding his hand out to him.

Ash nodded as he shook it. "By the way, you don't have to worry."

"About what?" Bride asked.

"You'll have babies and not puppies. And no litters."

Bride was more relieved than she would have thought possible. "Thank you."

"Any time."

Ash left them and picked up a pie from the table which he took to Simi, who looked up at him with her face covered in chocolate. She literally inhaled the pie in less than ten seconds.

Vane draped his arm over Bride's shoulders. As they walked back to her table where Fury and Cujo were sharing a piece of steak, Bride started laughing as she looked around her newfound zoo and family.

"What's wrong?" Vane asked.

"Nothing. I was just thinking that my life has gone completely to the dogs and I wouldn't have it any other way."