Page 81 of Riot of Autumn

“Keep it in your pants until the night is over. Or is that considered a dress?”

Moving with incredible speed, I close my arms around her and smack her butt. At least, as much as I can with her costume. Her body is pressed close to mine, and I steal the kiss I was hoping for, grinning against Ruby’s mouth when she melts into me.

“Alright, love birds. Let’s get moving,” Davis barks as he gets up off the couch.

“Really? You’re not wearing a costume?” Ruby narrows her eyes in his direction.

Davis’s mouth twitches, and he almost smiles, before pulling a half mask over his eyes. “I’m Batman.”

We all stand in a circle in the middle of the game room, the lightness of the moment overtaken by the seriousness of the night. Our good mood dims as we look at each other. I’m just about to suggest we go before we lose our nerve when Zara’s head snaps back and her body goes rigid.

“Oh no. This looks familiar.” Ruby frowns as she watches her sister.

Zara’s voice is cold, unfeeling, when she starts spouting confusing words. “When the snake strikes and the dragon’s jewel falls. The walls will crumble, and chaos will reign. Fear the crown and bend the knee. Summon the power and magic will be seized.”

“That’s helpful and not at all ominous,” Archer murmurs as Zara’s head falls forward and she sags.

Rhys has his arm around her waist before she fully comes out of her trance. Honestly, I don’t know what to do with these prophecies. We already know tonight is going to be a clusterfuck.

“Anyone want to take a stab at interpreting that?” Archer says.

“Ezra does have a pretty massive snake in his pants.” Ruby taps her chin thoughtfully.

A chorus of groans ring around the room, along with my chuckle. The sounds fade as we stare at one another. My oldest friends, my love, our family. I don’t know if anyone would take us seriously to look at us, a hot dog and his bun, a nurse and her patient with his heart patterned boxers hanging out the back of his flapping hospital gown, a couple of twenties gangsters, and a pathetic Batman and his fierce looking Catwoman.

They’d be wrong to underestimate us.

* * *

Aspen street is teeming with partiers. Drinks are flowing freely, and music is pumping out through speakers set up around a dance floor. Fire pits have been placed every twenty feet and the smell of wood smoke is thick in the air. There are more than a few Fae mingling in the crowd, wearing furs and masks that look like they’ve been made from bone or other natural materials like tree bark and leaves.

I guess they didn’t get Ruby’s memo about what Halloween costumes look like on this side of the veil. The Duke is holding court in front of Fairy Cakes, with Anthony, Colton, Seraphina, and Scott Marsten standing around him like obedient little lap dogs. Scott looks woefully out of place, like the unpopular kid that’s trying so fucking hard to fit in. The one that becomes a mean asshole because that’s all he has to offer. Not that the rest of them are shining jewels of the community.

Their eyes track our group as soon as we arrive at the party. Besides Davis, none of our faces are covered, and it’s easy to pick us out in the crowd. Jokes on them. We’re not trying to hide or blend in. We want to be noticed.

It takes less than five minutes for an entire squad of Fae to surround us. They’re all attractive, with more willowy than muscular frames. Emric is a lot broader than any of these Fae. I wonder if all the inbreeding the High Fae have been doing has stunted their growth. It would explain Colton’s personality.

A tall man with short red hair that sticks out at odd angles steps forward. He has the fur of a very mangy animal thrown over his shoulder.

“The Duke requests your presence.” He must be the appointed spokesperson.

He doesn’t wait for our answer. He spins on his heel and walks away, only to realize a minute later that we’re not following. His face grows flushed as he stomps back toward us. Ruby’s pressed into my side, at least as close as she can be with her big buns surrounding her. She cackles under her breath at the Fae’s annoyed expression.

“Did you not hear me? The Duke commands your presence.”

“You forgot the magic word.” I shake my head and give him a disappointed look. Red’s eyes widen as he takes in the crowd around us, as though he’s afraid someone might hear us speaking of magic. The Duke has been holding orgies and sucking power out of humans for weeks, but this idiot is worried the partiers will hear us talk about magic?

“You dare speak of that in a mixed crowd.”

“Oh, he sounds angry,” Ruby fake whispers. “I bet he doesn’t know what the magic word is.”

The redhead looks affronted and even takes a step back. “Come with me, immediately.”

“Can anyone remind me? What’s the magic word?” Archer calls out to the surrounding crowd, and I swear the redhead wobbles like he’s about to faint.

The responses that get thrown at Archer have me cracking up. I hear a fewpleases, but there’s also ayes, daddy,anI’ll lick your balls, and astick it in the stinktossed in there.

“I’m not sure if you caught that, but the magic word is please. It’s not butthole, in case you were confused,” Miri tells the redhead helpfully, doing her best to stifle her laughter.

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