So I didn't have time to do any editing for formatting, which sucks because of the emphatic italics here and there. I'll try to swing back and catch it later, which seems really lazy because it's so short!

***

I did explain in the car, filling everything in for the benefit of everybody. Merula made us stop outside of Wichita for a bite to eat at a fast food joint. Most of us ended up with hamburgers. They didn’t have salads, so we asked for extra lettuce and piled it up in a bowl for Foyl. He was not fond of their version of cooked meat, but he’s omnivorous, so a salad worked just as well. Caninus politely ate his burger, and didn’t even ask for it rare. I wondered where all the power was coming from for him tonight, but I didn’t ask.

“You’ve got a knack for getting deep into it, don’t you?” Fanin asked, stretching out in the back of the van. Caninus sat between us, and Merula was stretched on the middle bench, allowing Derek to drive and Elris to sit next to him. She wanted to get some rest and promised to drive us into Kansas City proper.

“Yeah,” I said finally answering Fanin. “I’m sure you’ll get into enough trouble for yourself sooner or later.”

“Oh, I assume so.” He nodded sagely, and patted Caninus’s knee. “Sorry about pointing a gun at you. Worried for my dear cousin and all. But since you’re…partners…” the way he said it made me groan. It wasn’t that he’d tried to turn it into a joke. Serious often to a fault, Fanin was simply uncomfortable.

“I assure you, I hold my partnership with Lucifel in the highest regard. She is the best necromage I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.”

Fanin nodded, stretching again and beginning to nod off. “We need somewhere they can go for a week or so,” I said softly. “Our homes are out of the question, and a hotel is too expensive and insecure.”

“An elf would be best,” Merula said sleepily. “Someone who understands your family.”

“Shit,” I chuckled. “She’s hit the nail on the head. Hand me the phone, would you?” I paused for a moment and dialed.

“Hello?” Strass said. I was lucky they didn’t have a set tonight, or maybe that he wasn’t with Erin.

“Hey Strass. It’s Lucifel.”

“Hey,” he replied, and I could hear the amusement in his voice. “You know, the more you call the less novel it is. You don’t inspire the same awe.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I know. Especially when I call for favors.”

“True, but it’s a strengthening of friendship. What can I do for you?”

“Is the band staying in Kansas City long?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable. How many times I had needed to rely on him, over the phone no less, in the last few days? Was it really so much?

“We’ve got a sub-base here,” he said. “We’ll be here for the next few weeks and then go to New York. Why?”
I explained the situation, hastily and without all the details. “They need somewhere to stay, preferably with an elf not involved with those trying to kill all of us.”
“I’m an outlaw too, by the Purist’s standards,” he warned. “But we’ve got a penthouse paid up for the next month. Actually, I’ve got a townhouse of my own that I barely use. They can stay wherever they prefer.”

“Thanks, Strass. What’s the address of the one you’ll use less?”

“The townhouse,” he replied, rattling off the address and repeating it slower so I could get it. “We’ll be there about three in the morning. If you’d be able to unlock it, we won’t take a lot of your time.”

“No worries,” he replied. “I’ve been staying at Erin’s anyway, so I don’t need the townhouse they rented for me and the band uses the penthouse. It’s good for a month at least.”

“Thanks,” I said. “And it’ll be nice to finally meet you face to face. The phone thing is a little awkward.” In the front, Elris seemed as if he wanted to interject a question but he stayed quiet.

“No kidding!” Strass laughed. “I was so excited to know the infamous Lucifel, but I’ve never even seen you! Talk about a rip off!”

“Did you find them somewhere?” Caninus asked next to me as I hung up the phone.

“Yeah. My friend’s Elven boyfriend has a place they can stay.”

“Convoluted, but I’m sure it’s trustworthy.” Caninus looked at me for a moment before wrapping an arm around me. “You look like hell. Get some rest, all right? I’ll keep you warm.”

I didn’t like that I trusted him. But I couldn’t not trust him—he’d more than proved himself. So I let myself lean against him, and reminded myself that we were in a car with my family, and there wasn’t anything he could do. He didn’t even try to grope me.

*&*

Strass was excited to meet my family, and more so to meet me. It fell out that I was the last one out of the car. Caninus had helped the elves get their bags and left to go get his bike. Fanin went with him to pick up a few supplies they hadn’t been able to bring. It was odd, but the two of them hit it off pretty well—Fanin respected Caninus’s fearlessness and Caninus respected Fanin’s balls. That serious streak in him had made Fanin recognize Caninus as an asset, and I had a suspicion he was using the trip as an excuse to do a little subtle interrogation. Merula and Foyl were with my uncle and Derek, dragging baggage around when I actually met Strass.

He was very handsome. Not that I hadn’t expected it, but it took me by surprise. He was hot. And he smiled at me very kindly. “Lucifel! About damn time.” He chuckled to himself. “They look like they’ve got the bags in hand,” he nodded at the others. “Want to help me get the upstairs cleaned up? It isn’t a mess, really, but the bedding needs made and all of that. You can consider it penance for the short notice stuff.”

I laughed. “Gives me something constructive to do while my ass thaws. Let’s go.” We chatted like old friends as we folded the bedding and turned on the heaters.

“It’s not the best,” he admitted as we made the beds. “But it’s nice enough.” He stood up and took a step near me, surveying our handiwork.

“Could be worse,” I agreed. “At least the sheets are big enough and it’ll be warm enough. They’ll be more comfortable here. Let’s go get the other bedroom.”

The master bedroom was going to be Elris’s room for the time being. “I cleaned the sheets, in case he would be uncomfortable staying here otherwise.”

“I’ll keep my mouth dutifully shut on that score,” I laughed as he blushed. “Give me a hand already!” It started so innocently. His arm brushed mine, almost accidentally. As we went to pull the sheets taut, his fingers lingered a moment too long on mine. “Looks good,” I surveyed.

He laughed, “Hey, if they aren’t going to complain, it’s good enough for me at four in the morning!” He slung his arm casually over me. Unconsciously, I leaned against his shoulder and he pulled me close.

I realized, almost too late, what was going on. The damn hormones I’d managed to suppress around the Purists had swung out of my control. Strass wasn’t repulsive, but a friend, and a kind one. And I could feel him respond favorably, and I knew that he knew just how long it had been—to long—since I’d lain with an elf. And I could feel his need as well, tempting me on.

“Lucifel…” he enfolded me in his arms, running his hands up and down my back slowly, his head nuzzled against my shoulder, inhaling the scent vigorously.

My arms tightened around him, pulling him close as I lipped the top of his ear playfully. “Strass…” I managed to pull away some. My voice was strained, caught between desire and fear. “You’re my best friend’s lover.”

He kissed my throat tenderly, but with passion. “She doesn’t need to know.”

“Strass,” I argued, pulling away and struggling more with my hormones than with him. “We can’t. Please, we both can’t.” Even as I said it, we drew ever closer to the bed and my knees trembled weakly.

He kissed my shoulder, repeating, “She doesn’t have to know.”

“I’ll know,” I argued forcefully, as much with myself as with him. “Let go of me or I’ll scream for the vampire.” I didn’t know why my mind went to Caninus, and I didn’t even know if he was back yet. But it was what came out of my mouth. “Stars, my uncle and his son are downstairs,” I whispered. Strass pulled away from me, putting about a foot between us. But it was so charged with desire and longing that I was sure it would draw us together against our wills.

“We could…” he struggled for words, trying to find some way to make it work.

“Don’t do this to Erin,” I said and he stepped back as if I’d slapped him. His face shuddered as he fought not to cry.
“Damn it!” he swore, crouching down and curling himself around his stomach. “Damn it, damn it, damn it!” He shivered, with fear or desire or anger. I wasn’t sure and I wasn’t sure it mattered. He gave an involuntary sob and said, “Damn it. My heart loves Erin but my body wants you!”

I took another step away, doing everything in my power to force down my carnal desires. “Be that as it may, you know I can’t and you can’t. I’m going downstairs now.” I turned and fled down the stairs, not looking back and ignoring his nauseated sobs.