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you are. Go drink a rat or something.”
    Gwyneth folded her arms. “Nathan Nourie, y’all git back here. Not only was that uncalled for, but this here’s a party and we’re all celebratin’.”
    “I know. That’s why I’m going.” He left and closed the door behind him.
    Gwyneth rolled her eyes. “I do declare, I don’t know what’s wrong with that boy. You’d think we was making him stand in front of a firin’ squad.”
    “That’s just the way he is, Gwyneth,” Morgaine said. “I don’t think we can change him.”
    “I suppose not. Ain’t no point in beatin’ a dead horse… ’course, it can’t hurt none either.”
    Sly grinned and wandered closer to his friends. “I guess you gave me some of your old things?”
    “Well,” Roz answered, “Merry told us that someone was too proud to let her furnish the place with new stuff, so everything here is used.”
    “We figured y’all wouldn’t mind a few little castoffs since it didn’t cost us nothin’.”
    “Thank you.” He scanned the cozy-looking living room, and a lump formed in his throat. “I’m truly touched.”
    He wandered over to the eclectic furniture grouping. His amplified sense of smell told him exactly who’d previously owned each piece.
    The antique chair was from Roz. The couch was Merry’s. He ran his hand over the back of it. The beat-up old brown leather only made it softer and more comfortable.
    The trunk was Morgaine’s, and a bookshelf held the scent of Konrad’s wolf hair.
    “We put a few items in the kitchen too,” Gwyneth said.
    He strolled past the dining area furnished with a tiny round table and two chairs, again with Merry’s scent, and stepped into the galley kitchen.
    Gwyneth opened the cabinets and showed off a five-gallon bucket and a couple of large copper pots. “These will come in handy later on when we set up the—”
    Morgaine cleared her throat and sent her a quick head shake. “There’s plenty of time for him to look around and see what’s here.”
    Gwyneth looked over at Merry and must have realized she had almost spilled the beans about the still in front of the landlady.
    “Of course. Silly me. What was I thinkin’?”
    “And Sly,” Merry added as she set the champagne on the counter, “if you need anything else, please ask. Okay?”
    “I can only think of one thing I really need, and that’s a way of darkening my bedroom during the day. Did you bring any blankets?”
    “I didn’t have to,” Merry said. “Morgaine suggested room-darkening shades. It’s the only thing I bought, Sly. I promise.”
    Sly looked over at Morgaine. She blushed slightly and dropped her gaze to the floor. Why was she embarrassed? She had thought of his needs and suggested the perfect way to meet them. He wanted to hug her, but not in front of an audience.
    “I really can’t thank you enough—everyone.” Were those tears threatening to form in his eyes? No way was he going to let people see the big, scary vampire cry—especially gross, bloody tears. He grabbed the champagne bottle and said, “Did anyone happen to donate a corkscrew?”

Chapter 4

    Gwyneth applied her best perfume, brushed her hair, and tiptoed downstairs to Sly’s apartment, carrying her lit candelabra. She knew Sly wasn’t using electricity in order to save money, and he might be able to see in the dark, but she couldn’t. Besides, everyone looked good in candlelight. She wore a short, black skirt—a departure from her long, black, broomstick skirt. She hoped the black velour top that clung to her curves made her look as alluring as she felt.
    Sly opened the door shortly after her first knock.
    “Hey, Sly.”
    “Hi, Gwyneth, what a surprise.”
    “I hope y’all think it’s a good surprise, and I didn’t catch y’all with your pants down.” She giggled and felt herself blush. “Well, hush my mouth, I didn’t mean that quite how it sounded.” Or did I?
    Sly grinned and stepped aside. “Come in.”
    She sashayed in.