Laurie had opted for a silver crown and blue face paint. The design was intricate around his eyes—he’d used a mirror and done it himself—and stopped at his mid-cheek. It made his eyes stand out, and for a split second, Joseph wondered how Laurie would look with paint on his chest, too.
However, before his fantasy went too far, Laurie spoke again. “You look regal, handsome, and I wish that paint was edible so I could lick it off.”
“Well, then, devise an edible one and we’ll try it next time.”
Laurie’s eyes turned heated a second before he shook his head. “Remind me later. Maybe you can lick it off me as I lick it off Meadow, and she eats it off you.”
Images of the three of them tangled in bed, tasting and touching and fucking, flashed into his mind. “Behave, Laurie. The last thing we need is to walk around with erections amongst the fae witches and have them think we’re there to take whoever we want.”
The lightness in Laurie’s eyes died. “Like my father did.”
“You would never do that, though. I hope you know that.”
“I do. Still, it’ll always be there between the vampires and fae witches.”
Laurie’s father hadn’t shied away from using rape and torture in the war he’d started against the fae witches, back when Laurie had been a toddler.
Joseph walked over and took Laurie’s shoulders, not wanting to smear the paint on his face. “Between us, Leo, Nora, and even the half vampire Stone Riley, we’re trying to change that. We all have fae witch fated ones, and with time, that should becomemore common. I think one day we might even have open borders between all the territories in the East End.”
“I might’ve scoffed at that before, but I’m a little more hopeful these days given all that Leo is doing to forge a closer alliance. Let’s hope that future comes to pass.”
Joseph kissed him gently before replying, “Tonight will help with that goal, I think. Speaking of which, if we don’t leave now, we’ll be late picking up Meadow. And I don’t know about you, but I want to watch her walk down the staircase and admire her.”
“Too bad it’ll be in front of an audience,” Laurie grumbled. “I’d rather see her in private and give her a proper hello.”
“As much as I’d love to ravish her, too, we all need tonight, I think, to relax and try to enjoy the evening. Plus, we can spoil her in public, learn more about what she likes, and then use that knowledge to further win her outside of the bedroom.”
Laurie laughed. “Always the strategist, aren’t you?”
“If it gets me what I want, then of course.”
He winked, and Laurie chuckled again before saying, “Between your heart beating again, being able to have sex again, and whatever magic Meadow has used on you—figuratively—some of the old Joseph has returned. I missed him, you know.” He gently gripped the back of Joseph’s neck. “I hope he stays around.”
“It was mainly to protect myself, as you well know. But now? I don’t have to protect my heart from you, or anyone else.” Laurie leaned in to kiss him, but Joseph shook his head. “We’ll be late. And if we ever want Meadow to pick us as her forever, we need to treat her with the respect she deserves.”
“Normally I’m a gentleman, too. But having your handsome self in my life again, truly in my life, has addled my brains a bit. However, you’re right—Meadow needs us more right now. And I can’t wait to see what she’s wearing for her costume.”
Soon they were both sitting inside their carriage, discussing what to see and do that evening. In less than twenty minutes, they stood inside River and Nora’s house, at the bottom of the stairs with the fae witch male. Leo was also there, and all four of them waited for the females to descend the stairs.
Leo tugged his waistcoat down before checking his pocket watch. “Maybe we should go check on them. Khan wants us there by eight, and it’s already a quarter to.”
River crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “You and your punctuality. A few extra minutes won’t hurt. It took me long enough to do this.” He waved to the paint on his face—a much simpler pattern in purple—and continued, “So I can only imagine how long it takes when they have to do their hair, too.”
The fae witch male was still growing out his hair after arriving in the past with a shaved head. However, it barely reached his shoulders, and he wore it loose.
Leo rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe I allowed Yesenia to talk me into painting my face too.”
Laurie snorted. “Two lines on each cheek is hardly painting your face.”
Joseph bit back a smile. Leo had two black streaks on either side of his face. He then added, “You could’ve picked a less menacing color.”
Leo grunted. “It’s not red, which is the only color Yesenia forbade me to use.”
River sighed. “Let’s not go around painting fake blood on our faces. These are fae witches, after all, not vampires.”
Laurie jumped in. “Maybe we should have a vampire celebration, and then everyone can use red paint.”
“That would be a bit macabre,” Joseph stated.
