"Oh. Okay. Can the Simi buy everything she wants?"
"Of course."
Simi grinned widely, then jumped up and down like a small child. "Okay, everybody dance! You, too, akri."
Suddenly, the Macarena started to play. Everyone in the bar groaned, except Simi, who laughed happily. She grabbed Ash's hand and pulled him to the dance floor.
"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.