Succubs on Top Page 0,61

our inner circle already.

He stuck close to me for most of the night, but turned out to be a pretty damned good poker player. I think his quiet, placid nature fooled others into forgetting he was there. Amusingly, he seemed pretty pleased about his winnings too, albeit in a mild, Seth sort of way. It made me happy to see this side of him, happier still to know he was enjoying himself with my friends.

I didn't really know what side of me he saw that night. My friends sure didn't pull any punches when it came to teasing me about my various idiosyncrasies, and Bastien seemed to think it was Memory Lane Night. He kept telling all sorts of stones from my past, trying to lure me into inside jokes no one else knew about. I stayed away from that path as much as possible without offending him. My priority was still making things work with Seth, and as I held his hand all night and only gave polite smiles to Bastien, I think it became clear to the incubus where my loyalties lay. He didn't seem too thrilled.

Halfway through the game, I received a joint call from Mei and Grace.

"Hello, Georgina," said Grace.

"It's us," said Mei.

"Did you find out anything?"

"No matches," Mei told me.

"Oh." So much for that avenue.

"But that may not mean much," said Grace. "We always miss some."

"And it doesn't really matter," said Mei. "They're not a problem if they don't meddle in our affairs."

"And most don't?" I had run into countless immortals over the years, from all sorts of cultures and powers, but I had not paid much attention to how they operated with each other in a political sense. I had always been content to worry about my job and my job alone, safe in the knowledge that the authorities I answered to wielded enough power to deal with anyone else.

"Most don't," the demonesses agreed in unison.

The poker players regarded me curiously when I hung up.

"Who was that?" asked Peter.

"Grace and Mei."

Hugh made a face. "Ack. The crazy-bitch-dyke twins."

"Hey, that's uncalled for. They've been very helpful."

"Yeah? Well, just wait," he warned. "Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to cut your hair and dress you in black too. "

Cody smiled at my outrage. "Why do I get the feeling there's another illicit Georgina investigation afoot?"

"It's not so illicit."

"Illicit enough," remarked Bastien with a yawn. "You and your mortals."

He pocketed the money he had left, downed his bourbon, and thanked Peter again for another fabulous evening.

"Leaving so soon?" I asked.

"Off to find fairer company. No offense to you, Fleur ."He leaned down to me and brushed a kiss over my lips that lingered a breath too long for friendship. "Good night."

His departure spurred a new round of the Bastien Fan Club as they all speculated what sexual escapade he was about to embark on now.

"How does he do it?" asked Peter.

"I wish I was that good," added Cody.

"Hey," I complained, "pursuing women isn't any harder than men. Sometimes it's easier. "

"That guy's amazing." Hugh acted like I hadn't even spoken. " Going after a new one tonight when he's still sporting a glow that can't even be a day old. I wish I got lucky that often."

Seth didn't like to speak much with this group - or any group for that matter - but like my other friends, he was in awe of the incubus. Hugh's comment especially piqued his interest.

"What do you mean by 'glow?' Like an afterglow?"

Hugh grinned at him. "Sort of...you must know what I'm talking about. The post-sex thing? The glamour?"

"Whose deal is it?" I asked sharply, not liking the conversation's new direction.

Seth turned thoughtful. "Well, then it is like an afterglow. I mean, everyone sort of has something like that after sex."

"Yes, but it's different for an incubus or a succubus," explained Peter professorially. Unless I was mistaken, he was starting to pick up a British accent. Too much exposure to Bastien. "In their case, it's more of a literal glow - to other immortals at least. When they've had sex, they take that person's life. Life force is alluring. To an immortal, a just-laid incubus or succubus will almost - "

"Glitter," suggested Cody. "Or sparkle. And yet...not. It's kind of hard to explain. Hasn't Georgina told you all this?"

"Not this," said Seth. "So I...er, mortals don't see it?"

"Are we playing or not?" I asked impatiently, raising my voice. Carter caught my eye.

"Not like we do," continued Peter. "But they -