Page 32 of Entranced By the Nakken
“You are all skilled. Where I come from…” Tsunis floundered under the scrutiny. Casimir smiled and nodded his encouragement. “I come from a land passionate about music. A being’s spirit song is the most sacred entity, living inside oneself like a second heart, beating, evolving. Some never liberate it, but the journey of discovery is half the magic.” Again, their gaze drifted to Casimir’s. “One would think my home is full of music. It is not. But listening to you all play,” Tsunis chuckled. “I wish our destination tonight was Glacis, instead of…”
“Orlando,” Noah supplied when Tsunis trailed off.
Tsunis nodded. The room remained silent.
“Holy fuck.” Sophie broke the silence with a hardcore riff.
Anna laughed and joined in with a crack of the cymbals, the sisters grinning as Noah banged his head so hard his hair resembled a jellyfish.
“Shit, y’all,” Noah broke through the noise. “It’s getting late.”
Loud.
Since leaving the apartment, it was loud everywhere. Tsunis clung to Casimir until they reached their destination, when they were forced to release the safety of their mate’s hand.
“Stick with me,” Noah said, tossing an arm around their shoulder. “They’ll meet us at the bar once they’ve checked in.”
Tsunis jerked out a tense nod. There was naught else to be done.
Once at the bar, Noah ordered tiny, itsy-bitsy drinks for the two of them. He assured Tsunis the shots of alcohol, an illicit human substance Tsunis had watched foolish humans partake in but never experienced themself, were entirely safe and tasted of cinnamon. After two of the one-swallow cups, Tsunis eased into the strange environment but couldn’t help looking around for Casimir.
“Noah!” Sophie’s voice surprised Tsunis from the right. Relief was quickly followed by an alarming amount of lust that inundated Tsunis at the sight of Casimir close behind.
“Hey, sexy!” Noah shouted over the music.
Sophie smacked her lover’s arm. “You’re giving Tsunis alcohol?”
“They’re old enough!” Noah snatched her by the waist and dragged her onto his lap, sending Tsunis an exasperated look.
Tsunis reciprocated the human’s playful smirk and copied him, dragging Casimir down onto their thighs, which were bare where the skirt had ridden up, and the netting offered no real coverage.
“Well, hello there,” Casimir purred. He was so close to Tsunis’ ear that his breath ghosted over the fin. Tsunis trembled. “I see you’ve had some shots.”
Tsunis’ eyes rolled back. “The tiny sips.”
Casimir laughed and kissed their nose. “Do you have anything intoxicating back home?”
Tsunis took offense. They’d taken part in celestial blood before, but it never affected them like it did their cohorts. They’d witnessed comrades lose all control over their inhibitions, evenlosing the ability to shift forms. Tsunis liked to remain in control.
With a growl that was less threatening due to the smirk Tsunis couldn’t suppress, they sucked on the nugget of Casimir’s throat. “The only thing that intoxicates me is you, dearest Nymphaiia.”
“Fuck,” Casimir groaned as their make-out session with his larynx became heated. Glacia’s bosom, it vibrated against their lips, and Tsunis licked up to Casimir’s earlobe.
“Shit tits, how many of those did you give them?” Sophie’s voice was soft but scolding and accompanied by a light smack.
“They said they could handle it!” Noah tossed up his hands defensively.
“I’ve had two sipping cups,” Tsunis stated, voice firm but eyes trained on Casimir’s throat. “They are so tiny.”
“And full of alcohol,” Casimir said with a chuckle. His hand closed around Tsunis’ jaw, and he dragged their faces together, claiming Tsunis with a brutally soft kiss. “Dance with me.”
Tsunis accepted Casimir’s hand, watching the way his shoulder muscles rippled as he nudged past humans milling around the outskirts. He led them deeper, until their elbows brushed against the bodies swaying nearby.
The musicians on stage were not playing a spirit song, but the beat was pleasant enough, and Tsunis’ alluring mate held them close, encased by his scent and strong arms. An odd electricity hummed in the air of the dance floor, mixing with the scent of human bodies and the joy of the partygoers.
“You look good enough to eat,” Casimir whisper-shouted. “I might have to take a bite.”
Tsunis tried to glare up at him, but that goddess-blessed crooked grin and the delicious divot in his cheek melted Tsunis into a puddle right there on the dance floor.
