When the first tape was done, I put in the graduation tape. We all watched as Jack, Pearl, King Zeller, and I graduated on stage. There were a few clips of us talking with Mysticals on the school grounds, our expressions ones of pained, forced politeness, and then the footage showed the four of us on the dance floor, cheerful expressions on our faces this time. There was a fire Elemental dancing with Jack and another Mage dancing with Pearl, but the camera altered and zoomed in on King Zeller and me just as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me in tight against his body.
I went utterly still as I watched us dancing. That…oh, holy shit. I knew my cheeks were flaming as I watched us move against each other. Our hands just kind of went wherever they wanted. Body parts rubbing sinuously together. I placed a hand over my mouth gently as I watched us…
“Jesus,” Elder Merrick muttered, sounding a bit breathless. “I think I bring sex to the dance floor, but f**k…” A pause. “Queen Ruckler, I know I’ve offered before…and it still stands.”
Elder Jacobs grunted. “Maybe I could get a copy of this—”
And yeah, he never finished that statement, also ending up on the floor from something Antonio did to him, groaning before he stood, cursing quietly. While I kept my eyes firmly on the screen, watching as King Zeller and I moved together like we most definitely knew what the hell we were doing, our bodies connecting like old, present, and new lovers. I watched as King Zeller eventually spun me so my back was to his chest, running his hands down my sides to grip my hips…and he was most definitely staring down at my cle**age, which I hadn’t even realized I could have.
More clothes…I definitely needed more clothes.
I flat out gaped as onscreen King Zeller stuck two fingers down my cle**age, and I didn’t disagree when he started cursing next to me. How the f**k had we thought we could get away with that move? I stared wide-eyed as he lifted a piece of paper from the depths of my cle**age, both of us reading it before he stared down at me and chucked the paper aside. And suddenly we stilled, then he spun me away to Jack and the fire Elemental, both of whom were grinning and opening their dance space to me.
But I watched, holding my breath as, onscreen, Elder Zeller came up behind me…then we started dancing, classically to the music. Amazingly, my face was carefully schooled to whatever he was saying — the recording unable to pick up the conversation — but slowly, I could see when I started to falter, my eyes frantically darting off to the side, then back to Elder Zeller, before I schooled my features again and answered whatever he had asked. Elder Zeller continued speaking to me, his expression intent as he evaluated me, and my face cracked as I glanced to the side before peering back to him. Suddenly, King Zeller was on the screen, dancing with a beautiful Vampire, saying something to his dad before the partners were switched, and King Zeller twirled me away from them. And apparently, I started chewing him out, my expression worried and irritated as I spoke quickly to him. King Zeller’s head tilted to the side before he spun me again, moving us directly next to a speaker, where it appeared he proceeded to chew me out, appearing irritated and exasperated.
I almost banged my head against the couch as the scene ended. But then I was watching us exit the dance floor, noticing we were careful not to touch each other…except for the tiny little detail that we were heading away from everyone, climbing a hill to the main building. Fuck, we didn’t even glance back as I tripped him, both of us appearing like we were laughing merrily, having the time of our lives as we raced each other to the building.
I blinked, mute, as the tape ended when we disappeared in the distance.
King Zeller didn’t make a noise either.
We stared at the blank screen, and I was sure he was just as dumbfounded at our stupidity.
Elder Jacobs murmured, “I still wouldn’t mind a copy—”
Again, he hit the ground…but this time because of King Zeller, startling me as his hand blurred backward and grabbed a handful of Elder Jacobs’s shirt, managing to keep Isa steady with his other hand as he tossed Elder Jacobs to the ground. His black army boot conveniently connected with the side of the Elder’s face. Within two seconds, Elder Jacobs was out cold on the floor.
I stared down at him. “That…was…illegal.” I blinked up at King Zeller, his attention back on the empty screen, his expression just as blank. “You do realize that, right?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “It’s not as if any of this conversation even happened.” Without a care in the world, he flicked a finger at the coffee table. “Would you put the other one in?”
Again, my attention swung to the Elder on the ground, no one moving to help him, and I eventually shrugged. “All right.” I lifted the DVD from the table, muttering, “Let’s just hope this is an actual wedding tape and not the damn honeymoon.”
Elder Merrick made a choking noise, and I paused, my attention swinging to him, eyes wide. I lifted the DVD in his direction. “Have you seen this video before? Do you already know what’s on it?”
He shook his head, actually grinning at me. If only his eyes weren’t glued to my br**sts. When he spoke, his wolf was riding his voice. “No, I haven’t seen that video, but I have to say, if it is what you just said, I sure as hell wouldn’t mind watching—”
Yet again, he hit the ground, again by King Zeller, knocked out cold via the King’s knee this time, instead of his boot. I pointed with my free hand where he lay on top of Elder Jacobs’s body, shaking my head at King Zeller. “Was that really necessary?”
King Zeller grunted, rubbing Isa’s back when she stirred. “Yes.” A simple, blatant reply.
“And, you do understand they are both going to wake up soon, and they probably won’t be very happy with you?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ll deal with that then.”
I shook my head and turned to the DVD player, muttering, “Your funeral.”
He only grunted behind me as I started up the video.
I had barely sat down when a handsome Mage’s face I didn’t recognize showed on the screen.
He whispered furiously, “Ezra, my man…whoa…just whoa.” He laughed, his eyes bloodshot. He took a drag off a joint, the camera bouncing around, and barked, “Jury, hold the damn thing straight!”
I pointed at the screen quickly. “Who is that?”
King Zeller’s lips lifted in an actual resemblance of a grin. “Judge, a friend of mine from Vegas. And Jury’s his assistant.”