"Are there any humans here?" she asked as Troy led her away from the kitchen and back to where everyone was dancing, pulling her attention away from the label.

  "Just my sister Lisa," he said, and nodded to the girl dancing with the big black cat.

  "I thought human women didn't like lycans?"

  Troy snorted. "Oh, they like us, at least some do, don't think otherwise. But Lisa's a sorceress, and they only date lycans."

  "They do?"

  Troy nodded.

  "Why?"

  "Long story. One of my moms—hers in fact—is a sorceress."

  "Oh…I guess I have a lot to learn."

  Troy led her to the overstuffed chair he'd liked enough to buy one and leave it here. Sitting down in it, he carefully pulled her down to sit in his lap, setting his drink down on the small table beside it.

  Nadinc took a sip of her drink and was surprised to find she rather liked it; it had a lot of citrus in it and was a little sweet.

  "So, do djinn like to dance?" he asked her.

  "Oh, yes, very much, Master, very much!"

  "You can call me Troy, you know," he told her, taking her drink and setting it down beside his.

  "Um, hmm," she said, and he picked her up as he stood, and then set her down like she hadn't weighed anything at all. He then shifted before her eyes, his body flowing into the hybrid form of the lycan cheetah he was.

  She blinked and took a small step back to look at him. If she'd thought he looked strong before, he was positively massive now. He'd also gotten a little taller, along with all the muscle he'd gained. She put a hand on his chest inside his open shirt, feeling the fur and muscle there. The dark lion, his brother, had been well built and muscular, but this one, Troy….she looked up, and he was smiling down at her.

  "You like?"

  "Oh, yes, my Master. I like very much!" she said and smiled seductively at him. For the first time she could remember, the idea of belonging to a man suddenly appealed to her.

  "Let's dance."

  Troy couldn't help but notice the change in demeanor after he'd shifted into his hybrid form. Obviously, she liked cats—specifically cheetahs—as she suddenly pulled out all the stops, slinking more than walking as they went out onto the 'dance floor', and then she turned to him, and they danced.

  Troy always enjoyed dancing; it was just one of those things he was good at.

  Nadinc was surprisingly good, even though her moves were very different than the other girls who were dancing with their boyfriends or the other guys here. She quickly drew a lot of looks, not just because she was different, but because she was good. She could slink just as well as the best of them, and his sister Cyra, who was right up there at the top of the slinky department, danced her way over to Nadinc with her current boyfriend in tow and apparently started taking notes.

  Nadinc, however, only had eyes for him, and it didn't take him that long to realize that he was definitely going to be sharing a bed with this hot little djinn tonight. From the high signs Ryan, JJ, Craig, Ian, and even his sisters were giving him, it was pretty clear to everyone else, as well, where Nadinc was setting her sights.

  When they finished dancing, they went back to where they'd been sitting, drank a little, and then made out. He was a little surprised that she didn't have any issues with his hybrid form. Then again, the way she rubbed into him at times made it clear that she appreciated the soft fur he was covered in.

  "Hey, Troy, going to introduce us?"

  Troy looked over and saw his sister Lisa straddling the lap of the black Jaguar she'd been dancing with, who was now sitting in the chair next to his.

  "Hi, Lise," he said, smiling. "Lisa, this is Nadinc. She's one of the djinn Mike rescued. Nadinc, this is my sister Lisa."

  "Hi," Nadinc said in a very sultry voice as she looked up from where she was snuggled into him.

  "Well, for once, I'm not sure who's taking advantage of whom!" Lisa said with a laugh.

  "Speaking of taking advantage, who's your boyfriend there?"

  "Troy, Cajun."

  "Pleased to meet ya," Cajun said with an obvious accent. Troy reached over with his free hand, and they fist bumped.

  "Likewise," Troy replied.

  "I need to hit the bathroom," Lisa said, slipping off of Cajun's lap. "Care to join me, Nadinc?"

  Troy watched as Nadinc slowly separated herself from him.

  "I've been needing to use it myself," she admitted a little shyly, "but I had no idea where it was."

  "Next time, don't be afraid to ask," Troy chided her as she got to her feet, and then he watched as the two of them slunk off. He could see Cajun was appreciating the view as much as he was.

  "So, Marine?" Troy asked.

  "Yup. Goin' on twenty years."

  Troy laughed. "Yeah, I got the feeling you were a bit older than the rest of us. So how long she been chasing you?"

  "What makes ya say that?"

  "Because I know my sister," Troy said with a grin. "You do know what that collar she's got you wearing does, right?"

  Cajun's smirk was so impressive that Troy had to laugh.

  "Oh, I know, all right, and 'bout a month now. A week ago, she started gettin' downright blatant."

  "I'm surprised you waited that long."

  Cajun looked a little embarrassed. "Umm, I was a little worried about what y'all's pa would say, seeing as I'm almost as old as he is."

  Troy laughed. "He won't mind, trust me on that. Lisa's a sorceress; the rules are different."

  "Oh, I'm a natural born, I know all about the sorceresses!" Cajun said with a snicker. "Anyways, yeah, her mom stopped by and told me not to worry about it."

  "So, like her?"

  "Most definitely."

  "Want me to fill that collar up for you?" Troy asked with wink.

  "You're like the fifth one to ask me that tonight."

  "Uh-huh. Well, do you?"

  Cajun smirked at him again. "I said yes the first time I was asked."

  "Lisa know?"

  "Seeing as she was standing right there when your brother Ian asked? I think so."

  Troy fist bumped him again. "Welcome to the family."

  "Well, let's see if she keeps me. Like I said, I know about sorceresses."

  "Oh, she's like her mom. At least I think so. Dad told me long ago that once he laid the law down, she caved pretty quickly."

  "Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure ta keep it in mind."

  "Hey, just helpin' out my sis!" Troy said, grinning.

  "So, is that gal really a djinn?"

  "Yup."

  "Ain't they supposed to be all sorts of trouble?"

  Troy shrugged. "Haven't known her long enough to find out."

  "Yeah, well, I can tell she wants ya in a very close and personal way."

  "So I've noticed," Troy said and took another sip of his drink. "So I've noticed."

  "How'd you meet?" Lisa asked Nadinc as they entered the bathroom.

  "He knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to go out with him," Nadinc said.

  "Just like that?"

  "Well, your brother—the dark lion—he told me Troy was interested, and I think he told Troy the same thing."

  Lisa frowned. "Why would Mike do that?"

  "I think he was playing a joke on your brother."

  "And being a djinn, you just had to go along with it, right?" Lisa asked, going over to one of the stalls. Ryan had gotten a bunch of the base plumbers to come out and remodel the bathroom a few months back. Lisa wondered what the landlord was going to think when they saw how many changes the lion had made to the place.

  "It wasn't like that." Nadinc sighed and went to use the other one.

  "Oh, then what was it like?"

  "I'm scared. I'm lonely. I'm afraid I may get sent back. Then one of the king's sons asks me out on date? I'm not so foolish a djinn as to refuse that!"

  "So that's all it is? He's the 'king's' son?"

  "Ummm…not exactly," Nadinc said in a soft voice, embarrassed now.

  "Oh? Come on girl, dish."

  "Haven't you noticed how well…built your brother is? He's all hard muscle, and covered in soft fur." Nadinc shivered and blushed. "I know he's a prince, and I'm just a lowly caste raised to be a toy, but still…"

  Nadinc finished her business and used the sink to wash her hands after Lisa finished.

  "Two things," Lisa said, looking over Nadinc. She knew her brother well enough to know that he wouldn't be turning Nadinc down. He bed-hopped almost as much as SJ used to before he'd settled down with Ran and Dan.

  "Yes?" Nadinc asked looking up at her.

  "First, my brother Troy is a hard one to catch. A lot of girls have tried, and so far, none of them have succeeded. However, I think you might have a chance, if you're sincere."

  "Thank you," Nadinc said, nodding her head and smiling.

  "Oh, don't thank me yet," Lisa said with a much less friendly smile. "I'm a sorceress, and I know exactly the kinds of games many of you djinn like to play. If you hurt him, if you break his heart, I will personally stick you back in a bottle, glue it shut, then drop it in the middle of the ocean. Understand?"

  Nadinc shivered, eyes wide. She just knew Lisa was telling the truth.

  "Now, you go out there and show my brother what a good little bed-slave you can be, that you'll be faithful, and never cheat on him, or play games with his emotions, okay?"

  "Umm…" Nadinc nodded slowly, and then looked Lisa in the eye. "If I do that, do you think he'll keep me?"

  "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Lisa asked with a sudden mischievous smile.

  "I…I'd like that very much," Nadinc admitted. "He's the first man I've ever wanted."

  "I noticed. I take it there were a lot before this you didn't want?"

  Nadinc shook her head and looked down at her feet as she sighed. "Many, not that I had a choice. Now that I do…" She looked up at Lisa and shivered again. "I want him. I want your brother."

  "Well, if that's what you want, you go out there and get it. Just remember my warning."

  Nadinc nodded.

  "And, hey, if you make him happy, and he makes you happy, I'll get him to make an honest woman out of you."

  "An 'honest woman'?" Nadinc asked, looking at her curiously.

  "Yeah, I'll tell him to marry you."

  Lisa gasped as she suddenly found herself being hugged fiercely by the djinn.

  "I'll try to behave, I promise you, I'll try," she said, and then letting go of Lisa, she smiled at her and led the way out of the bathroom.

  Lisa had to smile as she watched Nadinc slink all the way back to Troy. Maybe Mike was right. Maybe they were meant for each other.

  Troy had to smile when Nadinc came back and climbed into his lap. He knew his sister, and obviously his sister hadn't gone too hard on her, as she was still smiling. He glanced over at Lisa, and she winked at him, then climbed back into Cajun's lap and proceeded to engage in some serious lip lock.

  He and Nadinc danced a few more times, had a few more drinks, and Troy was feeling pleasantly mellow. She'd gotten his shirt off; apparently, she really did like the feel of his fur, and he had his hands inside her blouse, doing a little exploring as well. His nose was telling him that she was more than ready for him, but he wasn't interested in putting on a spectacle. Unlike his sister Fiona, who wasn't hiding what she was up to at all.

  JJ had, surprisingly, hooked up with his younger sister Cyra, but neither of them were that far along yet. Then again, everyone was getting a little busy with members of the opposite sex at this point.

  "Everyone!" Ryan said as the music died down. "Are we having fun?"

  "Uh-oh," Lisa said, coming up for air. She and Cajun had been getting pretty intimate at this point. "What does that idiot have planned this time?"

  "Now, I'm sure you're all wondering what I have planned for tonight."

  Just about everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Ryan.

  "Well, it would seem the Cirque du Soleil finished their last show for the night about an hour ago. At this time, the doors are locked, and the only people inside are a couple friends of mine, who're more than happy to allow us to go in and try out the equipment, for more, ah…recreational activities."

  "I think that's our cue," Cajun said in a low voice.

  Lisa nodded. "Yup." She turned to Troy, who was watching her, bemused. "While I'm sure Nadi there could show you some wonderful tricks on a trapeze, I hardly think that's a good place for a first date."

  "What's a 'Circus of the Sun'?" Nadinc asked, looking at Troy.

  "Something we're not going to. Come on, let's get while the getting's good. I know these yahoos. Half of them will be in the hospital, and the other half in jail by the time morning comes."

  Standing up, he carried her through the grouped onlookers, and made his way to the door, with Cajun following.

  "Troy! You can't leave!" Ryan called after him. "It's your big chance to break into show business!"

  "Just don't call me to come bail you out!" Troy called back as he went out the door and headed to his car.

  "Have fun making the next generation, Lise!" he called out and set Nadinc down by the door to his car.

  "Oh, I'm planning on it! Maybe you should, too!"

  Troy shook his head, smiling, and after helping Nadinc into the car, he walked around the other side and popped a few spells to temporarily counter the effects of what he'd been drinking. Last thing he wanted to do was ruin somebody else's night.

  "What did you mean by that?" Nadinc asked when he got into the car and started it up.

  "Lisa's about to get knocked up by Cajun, that Jag she's with."

  "What? I thought humans and lycans couldn't make children?"

  "The Sorceresses' Guild figured out a way around that a long, long time ago. Which, considering they only date and marry lycans, isn't much of a surprise."

  "Why do they only date lycans?"

  "Because most male magic users don't care much for women being in charge. I mean, there are a few exceptions, and I hear it's getting better, but mostly, the men run the magical councils."

  "So the sorceresses don't have anything to do with them, I see. But why lycans? Why not humans?"

  "Because we're better," Troy said with a wink, and then turning his attention to his driving, he headed back to the base. It was well after ten; he'd have to wheedle a little bit if he wanted to get a flight back up to the house. For the first time, he wondered if maybe he should get a place down here. He didn't want to take Nadinc to a hotel. He wanted to take her home. The way she'd been rubbing against him, he could tell she definitely wanted him, and his cheetah was completely fascinated by her, because she was acting very much like a bottom who'd found her top.

  Which was exactly how Dania and Rania had finally managed to snag SJ, by engaging his lion directly, and getting it to send his occasionally thick brother a wakeup call.

  Now Nadinc was doing it to him. However, she wasn't a crafty dark elf who'd spent years learning how to snare a cat husband. No, he suspected this was who she was, and he wanted to get her alone and spend some time finding out for sure.

  Parking his car, he got Nadinc out, and he could hear the sound of a Goshawk starting up.

  "I think we may be in luck," he said with a smile, and picking her up, he hurried around the building to the flight line. Sure enough, there was a Goshawk warming up, and there was a squad of lions in gear heading over to the ramp.

  "What the hell?" he said, looking around.

  "Troy! Get yer ass over here!" Bethany yelled from the base of the ramp.

  Sprinting, it only took him a couple seconds to cover the distance, even with Nadinc in his arms.

  "Who's the girl?"

  "Nadinc, she's my girlfriend. Nadi, this is Beth, one of my sisters," he said as he set Nadinc back on her feet. "Now what the hell is going on?"

  "Mike got himself kidnapped."

  "What!"

  "Come on, we're heading up to the house. I'll fill you in on the details, but the long and short of it was someone tried to grab Rika, and they got him instead."

  "How?" Troy asked as he followed Beth up into the back of the Goshawk, his left arm around Nadinc, keeping her close.

  "Recall stone. He ain't dead, but Dad can't launch a rescue until he figures out where he is."

  Troy gabbed onto an overhead handhold and spread his feet a little to steady himself and Nadinc as they took off, making sure she wouldn't lose her balance. He noticed she'd tightened her own grip on him and was pressing into him a little harder.

  "Guess there's a change of plans." He sighed, and looking down at Nadinc, he gave her a slight squeeze. "Sorry, hon."

  "You don't have to go, Troy," Beth said, and he gave her a look.

  "Umm. Unless, of course, you really want to," she added.

  "It's okay, my Master, I can wait in my room."

  Beth blinked at that and gave him a look. He smiled.

  "No, you're staying in my room now, in the main house. Time you got to know the family."

  Troy gave Beth his best shit-eating grin, enjoying the thoroughly shocked look on her face.

  "But you never take anyone back to your room!" Beth whispered.

  "Yeah, well, I figure if Mike can get himself a harem, maybe I should, too."

  Rescue Run

  As soon as they landed, Troy led the way to where they kept the gear for the local teams, which was where his was, too. The lions who'd come up on the Goshawk were already heading over to the house.

  Troy stripped down to the buff, and when he noticed Nadinc looking him over appreciatively, he stopped to give her a kiss. That done, he donned his armor. Like all his brothers and sisters, once he'd stopped growing, he'd had a set of fey armor made for him. Once that was on, he grabbed his weapons harness, checked his ammo pouches, holstered his pistol, and grabbed his rifle.

  "So why do you have to go?" Nadinc asked suddenly, surprising him.

  "Because he's my brother."

  "But there's already a large group of lions going. So there's more to it…right?"

  Troy grinned, and taking her hand, he led her over to the house.

  "Yes. I'm a magic user, a mage. Other than Bethany, none of the others in the back of the Goshawk were. Now, Mike's a pretty powerful mage himself, but a recall stone means whoever did it probably has other magical weapons. That means we need magic users on the rescue team."