“Yup. Mates Union business all finished.”

“Did you ask Bea about Gary coming for a visit?” Jim asked from where it lay on the floor reading a gentlemen’s magazine.

“Yes, I made the invitation, although don’t get your hopes up. You know how fond of Constantine and Bea Gary is.” She made a face. “Which, given that he’s a disembodied head, is a bit odd, when you think about it, but meh. I’m just not going to think about it. Jim, stay.”

“What?” The demon looked up, startled, then started snickering when Aisling pulled Drake toward the door. “Oh man, it’s that time again, is it? You going to chase him, or have him chase you this time?”

“None of your business,” Aisling said, and, blowing a kiss to the demon, left the room.

Drake waited until they were outside the house, the balmy evening air filled with calls from night birds. “We’ve had three chases already this week, kincsem. Are you sure you’re up for another one?”

“You’re not losing your taste for it, are you?” She leaned forward and kissed him, relishing the roar of fire that never failed to follow.

“I would have to be dead a good sixty years for that to happen,” he answered, his green eyes glittering in the dark. “Would you like me to go inside to give you a head start, or—”

He stopped, stiffening for a moment at the sound that drifted toward them.

“Oh,” Aisling said on a breath, turning to face the same direction. “Someone’s singing. Isn’t that beautiful? It makes me want to cry, and dance, and shout with happiness at the same time. It’s like a hundred songs all compressed down into one perfect bit of music. You don’t think—”

Drake smiled, but it was a smile filled with heat, his attention wholly on her. “I think you had best run, kincsem. Run now, before Charity finishes her song.”

Aisling ran, her heart filled with joy both at the dragon who was patiently counting to fifty so that she had a head start, and for the music that was lifting over the night, bringing happiness to everyone within its sound.