One week later.

Eight chairs once more set out in a circle in the middle of the large domed room.

“Are you sure they will show?” Asar asked Constantine. The guardian angel sat draped across Asar’s lap, and all Asar wanted was to return to the bedroom.

“They’ll come,” Constantine purred against Asar’s ear, sending spikes of pleasure straight to his groin. Asar pulled Constantine closer, bringing their lips together, when from nearby a voice exclaimed, “Well, we didn’t expect to find this waiting for us!”

Asar gave a loud growl, and Constantine let out a soft laugh as he stood and moved to stand beside Asar. They both looked at Ryrth and Tennan.

“I’m all for an orgy,” Ryrth replied casually, and Tennan elbowed him.

Asar was surprised to see the appearance of the shape-shifter had changed from the week before. Magenta, shoulder-length hair replaced the long black hair he’d worn previously, and his stature had changed, now standing two inches shorter than Ryrth. Together they looked perfect.

“So, I take it things worked out well for you both,” Asar asked them.

The two men came over to sit next to Asar and Constantine, offering the guardian angel a bow to show their respect. No such thing for Asar, as Constantine squeezed his shoulder.

“About the same as you two, I imagine,” Ryrth replied.

Asar envisioned Constantine smiling deliriously next to him. Through the door came Ralsay, followed rather doubtfully by the two fae, both now appearing in their other form. It was remarkable how much they looked like elves, and Asar realised it was understandable they be mistaken for such. Ralsay stood to one side and offered each fae a chair before sitting down between them. Both fae immediately moved their chairs closer to Ralsay, to which the werewolf rolled his eyes but said nothing.

All four pairs of eyes watched the scene until Constantine had the sense to break the silence. “And you were worried I’d made a mistake.”

“You said the gods were responsible,” Ellandor’s voice announced his arrival, and none were surprised to see Claude standing beside him.

Both dressed in forest-green pants and loose fitting long sleeve shirts. Ellandor’s shirt was a shade lighter than his pants; Claude’s was a pale lavender. The newcomers moved to the last two seats, Ellandor taking the one farthest from the fae.

Constantine snorted at Ellandor’s comment. “The gods are too busy for the likes of us.” He removed his hand from Asar’s shoulder and walked around the outside of the group as he continued to speak. “I’ve been guardian angel of this world since the time of its creation and I have seen many changes, but always alone. Many centuries ago I found the one whom I would have chosen for my partner.” Constantine paused and looked at Asar.

“However, such a union would most definitely be frowned upon.” Constantine walked the full circle to return behind Asar, placing his hand on his shoulder again. “Over the centuries I observed the loneliness you all experienced due to your sexuality, and it only made my plight increase tenfold.”

Constantine leaned down and wrapped his arms around Asar shoulders, nestling against the demon’s cheek. “I attempted to talk to the gods about this, but none would take the time to speak with me. Tired of being lonely and wanting something I didn’t think I could have, I decided on this gathering. If only two of you looked past your cultural differences and come together, then there would be a chance for me.”

“That’s rather selfish of you, Constantine.” Asar turned to look up at him.

Constantine sighed and straightened. “I know it was, Asar, but everything turned out all right, didn’t it? No one is without a partner now, everyone is happy, and we can all support each other if needed.”

“You hope for too much.” Ellandor stated, looking at the fae.

Both fae looked down at their laps, and Ralsay let out a sigh. “I’ll be the first to admit this is a little... weird. However, for the first time in my life I’m not alone, and I never thought having someone to love would be an option. I like this gathering, and regardless of our differences, I’d like to think we’ll get past our issues and make this more permanent. We all need to understand why you hate the fae so much, so we can move forward.”

Ellandor stared at Ralsay, then the brothers, as Claude took the elf’s hand in his and gave it a small squeeze. “You should tell them what happened.”

The elf looked around the room. Every pair of eyes were on him, including the fae. “Fine,” he huffed. “I’ve only had one other lover in the past, one whom I believed was an elf but discovered much later was a fae. He never told me, I found out from another. I confronted him and asked him to leave. Not long after, he died.”

“You killed him,” Taro said, and when Azar looked over at the fae, he saw both were crying.

“I told you, he died.”

“Fae give their true names to the one they trust and love the most. If they are rejected, they die,” Hiro told them.

“He must have given you his true name, or he would not be dead,” Taro finished as the room fell quiet.

“I didn’t realise,” Ellandor murmured, and Claude wrapped his arm around the elf, offering comfort.

Constantine made his way to Ellandor and placed a hand on his shoulder and addressed them. “Love is a very strong emotion, binding us like no other. We all have an element in our culture that allows us to bond with our chosen partners until our death.

“However, we are the only ones of our kind, and those rules differ for us. I think these gatherings will be a good. Together, we can learn to understand what love means to us and offer each other support.”

As Constantine looked towards him, Asar gave a loving smile. When the situation called for it, the angel had the skills to bring the creatures together under unusual circumstances. Constantine returned his smile and made his way back. Asar held out his arms and pulled him onto his lap.

“At least get another chair? The two of you leave little to the imagination,” Ryrth said.

Asar ignored him and pulled Constantine closer.

“In our culture, it is not accepted, being gay,” Taro suddenly said.

Ralsay was holding the hands of both fae as each looked at the other. They continued to speak as if talking to themselves, but they had everyone’s attention.

“The one who became your lover,” Hiro said.

“He would have been banished from his home,” Taro continued.

“He would have bound himself to you.”

“He would have done this because he loved you.”

“But he must have been scared,” Hiro murmured.

“To have not told you,” Taro finished.

Both brothers looked at Ralsay, forgetting the others in the room, and Taro spoke first. “We never intended to force ourselves on you.”

Hiro continued, “Nor did we ever deceive you. We would never do that.”

Ralsay smiled at the brothers and said, “I know, thank you for telling me. I promised I would protect you, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

“Did something happen?” Asar asked, all too familiar with the conflicts that occurred between the creatures.

“Nothing I couldn’t take care of. Apparently, the fae really do like to victimise gays,” Ralsay replied.

“Might that explain why there are no others’ known?” Tennan asked.

The brothers both nodded. “Sometimes fae disappear, or die without there being a clear understanding why,” Taro replied.

“Are you suggesting the fae might murder any of their own kind who might be gay?” Asar asked

Hiro shrugged. “Not only gay.”

Asar murmured to Constantine, “I need to investigate this.”

“Yes, you do,” Constantine agreed.

“Shape-shifters will spend their lives searching for their true form.” Tennan suddenly mentioned, distracting them all from the fae’s plight.

When no one replied, he continued, “We will change our forms many times to learn and understand the different cultures. During these stages, we seek our true form. This is the form we will take on permanently. This can only be achieved once we have found love. It does not matter how well we learn to understand love, it is not until we experience it do we find our true form.”

“So if you fall in love you remain as the one you are in love with?” Ryrth asked, hearing this for the first time.

Tennan turned to the dragon. “No, it must be mutual.”

“So you both confess to each other, and that’s it?”

Tennan smiled at Ryrth’s question. “No. We are permanently marked. When this happens, we know our love has been returned, and we have found our true form.” Tennan reached down and lifted the left cuff of his pants, displaying a small, circular emblem tattooed on the inside of his leg, above his ankle.

“Oh,” was all Ryrth said as everyone stared at the mark.

“Congratulations.” Constantine beamed, and Asar gave a small chuckle, as the realisation Tennan knew when Ryrth fell in love with him sunk in.

“Thank you,” Tennan replied.

“Yes, congratulations,” Claude replied.

“Perhaps you might have better luck with a shape-shift than an elf,” Ellandor said to Claude.

“Perhaps, but then no one can use magic as good as the elves.” Claude leaned in close and added in a whisper, but loud enough for all to hear, “And I do so like it when you use your magic to tie me up.”

Laughter erupted strengthening Ellandor’s embarrassment. Much like last time, but in reverse, Ellandor wrapped his arms around the vampire and they vanished.

“Well, I guess that’s it for today,” Ryrth said.

“I guess so,” replied Asar.

“Well, we’ll be off too then,” Ryrth added, and before anyone could say anything the dragon and shape-shifter were gone.

Constantine stood, stretched, and walked over to the fae, sitting down beside Taro. “Is everything all right here?”

The brothers nodded, and Ralsay said, “We had trouble when we left here last time. I scared the other fae well and good for them not to be a problem. However, I promised I would take care of them.”

Constantine smiled as Ralsay wrapped his arms around the brothers and they encircled Ralsay’s waist.

“If there is ever a need, call and I will come,” the angel told them.

“Same goes for me.” Asar stood and came to stand behind Constantine.

“Thank you,” both brothers replied.

“We should get back. Taro and Hiro have tidying up to do when we get home,” Ralsay said, releasing the brothers and standing.

Both fae blushed furiously. “We were only having fun, Ral,” Taro chimed.

“And you weren’t complaining when—” Hiro didn’t get a chance to finish as Ralsay clamped his hand over his mouth.

“Never mind. Let’s go home.”

All three waved goodbye, and with both brothers holding onto Ralsay, they shimmered and vanished.

“Us again,” Constantine said as he turned to face Asar.

“Us again,” Asar repeated.

Constantine wrapped his arms around the demon’s neck and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. Asar didn’t hesitate to return the kiss.

When the angel pulled away and dropped back to the ground, Asar wrapped his arms around Constantine’s waist and asked, “Do you really believe the gods will allow this?”

With a wicked grin, Constantine replied, “Let’s find out, shall we?”

Asar stared at the angel for a moment before shaking his head. “You are a very wicked angel, you know that, right?”

Constantine’s only reply was a thrust of his hips towards Asar’s and a naughty gleam in his eye.