Kent worked hard filling glasses and removing dishes. On his own initiative William had extended the evening with a string quartet and dancing. As the...guests left he shook each hand and discretely passed along an envelope. They may have been a bit heavier than past years. As the caterers cleaned up the four sat with a drink fanning themselves. William toasted Shay,"That may have been the best Christmas gift I've gotten in years. I'm tired, but I feel...good." Lily asked,"Will this be a new. Think about it,” Shavala said. She’d found a hawk feather earlier that day and was tying it into her hair, hanging down in front of her left ear. “When you want magic to do something, you must make it do something. Unless you’re a wizard, and then you have to speak funny words instead.”Katrin wasn’t sure what to make of the elf girl. Shavala had been with them for several days now, but still hadn’t given any more reason than she had the first day—that it was time for her to go on her travels,. Daddy knows how to make it all better...Rushing through traffic, all I could think of was Daddy. It had been months since I'd seen him, and now he was waiting for me, so close, I could almost feel his arms around me. Knowing that I couldn't have guests at the dorm, Daddy made reservations at a motel close by. But, as always, I was running a little late. I knew Daddy would not be pleased. I arrived at the motel, and knocked at the door to his room. Nervous with anticipation, I felt my heart. ”His muscles tensed as Tobin’s fingertips touched him. No, not tensed, Tobin realized with delight—flexed. He wanted to show off.Tobin was happy to oblige. He ran his fingertips around the ridges of Trevor’s abs lovingly, tracing their contours.“I’m impressed,” he said. “I’ve done endless crunches, I can’t get close to this.”“Oh yeah? Show me.”Tobin stood and untucked his button-down shirt. He undid it from the top, finally letting it hang open for a moment before dropping it behind him. Trevor.