Free Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause Page B

year. Vivian found presents from Rudy on the kitchen table with a note explaining he would be out late and, after tossing her own contribution down, Esmé went off humming to talk on the phone for hours.
Thanks for sticking around to see if I like it,
Vivian thought as she unwrapped a silky blouse. Once her birthdays had been celebrated by all the pack.
    At eight that evening the doorbell rang. “Go answer it,” Esmé called from upstairs. “It’s my date.”
    Great,
Vivian thought.
She’s leaving me alone on my birthday.
    But when she opened the door the Five surged in. They swept her back to the living room with hugs and licks and love bites and cries of “Happy birthday!” Gregory carried a big paper bag stuffed with packages.
    Esmé ran down the stairs, giggling. “A woman should have plenty of men around on her birthday,” she declared.
    The doorbell rang again and Esmé went to answer it this time. She came back with Gabriel.
    Oh, I get it,
Vivian thought.
Bring your own babe.
    But Esmé looked surprised. She swept her hair back with long fingers and managed to undulate while standing still. “Gabriel.” Her voice was suddenly husky. “Come to take me somewhere good.” She crooned the last word.
    â€œI came to wish Vivian happy birthday,” he said.
    â€œHow nice,” Esmé said, dropping the purr.
    Great Moon, he’s politicking,
Vivian thought,
like he has to win votes for leadership instead of win a fight.
“Kissing babies?” she asked.
    â€œI’d hardly call you a baby,” he replied, looking her over with a grin.
    Jerk,
she thought.
    Esmé ran to the kitchen and came back with a six-pack of Coke and two bags of chips, which she dumped on the coffee table. That was her idea of being a good hostess.
    Rafe rolled his eyes when Vivian passed him a Coke. He took a big gulp; then, as soon as he thought Esmé and Gabriel weren’t looking, he took a small flask from his back pocket and added an amber fluid to the can.
    Gregory tipped the contents of the bag he carried onto the table beside the refreshments. “Presents,” he declared unnecessarily, and settled his gangly frame upon the couch. Vivian noticed he was growing sideburns. He’d grow a small beard soon, she knew. He always copied Rafe.
    While Esmé exclaimed over the tumbled pile of gifts, Ulf fidgeted and nudged till Rafe handed him the flask. Gabriel saw this time. He didn’t say anything, but his lip rose in a snarl.
Who died and made you God?
Vivian thought. Rafe glowered back defiantly, but he put the flask away. Ulf pouted, his red locks falling around his face.
    â€œAren’t you going to open your presents?” Finn asked.
    Vivian gave in and picked up a parcel. Inside she found a scant, lacy slip. “Don’t tell me,” she said. “You went shoplifting at Victoria’s Secret.” The Five collapsed into hysterics, and Willem pushed another gift into her hands. Esmé and the boys howled with laughter as Vivian opened box after box of provocative gauzy underwear.
    â€œTry them on,” Willem urged as she held aloft another pair of frilly panties.
    â€œYeah, we wanna make sure they fit,” said Finn, grabbing them from his twin.
    â€œIn your dreams, wolf-boy,” said Vivian.
    The smirk on Gabriel’s face at her words made her seethe. She could put Finn down; he couldn’t. What was he doing hanging out here anyway? He’d made his public appearance. Why didn’t he leave?
    She deliberately tried to make him feel he didn’t belong by ignoring him and kissing all the Five thank you, despite their jeers and rude suggestions. Gregory put on some music—the hard pounding kind the Five loved—and she danced with them all except Gabriel. She was surprised to find she was having a good time.
    Esmé glowed with contentment. She didn’t even seem to be disappointed when Gabriel