Brayden stared smugly at his phone screen. Lillian had asked him to come to her Halloween party herself. She played it off, apparently everyone else kept asking if he’d be there. Brayden kind of felt like a teenage girl. He wanted to kick his feet and squeal. He, of course, did not. He was a man, so he just stared at the message for another 5 minutes blankly, willing his brain to come up with something witty to say and failed.

“ I’ll be there. What’s your costume this year?”

“I’m an assassin, from that one book series I was telling you about, y’know the one by that same fairy porn author.”

“I do remember yes. I can’t wait to see it ;)”

“I’m pretty proud of it, I hope it’s not too much.”

“Nothing you do is ever too much. You’ll look great.”

Her text bubble popped up once, twice, and disappeared. Lillian did that a lot when he flirted with her over text. Probably for the best, but it was always a disappointment. It wasn’t all bad, he’d found out what she was going to be and knew exactly what he was going to do in turn.

He grinned wickedly and tipped himself into his desk chair, and not 20 minutes later he ambled together a costume that would match with hers. He chose the heroines final love interest. He’d secretly read the series as a surprise for her. Grinning to himself he spun his chair towards the door. Keys in hand, he took off to grab the final pieces.

Three days later, he appeared in her basement fully dressed up and slightly early. He grinned ear to ear when he faced James, who had clearly done his own costume this year, and wouldn’t have any idea Lillian and Brayden were even matching. The music was already playing.

“So, you’re a robber? Funny, very ironic.” Brayden said cooly.

James smiled and nodded.

“I figured it was topical.” As he shrugged.

Brayden just nodded dully, sweeping the room for Lillian.

“And what are you?” James posed.

“Just a Fae, elf thing you know. The girls are all over that shit this year.” Brayden grinned knowingly back at James before glancing away.

Alex and Liam, who were hanging the last of the decorations shot him quizzical looks before turning back to their work.

“Where’s Lily? I wanted to say hi to the hostess.”

“She’s just finishing up her makeup I believe.” James answered over his phone gesturing to her bedroom around the corner.

Brayden just nodded and disappeared to find her. He came around the corner and saw her standing in front of her full-length mirror fixing her lipstick. Her costume was skintight and black, with straps and pockets filled with prop knives all over it. Big black boots on her feet with a heavy black cloak hanging off her shoulders. Long blond hair fell to her ass, revealing small, pointed ears poking through.

Lillian turned to face him with a smile, but he was already on her. That deep sound of pure want ripped out of his chest again as his hands found the narrowest part of her waist. His hands were large enough to take up almost the whole of her torso, fingers splayed wide to feel as much of her shape as possible. Brayden’s thumb instinctively brushing a long stroke under one her breasts. It felt like a stretchy plasticky material maybe a leather or something like it. It didn’t really matter; it felt like he could feel every curve and ridge of her midsection under it. His grip tightened as he towered over her.

Lillian palmed his face suddenly, and Brayden felt a laugh tumble from her still in his hands. He released her quickly putting his hands up in surrender while her hand still gripped his face. Lillian dropped her grip and looked up at him with feigned seriousness. He was still leaning over her, his face flushed and breath ragged. His eyes were half lidded and he felt the goofy grin on his face.

“A bit much hey?” His words were breathless.

Lillian looked up at him under her lashes, an amused smile on her face. He backed up another step and dropped his hands.

“Sorry about that.” He added through his quick breaths.

Lillian just hummed and rolled her eyes at him. She finally took in his full form, his costume. Her eyes flashed to the silverly hair on his head and the pointed ears, then danced across the stark black tattoos on the side of his face that disappeared below his collar and reappeared on his wrist and hand.

“You didn’t.” She gasped.

Brayden winked.

“I did.”"You’re insane.” She whispered.

“Very.” Brayden grinned back.

He fished through his pocket for the last of his costume.

“Could you help with this last part? I don’t know what I’m doing.” He flashed a little tin of silvery white paint that matched his temporary hair job. “Eyebrows, you know?” He wiggled his own at her.

Lillian’s mouth gapped stunned at him but settled into an abject pout before turning towards her door.

“Grab that chair.” She gestured to the one sitting just inside her door and lead him to the bathroom, just cornered to her room.

Brayden plopped the chair and himself down at the entrance of the bathroom and passed the paint into her waiting hand.

“Thank you.” He grinned cheekily.

She puffed at him, and grabbed his face somewhat roughly, tilting it back as she stood over him.

Lillian was stood between his thighs, her hand on his chin as some kind of tool brushed the white paint through Brayden’s eyebrows. Her mouth was basically eye level with him, he watched where her teeth pulled at her lips in concentration, and tongue darted out when she was focussing. His fingers absently played with the back of her leather clad knees while she worked. It didn’t even occur to him that he was even touching her, he just was, like always. She twisted his face left and right checking her work before stepping away from him in triumph.

“Incarnate.” She beamed, flashing her teeth.

Brayden could see the pointier ends of her canines now, to match her ears. They were so subtle one might miss the calls to her own costume being Fae. He wiggled his pointed ear at her and grinned back.

“The teeth are a nice touch; you really could be her.”

She held her finger up quickly remembering something. She rummaged through the drawer next to her quickly and pulled out a little case of coloured contacts. In seconds she had plopped them into her eyes and gave Brayden an arrogant smirk.

“And now?” She winked.

“Incarnate.” He echoed back gracefully.

Her eyes were now blue with a ring of gold around the center.

“You know I think you look very, very sexy like this.” He muttered as he stood up, fingers catching in a lock of the blond wig. “But I just want to let you know – I like your real hair and eyes better. So, you don’t get the wrong idea.” Looking her directly in the eyes.

Lillian blushed lightly and beamed, flashing those new teeth.

“And what about these?”

“Oh, you’re going to have to get that done permanently, along with the ears.” He laughed, brushing one finger out to trace the fake arch of her ear poking through her hair.

“I think so too. They’re just so – so…” She fumbled for words as she faced the mirror and admired her new ears and teeth.

“They’re pretty, and special, they suit you really well.” Brayden whispered, meeting her eyes in the mirror.

“I like your ears too.” She whispered back, with a shy smile.

Brayden grinned back boyishly and turned to the rest of the basement.

“Is there anything I can help with before it all really starts?” Speaking louder than they had been.

“Mmm, I think James and the boys have it finished, or they should by now.” She added just as loudly, as they left their little word and joined the others.

The room was very Halloween, with spooky lights and props everywhere.

“You do this every year?” He added, amazed.

“For like 8 years now, yeah.” Lillian grinned at the basement.

“Woah!” Alex exclaimed from across the stretch of room. “You look so weird!” He bemused, looking at his sister.

He hurried up to them with Liam to get a better look. Lillian flashed her teeth for them to inspect as well.

“You don’t even look like you. It’s so weird. The teeth are cool though.” Liam added.

James, finally looking up from his phone, let his eyes rake across her whole body. Brayden took a step away from her as James stood to approach.

“You look amazing.” He whispered, just to her. “You should dye your hair this colour it really suits you.” He added, running his fingers through the longer blonde strands.

“You think so?” Lillian asked quietly, lifting the hair to inspect it.

She glanced quickly over James’ shoulder to look at Brayden, who just shook his head and winked.

“And blue eyes! Jee you’re like my dream girl now!” James added excitedly.

Alex and Liam shook their heads and wandered off, shooting Brayden knowing, and even sympathetic looks before returning to their own things. Brayden just grimaced and put his head in his hand. James was an idiot. Lillian laughed weakly.

“Thanks.” She added embarrassedly and turned to the rest of the room.

Just then the doorbell rang, and party guests started to arrive.