(MxM)Tales Of A Shifter (P2) - The Clan Celebration

Chapter 30 - Battle Of Wills

Chapter 30

Ezekiel took his time closing in. A part of him simply wanted to be near Brandon. Spend time with him just a little while longer. But another part of him was still bubbling with questions and suspicions. It was hard to know what to do....or what to say.

But he knew this could very well be his last chance to do...or say anything. He didn't really want to waste it. No matter what the outcome would be.

So Ezekiel bided his time. He let the moon dance into the sky far to the west of the pine forest, and he let the seven Bonfires burn until the wood no longer hissed and creaked, but simply burned in silence, illuminating the multitude of bodies and activities, as the music floated up and across the fields.

Finally the dance began.

Couples and parents and brothers and sisters and cousins took to the fields in earnest. Swaying and swinging and cavorting. Feeling the levity of the moment Ezekiel finally walked over to Brandon.

He was standing with Erin, Drin and Nate. They were all talking but grew decidedly quiet as Ezekiel walked up. Erin and Drin shared a telling look and smiled. Nate simply smirked at Brandon and winked.

Casting his cousins and brother a few small pleasantries, as they quietly looked on Ezekiel finally turned to Brandon and held out his hand.

"May I? It's time for the final Dance." He started looking in to Brandon's green gaze and getting nothing back. "I wanted to steal the opportunity before someone else did."

Brandon looked like he didn't trust that for one moment. He stood silently deciding for what seemed like ages, until Erin cleared her throat and nudged him with her hand.

"Oh give the man what he wants Brandon....you know you want to..." She called out in a playful tease. Eyes shinning like a little minx. She was dressed in a long flowing lilac dress, fitted with golden lace around her belly, thighs and chest. The dress should have been conservative, but just enough skin was showing for the dress to be provocative and sensually appealing in the fire light.

Brandon glared at her, then smirked, obviously realizing that the Leopardess was using his own words of encouragement to Ezekiel against him tonight.

"Well I see whose side you're on...dont I?" He grumbled at her.

In the end he took Ezekiel's hand, stepped away from the other Shifter and started to walk out into the fields.

"If we have to I guess we should...get it over with already." Brandon partly grumbled. "You are the only one left in the mansion that I haven't seen bust a move out here."

Ezekiel shot his cousin a look of thanks.

The music started up just as they moved deeper into the crowd. Each dance went to a different song...and instantly Ezekiel knew that this dance was a traditional one in the Leopard Clan. It encompassed a heady mixture of beats, turns and quick swaying steps and hand movements. And it was only a dance someone who had been living in the Clan would know by heart.

But to Ezekiels immense surprise Brandon seemed to already be familiar with the steps. Eventually realizing that Glen or Erin had taught him the steps Ezekiel melted into the dance with ease.

For the most part Ezekiel and Brandon kept easy pace with the music, and rehashed the steps as if they both had danced with each other like this a thousand times.

The grace with which Brandon moved and the light in his eyes pulled at Ezekiel he started to wish that when their hands locked together he could feel his real palms and fingertips. All he felt was the smooth cool leather.