[ That fear still ran strong, as well as that knowledge that he was a monster ultimately; perhaps that would change when he understood that Bren could hold his own-- perhaps he would grant Bren that which he could never truly grant Caleb, even though he knew that it had hurt in it's own way to be separate as they had been.

That had probably been one of the very few things that the two wizards had ever truly argued about.

But Essek knew his strength and likewise he knew the hunger though it had tempered over the course of a hundred years, he'd learned to manage that hunger better, paced his own feeding so that it did not become like a tidal wave in it's consuming pressure. But that was a topic and a discussion for later even as he pressed a soft kiss to the jawline that his own fingers had only just caressed ]

Everyone will wonder who the handsome man is at my side, and I will be the envy. However tomorrow evening will not be too late of a night, it is merely an event that I shall need to show up for; do a little bit of mingling and dancing and then I shall return to you.

[ His fingers found that chest then and he trailed up and down, following the line of hair that ran down the chest and the abdomen, distracted by the beauty of his lover. ]

Do you know how to dance, Bren?

[ Caleb had danced wonderfully, in such a way that he'd always felt like he was dancing on starlight and dreams; both waltzes and then the gentle sways in those arms, his head tucked against the curve of Caleb's neck while his lover leaned his cheek against him; hand in hand with that arm wrapped around his waist and with no care nor thought in the world between them. ]

I could teach you, if you do not.