The twins had spent hundreds of years perfecting their respective hunting techniques. Even after thousands upon thousands of starry nights filled with brilliant successes and tragic failures, the brothers had never been able to come to a definitive conclusion as to which method was best. Magnus preferred subtlety; he enjoyed making his victims want him more than anyone else they had ever met, eager and willing to walk through shady alleyways and enter dark, foreboding bedrooms if it meant that they could finally feel Magnus' hands upon their supple bodies and his white teeth piercing their arteries to lap at their savory lifeblood.<br/><br/>Klaus believed wholeheartedly what Magnus did took too much time. The perfect hunt was filled with scampering feet and sweat laced with adrenaline. Klaus enjoyed the shady alleyways like his twin, because it was always where his victims went and never where they expected him to be. He would flit behind them, wrap his hands around their throats to keep them still and then tear into their skin like a starving dog. The exceptionally pretty ones, like Ever, he might choose to fuck first, regardless of whether they wanted it or not.<br/><br/>Although their methods differed, both twins had managed to become excellent predators, able to weave through a sea of potential victims to find just the right one to feed their cravings. They could perceive every movement, every heavy breath, every slight adjustment that could tell them what their catch would do next. Ever was no different, and as the men sat there, watching him, they could see the discomfort creeping along the boy's skin, causing the delicate hairs on his arms to stand on end.<br/><br/>There it was, the little twitch of the lip and the brief freeze, the signs of a prey animal getting ready to bolt the moment the hunter gets too close. Klaus had told Magnus that in English, the term that conveyed the overwhelming, paralyzing fear prey animals assumed was a “deer in the headlights.” Magnus couldn't help but recall this phrase as he set his eyes on Ever now, watching carefully to measure his response, to see just how far the twins could push him before he began to truly regret offering them an invitation. The young man shook himself from his petrified stance quickly enough, adopting an awkward grin and a heft of the shoulders as if he were trying to shrug away any sense of danger that prickled against his ears. This display displeased Magnus. He wanted to take Ever gently, sweetly, perhaps even romantically so that Ever wouldn't want to leave until the twins had made it physically impossible for him to do so. If they came on too strong and spooked Ever too quickly, they would have to resort to other measures of getting their way, and Magnus did not want to leave Ever's charming duplex covered in blood and shredded flesh.<br/><br/>The younger twin placed his hand on top of Klaus' fingers, still pattering eagerly against his thigh. He silently urged his older brother to settle, intertwining their digits together for a small moment before Magnus dropped them entirely. Klaus responded in kind, offering his twin an obedient smile and letting his hand rest unmovingly against Magnus' knee. It was exceptionally rare for Klaus to acquiesce to Magnus' silent instructions without some quarrel. Magnus could only assume that Klaus' submission was a reflection of his intense desire to bed and devour Ever. The twins were of one mind when it came to the statuesque beauty that sat across from them, so Magnus accepted Klaus' compliance with a humble manner, not directing too much attention to it lest Ever become too observant.<br/><br/>At Ever's suggestion, Magnus reached for a small spoonful of avocado honey and stirred it slowly into his tea. The twins couldn't actually imbibe anything that wasn't blood, as attempting to do so would result in painful vomiting, but Ever did not know that, nor did he need to. Part of the seduction was maintaining an air of normalcy followed closely by mystery, temptation, and raw sensuality. Rejecting Ever's offer for tea would have made the twins appear emotionally cold and unusual, and while they were both of those things, Magnus did not wish for Ever to see through them so quickly.<br/><br/>The twins reached for their cups simultaneously, both taking very slight sips that had the potential to result in mild gastrointestinal irritation but wouldn't cause them to vomit, just enough that Ever would have no reason for suspicion.<br/><br/>The twins purred, each genuinely enjoying the small taste of matcha that dotted their tongues, each wishing they could taste it in Ever's blood instead.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">“The honey adds an interesting touch. A sort of smoky molasses feel. It is very nice.”</span><br/><br/>They set their cups down, one again mirroring one another eerily, and settled back in their seats.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“I have a confession, Ever,”</span>Klaus began, his voice husky and smooth as it twisted its way through the warm air between the two men and caressed Ever's perfect ears.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff"><br/>
“Oh, Klaus, so soon?”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“I feel he deserves to know.”</span>Klaus' icy eyes were narrowed seductively as he stared at Ever's flawless face. He leaned forward in his seat, placed his elbows on his knees, and spread his legs wide. Although his erection had mostly subsided, a gentle outline of Klaus' hungry cock could be seen just under the dark seams of his trousers. If Ever had wanted to look, he would be able to see that special piece of Klaus, the piece that ached to fill the alluring specimen in front of him.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“Do you know what I said when Magnus came to me, informing me that we had been invited to spend the afternoon with you?”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">“He was practically trembling. Klaus saw you speaking with me as we stood by the blood oranges. He was entirely transfixed.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“It's true. I could hardly believe that someone as lovely as you freely roamed the Seattle landscape and somehow we had not stumbled upon you sooner.”</span><br/><br/>Magnus smiled, licked his lips slowly and as he spoke, his voice followed Klaus' lead, deep and velvety like dark chocolate.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">“He said he wanted to taste you.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“Is that what I said?”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">“Maybe. It's possible I said it. Or neither of us, although I'm sure we both thought it.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“We do have similar tastes.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">“We have exceptional tastes. Look who we have chosen for our company.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">“You are exquisite, Ever. We hope you don't mind us saying so.”</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff"><br/>
“I have a confession, as well.”</span>It was Magnus' turn to sit forward in his seat, but unlike Klaus he didn't settle at just laying on a smouldering look for Ever to squirm beneath. Magnus reached out slowly, deliberately across the table, taking Ever's fingers into his and lifting them up, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss on the back of Ever's hand.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ccff">“I have wanted to do that since the moment I saw you at the market.”</span><br/><br/>Klaus, never one to be outdone, chuckled at his little brother's delectability. It was moments such as those that reminded Klaus how precious Magnus was, how he adored to romance and sweet talk and acquire his lovers and meals with a tender, enchanting demeanor. Klaus found it delightful, even if he didn't have much respect for the method himself, and made a note to remind Magnus later just how much he appreciated the care Magnus took to rope in his catch.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999"><br/>
“Perhaps I should admit a second confession,”</span>Klaus said mischievously, lifting himself from the seat and gliding behind Ever and admiring the view of the back their host's head, something he was sure he was going to be seeing more of as the days trudged on. The man leaned down slowly, his blonde hair falling like glossy golden curtains to hide his pale face as he peppered a line of wet, erotic kisses down Ever's throat.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999"> “<i>I</i> have wanted to do that since the moment I saw you at the market,” </span>he whispered into Ever's ear, already finding himself drawn to the clean, sweet taste of Ever's soft skin.