Avalon walked inside the back door to the coven house, glancing around to see people going about their normal nightly routines. It was almost enough to make him think that dealing with chaos and ever-changing stakes were normal occurrences here in the States. He slipped his hands into his jeans' pockets nonchalantly, heading for the hallway to go up the backstairs.

Just as he got halfway up the servants' stairwell for the second floor, he paused when he heard heels coming down. As he went to step to one side, Elizabeth rounded the corner, dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse. Her dark hair was pulled back into a loose bun, her makeup subdued. He smiled, immediately chuckling. "It's like you knew I was going to be here," he joked.

She smirked, stopping on the steps just above him. "More like you're starting to use my old escape routes, Master Mezdor. Why on earth would an educated and celebrated Scholar such as yourself be hiding out from the public back here?" she shot back.

"Could ask you the same question of a decorated coven commander, my lady," he teased, grinning. "Sure you weren't waiting for me to get you alone and triple our bet on a Round Three?"

"I'm fairly certain British and New Zealand currency may just be worth more than the American dollar these days. So if it means I get a greater return on kicking your sorry British arse, then I'll more than triple our wager." She smiled mischievously, locking gazes with him. "It's been awhile since I've been to London, but I'll never say no to a shopping trip."

"I'd be happy to take you," Avalon answered, still smiling. He touched her hand, noticing the solid, silver ring on her middle finger and the thin, stacked twins on her index finger. The metal was smooth under his fingertips as he traced them down the length of her hand. "After you surrender, that is," he added.

"What makes you so sure? I thought I already proved that I can have you down for the count more than once," she said, her mouth twisting into another smirk.

"I like a challenge," he laughed.

Elizabeth giggled, amused. She pulled her hand free of his just to return the same teasing stroke up the back of his knuckles and fingers. "Then why don't you come into the cities with us tonight? I'm curious to see how well you can handle American nightclubs. They're not quaint, little pubs like everywhere else in the world."

Avalon glanced down at their combined skin tones. He looked back up to her waiting gaze and nodded. "When, after dinner?"

"Who said anything about dinner?" she mocked playfully. "If we're going to do this, we need to leave before dinner. So, you might want to hurry up and change."

"You like to boss people around, don't you?"

She smirked, her lavender eyes rolling. "No, just you."

He stepped up so they were on the same riser, noticing how her fingers gripped his when he moved, as if instinctually knowing the way both hands would fit together. His nose dipped down towards hers.

"Behave yourself, Master Scholar," she warned, a light giggle in her tone.

"Are you going to make me?" he questioned, pulling back to look at her fully.

Elizabeth leaned up into his face as he had just done, the tip of her nose caressing his once. "I can make you do anything I want," she replied, her breath lightly warm against his lips and chin. Before he could lean in further, she pulled away and headed down the last of the stairs. She looked over her shoulder at him when she got to the halfway point. "Meet us in the garage in a half-hour."