Welcome back, my lovely reader~

If this is your first visit to Silverpaw, I strongly recommend starting from episode one to get the best experience.

If you are new to Blood & Carrots as a series, you need to start with the first serial if you want to fully enjoy it.

Take your time, I’ll wait for you to catch up. :3

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And with that out of the way...

Sarnai’s gotten herself a new girlfriend and things seem to be going pretty well for our lovely vixen these days. Alas, all things must face their tribulations and the winds of change are inevitable. Yes, scary things are on the horizon, but let us revel in the peace just a little longer. 

We’re oh so close to being caught up with the original story, then it will be all uncharted territory very soon. Let’s do some more catching up on this episode, shall we? Why, we’ve got a few members we’ve not seen in some time now, don’t we? However, why don’t we open with a little foreshadowing, eh?

—♥—

Episode 13: 
Knowing is enough, okay?

“You seem to be happier my pup.” Rachel gave me a relaxed smile, hands resting on her lap.

“My life has been pretty good lately, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.” I sipped on a mug of hot blood while sitting across from her. She had come to call and since we were in a time of peace, Alice was happy to have her visit.

“I’m thrilled we can meet as friends like this, Lady Rachel,” The rabbit cooed the words out, sipping on her own chilled blood in a martini glass.

My mother gave her a courteous nod. “Please… let us relax and do away with titles. Just Rachel will do.”

I saw my girlfriend's ears lift slightly and could see her eyes shine as she spoke out, “As you wish Rachel, I’m happy to get more comfortable with you.”

The platinum-haired fox gave her a bright smile before putting a hand to her own chest. “My… Alice, you look upon me with such hunger...” Her eyes shifted to gold and she cocked a brow curiously. “Yes… you’re not trying to hide anything it seems.”

“Should I? You’re a lovely fox, I’ve thought so from the first time I-”

“Alice… my love… do you enjoy having me as your lover and partner?” I called out casually over the two of them, cutting my eyes to the rabbit next to me.

“Of course I do, honey,” She cooed the words out and gave me a childish grin.

“Then stop hitting on my mom!” I barked out sharply, glaring at her, teeth showing as I growled.

The rabbit giggled and gave me a coy smile. “It’s in my nature, honey. I apologize...”

“Mmph...” I growled and stuck my nose into the air.

Rachel giggled and gave me a gentle smile. “Relax my pup, my station requires me to remain celibate, I could not pursue such advances if I wanted to.” She then shifted her gaze to Alice and gave her a playful grin. “Mind you, you’re a lovely rabbit, Alice. However, knowing you lay with my daughter regularly, I would sooner leap into a firepit than lay with you.”

Alice giggled at the words and leaned back, sipping her blood. “Oomph… such a vicious rejection. I understand though, I was merely being playful.”

“I appreciate your understanding. Perhaps if my daughter and position were not a factor it could be otherwise, but do take care of my pup.” The angel nodded and brought her cup of tea to her lips.

“Well now that we have that awkward shit out of the way. What’s going on Mom?” I growled the words, still a bit of edge in my voice. My ears lifted as I felt Alice slip her hand over mine and grip it gently. Her will pushed forth before I felt myself filling with a sense of comfort and adoration.

Rachel showed her teeth in a grin, watching our exchange. “You’re cute together, maybe even rivaling Elias.” The fox hummed the words and then reached to her side, bringing forth a sheathed saber that she laid right down in the middle of the table between us.

“What’s this?” I tilted my head curiously, feeling an overwhelming energy emanating from the blade.

Alice grinned and released my hand while Rachel spoke once more. “You’ve no doubt noticed the effect that being with her has imparted to you, yes? When we embrace now, you feel no pain.”

“Yes, even blessed silver has ceased to burn my flesh.” I tilt my head and cock an eyebrow. “What of it?”

Rachel nodded to the saber. “Take it and unsheath it.”

I grasped the scabbard and gripped the hilt of the blade before slowly drawing it forth. Even with my tolerance built up, I felt slightly queasy as the deep maroon blade came into view. I grunted and shook off the sensation before fully withdrawing the saber. “What on earth...”

“A collaborative effort,” My mother hummed the words playfully.

“What sort of material is-” My ears lifted as it dawned on me. I had seen the roses in their room and the small necklace Elias wore. I shifted my gaze to Alice and widened my eyes. “This is your doing?”

My rabbit gave me a cocky grin. “Not just mine. Oh no my fox...”

Rachel nodded. “Toroah and I both worked in tandem to bless the blood steel.”

“And it has a mixture of mine and Elias’s blood in it. I’ve even had Kazemde of the circle temper the enchantments upon them.” Alice gave me a haughty look and nodded her head. "Step from the table with it, summon your fire, and will it into the blade."

“You’re all mad...” I growled the words but quickly stood, feeling giddy to try the blade out. I brandished it and focused my will. Red and black flames erupted from my hands but I barked out sharply when the blade took on the familiar bluish-white radiance of my husband. “W-What?!”

“Heh… It’s been infused with mine and Elias’s power. It will focus radiance when you will it to, not hellfire. Though with the right training, you can blend them together as I do.” Alice showed me a cocky grin, lifting her hand that was caked in white flames then I watched the hellfire in her come forth and blend with them, giving her an unearthly grey color of flames.

“Oh… you mean this?” I barked out and focused my will, drawing forth the faint spark of radiance I had gained from laying with the two of them. The sword fire flared brightly to black, then slowly took on the same charcoal looking flames the rabbit had.

Alice pursed her lips and I could see the shock in her eyes. I gave her a confident smirk and casually sheathed the saber, snuffing the fires out. “Do not underestimate me, love. I surmised how you did that and began focusing upon drawing it forth to use within a week of being here.”

“You sneaky bitch,” Alice laughed the words and grinned as she took my hand once I sat back down. “Damn you’re sexy when you’re so full of yourself...”

I blushed at her words and showed her my own grin. “Why such a thing though?”

Rachel cleared her throat, bringing us back from our little moment. “I’m sure you’ve felt the tension in the air. The mundane are anxious and even they can feel that something is on the horizon.”

I pursed my lips and gave my mother a nod. “Yes… even with all the good that’s happened in my life, I’ve felt uneasy, like back with Charlotte.”

“Something is coming, my fox.” Alice tilted her head and frowned. “I can feel coming to grips with your madness enhanced your power, but I want to hedge my bets. I want my fox to be able to protect herself.”

“And I want my daughter to be able to stand strong as a mighty warrior, as should be of the females of our line.” Rachel gave me a look full of pride. “You now wield an artifact befitting of the last living member of our tribe.”

“I’m not really living anymore, but I get what you mean, mom.” I barked the words and looked over the sheathed sword, still feeling my hands tingle from holding such a powerful enchanted weapon. “Why did Toroah get on board with this?”

“Because he and Elias formed a bond after you parted. If not for him, your husband most likely would have succumbed to his own guilt of hurting you.” Rachel folded her hands on the table. “Also, Alice and Lorelai do share some sway in things I would imagine.”

Alice gave me a coy grin and shrugged her shoulders. “I insisted he only participate if he felt it right to do so, not because of me and Lorelai.”

“And the mage?” I cocked my brow.

“He and I are good friends,” Alice hummed cheerfully.

“Bullshit… friendship and favors are separate for their kind,” I growled the words and fixed my rabbit with a calculating glare.

“Fine… he agrees it’s a necessary measure, he also did owe house Blackpaw a favor. Granted it wasn’t enough of a favor for such a boon, but that was a perk of our friendship.” Alice folded her arms, pouting that I had seen through her.

“Even the magi circle are worried eh?” I sighed and strapped the sword to my hip. “I was hoping I was just imagining things.”

Rachel peaked her fingertips and frowned. “Whatever is going on, it’s nothing we can control for now. We should be vigilant but not let it consume our lives.”

I gave my mother a nod and rested a hand on the grip of the saber. “Thanks mom, send my gratitude to Toroah as well.” I huffed and cut my eyes to Alice. “I will thank you and Elias both more properly later.”

She gave me a hungry grin and lifted her ears. “Katrina added some blood too, should I make it a group event?”

“Can you wait until I have left for such talk?” Rachel barked out sharply at us, her cheeks dark and tail thrashing.

I and Alice both gave her an apologetic look before I held a hand up. “Sorry mom.”

—♥—

A sharp clash of steel rang out, sparks flying as I used the saber to twist the large blade of the halberd and deflect the incoming slash. Alice yelped out as the blade dipped towards the floor and I lunged forward, headbutting her right in the forehead, careful to avoid breaking her nose.

“Fuck!” The rabbit cursed out as she hopped back, holding her forehead, a show of anger on her face.

“Had enough yet?” I gripped the shaft of the polearm that laid on the ground and tossed it back to my lover.

Alice snarled and caught the halberd in her left hand, spinning and flourishing it before setting her stance again. “Not even close!”

My sharp teeth showed in an amused grin as I rested the saber on my shoulder, it wasn’t my new one but one of the regular steel sabers, as we were in the training room below the mansion. “You’re already so good with a whip, why the polearm?”

“It is the favored weapon of my teacher, it seemed appropriate. I began studying it out of respect for him, honey.” The rabbit relaxed her stance, resting the shaft of the weapon on her shoulder.

I grinned at her then put my free hand on my hip. “There’s that pet name again… I can’t believe we were so casually throwing them around while seeing my mom tonight.”

“Does it bother you? Have I moved too quickly?” The rabbit tilted her head, frowning and looking concerned.

A bark of a laugh escaped my throat as I shook my head. “Of course you moved too quickly, but it is within your nature.” I clicked my tongue and thought about Katrina and my pending meeting with Lorelai. “But, it seems you’ve instilled that trait upon me. No, it doesn’t bother me… love.”

The rabbit gave me a bright smile and averted her eyes. “I’m really happy you and Katrina started something...”

“Why is that?” I had a feeling I knew, but I wanted to hear her reasoning.

Alice frowned and put her free hand to her chest. “I don’t mean to always pry with my lovers, sometimes the movement of our emotions and energy gets too intense, and I feel things I know I shouldn’t...”

“You felt her admiration and desire for me?” I lazily swayed my heavy black tail and folded my arms, the saber hanging loosely in my grip.

“I did, but… who could blame her?” The rabbit cooed the words and I saw her giving me that hungry look.

“Yeah… psychopathic nut job… that’s everyone’s favorite type, right?” The words came out bitter as I thought back to the days leading up to this.

“Her admiration and Elias’s unwavering love. Those filled me again and again through the years leading up to this, Sarnai. That night when I took most of my Master’s power, my soul was awash with his love and regret over you.”

“Is that why you didn’t kill me?” I growled the words and felt myself tense, shifting out of my relaxed posture.

“Amongst other reasons. It didn’t hurt that you had a fantastic rack on you.” Alice hummed the words playfully, her ears flicking.

With a smirk, I rolled my eyes and put a hand on my hip. “I don’t believe that for a second, not even coming from you.”

The hesitation was plainly obvious on her face as she chose her words before speaking. “Would you really have killed everyone? Had Jeremy not struck you down as you asked?”

I frowned deeply and felt my stomach twist as I looked away. “In that state? I most likely would have… but I kept screaming at myself the entire time, telling the sane part of me to just run myself through before I even brought him down. I...”

“I’m sorry to bring it up, I know it wasn’t you in there.” She frowned and tossed the halberd to the ground.

“It was me, Alice! Another part of me, but still me...” I snarled and pushed my palm to my forehead, clenching my eyes closed, feeling them burn. “Everything he did for me and yet...”

She was on top of me right away as I felt her energy, I blinked my eyes open to see her staring up into my eyes. “You know what? So was he… that monster we saw that night together? Have you no doubt that was your husband, Sarnai?”

I snarled and shook my head. “That’s diff-”

“It’s not!” She snapped the words out and I saw her eyes focus into a strong defiant glare. “No! It’s even worse because he has to live with the knowledge of it every day and there’s nothing I can do to fix it. Think about that!”

I widened my eyes, feeling tears rolling against my cheeks, my heart starting to pace as I shook my head. “Y-you’re… oh my gods you’re right… I’ve sat here wallowing in my own self-hate, but-”

“But he has to constantly live with the knowledge he wiped his wife’s family out, along with so many others. He didn’t have an intervention.” Alice shook her head and closed her eyes. “That’s why… when it was over, I sought out how to help you… You were just as much a victim and helping you, would by proxy help him.”

I gave a ragged breath and nodded my head. “I understand… I have to stop feeling sorry for myself. I need to be strong for my husband… for our fox.”

The rabbit showed me a wide grin, her eyes looking a little wet as well. “Not just for him, for me. It’s still new, but you mean a lot to me, I don’t want to lose you and neither does anyone else.”

My head shook as I moved an arm around her and just pulled her against me. Alice wrapped her arms tightly around me and I moved my hand to the back of her head, stroking her ears and moving it down her long blonde hair. “You’re right… it’s time to let that go and focus on the future.”

We stayed that way for a while, her soft will pushing through me as I tried to return the gesture. It wasn’t the energy she would draw forth and cycle when we made love, it was the little trick my husband used to comfort me. He no doubt had taught it to her or she just picked it up over the years. All the same, her will mingled with mine as we enjoyed one another’s arms.

“So… have you made a decision on that one mundane that took a shine to you?” I called out to her gently, trying to shift us to another topic.

Alice pulled from my arms and turned from me, flicking her small tail as she collected her halberd. “I’m still up in the air on it. They’re very sweet and curious about our lives. I’ve kept them at a distance like most of our servants, but I’m seriously considering it.”

“How would you even handle that? I know the concept of turning someone, but I’ve never done it myself. Can you even turn anyone, given what you are?” I lifted my ears curiously as I spoke, finding myself genuinely intrigued by the concept.

Alice frowned and averted her eyes before speaking, “I do not believe I could. Ichiro shared tomes with us on chimera’s that Kazemde translated eagerly. It seems we’re either a product of fate or happenstance. Granted the tomes could be wrong, still, I do not want to risk their life to find out.”

“So that’s that then.” I shrugged and produced my saber, lowering my stance as I saw her ready herself.

“Nonsense. I would simply ask one of you to do it.” Alice cooed the words and then dove at me in a blur of motion. There was a clash of steel as the rabbit swung the halberd down, this time expecting my parry as I sidestepped and we locked blade to blade.

“You would force a progeny upon one of us, Alice?” I barked the words, the steel of my saber groaning against the larger mass of the halberd as the rabbit kept the pressure up.

“Do not be absurd, I would only do so if you, Elias...” She huffed out and broke my stance, swinging the blade in a wide arc as I sidestepped and found my footing, “... or Katrina would be willing to do so!” She set her stance again as I thrashed my tail and readied my sword.

“Why me?!” I barked out as more steel clashed out, the topic having rattled my brain slightly at the concept of such a thing. I snarled and furrowed my brow before Alice reared back and pierced at me with the halberd. Barking as I lunged sideways, I used my saber to deflect the blow as I felt my ire build.

I grabbed the shaft of the polearm and Alice’s eyes widened as I simply wrenched it from her hands. I spun the polearm around and shoved the tip of the blade right to her throat. The rabbit slowly rose her palms up in submission, looking shocked, and a little surprised by my anger. “Why drag me into your games, rabbit? You think I wish to pass madness on to the poor thing?” I snarled furiously, feeling my rage building at the concept of cursing another with what I suffered through for centuries.

“Honey… calm down, it was just a thought...” She called out gently to me, looking worried as I snarled, feeling my black flames rolling off me.

“You’re thought, sucks!” I barked out and threw the halberd across the training room, embedding it several inches into the stone wall. I pushed a palm to my forehead and growled, trying to calm myself. “I would not… I would never wish it upon another, not even the vilest of creatures...”

“And that makes you a good dog, Sarnai. I of course wouldn’t let that happen either, so do not worry over such a thing.” Alice moved in and I yipped out, heat still in my voice as she pushed her small body to my own in a tight embrace of comfort.

I felt another snarl bubble up in my throat but my hand rested heavily on my lover’s head, rubbing at her ears and hair. ”How can you be so sure? Maybe what you did with me was a fluke.”

“It was not.” The rabbit cooed the words and nuzzled into my breasts, hugging me closer. I could feel her energy shifting and knew she was getting worked up.

“But how can you-” I barked out then cut my words short as the rabbit glanced up at me, her eyes red as she showed her sharp little canines to me in a grin.

“Something in me says it will be alright, just trust your girlfriend, Sarnai. The madness in you is gone and it will not blossom in another.” She huffed the words while reaching to the robes I had worn for training, gripping them and pulling me down to her waiting lips.

We embraced and I snarled in anger at her nonchalant attitude about things, but her will pouring forth was quickly calming me while we kissed. I pulled from her lips and fixed her with a curious look. “Why are you so worked up?”

“I just love seeing you being so strong and feral… all that growling and snarling...” The rabbit pushed closer, tugging me back down and kissing along my throat. I couldn’t help but grin and folded my ears, deciding it was best to shelf this dispute until later. In truth, I had been wanting her for most of the training session.

I let her kiss down my throat towards my collar, then grinned as I suddenly snatched her shoulders and dragged her down to the training mat beneath us. She huffed out excitedly when I pinned her arms above her head, giving her a haughty grin. “Strong and feral is what you want, eh?” I cooed the words, wagging my tail lazily while looking down into her red eyes.

Alice bit her lower lip and nodded her head rapidly. “Yesss… hold me down and take me, my fox.”

“You drive me crazy Alice, you, that cat, and my husband...” I growled the words into her ear, nibbling at it as I moved down to her throat. Now that I thought about it, most of my training sessions ended this way with all three of them.

—♥—

“Sister! I’ve missed you dreadfully!” The incubus was on top of me in a flash and threw his arms around me, hugging me tightly as I yipped from the contact, feeling the cocktail of his energy churning through me.

“I have missed you as well, now unhand me you lecherous goat!” I snarled the words as he pulled from me with a playful grin. I shuddered and pushed a palm to my chest, willing my heart to slow and stop once more. “Really brother, can’t you control that better?”

Val folded his arms and gave me a smile. “My apologies, I was simply excited to see you.” He ran his fingers through his silver hair and hummed playfully, fingering one of his horns, “You are rife with the scent of our brother, and our sister… and our sister...”

I blushed and lowered my ears before growling at him, my tail thrashing. “Yes, you knew all this already!” I glowered at him for a few more moments before my ears lifted, seeing the smaller female finally slip out from behind him.

My brother gave me a proud grin and stepped to the side. “This is my lady of the house whom I told you about, my little imp.”

The young-looking lemur gave me a polite bow, dressed in the same skin-tight black pants my brother was wearing, her upper body wrapped in a snug form-fitting t-shirt with an open black vest. She had hair similar in length to mine, down to the base of her tail but hers was of an earthy light brown compared to my raven-wing colored. I could see she had a natural almost mocha-colored skin and two small horns that protruded out of her bangs by just a few inches.

“Kiley, right?” I huffed the words, looking down at the smaller female. I had around a foot on her, but she still seemed to be taller than Alice and slightly more than Katrina.

“Yes, Lady Sarnai. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My lord speaks fondly of you and often.” The lemur gave me a smile, then gave a soft gasp as Val slid up to her, pushing a palm over her hip to draw her up against him.

“I never thought I would see you settle down with a dedicated mate, brother.” I gave him a toothy grin, watching the smaller imp settle against him, awkward at first in company, but then relaxing. They were a skittish sort, so I was actually impressed she was handling herself so well, though I could tell she was eager to be done with the exchange.

“Time’s change, sister, but I don’t need to tell you that, do I?” He hummed the words and then gave Kiley’s hip a gentle pat. “Relax my love, Sarnai won’t bite.”

“Y-yes… I’m trying to get better about it.” Kiley shivered at his touch then nodded, before shifting her gaze back towards me.

“It’s alright, we’ve all got our trials to overcome, Kiley.” I gave the imp a smile and then shifted my gaze to my brother, “So has anything interesting been going on in the decades since we last saw one another?”

Val tilted his head as he spoke, “Well, the most interesting thing is what you now call a lover. That rabbit has stitched our family together in ways I’ve never quite seen before.”

“You mean like how you and my husband now regularly lay together?” I hummed the words, showing him a grin as to not seem upset by it. I saw Kiley flinch a little at the topic and my eyebrow lifted curiously.

The goat gave me a playful grin, “Elias has spread his wings in the last few years thanks to the rabbit.”

“Amongst other things, I’ve no doubt,” I grumbled the words, feeling irritation build in me over the thought of it. Usually, I didn’t dwell but still, it did irk me from time to time. I focused on Kiley and showed her a glance of one of my sharp canines as I spoke, “How about you imp? When my husband comes to call, have you joined your lover with him?”

Kiley flinched and shifted behind Val, shivering slightly before speaking out. “Ah… it just sort of happened… I meant no harm, Lady Sarnai… You have my apolog-”

“No need to apologize, my lady.” Val spoke out over her, then narrowed his eyes, giving me a calculating look as he continued, “My sister was estranged from my brother at the time, she is also not a petty fox that would succumb to jealousy. Especially when she herself counts two other lovers and is on her way to potentially establish relationships with a third… Isn’t that right, sister?”

I showed my teeth in a snarl at the goat, but folded my arms at his points made and gave a quick nod of my head. “Naturally, he may do as he pleases, so long as I am his only wife.”

“Likewise, you may do as you please, sister… you are not limited to those of the female persuasion.” Val showed me a playful smile as Kiley slowly slipped out from behind him, returning to his side.

“Brother, was that a flirtatious line? Our time apart hasn’t sent you into madness as well has it?” I growled the words and folded my arms. Sure I found him stunning and his supernatural incubus status didn’t hurt matters. Even when he didn’t mean to, he could make my body react in ways that left me frankly, uncomfortable. He was still in my eyes simply a brother, I had never wanted to explore that avenue, with or without my husband.

The goat gave me an intent look and I could imagine his tail flicking behind him as he spoke, “It’s crossed my mind lots of times over the centuries, but delving into your dreams that one night, I could plainly see you do not desire that. So no my sister, it was not a nod towards me, however, it was me saying this; If you happen to find a fetching male I would not feel guilt towards pursuing them.”

I frowned and thought back to some of the conversations I had with ‘myself’ occasionally in my sleep. They or more accurately, I had been craving more. I was still coming to grips with all of this though, I was no succubus and it served me little to pursue it outside of personal fulfillment.

I snarled and put a hand to my head as I thought about it. Was it wrong to enjoy myself and feel personally fulfilled after so many centuries with one partner? A partner I nearly killed and was lucky to have back in any capacity? I knew Elias would have remained absolute to me had I not ruined things. I knew I was lucky to have him and even if he had leveled a restriction of no lovers but him and the rabbit, he would have been justified given I nearly murdered him in my madness. He had not though, he just gave me that same loving gaze I had seen for centuries, the understanding eyes of my husband that despite the odd change of rules, still would stand by me through it all.

“Sister… Lady Sarnai… are you unwell?” Kiley called out with concern, not having the ability to pick up on the sensations I was feeling like my brother would, just seeing me stand there growling and holding my head.

I snapped my eyes open and met her own, they were nearly the same brown as mine, only a bit softer in color. I growled to myself and focused as I spoke, “Yes, my sister, I’m fine. I thank you for your concern. I just have much on my mind these days.”

“Perhaps you should think less and just go with the flow, my sister,” Val hummed the words, his hand moving to pat Kiley’s rear, making her gasp out gently.

“I am not so aloof as you brother, but, Yes this is all new for me.” I gathered myself and moved my hands back to my sides. “More to the point, I will be spending the evening here at Lakestone before I fly out to Ceuta.”

“Ah, that brings back fond memories… I still recall our adventures at sea from time to time.” The incubus rubbed his chin, a smile on his face.

“At sea? Why has this never come up, my lord?” Kiley looked interested, her fluffy tail starting to wag as a dogs would.

“Mm? It just never seemed to...” Val cooed the words towards the little imp, seeing her excitement.

“Yes, Kiley. He was a member of my crew.” I put my hands on my hips and puffed my chest out, showing her a prideful grin. “I was Captain Silverpaw, the scourge of the straits of Gibraltar. All ships of the church, regardless of their nationality, feared me and my crew. We came in the night, descending upon them like a heavy mist of fog. Afterward, their boat and crew were never heard from again.”

“Wow!” The lemur looked at me with bright eyes that shone with admiration. “That sounds so cool! I had no idea you and my lord were pirates!”

“Elias too, even the head of the council, Lorelai was with us.” I spoke the words proudly and the imp’s excitement seemed to simply magnify.

“Lady Lorelai?! Ah! When did this happen? What ship did you sail? What did your flag look-”

“Oh dear, I think you’ve struck upon a nerve, sister. I will leave you with my lady, I think I may need to commission a new outfit to appease her in the bedroom after this, perhaps something like I wore on the deck.” The goat gave me a knowing grin as he quickly disengaged and left me with the curious lemur.

I gave Kiley a smile and wagged my tail. “I’m happy to regale you with all the details, sister. Come, let us go inside and speak over a drink.”

I spoke until the morning with the little imp, learning of her relationship with Val. The incubus still hunted while keeping his relationships intact with my husband and the rabbit. I was a little shocked to hear of him and Val together with her, but I never tried to draw such intimate details from my husband, so I know he did not hide them from me purposefully.

More than that, we spoke of my life at sea as I regaled the imp with all of the stories of piracy and adventure. For us, it was a dull sort of time with little spices of excitement zested in. We would go months, sometimes a year without a proper prize or adventure, but since I could summarize, the imp saw it in the light of non-stop exploits.

“What an amazing life you’ve led, sister. All that while struggling with your dreams. Ah, you are such an inspiration.” Kiley wagged her tail, staring upon me with a look of adoration I had rarely seen.

“Told you of those, did he?” I gave her a sad smile.

She frowned and nodded. “Yes… only recently after you officially joined Blackpaw. He said he couldn’t speak of it previously, that he had given his word.”

I gave that some thought, he had kept his word this whole time. Speaking not of my torment to even his closest mate. He was an aloof goat and made light of things all too often, but he was a noble male. “Val is a wonderful guy, I’m glad he’s found such a nice lemur.”

Kiley blushed and averted her eyes. “It’s been nearly a decade… I count my blessings every day that they brought him into my life. I owe Alice and Lorelai an immeasurable debt, even to this day I sometimes feel pangs of guilt that I spurred the Marquess’s advances all those years ago.”

I barked out a laugh and grinned at the imp. “Do not, that rabbit gets around far more than is fair. She is also an understanding sort, she would never hold that against you. She most likely has not even dwelled upon it a single day since it happened.”

“You think so?” Kiley blinked up at me, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“I know so, my rabbit isn’t like that,” I barked the words with pride in my voice.

The imp showed me a small smile and tilted her head. “I can plainly smell her upon you, it’s wonderful to see you think so highly of her, she is a marvelous boon to all our families.”

I pushed my hand to my chest, feeling my heart racing at the thought of her, it rattled me as I delved deeper into my thoughts. Such a short time and here I was, speaking of her with pride and thoroughly smitten. I wanted to blame it upon her being a succubus, but I knew it had nothing to do with that.

Even now, a part of me wanted to still hate her. She had my husband, my brother, my lady, and I could go on. Even Katrina who first had eyes for me, she had her. I wanted to feel intense jealousy, I wanted to be bitter and resentful. I could not, all I could feel was happiness as I thought about her. Perhaps I struggled because I was still coming to grips with happiness that was not laced with daily terror.

“You have grown lost in your mind once more, sister. Are you well?” Kiley reached out, grasping my hand across the table we sat at, jarring me out of my own head.

“Ah! Yes… I apologize… when you get on in years like me, sometimes your mind will wander.” I spoke the words softly then felt the small imp’s fingers curl around mine in a gentle grip.

“You are not just the dear sister of my lord, you are my sister as well. You should know, though I am young… I am always here to lend an ear if you need it.” The imp showed me a surprisingly cocky smirk that reminded me of my brother, showing his influence in their relationship. “An ear to bend that isn’t someone sleeping with you, sometimes having a friend without benefits can have its perks.”

I gave the imp a grin and gripped her hand, appreciating the effort she was making to appear confident and strong, despite feeling the faint tremors in her grip from the whole situation obviously making her nervous. “Thank you sister, that means a lot… I am blessed to have such wonderful family members such as you.”

—♥—

Standing on the dock, it was surreal to see how much had changed, yet how much remained the same. The weathered old timber had been replaced by concrete and rebar. The wooden ships were now massive cruise ships or monolithic cargo vessels that could have fit my old ship into them ten times over. Still, the familiar scent of the ocean was the same, albeit mixed with the odor of oil and exhaust.

I took a seat on the edge of the dock, letting my left leg hang over the side, my right bent at the knee while I rested my arm upon it. “Can’t believe how much it’s changed...”

“It’s something you never get used to. The march of time ever ravages the landscape...” The sheep spoke the words out while taking a seat next to me.

We sat there, staring at the seemingly black sea in the night, the moon reflecting in the waters. I frowned in thought, looking over at her, she seemed to take notice and shifted her own gaze back to mine. Our brown eyes met as we hung there in a long protracted silence, finally, she looked back towards the waves that were slapping up against the dock.

“Have you seen recent pictures of Ceuta’s shoreline in the daytime?” Lorelai spoke out conversationally.

“I have… what of it?”

“I hear mundane talk about how the seas are darker now, how they missed the crystal blue of them before they started wrecking their planet on such a massive scale. It makes me lament not being able to see our home in the daylight all those years ago.” Lorelai spat the words out bitterly, her ears folded as she sneered at the black waters.

“Did you never steal a peek out of the portholes of our ship when we would sail?” I asked her curiously, tilting my head.

“It wasn’t the same I would imagine.” She climbed to her feet and kicked a random bolt into the water that was laying on the dock, having rattled loose from who knows what.

“Very strange seeing you introspective, Lorelai.” I looked back at her, still sitting, my teeth showing in a grin.

She frowned at me and thrust her hand out, the gesture obvious on what she wanted. I grasped her palm and she helped me stand. I tried to retract the grip but the sheep held it firmly, I didn’t understand, but then she jerked hard and pulled me forward. I huffed out, taking a step and then feeling her embracing me. “Take a knee...”

My body did as she commanded before my mind even processed the words, her will absolute and crushing. Then my head was against her chest, I felt her cradle me against her, hands stroking my hair and rubbing at my ears. “I have… so many mixed feelings about all of this...”

“Do you… want to talk about it, my la-”

“Do not be formal with me, Sarnai!” Lorelai spat the words out sharply in my ears, I yipped at her power of will and simply nodded my head before she resumed petting me.

We stayed like that for a time, eventually my hands finding her hips and hugging against her while she continued to pet me. “I wouldn’t have let him… gods be damned I was terrified… I didn’t want to lose you, but I wouldn’t have let him. I was there, my fox… waiting in the wings, tears in my eyes, praying to the gods that I did not have to fulfill my word to you...”

I swallowed hard and simply nodded, feeling her fingertips tangle into my hair before raking through it. She leaned closer and drew in a heavy breath as if she had longed to smell my scent again. “I am bitter… bitter and resentful towards her...”

“Whom, Lorelai?” I lifted my ears, gently pulling from her chest. I stole just a brief glimpse of teary eyes and wet cheeks before she snarled and jerked my gaze back down, forcing my face into her breasts once more.

“My lover, your lover… Alice. I love her, but a part of me, it hates her… an irrational feeling that twists my stomach and wrenches at my heart.” She shuddered as she shook her head. “I should have been the one… it should have been me. I searched for centuries, I sought out the knowledge of scholars and prophets… I had no hobbies or motivations outside of council affairs. Every free moment was in pursuit of a means to heal you...”

I shivered at her words, shaking my head. I started to speak but she simply cut me off and continued, “Yet a chimera… a young fledgling, she was able to do what I sought for nearly half a millennia in a paltry decade. It is unfair… she easily won my love and even reinforced my vow to you. I was terrified… had I lost her that night, I would have struck you down and then myself. Had I saved her that night, but still had to strike you down, I would have followed the same course and joined you in the abyss. I could not fathom this world without my darling foxes and goat, but especially not without you in it.” She hissed the words bitterly and I felt my ears growing wet as she nuzzled the top of my head.

I took a breath, feeling air fill my lungs before I moved my hands to her face, wiping the tears away, lifting my head and meeting her eyes. I snarled and had to summon my black flames simply to speak against her will. “You were there for me… you tried and that is enough. It was-”

“It was not enough! My best was not good enough for you! I was useless to you, and that rends my soul, Sarnai!” Lorelai shouted the words out bitterly, tears flowing over my fingertips as she huffed out a sob.

My teeth clenched and my eyes focused as my flames turned to red. I shook off the shackles of her will and barked out sharply into her face, “Do not belittle what you are to me! Do not make a mockery of my love for you, Lorelai! Knowing is enough, okay?”

She clenched her own teeth and I saw a look cross her eyes I had rarely seen in the centuries I had known her. Uncertainty and unrestrained sorrow, a look I recall that night in Istanbul when we learned our whole family had been slaughtered. I didn’t give her time to speak, I did the only thing I could think to do, the thing I felt Alice would do in this situation.

My mouth pushed to her own and the sheep’s eyes grew wide from the sensation, then she closed them as I felt her will splinter. She tangled her fingers into my hair and pushed her smaller body closer, returning the kiss with a fierceness I had only felt a few times in my existence. Her small tongue demanded entry to my mouth and I gave it, my own meeting it as we deepened our kiss.

The sheep shuddered in my arms, giving out a soft huff as both her hands found my own cheeks. I felt her pouring her will into the kiss, savoring and relishing it. My mind was blank and I simply lost myself in her embrace. My own fingers slid into her curly locks, brushing over her horns.

Several moments passed before her tongue withdrew and her forehead pushed to my own. Her teeth clenched tightly along with her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I couldn’t be there for you...”

“Shut up already...” I snarled and gripped at her horns, a gesture I knew she hated. I jerked her head to where she had to look in my eyes, my own tears rolling as I glared upon the powerful sheep whom I had loved throughout history. “You were. When I felt it was over and my life was being pulled away, all I could think of was you and Elias. I longed to see you one more time, just to touch you, or smell you, or anything...”

Lorelai shuddered at the words then gave me a sad smile, a faint grin showing on her face before she spoke out in a weak command, “Unhand my horns this instant… Disrespectful fox.”

I showed her my own weak grin, my vision slightly blurred as I tilted my head. “Maybe I won’t, what are you gonna do about it sheep?” I felt the words crack in my voice, trying to be playful with her, but still feeling the ache in my soul from her own pain.

Her eyes focused on my belligerent words then gave me a haughty little huff before grabbing my own ears tightly. I yipped out in surprise then she shoved her mouth to my own once more. I grunted and gasped against her mouth, feeling her emotions pour into me as my own filled her. This kiss was different, it wasn’t of remorse, it was of resolution, acceptance of what was now before her.

My fingertips uncurled from her horns and I focused on kissing her. Before I knew it I had taken a seat and pulled her into my lap, my lady now straddling my hips while pushing into me, her heavy breasts pushed to my own. She parted from my lips after several moments and I shuddered, feeling the loss of her mouth keenly.

Lorelai shook like I had and pushed a palm to my cheek, staring into my eyes with her own. “I have lodging at the finest establishment, you will come with me and we will talk more of this, yes?”

My ears lifted as I processed what was happening between us. She was using none of her will to lace the words but I nodded with vigor and gripped her hands, my tail thrashing against the concrete of the dock. “I will! I would follow you through each of the nine hells and back, Lorelai… I will go anywhere with you.” I kissed her fingertips, feeling my heart pounding in my chest, the centuries of repressed feelings for each of us keenly on my mind.

She kissed my lips briefly then pulled from my arms, standing and offering me a hand up. I stood but again she refused to release my palm. “With me then… it is not far...” She began to walk, gripping my hand firmly, nearly pulling me along before I paced up with her. Once I had, her grip eased and our fingers interlaced together, shifting to the type of handhold you would expect to see from lovers.

“Sarnai… we cross a threshold we can never go back from, you understand this, yes?” Lorelai offered me a timid look from the corner of her eye while we walked.

I showed her a weak grin, squeezing her hand to reassure her. “I am with you Lorelai, now and forever I will be by your side, let the fates bring what they must. I will face it resolutely with you…”

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