When she was a child, Wynter had always enjoyed being in high places. Climbing trees and scaling the old ruined buildings that had been in the city where she had been born. Her mother had often told her that had to have been a monkey in a past life. Now that she was older, it was still something she enjoyed.

She swung her feet over the ledge of the tall building, one of the richer ones in the city, a mansion owned by one of the richest nobles in Shadowfair. Vladimir Spencer, a businessman who owned a chain of shops that sold clothing made of the finest silks and fabrics that could only be found in the more exotic parts or jewelry made with rare gems and metals.

What many didn't know however, was that most of the items he sold were all imported illegally through black market trades, where he would sell people, mainly women and children of the lower class off to become sex slaves or concubines. It was all dirty money and she had been hired to gather and collect information on his trade, enough to sabotage him for good.

Humming to herself, she watched as the guards shuffled about below, oblivious to their quiet spectator from above. Her eyes took in the well lit city, much different than the part that she was used to. There were street lamps lining the streets, powered by witch light that the mages created.

Fine uncracked stone made up the sidewalks that were quiet from their usual hussle and bussle in the late hours of the night, only a few stragglers wandering about as they made their way home from a long day of working. The lingering smell of fresh baked bread and perfumes from the vendor tainted the air, faded as they had long since cleared the streets, storing away their colorful banners and signs.

Pursing her lips, Wynter slid forwards, dropping over the edge of the building skillfully and landing silently in the balls of her feet silently on the balcony a few feet below. Working the lock, she smirked when it clicked silently before slipping inside, rolling her eyes at how simple it had been to break into the nobleman's home. The snobs around this city truly were overconfident fools. She supposed they should be with how oppressed the lower class was here in Shadowfair.

With steps as silent as a shadow, she crept through the vacant bedroom, searching through drawers and chest for anything of value before stuffing them inside of the napsack on her side. Keen eyes searched the room for any more hidden treasures before spotting a large painting on the wall. Both brows raised as Wynter observed the painting of a rather hideous toddler and what she assumed was its horse of a mother.

"Ugh, this is why you shouldn't marry your cousin." She muttered to herself. Carefully, she grabbed hold of the edges of the painting, lifting it from the wall carefully and sitting it aside. Wynter snorted at the sight of the safe that was hidden there. "How stupidly cliche."

Pressing her ear to the safe, she made quick work of the lock, smirking in satisfaction when the safe popped open revealing the treasures inside. Different types of gems and jewelry sat nestled within the safe along with several bars of gold and some pouches of sols. Wynter swiped all of it, placing them into her bag before closing the safe back and replacing the painting exactly. "Hmm, so not the main safe then, I'll have to come back, but right now, it seems I'm out of time." As if on queue, the door to the room opened, but Wynter was already gone before they could step inside.

 ***

Wynter let out a sigh of relief as she slipped into the back door of the familiar tavern, pulling down her face mask. Making her way down the hall, she walked tiredly towards her room, more than prepared to shrug off the heavy bag and dusty outfit. She planned to soak in a long hot bath.

"Finally," She huffed as she entered the room. It was dark except for the lone lit candle on the bedside table, but she didn't mind as she closed the door behind her and locked it. Carefully she shuffled over to the bed relieving herself of the heavy bag and dumping it on the bed before she herself plopped down beside it. Lying back, Wynter allowed herself to finally relax. It was getting harder to do jobs with more and more of the king's guards showing up in the city. "Tch, persistent bastards." Closing her eyes, she rolled onto her side, staring at the bag of goods that she had managed to acquire. There was a good sum there, enough to last a good few months and once she added it to the rest it would be enough to make due for even longer.

The sound of the locks clicking on her door had her sitting up with a smile. There was only one other person who had a key to her room. Her smile widened as a familiar head of silver head peeked through the door. "What took you so long? I thought you said you could beat me back here?" She questioned teasingly.

The silver-haired man smirked, though he leaned against the doorframe and lifted a bag of stolen items into view, and slid them across the floor towards the bed. "Actually, I was back here first. Late because I decided to take a bath."

Wynter rolled her eyes. "Right, well how did it go? Didn't get caught again did you?" She stood up, observing him for any possible injuries, satisfied when she found none. Walking over to him, she noted his hair was damp, a testament to his statement of having been in the bath prior to being there. "Hmm, so you did manage to get back first, I suppose I will have to uphold my end of the bargain then."

"It went well," Another voice came from behind him, a slender hand gripping the man's shoulder as she stepped around him. "Who's this? And what bargain?" The woman snapped, her short curly hair bobbing beneath her chin.

Wynter took a step back with a frown, eyeing the woman as she stepped around the Zephrim. She raised a brow before looking back at Zephrim. "I see." She stated. "Get out, the both of you. We can discuss our business later Zephrim, whenever you're done...playing."

"I think now is the best time to discuss this. There may not be another." Zephrim said while steering the woman behind him and back out of the room they stood in. "Me and her playtime has been over. You may leave. I've left you the Sols on the stand."

The woman groaned, rolled her eyes, and left them amongst themselves.

Wynter crossed her arms over her chest as he shut the door. It stung, seeing him with other women, but that was how he was and she'd be damned if she chased after him. "Next time, leave your toys in your own room." She glared at him, turning away to face her bag on the bed. "Let's get this over with Zephrim." She sighed, suddenly feeling more tired than before.

"Before we start talking about bargains, let's talk about how those people are still looking for you. Here." He spoke rather calmly while extending a wanted poster out towards Wynter. He'd seen them posted all over Shadowfair before attempting to take the lot of them down.

Once before he'd told her to be careful, but she never listened and these were the results.

Wynter turned, frowning as he handed her the rolled-up parchment. Unrolling the paper she cursed under her breath, slowly sitting on the bed. "Damn, looks like my time here is almost up." She crumpled the paper into a ball, tossing it away. "Bastards are getting too close. I will need to leave soon. I'm supposed to meet up with a friend of mine anyways." She sighed running a hand through shoulder-length brown hair. Looks like I'll be out of your hair soon, Zander."

Zephrim smirked at the wrong name she'd call him and walked from left to right. "Not until we find my sister, who's been taken because they thought she was you."

Wynter rolled her eyes at him. "Don't worry your pretty little head. She's being held in low-security close by so saving her won't be an issue, if you're good that is." She smirked lying back on the bed completely. "And lucky for you, I am." Pursing her lips, she sat up on her elbows, eyeing him. "I'm only doing this because they thought she was me by the way, but it's not my fault she was caught. That was her own fault"

"Her own fault because you decide to hit up every house on the corner including the fucking king. The true answer should be when are we going, love?" The snarl on his face turned into a smirk as he cornered her. "Let's go."

Wynter frowned. "Don't call me love," Standing up once more she made to move to the door past him.

"You didn't have a problem with that years ago." He spoke while stepping back in front of her, then brushed the back of his knuckles against her cheek."Talk to me with respect. I'd hate to swap you with my sister."

Wynter moved her face away from his touch, scowling at him with cold blue eyes. "Years ago you didn't flaunt your conquest in my face. And you wouldn't dare." She told him.

"Why does it matter when she doesn't hold anything but my damn cock. Or do you want that too?" He drawled out and tilted his head. "If not, then don't bother with stating something if you don't want fact."

Suddenly Wynter smirked, walking forward and pressing him against the wall beside the door, melding her body against his own. One of her hands slid down his front until she cupped his manhood in her hands through his trousers, gripping it. His smirk had only deepened. "There was a time when I held this in my hands, and you enjoyed it the most." Her grip tightened lightly. "But that was also when I held your heart." Releasing him she stepped back. "Besides, I don't share."

There was a mixture of pain and pleasure between her words and the way she gripped his manhood. She would never understand. Never truly comprehend that she still had his heart, beating faintly and drained of life and desire, in her hands. She'd always. Zephrim's fingers wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back forward.

He had a hand against her chest as he turned them both in a full 180°, pressing her to the wall she had him on moments ago. But this time he was closer. Their heart hammering in the dead of the night. "I don't expect you to. Never once have I. But what I do expect is: before we save my sister, who I hope your word is true that she is momentarily safe, I want to have you on your hands and knees."

He cupped her chin and leaned in while the other hand undid the first few strings of her top that kept those full breasts enclosed and her modest. They both knew such a thing didn't exist in each other's company. After undoing the last string, he tore her shirt by the seams. "But if I remember correctly, you're a top kind of girl." He stated, those silver eyes softening as they always had for her. Here in the dark, she'd never see. Zephrim lifted her up over his shoulder without asking, then blew the candle out just before he threw her back onto the bed and crawled on.

Her moans echoed down the halls. Their vigorous movement on the bed slammed the headboard into the wall and back-to-back thudding caused patrons to knock upon the door that wouldn't be answered. Whispers on a pillow, bodies shifting beneath sweat-stained sheets until he was content and she was pleased. He rolled over and threw an arm over Wynter, breath hot against the nape of her neck. Silver hair fanned out against the mattress, dampened by their navel grinding. "And you knew she was next door. I think you made your not sharing point, Wynter. What am I to do with such a rebellious young woman?"

Wynter merely chuckled breathlessly, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, hoping the bint next door understood her message loud and clear. Zephrim belonged to her. Slipping closer, she slid her leg around his waist, rolling him over onto his back so that she lay on top, their sweat-slicked bodies molding together perfectly. "Wasn't it you who said you would tame this wild heart of mine?" She questioned as she tucked her head underneath his chin, resting her ear on his chest as she listened to the rhythmic sound of his heart. "I do believe that's what you told me the first night we lay together."

"Is it not tamed?" He asked as he ran his fingers through her tresses, smirking. "Who does your heart answer to?" Zephrim dipped his head low enough to brush his mouth against Wynter's forehead before he stared at the ceiling. Soon enough they'd have to leave and rescue his sister who refused to raise a hand for herself and only for him.

Wynter was silent a moment before she spoke. "You already know the answer to that Zephrim." She said with a sigh, sitting up so that she was straddling his lap with her thighs. "You told me you loved me before, but you go and sleep with all of these other irrelevant women. I want all of you to myself. Body, Heart and Soul."

"Love. The word that changed me in the first place. It can be broken." He shifted his head to the side, silken strands of ivory cascading behind him into the white sheets beneath them. "We must go now." He said when the bell towers rang outdoors.