The vampire appeared bored as she explained her need for aid, and the wolves devoured a buck within the forest. Larissa’s ears perked, listening, and she imagined Raven practicing her spiel in front of a mirror. A rumble escaped Larissa’s throat, and she turned her snout towards the enchanting vampire, eyes lit with mirth.

“And that’s why I need to get into the fae city of seasons. To reclaim a pendant taken from me from a witch named Morgana.”

A lightbulb clicked inside Larissa’s head, and she wondered if this Morgana was the witch court, leader of covens, queen, but before she could ponder farther…

Bones cracked, and Sylva returned to human form as she huffed. “That’s all fine and dandy but your goal conflicts with mine.” Sylva scowled. “My intention was to join the guard, bootcamp starts within a few days.” Rubbing her chin, Sylva admitted. “Although I have little desire to join now.” Frustrated, Sylva howled. “How am I going to get an audience with the queen!”

“You seek an audience with her?” Raven asked, curious. “Why so?”

“For permission to start a pack in her lands, and hopefully rival the silverfangs one day.”

Larissa paused, and shifted to human form, noting Raven’s fiery gaze fixated on her neck. “So, you decided then?” She asked Sylva, dismissing Ravens ogling. “You’re going to challenge your father?”

Sylva nodded. “I am indeed, and I will take those willing to follow me.” Her expression turned sour. “Father tainted that land with innocent blood that I can no longer consider it home.” Her knees hit the dirt as she brushed her fingers against the grass. “I like it here though.”

A flutter floated in her chest as Larissa hugged her friend from behind. “I am glad then.” She nuzzled Sylva’s silver locks, taking in the scent of security, and reassured. “And I will help you do it.”

Sylva closed her eyes, her hand bracing Larissa wrapped forearm, and whispered. “My thanks.”

“Ahem,” Raven interrupted, voice dripping with sarcasm. “As much as I enjoy watching you two flirt.” Larissa’s eyes sparkled with a grin as the vampire pushed in between the two, separating her from Sylva and settling Larissa upright. She turned her attention back onto Sylva. “I believe I can help with your dilemma. I can help you convince the queen to give you land, and an army of wolf shifters to help you in your endeavors.”

Sylva scowled at the vampire, standing up as Lyras bones snapped to human form. “A deal too good to be true, and so cheap too.” Sylva scoffed. “Hard to believe coming from a vampire.”

Raven’s smirk grew bigger. “Consider it my thanks.” A hand wrapped around Larissa’s waist as another took her palm and brought her knuckles to the vampire’s lips. “Or perhaps a tip for the meal.”

Stunned, Larissa murmured. “You want to feed from me?” Larissa spotted Sylva’s foot pace forward, intent to charge, but with a flicker of her eyes Sylva stayed still. Sylva scowled, snarling, and waited.

Larissa glimpsed at the deer, observing how the blood seeped into the grass, and slowly faced her gaze towards the vampire.

Within the vampire’s eyes she detected a hint of hunger that melted the ice within her own hues. Fanning the flames of her desires that she longed assumed dead. She turned her attention back to the deer, gazing down into its glazed eyes, and wondered if the vampire considered her and the deer one and the same.

Her wolf snarled fiercely at being compared to dead meat, and lazily she drew a finger down into the pool of blood and thrust it into Raven’s mouth.

Sylva’s snarl quelled as her mouth flew agape, Lyra’s turned horrified, and Raven hissed flinging her aside. She spat the blood from her throat, drops splashing onto Larissa’s face as she raged. “You bitch! You whore!”

Larissa’s eyes flew wide open, her cheeks stretching into an excited grin at the sight of the fuming vampire. “And here I thought you’d enjoy that, pervert.”

Raged fueled Raven’s eyes as she blazed towards Larissa. Larissa shot the vampire a smirk instead, and winced as Sylva tackled Raven in the air, rolling into a heated tussle. With a punch to the cheek, the bout ended, and Sylva got up leaving the vampire out cold in the dirt.

“Not wise Larissa, tempting a vampire, no matter how docile like that.” Sylva offered her hand for Larissa, and she gratefully took it. “Did she hurt you?”

Larissa waved her concern off. “I’m not a fragile little lamb shifter, Sylva, but my bum might be sore for a bit.” Her gazed turned to the slumped vampire. “We should take her deal.”

Sylvas flinched in surprise and murmured. “If it’s still on the table, why not?” Sylva moved towards Lyra stunned silent, pulling her into a hug. “You sure you want to be her meal now? She won’t be nice after what you did.”

Lyra mumbled a thank you, rubbing the top of her head on Sylvas’s chin. Larissa snickered and agreed. “Most definitely so, however,” She bent down, flicking a scarlet bang off the sleeping woman’s face. “I don’t think I mind that if it comes from her.”

Sylva whistled, slightly amused. “I think you’re the pervert here, not she.” Lyra spewed a laugh as Sylva grinned. “Then let’s start the journey now. She doesn’t need to be awake for the travel to Anvil port.”

At that command they all shifted into wolves. Sylva used her snout to lift the sleeping vampire onto her back, and Lyra snagged their items with her maw. Larissa stayed at their heels, guarding their flanks, and rumbled a growl as anticipation drummed in her veins.

No longer will I watch Sylva from the sidelines, her eyes lit up, blood growing hotter as her gaze locked with the vampire’s peaceful expression.

***

Raven groaned, groggy, and pissed as she felt her left cheek throb in pain. “Bitches, you could’ve said no.” She scowled, feeling soft sheets underneath her. Raven huffed. They punch me in the face and dump me in an inn?

Shuffled feet approached her, and she hissed at concerned crystal eyes gazing down at her. “You took forever to wake, we thought we needed to fetch a doctor.”

Settling herself up, Raven grumbled. “Well, I’ve been trapped in chains for goddess knows how long without blood to drink, and then got belted by a nasty right hook.” Raven scoffed at Larissa’s shamed expression. “If you haven’t connected the dots, I’m not at peak shape.”

“Apologies, I truly am.” Raven gawked at Larissa as she reached down to move a stray hair from her eyes. “I think I may have exasperated the situation unnecessarily.”

Raven scoffed, whacking Larissa’s fingers away. “You think, girl? You could’ve said no.”

A breath caught within Larissa’s throat, and her eyes roamed Raven head to toe. “Normally I’d argue, but I believe in this case you’re correct.” She got up, her gaze facing the window by the bed. “Does the offer still stand?”

Raven watched Larissa with nonchalant interest. Puzzled with herself for not outright refusing the deal, or at least sweetening the pot. “I’m going to regret this,” she puffed out her chest. “Indeed, it is, be grateful that I am grateful to you.”

“Oh?” Larissa perked, grinning gorgeously at Raven that made her knees weak.

“Indeed, oh it is, miraculously so a oh.” Her stomach rumbled a fierce growl, and instinctively she snagged Larissa by the hand, and dragged her underneath her. An image of Raven sinking her fangs into supple flesh caused her mouth to water, and she murmured. “And I am taking my due now.”

***

Larissa opened her mouth to protest, only to hiss as a sharp pain shot through her neck. The pain twisted into bliss, and her eyes started to glaze with her own heartbeat.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum. 

Her vision faded, only to be greeted by the warm sun, hovering over the clear blue sky. She closed her eyes, inhaling the sweet summer breeze, and exhaling the calmness of the clear lake beside her.

Sand slipped from her fingers as she reached for the shining star in the sky, giggling like a mad woman as she squeezed and curious as she felt warm squishy flesh. She squeezed again, and again, eyes flaring enraged as she heard a familiar moan.

Immediately she snapped her knee into the vampire’s gut, shattering the illusion.

“For the love of the three!” Raven yelped as she rolled off Larissa clenching her sides. “Why are you wolves obsessed with violence?!”

Larissa snarled at her, and immediately shot off the bed and out the door, searching for her alpha.

She found her downstairs, at the grubby bar entertaining Lyra with stories of their youth.

“Larissa warned me not to poke the hornets’ nest, but the topaz trapped within it called to me. I couldn’t resist, and without warning I dove my hand into it.” Sylva reenacted the scene with dramatic flair, eliciting a silly giggle from Lyra.

Sylva ears flickered, pleased, and she continued. “Needless to say, I ended up with over a hundred hornet stings, and my prize.”  Sylva took a swig of the mug. “Lost, apparently while getting stung I dove into a river in a mad fury and lost my precious gem” Lyra patted Sylva shoulder lightly. “A terrible loss to be sure, but one day those hornets’ will rue—”

Sylva sniffed and tilted her head at Larissa. “You’re bleeding.”

Larissa sighed, and Sylva waved to the bartender to fetch her a drink. “She was hungry apparently.” A faint blush formed on her cheeks. “I was happy to oblige.”

Sylva let loose an unladylike snort. “Clearly, reason why I hear her cussing from down here.” She lifted herself off the stool and walked past Larissa, lightly bumping her shoulder to shoulder. “I’ll go inform our friend of our dilemma.” Sylva praised. “Go rest, eat, you earned it.”

With a grin Larissa took a seat, but frowned as the bartender placed a mug of the dirtiest swill of beer. “Do you have wine or tea?” The bartender glared a flat look, ignoring her and serving other patrons.

She hesitated, tapping her nails on the counter, and took a swig of the swill.

Her stomach instantly gurgled, and she gagged with a cough, quickly returning the mug to the counter.

Seconds passed and Larissa huffed. “What?”

Lyra inched a bit closer. “You and Sylva seem to be close.” Larissa rolled her eyes.

“And?” A frown appeared on Lyra’s lips, and she scowled.

“Are you two lovers?”

Larissa shot Lyra a look like she grew three heads. “I can understand your impression of that, and to be blunt it has been a fantasy of mine.” Larissa softly grazed the marks left by Raven. “However, I don’t think it’s what either of us wants.”

She glanced at Lyra, noting her scowl remained, and grinned. “You know her favorite food is venison, and just like her name she loves the woods, swimming and running too. From my understanding she thinks playing a game of chase is like foreplay, and—” Larissa rapidly whispered the last part, but was interrupted as a stench of a dominant shifter invaded their space.

He reached for the stool under Lyra’s bottom and snatched it without warning, causing her to tumble to the ground.

“Hey!” She puffed out her chest as she shot to her feet. “I was sitting there!”

The burly sailor with a rotten tooth and an eyepatch chuckled. “Indeed, lass ya were, and I need a stool to sit too.” A wave of dominance shot out of him as he roughly poked her on the forehead. “Ya understand lass unless--” He patted his dirty thigh, “ya want to sit on my lap?”

Instantly Lyra’s nostrils flared, and she snarled a challenge. He grinned, showing his fangs, and glared her down.

Larissa ducked her head, hiding behind the dirty mug she held. When dealing with dominants like Sylva she had no problems, however, vile ones like this thug made her belly twist with frustration and worry.

“How long was I out for that you ran to port anvil!” A shrill voice cried from upstairs, and hurried down the steps, flinging the bar doors wide open.

Salt hit her snout as soon as the fresh breeze and daylight entered the bar. A hustle of port could be seen outside, vendors flashing their wares and seafarers waving their hand while they haggled.

Immediately Larissa pounced onto Raven’s back, lifting her black hood upward to cover half her face. “What the?!” Raven squawked, and a roaring boom echoed near the bar.

Sylva tackled the thug harassing Lyra onto the ground, snarling, “MINE!” And a random male shouted.

“BARFIGHT!” Chaos ensued, random patrons punching and kicking each other as Raven tried to pry Larissa off her back. Sylva pounded the thug underneath her to near extinction, and mugs started to fly from out of nowhere from every direction.

Lyra effortlessly dodged a mug flung into her direction, snatching it in the air, and helping herself to another drink on the barstool the man tried to steal from her.