With egos bruised, the quad stumbled out of the bar. Sylva took the lead with a tiny limp, muttering, “Great, only seconds after you wake, and we get kicked out of the first inn to take us.”

Raven shot her a dirty look, hissing, “I’m not the one punching, kicking, and jumping on people’s backs!”

“I panicked, okay!” Larissa blurted, earning a few glares as she pulled out a sheet of paper. “Take a look at this.”

Raven huffed, grumbling faint words as she snagged the paper from her hand. Instantly, her pallor turned paler, and she crumpled the sheet of paper and littered it on the street. “So? It’s a bounty.” She muttered the last bit under her breath. “The picture looks nothing like me though, I’m way more attractive.”

“It looks enough like you!” Larissa cried back, earning a dubious glare from Raven, immediately covering her mouth as a passersby shot her queer looks. “Going for a million silver.” She dropped her hands to her side and tugged at the vampire’s robe. “How come the queen only wants you back?” She softly added, “What are you to her?”

Raven paused with a dark glare on her face. She turned to face Larissa and smiled. “I am the unfortunate soul who happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

“You and us both,” Larissa sullenly admitted, sighing. “Apparently no ship is heading towards fae country for another three months.”

Raven eyes slightly widen, and snagged Larissa’s hand drawling, “That’s because you lack connections, beauty.” She waved to the other two wolves, “You two, go fetch us supplies for a week’s worth journey.” She turned her attention back to Larissa, “You and I are going to fetch a ride.”

Within seconds, Sylva snarled in Raven’s face, seething as she dragged her by the collar. “Who put you in charge?!” She pushed her away. “You’ve been in a coma for a week! And we don’t even know a thing about you!”

Lyra coughed into her palm, interjecting, “You barely know me either. In fact, I stole your wallet when we met.” She gestured towards Raven, “She saved Larissa’s life.” Sylva flinched at Lyra’s words, like she’d been punched in the face. “I say we give her a chance.”

“Then you shouldn’t get a vote!” Sylva shot back and growled. “Why is this even a discussion?!” She faced Larissa. “I’ve said my piece, but you have the shovel to dig our graves.”

Baffled, Larissa glanced towards Raven, then back at Sylva. She grazed the puncture wounds on her throat, feeling each pulse with her heartbeat and announced, “I think we should let Raven take the lead on this.” Sylva’s face fell flat. “We already agreed to help her, it makes no sense to fight her now.” She slightly tilted her head. “In fact, I don’t know why you’re fighting her to begin with, when you were so amicable with the idea in the beginning.”

Silver eyes widened in fury, and she stomped off, pushing away the crowd. Lyra hurried to follow the vanishing form, mumbling apologies to the seafarers, and Raven clicked her tongue, amused. “Betrayal is truly cruel,” she drawled. “Especially coming from those you love the most.” She paused, wiggling her nose, hissing, “Amicable? She punched my face!”

Larissa rolled her eyes, muttering, “My instincts tell me you deserve more than a punch.” And waved for Raven to lead.

***

 “Ah the good ole salty sea!” Raven stood arms wide on the dock, ready to embrace the waves like a long-lost lover. “I missed you dearly, my one true love!”

On cue, a warm liquid rained from the sky and landed on top of Ravens head. “Ah!” She shrieked, and immediately whipped the sea-gulls poo away. “I suppose I should’ve expected that. The sea was always a scornful lover with many jealous suitors.” She turned her attention to Larissa, failing spectacularly at holding in a giggle. Raven held out her hand with a sly smirk. “Shall we walk down the pier, beauty? Get in a good bit of exercise and fresh air before meeting with my contact?”

Larissa eyes twinkled, accepting the invitation with control glee, and intermingled their arms together. “I think Sylva would prefer business before pleasure.”

“Indeed, she would.” Raven rolled her fiery eyes, sauntering down the pier and holding the shorter woman close. “Be a dear and ask the queen to take the stick out of her bum when you ask for land, I assume she’s the only one bold enough to do it.”

Laughter busted from Larissa’s throat, and she squeezed the vampire even closer, relishing her rosy scent. “Truly a sight to see.” She nuzzled the vampire’s bicep, spreading her scent onto her with her cheek. “I don’t envy the queen if she accepts the deed.”

The vampire hummed a laugh, and they walked in comfortable silence.

Whiffing the salty air, Larissa admired the sparkling sea that reflected the beauty of the sunlight before her. The calm wind soothed her olive skin, and for the first time since she left the pack, she felt at ease.

But then a thought itched Larissa’s mind, a thought that begged to be scratched the first time she awoke on the hay bed next to this enchanting woman guiding her.

“How did we escape the queen’s wrath?” Larissa inquired, and Raven froze.

Seconds flew by and she continued. “Pure luck my dear, one I unfortunately cannot reveal.” At the end of the pier Raven released her arm and glowered at the calm waves. “In fact, there is many things I cannot reveal, words you have no doubt expected me to say.” Larissa slowly nodded her head, and moved closer to the vampire, breathing in the rose scent mixed in with salty waves and orchids. “I just need to get my pendant back, and then I can explain more, but not a moment sooner than that.”

Fiery eyes met with crystal steel, and Raven grinned. “You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot.” Her lips moved in closer, mere breaths away. “And your lips, so soft and delicate. I wonder how they taste?”

Larissa shoved the vampire away, and Raven landed unceremoniously on her behind with a grunt. “For shame vampire,” She wagged a teasing finger at the vampire, scolding her with a tsk. “Attempting to smooch in front of your ex?” A chuckle escaped her lips as she faced the waves.  “Ever heard of courting?”

Raven snorted as she stood on her feet, patting the dirt off her bum. “Says the wolf to the raven. Do you know we both mate for life?”

A snort escaped Larissa as she teased. “How convenient that being a beast only suits you when you wish to bed?” She clicked her tongue mockingly. “My beauty what would your raven side say?”

A spark of fire ignited in Ravens eyes, lighting a warmth within Larissa’s belly. “She’d probably peck at my bottom and drag me to the three.”

Larissa laughed, envisioning an image of the vampire being dragged by the bum in front of a Goddess that bared a beautiful witch, a wolf’s head, and an ethereal fae.

Shaking off the laugh, she admitted, “I doubt piety would suit you.” Tapping her lips, she pondered. “Does your family still live? You are a shifter, so I assume you were born, not sired.”

For the first time Larissa met the vampire, she saw her expression falter to one of sadness, but immediately returned to her smug smirk. “Perhaps, I never met them, and to be blunt I’m too ancient to care.”

“Blasphemy,” Larissa tsked. “For a wolf family means everything, and if I was in your boots I would do anything I can to find them.”

“How grateful that I am that you are not in my boots then.” Raven focused her attention on the sea. “Since we’re inquiring about our pasts, why did you, and Sylva, leave your own pack?”

Larissa let out a deep sigh and turned on her heels, moving back down the pier and towards the city. “I think we spent enough time chatting, don’t you think? Time to find your contact.”  

Raven rushed to follow her, annoyed. “Oh? So, you get the dime, and I get a nickel? Tsk, tsk, and they say vampires are cheap.”

Stopping in her tracks, Larissa fluttered her eyes shut and murmured, “Sylva’s father wanted to force a mating with me a week after my parents died. So she challenged him for the rank of alpha. He instead held her mother hostage and forced her to flee from the pack she loves.”

Her fangs extended and her lips curled into a snarl. “Before that day, I vowed to follow Sylva no matter where she went and help her achieve whatever dreams she desired.” Crystal eyes turned to ice, focusing on Raven and refusing to be smoldered by fiery eyes. “So, when you joke about me betraying her, know that it will always be just that: a joke.” She growled as she added, “There’s your dime.”

“Ohhh,” Raven drawled mockingly. “Did I make the big bad wolf angry?” Raven’s eyes narrowed. “Or perhaps you need permission to be angry from the bigger, badder wolf?”

Rage boiled within Larissa’s gut as her wolf leapt onto Raven’s throat, clamping her jaws and spraying a fountain of blood around them. She tried to shake the vampire like a dog with a toy but furrowed her brow as the vampire refused to budge.

“Dear me, you wolves are always so emotional,” the vampire mocked, forcing her fingers within Larissa’s mouth and prying them open. “For a submissive wolf, you’re quite powerful…” Larissa’s jaw quivered, attempting to bite the intruding fingers, but whined as she failed.

Pushing the wolf’s jaws away from her throat, Raven continued, “I’m actually quite pleased you did that.” She slammed Larissa’s head to the ground, and Larissa’s vision blurred from the impact. “It means you have some guts but consider that a warning for you and your friend, girl. I’m tired of being a punching bag for you both.” A hum of regret escaped Raven’s lips. “I’d prefer never to do that again, my beautiful friend, but I’ll no longer take your hits lying still, so keep those fangs to yourself.”

Larissa groaned, muttering as she struggled to get up on her knees. “I suggest you take your own advice then.” Blood dribbled from the corner of her lips. “I know you can’t say much about how you ended up in the dungeon or how we escaped.” Icy eyes met fire, and she spat blood onto the vampire’s cheek. “But if you dare hurt Sylva, I will fight you with everything I have.”

A scorching heat of primal energy radiated from Larissa’s loins as Raven wiped the blood off her own cheek and licked it lazily off her thumb. Her eyes never left Larissa’s as she knelt beside her, gingerly licking the corner of her lip. “Then I dare not bother, for I have no intention of fighting you.”

Gently, Raven guided the smaller woman onto her feet, and she coughed into her palm, her cheeks red. “I think you’re right, perhaps I am rushing this too quickly.” With a flourish and a bow, Raven greeted, “Good day, my beautiful woman. My name is Raven, and if you find it agreeable, will you allow me to escort you around this evening?” She lifted her head, bewitching Larissa with a grin.

“No, vampire, you may not,” Larissa stomped on her foot and turned away in a huff. “You seek a truce, and then you go on and charm me!” Grumbling, she folded her arms under her bosoms, and Raven stood, flabbergasted.

“Larissa,” her ears twitched, pleased at how smooth her name sounded off the vampire’s tongue. “I’m not charming you,” she flatly said.

“Oh,” Larissa dropped her arms to her side and nonchalantly turned to face Raven, and the words her grandmother once told her of fated mates floated into her mind:

An attraction that buds for a wolf is like a full bloom that never wilts…

Larissa weakly growled, “And apparently bloom like marigolds.”

“Pardon?” Raven interrupted. “Marigolds? Do you like them?”

Stressed, Larissa ran a hurried hand through her silver bangs and muttered, “So, about this contact.”