Larissa’s eyelids fluttered open, and she groaned as a dull ache throbbed in her hips. Her head spun slightly from the gentle rocking, as if she were on a rocking chair, and slowly lifted herself up, silently thanking her wolf for shifting back to human form.

Her ears twitched at the soft sound of waves crashing against the hull, and she noticed a square bunk across the wooden room. She sniffed the air, sensing a strong aroma of salty water, but the rose fragrance of Raven captured her attention. Her eyes fixed onto the woman sitting patiently on a wooden chair, engrossed in a book.

“That book better be called, ‘How to Apologize to a Werewolf in Ten Ways,’” Larissa deadpanned as she inspected the title, which read ‘The Sacred Mound.’

Nonchalantly, Raven lowered her book, revealing her fiery bright eyes and an apologetic grin. “Sorry,” she murmured, placing the book on the bedside table beside her. “I truly am.”

Larissa’s wolf had forgiven her immediately when she rescued her from the arena, but her human side resented her, and herself, for desiring to forgive her. She shook off the notion and whispered, “Why? Why did you betray me?”

A long sigh escaped Raven as she explained, “It was never really my intention to betray you; in fact, I assumed he wanted me instead of you.” She wiggled her nose, displeased. “And to be blunt, I never would’ve given him either of us if we hadn’t met Gina. Bless the witch goddess for that.”

Larissa furrowed her brow, recalling the warm hug the two old friends shared, and rumbled a guttural growl. “What does that woman have to do with you betraying me?”

Raven cringed as if she’d been hit and held up two fingers. “This little gesture is used by the crew of the Ann Marie to communicate when they’re being watched. Since we entered the port, the Count’s shifters have been spying on us.” Larissa nodded, puzzled by the fact that Sylva was unable to detect them, yet the vampire was.

The revelation shocked her, and she continued listening. “And dear, I don’t drink tea; I only drink blood. So, as I forced myself to finish the disgusting brew, there lay a message from Captain Marie.” Exasperated by the vampire’s dramatic flair, Larissa gestured briskly for her to get to the point. Raven raved with her palm on her forehead, “And the message! Oh, the terror, the horror for what I mu—”

“Get to the point!” Larissa snapped, her fangs protruding and her crystal eyes glowing.

Raven giggled madly and folded her hands onto her lap. “As you wish, I’ll summarize it.” She cleared her throat. “She wanted me to rescue her parrot shifter, her first mate, the one you fought with, and the one the Count was using as leverage against her.”

Larissa carefully nodded and scowled. “So why did you trade me? And if he was using the parrot as leverage, why did he put her in a fight where she could’ve easily died?”

“Probably because now, he has a Fae and the Queen in his pocket, and he didn’t need Marie anymore, or at least now someone else doesn’t.” Raven mused, and quickly added. “And I didn’t trade you for anything. I knew that little offer was nothing more than a trap.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.” Larissa grumbled, and Ravens smirk faltered to a flat line, but she recovered with a snicker.

Finishing her laugh, Raven continued. “So, I fell for it, hoping he’d take me to the dungeons rather than parade me around like a trophy, or hand me to the Queen, who also, paraded me around like a trophy…”

She trailed off, and an exasperated breath escaped her. “And then right when they were going to take me to the dungeons, your friend came along and”—she gestured air quotes at Larissa—“rescued me…”

Taken aback, Larissa pondered the vampire’s plan and scoffed. “So,” she paused, “why not poof yourself into the dungeon? You’re strong enough to turn into mist.”

Mockingly, Raven snapped her fingers. “Oh, my golly! Why didn’t I think of that?” she sneered, and Larissa glared at her. “When the fae are involved, dear, nothing is as it seems. If I opened the door suspecting it to be the dungeon, I would find myself in front of the cliffside sea.” She gestured wildly with jazz hands. “And if I poofed to where she was, I would find myself dispersed across the realm and scattered within time and space.”

Raven rumbled a disgruntled noise. “Fae magic is as rare as it is terrifying. I’m shocked one decided to align themselves with that whore of the Count.”

Raven mused, “He’s dead now, so I suppose it doesn’t matter.” She paused, refocusing. “I know the Queen’s dungeons connect to all the vampire dens because of their need to feed.” She chased the rest of the explanation away with her hand, scoffing. “Needless to say, all that planning was wasted when your friends got involved.” She scoffed, grinding her teeth as she seethed. “Your friend, Sylva, forced me to find you, and I did.”

She huffed, resentment infusing her voice. “She lacks the nuance of tact and spoiled my perfectly solid plan in favor of storming the den like a madwoman.”

“Your plan sounded convoluted to me, Ravenna.” Larissa retorted, a little miffed at Raven admitting she was forced to save her. “You seem to lack the nuance of understanding that the point of a goal is to get straight to it, not run circles around it.”

Sagging her shoulders, Raven pouted, “But that’s no fun, dear.”

“And neither is being imprisoned or forced to fight against your will in a death match!” Larissa shot back, fury lacing her voice as she snarled. “When Sylva and I agreed to aid you, we expected a certain level of trust.” She exhaled deeply, settling her nerves and ignoring her wolf’s scoldings for yelling at her dominant mate.

Larissa narrowed her eyes, frustrated, and confessed, “If this is how you’re going to treat us, I don’t think I can trust you not to betray us again, and I especially don’t think I can forgive you.”

She lied about the last part, rolling her eyes at Raven, who bit her lower lip and glanced to the side. She understood the vampire’s finicky nature from the beginning; in fact, she found it quite attractive. But if her plans incorporated betraying them at every corner, well...

She subtly roamed her gaze over the vampire’s hourglass form, noting how the white blouse fit snugly around her supple breasts and highlighted her slim waist. The black trousers accentuated her shapely thighs, contouring over her muscles. She mused on the vampire’s curves, her lean abs and arms outlined by the shirt, before lifting her gaze to admire the vampire’s flawless pale complexion.

She wondered if the vampire was enthralling her right now, using her deft wiles to avoid admitting guilt. But she and her wolf quickly dismissed the thought, noting Raven’s pout and her averted gaze.

Then a rumor suddenly floated into her mind, one she had heard when she was young and still gossiping about trifles with the pack: The stronger the vampire, the more attractive they appear. Their powers lie in their abilities to seduce, and over time their bodies morph, sculpted by the strength of the vampire’s prowess.

The vampire, Raven, was flawless, the embodiment of perfection itself in Larissa’s eyes, and if the reflection of a vampires power reflects their beauty…

 Another rumor dawned on her as she recalled the final moments of the rescue.

“Raven, did you know there is a rumor that goes around the city about how only the vampire queen can withstand the sun?” Slowly, Raven narrowed her eyes at Larissa, suspiciously like a cat. “And I’ve never heard of a shifter who turned into a vampire and kept their animal form.”

For a few moments, the duo glared at each other in silence. Larissa tensed, as still as death, counting every shallow breath the vampire took. Finally, Raven’s breath hitched, breaking the silence with a sudden, sharp snicker.

“Dear, just because you heard a rumor doesn’t make it true.” She wagged a scolding finger at Larissa, leaning back in her chair. “In a world filled with flying brooms and fire-breathing wyrms, don’t you think it’s possible for there to be more than just one vampire able to stand the sun?”

“Perhaps,” Larissa coyly admitted. “But I find it odd that a vampire able to withstand the sun was also locked in the Queen’s castle, able to shift into a raven, and yet never did so again.” Larissa tapped her lips thoughtfully. “In fact, I also recall that vampire asking me to use my snout.” Her brow quirked as she exaggeratedly flared her nostrils near Raven. “To sniff out a curse?”

“Dear, I’m hurt.” Raven playfully placed a palm over her heart. “And here I thought you were starting to forgive me.”

“I might be inclined to,” Larissa added quickly, “if you answer my question honestly.” Raven rubbed her chin, amused, and gestured for her to continue. With a deep breath, Larissa asked, “Who is Morgana to you?”

Ravens smirk faltered to genuine bewilderment at the question, prompting a smug grin to spread on Larissa’s lips. Larissa considered this a boon, able to get under the vampire’s skin and watch her squirm.

But the vampire’s smirk returned haughtily, causing Larissa to grimace. “Dear, did you hit your head? I explained already, she is a witch.”

Wiggling her nose, Larissa exclaimed, ranting, “Don’t be daft! In fae country, witches rule! In fae country, there are only witches and wizards, no humans, and rarely any shifters!” She paused, exhaling. “There is a Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter Coven, all under the court of a single witch, their queen. Queen Morgana. Now,” her eyes turned to ice. “I’ll ask again. Who is Morgana to you?”

Immediately, a naked Larissa found herself on her back, being straddled by an annoyed Raven. “I think you al—”

Larissa cut her off with a swift jerk of her hips, flipping Raven onto her back and straddling her waist. Raven grunted, parting her lips to protest, but Larissa bent down and slipped her tongue in before she could speak. A burst of rose flooded her senses, and she tilted her head, deepening the kiss, and abruptly letting her go.

She quickly stood up, her face blushing a deep red as she hurried to a metal locker that held a simple blue robe.

“Need help?” a husky voice asked, and Larissa refused to glare at Raven, hastily fumbling and tying her stash, and hurdling herself out the door.