The Taming

Breaking

When Elsabet made her way downstairs, she found him sitting across from her. Sipping from a cup of coffee and looking out a windowslit. Watching birds flying from the trees below.

He glanced at her as she entered. "Good morning. I had Elengard draw you breakfast. I thought you might be hungry."

"Thank you." She murmured. Pulling out a seat as she gazed appreciatively at the platter of scrambled eggs with some manner of leafy green blended in. Some fresh vegetables and fruits on the edge of the plate.

Her gaze landed on a bit of sliced strawberry disdainfully. She glanced up and saw him sipping his coffee and looking out the window. The very embodiment of innocence.

She grunted derisively and flicked the strawberries from her platter onto the table. Scooting the rest of her food away from them.

As though the juice might contaminate it.

She ate some egg and nibbled a bit of vegetable before lifting the glass to drink. Stopping just above her lips.

The cup slammed down, and her eyes bore into him.

"What?" He blinked at her.

"I'll not be falling for that anytime soon!" She leapt to her feet and hurled the cup at his head.

He ducked it and spun from the chair. Laughing. "You stole my sherry! More than once."

"A bit different than poisoning!" She accused.

"Was it though?" He approached her. Lifting her chin with his fingertips. "Was it so bad."

Her mouth opened.

She's going to say yes.

But to his surprise her gaze roved his face, and she clamped her mouth shut.

"You're no liar, anyway." He said in approval. "Would you really tell me it was merely the wine? Or did it merely unleash you?"

She glowered hatefully at him. Nearly shaking with fury.

Eventually she rounded in a flutter of skirts and stalked from the room.

***

"You're not mad about the wine!" He called after her. "You know it was a jest."

She paused rigidly in the doorway but didn't turn.

"You're mad at yourself." He said softly. "For giving over to me."

She lifted her chin and began walking.

"I won't mock you for it." He sobered enough to say softly. "There's no wrong in wanting the touch of another creature."

Her shoulders heaved and he sensed she considered calling him a beast.

Yet again.

But she didn't.

Saying nothing, she walked from the room and rushed up the stairs.

He listened attentively but didn't hear the expected crashing. He deflated. Staring above him. His face written with worry.

If she's not ranting, she's likely mourning.

If she's mourning, she may be crying.

If she's crying...She's breaking. That made him grimace and he fought the urge to rush up there to confront her. Knowing full well, she'd only reject his help.

Despite all our closeness last night.

***

"Tha' didna sound terribly promising." Mardichi grunted.

"What are you doing down here?" Bast asked waspishly. "You never eat breakfast. In-fact, you're rarely up before noon."

"Haven't had much to drink since we left the FireStar." He grumbled.

"I have sherry."

"I don't want it."

"The woman?" Bast asked.

"My woman." Mardichi corrected. Slumping into a seat. "She's seemingly mad at me again."

"For what?"

"Not wanting to let her go."

"You should." Bast nodded, taking his seat as well.

"You, My Boy, are the king of all hypocrites."

"That's a rather large word for a barbarian."

Mardichi snorted in amusement. "Least my lass understands she's my slave. Whether she likes it or nay."

"I'd say nay." Bast lifted the cup left over from last night and sniffed the strawberry wine thoughtfully.

"You keep telling yours she's not your prisoner, when ye know ver' well she most certainly is."

"Mind your own." Bast thunked the cup to the table in a rare flash of temper.

"A bit under the skin, am I?" Mardichi crooned. Delighted to be goading Bast.

Bast didn't bother to answer as he stared at the doorway where she'd gone. The glass still gripped in his fist. He thumped it absentmindedly.

"What is on yer mind?" Mardichi queried. Curiosity written over his face.

"She didn't drink enough wine to be intoxicated last night."

"Is it in question that she was?"

Bast was quiet, not sparing Mardichi a glance.

"Ooh." The big man leaned across the table to ask hopefully. "Did she perform like a filthy barmaid?" "Does your lass?" Bast's head whipped to him.

Mardichi sat back in his seat sullenly. His long legs stretched under the table. "Let's not discuss 'er."

"I thought not." Bast looked back to the door. Hoping she'd return, even as he knew full well she would not.

"Strawberries..." He murmured aloud. Making a mental note.

Mardichi eyed him as though he'd fair lost his gourd. "What about them?"

"I need to find more."

"For what?"

"Berries, pastries, cakes, jam...Anything I can get my hands on..." The corner of his mouth twitched twice before folding into an outright grin.

"Oh." Mardichi shuddered. "I know that evil smile...Poor gel."

***

Quandary was at the foot of her bed when Elsabet woke this morning. The sun beamed in, in an array of rainbow lights as it drifted through the waterfalls pouring over the bailey to filter in her window.

"Good morning." She stretched like a feline herself before suddenly tipping over to embrace him tightly about the neck. "Where have you been!"

She leaned up to stare into his wide golden eyes.

Her blue ones were inordinately huge this morning. Her hair in long silver-blonde tangles sweeping wild over her shoulder and down her back. She wore an oversized chemise which swooped low on one shoulder.

Exposing the vulnerable part of her neck that he so badly wanted to sink his panther teeth into.

And mark her as mine. But as always, he resisted the urge. Shifting in dissension, he gave a low rumble in answer.

"He was keeping you from me, wasn't he?" She accused.

What? No. Bast was beginning to wonder if anything he did was right.

Quandary stared at her before shaking his head and sending fur ruffling down his back.

Leaning into his face, she rubbed his cheeks and puckered her lips as she murmured lovingly to him.

He rumbled back at her. Damn her.

Get this close to me, when I'm human, woman.