The Taming

The Lovers

Sebastian was surprised to see a bold shadow step from the tree, momentarily catching him off-guard. Only Deragan's projection.

The Alpha's body remained carefully hidden by the tree.

Usually, The Alpha isn't so impulsive...Only when it comes to her.

Bast watched her lean against both edges of the pane in an attempt to see the street through the downpour.

Holding his breath, Bast reminded himself she couldn't see the spirit projection.

Only Forever Knights can see spirit so clearly. Bast knew.

At length she shook her head and put her forehead against the cool window. Hand on the glass next to her she watched rivulets cascading odd little trails. Leaning back, she gave a weak smile as droplets seemed to move around her hand despite, they were on the other side.

It was a painful sight to witness. Poor, miserable souls.

Deragan's outline, head and shoulders blocked light from the Parlor. And she, unaware she stared at where she and her lover's palms were separated by only a thin layer of glass.

The closest they've been in almost twenty years.

Giving a weak smile, seemed almost to say she was relieved despite that she couldn't really know he was out there.

Some part of her does. Bast thought. Some deep-seated fragment of her soul recognizes his essence from across a room. Or through a glass pane.

Finally turning she crossed the room, back to the candle. But some strange impulse drove her to glance back.

Nora Bishop gasped.

For a moment, just a moment, there'd been a flash of steam like someone's breath on the glass and then the slide of water toward the bottom.

Like a trailing handprint...

"Imagine if you will, the agony of wooing your lover over, and over again. Each time to be done anew. In each new body she doesn't know me. Always, I must start from the beginning, chancing any mistake that could lead her into the waiting arms of the demon."

-Deragan told Sebastian about the Fallen.

***

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

"Any luck?" Rhyers strode into the parlor where Sebastian was craned back on the settee swirling gold liquid in a crystal glass.

"With which?" Bast sat, turning his lower body to put his feet on the floor to face his friend. "My damnable Valkyrie or finding Raese?"

"Well since you sound so delighted to be discussing your little sweetheart upstairs, let's keep to a safer subject."

Sweetheart...That's about the last term...

"I've not found Raese." Bast said sullenly.

So, stop asking me.

"Well, I had gathered that much." Rhyers said derisively as he swept the tails of his overcoat from his way to take a seat. His black hair pulled tightly back from his face with only the few characteristic tendrils escaping. He tossed his head to throw them from his face. The firelight reflected in the dark color so vibrantly that from the current angle, he appeared nearly blonde.

"You play haughty well, Old Friend." Bast remarked, eyes flashing gold as he took a swig. His annoyance at the remark obvious. My annoyance at everything obvious.

"I apologize." Rhyers tipped his head. "I forget the attitude I so often portray. There's no other way to be a successful spy in Mane Country." He sighed.

Bast gave an acknowledging tilt of his head. I'm just looking for a fight anyway.

God, I'm a miserable wretch. His lips tightened as he shifted in the chair.

Trying to lighten the subject he told Rhyers. "You look it today. Your disguise tossed aside; you look every inch the Isle Alpha."

Rhyers shrugged but gave a half smile at the compliment. "You look like hell."

Good. I feel like hell.

Bast sat bare-chested. Letting the wounds covering his chest and shoulders soak in the energy of WaterRose to help him heal. Though he was mostly recovered from releasing his beasts for Alazareth there were still some raw spots that the creatures had been particularly rough in tearing apart. And his run through InnerCircle City as the panther had led to rocks hitting him in the head and shoulders. But the spot really aching was still near his hip. Making him crane far to one side of his chair.

"It's been a rough couple of months..."

"I see that." Rhyers chuckled. "How'd your mission to retrieve Lucien go?"

Painful.

"Swimmingly. Radix, The Old Demon, had set him up to take the fall for the murder of some lovely at a ball."

"Like he did Mardichi in England!" Rhyers' face darkened instantly in rare rage, but his careful control quickly banished the emotion from his face. "I gather he's safe or you would've alerted us?" Rhyers relaxed and draped a long arm across the back of the chair.

"He is."

"Then why alarm me?"

For fun.

"To bait you. To watch your careful composure crack." Bast said honestly.

Because everyone is irritating me today. You're fair game.

"You play albeit dirty, Bast."

"Always."

"Good thing you arrived when you did." Rhyers gave him a thoughtful look. "To InnerCircle City, I mean." He lifted a haughty brow. "Purely coincidental, I assume?"

"Purely." Bast took another swig of his sherry and slapped the cup on the table.

"Your typical humor seems rather black today."

Bast jerked his head roughly upward. "Difficult. Difficult."

"Were she not, she would be a man."

Bast's head shot up and he looked horrified. A nightmarish thought considering the things I've fantasized about doing to her.

"Whose composure cracks now?" Rhyers smirked. "Not too pleasant an image?"

Bastard.

"You're a scoundrel of the first water."

"As little Ebony regularly tells me."

Ebony?

"Still hanging about that girl?"

"She's tiny and her brother is my friend. He's keen on hunting demons. I look after them both."

"You attend their parties to dally with fine Mane Country ladies." Bast mocked.

"You're a fiend. I'm ever the gentleman."

No, you're not!

"You're ever bored." Bast mocked Rhyers' haughty tone.

Rhyers deflated and nodded vigorously. "Senseless."

Rhyers grew serious. "Any trace of Calisto?"

Bast's eyes fell to the liquid cradled in his hands, resting between his knees. His lips tightened. I wish there was. I'd give anything to see her.