Lost Time Tavern ~ First & Second Post Updated 8.31.21

[Ristar Black]

"I won't be silenced.
You can't keep me quiet.
Won't tremble when you try it.
All I know is I won't go speechless!

Watching her cousin swipe at the blonde hulk like an angry cat had Sylia snickering softly to herself. Leave it to Riel to try and take on someone who was most definitely out of his fighting league. The look her amusement earned from her mother silenced her, her hands happily putting her phone back in her pocket to take her baby brother. The squirming pudge was far more interested in what his father was doing than playing with his sister, so she turned him in her arms and held him with his back against her chest. She nuzzled at him from her seat on the porch, turning her attention to her Aunt at the sound of her voice. For a moment, she was torn between telling the truth and lying to save her own a**. Once again, her mother’s cobalt stare hinted at possible outcomes where she wasn’t going back to the Haven happy and would suffer greatly for the wrong answer. Sighing, she returned her focus to her Aunt and apologized to both men in her head.

”Well, Riel was the first one to talk and set the bait, but Austin took it a step further by mentioning…Well, keeping you up late last night…” The feel of both men looking at her had her features flushing a bit, her electric blue eyes staying firm on her Aunt’s violet ones. Relief washed over her at the thanks she received, her body leaning against her mother’s from where she sat on the porch. With the attention off of her, she went back to playing with the child in her arms in an attempt to get him to focus on something other than the blonde beast that had helped make him. Of course, that became a moot point when said male joined them at the stairs and returned her cousin to his feet. The bloody mess he had become had her concern growing, knowing he would turn down any help her mother would try and offer. Stubborn mule of a man, Sylia mused to herself as she shifted Ragnor in her arms to lean out and catch her cousin’s eyes.

”I doubt he’d survive if they went at it like that again. Austin isn’t some normal mortal Riel, might be a better idea just to get to know the guy instead of trying to beat the hell out of him. It would save you from having to spend another two weeks healing.” It was now her turn to be sent an annoyed look, her lips curling up into a grin as she watched the other male drop his face into his hands. Served him right for starting it, Syl thought to herself as she straightened back up to tickle Ragnor under the chin. It wasn’t long before her Aunt was returning, asking to be alone with her son for a moment. More than happy to oblige, she shifted her brother in her arms again and dropped from the railing to stroll towards Austin with her mother and Caine. He looked just as messed up as Riel did, but the emotions on his face pulled at her heart a bit. He was hurting in more ways than one after his talk with Sis. Wanting to help, in her own weird way, she stopped a step or so away from him and tipped her head to the side in study of his face while Ri tried to clean him up.

”You really should stop treating your fights with him like it’s a boxing match, Austin. Riel doesn’t think the same way as your usual opponents.” She chattered on as if she knew more than him, which in a way she kinda did. However, her confidence in her own knowledge blinded her from the look that had passed over his face. ”Next time, you should make sure to keep from giving him the high ground. He’s weaker on the left, so go for that side and you’re sure to win in no time.” Grinning now, she nodded her head as if that was that and beamed when he thanked her. She opened her mouth to add more to her previous statement, only to have the questions he asked freeze any remote chance of coherent speech. A soft gasp was all she could muster, vengeance flashing in her bright eyes before she looked up at the sound of her mother’s voice in her ear.

”It’s nothing, Mom, honest. I need it for work.” More questions followed, ones she made a point to ignore and feign deafness over. She wasn’t going to get into details about the black market deal she had in motion, or the people she was stealing her artifacts from. Thankfully, for her, Caine spoke up and gave her an out. Happy to take it, she kissed her brother’s nose and grinned at the giggle it caused before passing him off to her mother. She took off back to where Riel was and took the bandages her Aunt had conjured up. ”I’ve got this, Auntie. Go take care of your guy. Come on, Riel, let’s get you cleaned up. I have some peroxide and Neosporin in my bathroom upstairs.” Not bothering to give him much choice, she leaned down to wrap her arm around his waist and help him up onto his feet. She supported his weight with her own and led the way into the tavern and up the stairs to her room.

'Cause I'll breathe,
When they try to suffocate me.
Don't you underestimate me!
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless..."

Location: Right outside the tavern doors. Company: A good chunk of her family, Caine, and Austin. Thoughts: 'The tavern never fails to entertain…'

[Ristar Black]

'All the writers keep writing what they write, write.
Somewhere another pretty vein just died...'

The fiery female watched the antics of her nephew with an amused look dancing through her starry eyes. Her mind was on the same track as her daughter’s, though she kept that to herself and shot the younger female a look to quiet her. She caught sight of the way her son watched Caine handle the other males, this time actually laughing enough to have her shaking her head at herself. The men in her life were one hell of an odd group. Loving them all the more for it, she remained at her daughter’s side and lifted a brow slightly when her sister asked the petite brunette about who started the fight. She could practically hear the wheels spinning in Syl’s head, the girl too much like her father not to weigh all the options first. One narrowed glance from her mother, though, and she was confessing what she knew to the best of her abilities.

”Stupid man…” She mumbled the words under her breath as Sis turned towards the pair, not sure which she was speaking of as she looked between them. Her arm wrapped around her daughter’s shoulder as she felt her lean in, comforted by the presence of two of her babies while she watched Sis handle one of her own. Then it was Austin’s turn, and her nephew was being lugged over to the steps with them. Caine said his peace, Sylia hers, but Ristar remained silent. She simply brushed a hand over her nephew’s hair gently, letting him know she was there and leaving it at that. The poor kid had already gone through enough, even if it had been his fault in the first place. Kimmy held a special place in her heart, one that not even Meris had taken away. He was the first, the reason she had become an Aunt. She had grieved his loss just as hard as she had grieved Sislana’s, and now that he was back in their lives she was determined to make up for the lost time.

After a few more minutes, Sislana’s voice drifted towards her and had her nodding her head. She moved past where Kimmy sat on the stairs, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of his head gently. Ristar knew he would be furious if she tried to heal him in her special little way, but that didn’t stop her from trying to help with the pain. As she moved away, the surly boy would feel a bit of relief as if he had gotten his hands on a good bit of morphine. The annoyance that she caught from him was more than worth the knowledge that he would be more comfortable, and more easy to manage when it came to actually wrapping the wounds he so stubbornly wanted to endure.

Speaking of stubbornness, she mused, as she stopped at her best friend's side. Gods, she wanted to tell him off for the dumb cjoice he had made. Her mind ranted at him, listing off all the things he should have done or could have done instead. None of it left her lips, though. Just like her nephew, he already looked worse than anything she could have done. Instead, she snapped her fingers and conjured up her flames in one hand and a warm washcloth in the other. She went about fixing him up as best she could, tuning out Caine and Sylia a bit to focus on what she was doing. She was so lost in her work that Ri nearly missed the sound of Austin’s voice, only catching one word from the entire thing. ’Jareth’ It was all that was needed to have her head snapping over to her daughter’s, dark eyes narrowing on the nearly transparent face she had brought into this world.

”What book? And why were you in your father’s room? You know you aren’t supposed to be going through his things.” It had been the number one rule in their family when she had been married to Jareth. No one, and that included his progeny, were allowed in his room without him. Granted, she had broken that rule herself already, as had Caine, but she had hoped her children would remember to honor his wishes. He was their father, and while she would never force them to like him, she demanded they respect him and his space when it came to the rules he had set in place when they were old enough to understand. Sylia’s response didn’t help her case in the slightest, the mention of her work stirring the redhead’s curiosity as she narrowed her starry gaze on her daughter’s face.

”What work? I swear to god, Sylia Liyona, if you are doing something illegal, so help me I’ll…” Her voice was cut off when Caine raised his voice and turned the subject onto breakfast of all things. Confused, and a little annoyed, Ri called her powers back from Austin and furrowed her brows at her love. ”No, we haven’t had breakfast. Well, Ragnor has, but that’s besides the point.” She waved a hand, brushing it off before continuing. ”We don’t need to eat. Sylia needs to…” Once again, she was cut off as Caine looked at her as if she had just spoken ill of his mother or something. Ah yes, she had spoken blasphemous words that involved them all skipping the most important meal of the day. Before she could do more, she was being moved towards the stairs and had her hands full of her son once more. Grumbling, the fiery female made a note to corner her daughter later as she allowed the behemoth she adored to escort her back inside and to her seat near the fireplace. She was tempted to refuse to eat, just out of spite, but the look in his eyes softened her and had her waving him off to make them food that she would dutifully eat with him.

'I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see,
That you’re the antidote to everything except for me...'

Location: Outside the tavern.
Company: Ragnor, Caine, Sylia, Austin, Riel, and Sis. Thoughts: ‘This is better be the last time…’

Sislana

[Sislana]

I wouldn't let down my walls
I wouldn't let myself fall
I wouldn't risk it all on love again

For a few minutes longer, Sislana tended to her only son, a silence having settled over the pair. She did not want to hear what the man had to say and there was nothing left for her to tell him. It was taking everything she had to not stand up and just start screaming at both men and asking them how they could be so stupid. So selfish. So reckless. It truly baffled her how they could consider any of what had happened even remotely necessary. The makings of a headache was beginning to press against the back of her eyes, leaving her pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. Really, did they have to cause such a mess?

Of course, she was certain the both of them would use the argument that the other had it coming. As if that would somehow justify their decision to beat one another to a bloody pulp. It had her tense, her mind unable to decide what emotion it wanted to lean into. Currently, however, the only thing she could really grasp was how disappointed she was in the pair. Kimmuriel had an inflated self entitlement when it came to taking care of her, and Austin pitted the males ego against him. Any other circumstances and she would have thought they were a match made in heaven when it came to getting along and being friends. Instead, they had chosen to be enemies and for what? To impress her? Well, consider that a moot point. She wanted nothing more than to smack the smug look off both of their faces in turn.

After a short time, Sislana heard Ristar and the two that followed approaching from behind. It took her attention away from Kimmuriel, her hand dropping away from cleaning the blood from his face. She offered Ristar a small nod of appreciation, knowing that the woman had taken the time to help with Austin. There was a guilt that she felt for having not gone to Austin first. It wanted to make her feel bad for not tending to him as a partner. However, there was the other part of her that told her the man deserved to stew in his emotions for a bit. Maybe it would make him realize that he could not just hide behind his smugness and jokes all the time. Sometimes he needed to face his emotions head on and deal with them. ”Go inside with your cousin,” she murmured softly, the only thing that she offered the now sulking young man.

Sislana stood to her feet once more, her back remaining to Austin until the four had gone inside and they were alone again. Drawing in a slow breath she turned to face him, her eyes washing along his battered appearance. It caused her heart to clench in her chest at the sight of the split lip and bruises he was sporting. She knew that he would heal at an accelerated rate, but the idea of him being hurt at all still made her sick to her stomach. When he began to approach she held her breath, her body tensing some as she waited for him to close the distance between them. Sislana was expecting Austin to act as he normally would and simply try to kiss away her bad mood. He never really wanted to face things head on, so why would this time be any different? What came next left her eyes widening momentarily in surprise, the breath she had been holding slowly releasing. Surely she had misheard him! He wanted to actually talk?

Chewing at her lower lip she glanced to the hand that he held out for her, weighing if she wanted to take it or not. Okay, yes, she wanted to take it. All she wanted to do was wrap herself in him and make sure that he was alright. But, Sislana needed both of the men to understand that she was not even remotely okay with what had just transpired between them. Lifting her violet gaze back to his bruised face she nodded, taking a few steps in the direction of the woods. ”I will walk with you, but I don’t know if I’m ready to touch you just yet. Honestly, I have never been more disappointed in either of you. And I really don’t want to hear the whole ‘he had it coming’ speech. I refuse to believe that you two had to nearly kill one another just to prove a point.” Steeling her nerves, Sislana folded her arms over her chest as she walked. Her entire body was screaming at her for the decision, her mind nearly throwing itself at Austin’s feet. She needed to prove to herself, however, that she could get through this. That she was capable of being upset with the charmer at her side for more than two seconds.

As they walked towards the treeline, Sislana gripped her arms a bit tighter around her torso, the next words a hard reality for her to admit. ”Kimmuriel is just as capable of killing you as you are him. To see you two beating one another with such…hatred…what were you even thinking? I would much rather simply take myself out of the equation than to see you both fighting because of me. It was…barbaric…” Her voice was soft as she spoke, the hurt she felt clearly evident in every word. It was a strange feeling to not be angry at the situation. One would expect that she would be raging mad, ready to rip their heads off for daring to be so stupid. Instead, all she could feel in this moment was guilt and disappointment. She felt guilty because she knew they were fighting over her, and disappointment because they had been unable to be grown men and work past it. Then there was doubt knocking at the backdoor, a sneaky attempt to weasel itself in. If Austin and Kimmuriel could not get along, would it really be worth staying together? She did not want the man at her side to feel on edge every time her son was around, and she did not want her son feeling like he had to stay away. It had her heart feeling as if it were caught in a tug-of-war and neither side was a winner.

But I would for you
Give you all of my time
Lay my heart on the line
I'd even walk through a fire

[Sislana]

Then the shock when you flip it on me
So hollow, so vicious
So afraid I couldn't let myself see

He knew he deserved the scolding from whoever deemed fit to share it, but that did not mean he was going to sit quietly when Sylia piped up. She knew better than to throw his disdain in his face, especially when she sported a level of her own. ”Should take your own advice when it comes to Bigfoot, Sy.” He snapped, his eyes flashing over to glare at her momentarily. The normal guilt he would have felt for taking his frustration out on her was quickly washed away by the pain radiating through his body, the realization setting in that it hurt to breathe. Of course, he would deny any offerings other than help getting cleaned up. Kimmuriel had been taught by his father, had it beaten into him really, that one needed to feel their wounds. Malhavoc had once told him that it was the only way he would ever grow stronger. How could he know to avoid certain injuries if he did not know how they felt in the first place? Not the soundest of logic, he could admit, but it was what stuck with him. Why switch lanes now?

When Ristar stopped to press a kiss to his head, Kimmuriel lifted his gaze long enough to give her a small smile. He loved his aunt, he really did. Out of everyone he felt like she understood him the most sometimes. Ristar had been through her fair share of the darkness and it was something he knew tied them together. Granted, he would likely never admit that outloud but something told him that he did not need to. That was his Auntie Ri-Ri, no further words were needed. The sudden wave of subtle relief that flowed through him, radiating from where she had kissed his head, had his brows stitching together in confusion. A level of annoyance rose in his chest, a worry that she had healed him against his wishes. When he realized that it was simply her way of providing some comfort he relaxed and even offered a small glance at her back in thanks. It allowed him to sit a bit more comfortably and able to endure whatever lecture was sure to come his way.

By the time his mother had approached him, Kimmuriel doubted he could feel worse than he already did. She quickly proved that thought wrong and had the young man feeling as if he were a boy again. His cheeks flushed with the guilt she was driving into him, his eyes looking anywhere but at his mothers. There was something about that violet gaze of hers that made him feel two feet tall without her even saying a word. Of course, once she did start talking he wanted to get up and run away as fast as his feet would carry him. A few times he parted his lips to speak, to pull out some rebuttal, but the hand she held up to silence him left the words dying on his tongue. Instead he nodded occasionally, gritting his teeth to keep from wincing as her hand brushed over his swollen face. He was grateful for the cleaning she offered, the soothing touch of the bubbling water reminding him of his childhood. Kimmuriel did not have many fond memories of being a child, but the ones he had all involved the woman before him. Perhaps that was what truly fueled the guilt that was now settling over his heart.

It was not long before Ristar and her little family approached them once more, Kimmuriel’s eyes shifting to Sylia as she spoke. He finally forced himself to look at his mother, offering her a small smile that she did not return. ”Sorry, ma,” he whispered, his hand reaching out to squeeze her arm gently. He needed her to know that he really was sorry. Much like Austin, the silver haired man was willing to apologize to the smug a*****e if it meant making his mother happy again. He hated knowing that he was the cause of the look that was swimming in her eyes; honestly, that hurt more than all of his injuries combined. When she nodded in return to his words he sighed, shifting his gaze back to his cousin and giving her a nod of his own. His arm looped around her shoulder as she helped him to his feet, a small groan escaping his lips at the stiffness that was already settling in on his body. Oh, this was going to be a long few weeks, that was for sure. Austin had done quite the number on the young Drow. He could feel more than one cracked, possibly broken, rib; clearly the cause of his labored breathing. His right eye was swollen shut at this point, and the inside of his cheek had more than one gash on it. There were numerous bruises popping up over his face as a whole, and he was certain he’d sport similar ones on his torso in a day or so.

Leaning heavily against his younger cousin, Kimmuriel let her lead him into the tavern, his mind already dreading the walk up the stairs. ”Thanks, Syl,” he muttered, his eyes sliding over to her as he offered her a small smile. She and her brother Torden were likely the only two of his family, outside of his mother, that he would let talk to him as she did. There was just something about the brunette that knew exactly how to maneuver the Drow. ”He might not be like any mortal, as you said, but I still kicked his a**.” He grinned some only to have it quickly fall from his lips; it hurt too much to do anything but scowl. He knew that in different points of the fight it had been pretty evenly matched. Both held the upper hand at one point and even at the end, Kimmuriel still had a chance to break free. He forced himself not to think on the fact that Austin had come close to killing him near the end. Of course, he had nearly lost control when they were in the tavern and done the same thing. He didn’t want to think on it too much, but there was a good chance he’d need to apologize directly to his opponent before this all was put to bed. The thought alone had him momentarily wishing Austin had just finished him off.

That I could never be held
Back up, no, I'll hold myself

[Sislana]

Ready and gather all our strength
The night has come of soaring reigns
For the honour, have no fear

Caine had offered a small smile to Kimmuriel as he spoke, feeling sorry for the boy the longer he stood there. Really, it seemed like he had gotten the short end of the stick where the fight was concerned. The kid was basically a blood pulp, and it had him wanting to offer pointers of his own. Instead he stood there quietly, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Ristar and Sylia interact with the eldest, and only, Shadowlord son. When Sislana approached he took a moment to look down at her, nodding at her request to leave her alone with the beaten boy. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he walked by, giving it a supportive squeeze before following after Ri to approach Austin. He was quiet as she spoke, ready to step in where he was needed.

At the moment it was not really his place to step in and run interference, but that did not mean he wouldn’t. Just such an opportunity presented itself when Austin voiced his request, his gaze shifting to the brunette. He gave the man a small smile as he nodded his head in understanding, shifting his gaze to the mother and daughter duo at his side. ”C’mon, let’s go back inside. Breakfast is getting cold and I am sure that Sylia is hungry.” The objection that Ristar offered had Caine shifting his attention to her, a look of genuine offense crossing over his features. Was she mad? Did she really think that he would let her get away with not eating the most important meal of the day? Oh, Red had another thing coming if she was going to try! ”It is time for breakfast, Ristar.” He kept his voice level but firm, his hand resting on her lower back before giving her a gentle push forward.

The man kept his touch there as the trio walked back towards the tavern, making sure that she did not try to spin from his touch and move back to the aid of her friend or nephew. He had been asked to run interference and get the two women out of there and that was exactly what he was going to do. He stopped briefly near Kimmuriel, offering him a sympathetic smile. ”There will be a plate waiting for you, too. Come back down once Sylia gets you patched up. I know a thing or two about recovering from battle wounds. You are going to want plenty of protein in your system to speed up the process.” As if that were that, Caine gave Ristar a gentle push to get her moving again and crossed the threshold with the woman. He remained quiet as he guided Ristar the rest of the way into the main room, making sure that she was settled down near the fireplace comfortably before stepping back.

He could see that she was annoyed but he would face her heat if it meant playing his part in this whole scenario. There was not much more that he was able to do to fix things, so the least he could do is make sure he cared for the occupants. He could see the mood that was brewing in her sapphire gaze, a look that nearly had him laughing. It was amazing to the behemoth how beautiful she managed to be even when she was upset about things. He knew better than to voice those thoughts, right now at least, so instead he softened his expression and smiled gently at her. ”They needed a moment alone, eldurinn minn.” He offered gently, his smile returning when she conceded and waved him off to make food. That was good enough for the blonde and had him rounding on his heel and retreating to the kitchen.

What a morning this had been! His gaze shifted to the splintered wood that littered the floor, his head shaking at the sight. Sislana was bound to be furious when she returned and he wondered which of the two men would scramble to get it fixed first. Surely fixing the damage that they had made would be a quick way to get back in her good graces. The thought brought a level of amusement to Caine’s mind as he slipped into the kitchen, intent on making breakfast a quick task. Given everything that had happened so far that morning he did not want to leave his future wife and their son unattended for long. Within about fifteen minutes, Caine emerged from the kitchen once more with several plates balanced in his hands. He had arranged them on a few separate platters, unsure of who would want what and who all would eat. His lips curled up in a grin as he unloaded the food onto the empty bartop, his eyes flashing over to his bride. ”I took the liberty of filling your tumbler, eldurinn minn. Does Sylia…” He lifted Ristar’s blood-filled tumbler in question, wondering if he should prepare one for the brunette as well.

We shall withstand this night of war
Ready and gather all our strength
The night has come of soaring reigns

[Ristar Black]

Come, break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you

Watching her walk away from him instead of taking his offer hurt, but Austin did his best not to let it show. She was entitled to feel as she did, especially after the way he had nearly lost himself against Kimmy. He had promised her that the merc wouldn’t get involved, and while he had kept that promise, it had been close. It worried him that he had even been able to reach that point, but he tried not to dwell on it. Instead, he let her stay a few steps ahead of him and tucked his hands into his pockets. The distance allowed him to flinch at her words without worrying about it getting to her, his mind making a note of the words she didn’t want to hear. Even if they were exactly the ones he wanted to say, since the little s**t had, in fact, had it coming.

The mention of Kimmy and his capabilities had him wanting to roll his eyes. Yeah, the kid was a product of two supernatural parents, the brunette knew this already. His beat up left eye was proof of just how lethal the punk was. Her mention of hatred, though, had him narrowing his gaze on her back and picking up his pace so that he was walking by her side. Wait, when had he mentioned that he hated the kid? Granted, Austin wasn’t planning on going out and getting matching bestie bracelets for him and the brat, but hate was a strong word. There was only one person in the world that he associated that word with. Just thinking of the male had a dark feeling washing over his face, forcing him to look away as he listened to her words. He was supposed to be feeling guilty for starting a slugfest with her son, not dwelling on the moment she got to pay Jeb back for what he had done to them.

”That wasn’t hatred, Lana. If it was, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my promise to you.” The words came out softer than normal, having a hard time since his lip still hadn’t healed from the beating his face had taken. ”I am sorry, though, for handling it the way I did. You’re right, I shouldn’t have taken the bait. But damn it, the kid knows he gets under my skin. How am I supposed to ignore him when he makes a point of calling me your ‘toy’ and a ‘coward’? It’s not like I had much of a choice when it came to leaving here after I lost you.” The memories of the five months in between her death and her resurrection, since he really had no other word for it, were still a haze in the back of his mind. He had spent a lot of time with the merc taking the wheel, so most of it was all a blur of maddening laughter and the scent of blood. The thought threatened to ruin his mood, so he shook his head and tried to continue with the apology he was supposed to be giving her.

”I don’t want to make you feel like you have to do that. You are a part of both of our lives, and unfortunately that makes you a catalyst for squabbles.” He attempted a smile as he spoke, turning his head a bit to look down at her as they continued their aimless walk through the trees. He could feel the unease in her, see the doubts poking at the confidence she had been building up over the last week. It killed him to know he was the cause and had him stopping in his tracks so she would as well. He waited for her to turn, wanting so badly to reach out but not at all ready for the rejection he was sure to receive. She had made it a point of telling him she didn’t want to touch him, so he curled his hands into fists in his pockets and let his eyes run over her gorgeous face.

”I’m sorry that we hurt you, Lana. Obviously, we’re fools and were thinking only of ourselves when we decided to act like this. I can’t speak for Kimmy completely, but I’m sure he’s feeling just as much like dirt as I am for putting you through this.” He could feel his hands shaking a bit in his pockets, needing to feel her and complete the contact between them. He had grown so used to being able to gently brush his hand on her cheek, or run his hands through her hair just to see her smile up at him. Of the innocent and free way he could show her affection and marvel at the fact that she was there for him to be close to again. It hurt more than any hit he had taken from her son, and made him feel even more like trash for allowing them to be put in this situation.

”I hope you can forgive me, and believe me when I tell you that this will be the last time. You won’t have to worry about me attacking your son anymore. I’m not strong enough to handle seeing you hurt like this, and to know there was something I could have done to avoid it.” Leaving it at that, Austin did his best to smile at her once more and prayed to whatever gods were listening that she accepted his words. He didn’t want her to feel like she had to choose between them. He would never ask that of her, simply because he knew what the answer would be without hesitation. If listening to Kimmy’s snide remarks, or even taking a punch from him now and then, would keep her from looking at him as she had when she had found them fighting, then he’d swallow his damn pride and deal with it. He’d try at being the bigger man for a change. Even if it went against everything he had been trained for, everything he had done in his life. For Lana, his Lana, he’d make it happen no matter the cost.

Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you...

Sislana

[Ristar Black]

'All the writers keep writing what they write, write.
Somewhere another pretty vein just died...'

Caine’s touch at her back allowed for no move that he couldn’t stop if she tried. It irritated and frustrated her to know that he would succeed in every chance, and was bound to know her moves before she even made him. It was usually a sweet thing to realize, something that added to the proof that they were meant to be. Right now, it was a curse that she would much rather be done with than fawn over. She wanted to grill Austin while she had the chance, his mention of Jareth’s room and Sylia still stuck in the front of her mind as she watched her nephew rise and head inside with her daughter. He was injured, which meant he was easy to poke information out of. Kimmy wouldn’t give an inch, his loyalty to his cousin far outreaching his fear of what his aunt could do. They both knew she would never raise a hand, or a flame, to him so her upper hand was gone with the boy. And her daughter, well, she was too much like her father to even bother to try and ask. Austin was perfect, and when she opened her mouth to argue this the look she got in return had her lips curling into a pout. She didn’t even bother to acknowledge his words on her sister and friend needing time, she simply waved him off and prepared to sulk until he returned.

Feeling very much put in her place, for the first time in her life, Ristar sulked on her couch and snuggled the infant in her arms. The ever changing gaze that looked up at her was far too similar to the male that had maneuvered her back into the tavern for her liking. Her lips pouted at the realization, her hand lifting to trail her finger down her son’s soft and pudgy cheeks. The smile she got in turn had him looking even more like the male, which she found herself softening a bit towards as she leaned to to nuzzle her nose against his own. Damn it, was all she could think as she felt her irritation towards her love beginning to fade thanks to the little bundle of cuteness he had given her. She pressed a kiss to her son’s forehead before relaxing back into the couch, shifting a bit so that her body was snug in the curve of the back and armrest. She pulled her knees up and propped Ragnor up a bit so he could see everything around them, resting his booty on her lap and giving her the change to tickle his toes. The adorable giggle that followed finished off her mood and had her grinning at the boy.

”Your father is a lucky man, sonur minn. If he didn’t make such cute babies, I’d have given him a punch of my own for his little tone back there. Silly man thinking he gets to have the last word on things. Hmph, I’ll show him.” She whispered softly as she played with her son, making silly faces and moving his chubby legs around as if he were dancing just to get another giggle and smile from him. Gods, he was going to be a serious girl magnet over the next few months. The thought had her making a mental note to speak to her other children, wanting it to be known that their brother wasn’t to be used for getting them dates. She had no doubts her daughter’s wouldn’t even think to do such a thing, but Riley and Liam were prime candidates for such antics. Having everyone involved meant she’d have more eyes on the pair, just in case they had any clever ideas about taking their baby brother out cruising for chicks or whatever it was called nowadays.

The sound of his footsteps returning brought her head around to look at what he had made. As always, the amount was enough to feed a small army and had her shaking her head at him. There was a rather substantial chance he’d end up eating a third of it on his own, but she kept that to herself and lifted a brow at the mention of her tumbler. It reminded her she hadn’t fed from him in a bit, her thirst burning at her throat as her eyes flashed her need for him and the contents of the cup. His mention of her daughter helped take the edge off, though she kept her cobalt gaze locked on him as she pondered the question. She considered it for a moment, knowing all of her children carried the same weakness she had for the life source all living things had in their veins. With a shake of her head, she turned and lifted her son back to her chest, cradling him in the crook of her arm so she could return her feet to the ground.

”She does require it, but I’m sure she’ll be fine. The fact that she had no reaction to the bloody show we were all just witnesses to means she’s had her fill for the morning.” Needing her own as well, Ri pushed herself to her feet and walked over to where he was standing. As she passed by the couch, she grabbed the bouncer she used during their meal times and settled Ragnor near his feet so she could take the tumbler from him. A few quick pulls helped bring things back to a manageable level, while her mind wondered over a new topic. ”All six of my older children have the vampire gene on both sides of their parentage. I wonder if Ragnor will need the same things they do, with his only coming from my half.” She had been so worried over the parts of him that she didn’t understand, that she hadn’t even considered if he would have the ones she actually knew about. It had her mind reeling for a bit as she snagged a sausage link from the platters, settling herself on a bar stool to happily munch while she waited for him to join her.

'I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see,
That you’re the antidote to everything except for me...'

Location: Tavern main.
Company: Ragnor and Caine. Thoughts: ‘Could the wolf cancel out the vampire i him…?’

Sislana

[Sislana]

I wouldn't let down my walls
I wouldn't let myself fall
I wouldn't risk it all on love again

As they walked, Sislana stayed quiet. She wanted Austin to actually open up and talk, not just retreat to his usual antics of trying to distract her with sweet touches. It went against her nature to keep her arms crossed over her chest and her anger in check. Austin’s question about how he was supposed to ignore the fight had her sighing, her head shaking from side to side. He had a point, of course, but she did not want to give either man justification for pummeling one another. ”He was wrong, Austin. Just as you were. But, I would expect you to be the bigger man enough to not throw our sex life in his face.” The words came out a little sharper than she had intended, her first real showing of the anger their little hissyfit had caused to boil within her. ”That’s embarrassing, Austin. I am not ashamed of anything we do together, but I also do not plan to go around throwing it in the face of my children. The fact that you would use it so freely as your own bait is just plain disrespectful. To me. To us. I would expect the man I lo-” She paused for a moment, cutting the word off as sharply as she could. ”I would hope my partner respects our relationship enough to not use it as bait to get a rise out of someone.”

Once more she fell quiet, letting him chew on the words however he needed to as their walk continued. Sislana did not speak again until she noticed he had stopped, her own steps faltering after a moment as she turned to look at him. She made sure to stay a few paces away from him, not wanting to give him the temptation to simply reach out and brush away any worries. He needed to understand, just as Kimmuriel needed to, that this was not something she was okay with. It was not something either of them could talk away with their charms and silver tongues. Careful to keep her arms wrapped around her torso and clear from reaching out for him, the woman tipped her gaze up to examine his face. Just the sight of the bruising and swelling had her stomach once more tying itself into knots, threatening to let her emotions spill over at any moment. ”I can handle some hurt feelings, Austin. What I cannot handle is seeing two people that are so important to me tearing at one another like wild animals. You two are the most important men in my life, and to know that neither of you cannot be in a room together kills me. I do not expect you to like one another, but as you have said, I am a part of both your lives.” Sislana paused for a moment as her gaze shifted to the trees around them. It had been a while since she had wandered through the trees again.

What normally felt welcoming and like home now felt cold and distant; a realization that had her tightening her arms around her a bit more. A shiver ran down her spine as she glanced at the different shadows cast around them. Had she seen the little display of power Kimmuriel had shown earlier, her demeanor might have been a completely different story. For now, it was best that she had missed that little display of his. Drawing in a slow breath she turned her gaze back to the man that she loved above all else, her eyes landing on his split lip. There was a momentary struggle between her mind, heart, and body on whether she should reach out and tenderly touch it. No. She needed to remain strong and he needed to see her point. There would be time for affections later; right now was not one of them. What a morning this had been! She had been awake for less than an hour and already she wanted to climb back into bed and sleep the day away. Austin looked completely run down, and Kimmuriel had looked like he was on his last leg. ”You almost killed one another,” she whispered, a repeat of her earlier words. ”The thought of losing either of you…of losing you…”

She was struggling getting over the image of Kimmuriel throwing Austin from the porch like he was a bag of garbage before continuing his attack and even more so the image of Austin beating her son into a bloody pulp on the ground. They were both images that she was likely going to have playing on repeat for some time to come. Why could they not see that she had enough love for both of them? That they could be equally important to her and there was no need to edge the other out. It had her heart struggling to stay whole, pieces of it wanting to crumble off and mourn. When Austin spoke again she rolled her shoulders back and straightened her neck, wanting to brace herself for the reply she had already been working on. ”I appreciate the apology, and the promise. However, it is not me that either of you need to apologize to.” Her jaw steeled as she bit the tip of her tongue to keep from saying anything further. Austin and Kimmuriel had both apologized to her now and she was certain they each thought that was enough. Until that happened, she was not ready to accept either of their apologies.

To her, however, the men owed an apology to one another. Both had done their worst verbally and physically for it and she did not want to see them simply sweep it under the rug. She knew it went against the grain for both men and doubted she would actually see an apology take place between them, but saying what she thought was better than keeping it inside. That was what Austin wanted, right? For her to speak her mind. The sight of his attempted smile had her resolve softening some, her eyes locked on his swollen and split lip once more. It was enough that she wanted to give him something in return, something small but enough that he would know they were okay. Or would be okay. Her violet eyes made slow work of rising to meet his own, the woman taking her time to map out his injuries in her mind. When she finally did lock with his icy gaze her expression softened even further and the corners of her lips turned up into a small, gentle smile.

For a moment longer she allowed herself to smile at him before it faded and her teeth caught her bottom lip in thought. There was a few more things she needed to say. It was an odd sensation; to be getting all of this out rather than simply shutting down and acting like everything was hunky dory. She remained where she was, thinking it best to keep the space between them, and her arms stayed in their self hug. ”I refuse to be put in this position again, Austin. I hope the two of you will be able to understand that and come to some sort of resolution between you. Kimmuriel’s father once put me in the position where I had to choose between the man I loved and my son; I will never do that again. For me, it is either both of you or neither of you. So I truly pray that you two can work your s**t out.” The use of ‘love’ had her heart fluttering in her chest despite the fact that she had used it in the sentence about her former husband. It still got the point across that she was not going to have a repeat of choosing between the man she loved and her offspring. Yet another way she had found that she could tell the sulking brunette she loved him without having to say the words. Previous heartache and loss flashed through her eyes as she watched him, a quick showing of past ghosts rearing their ugly heads. Truly, she did not want to face down the barrel of that decision when it came to Austin and Kimmuriel.

Never in her life had she loved a man the way she loved Austin. She really had hoped things would be different with him. That they would be easy because their love somehow managed to conquer all like it did in the novels she read over Ristar’s shoulder as a child. Unfortunately, their love had been anything but easy from the start. It had been an uphill battle of never ending struggles and unspoken words. She was exhausted, plain and simple, and it left more than a little bit of an opening for that creeping doubt. Her gaze dropped from his face as she stared at the space between them, her arms hugging her body just a little tighter. Why was it that the man she knew was meant to be her epic love story, the one that took her away from all of this, was the one she struggled with the most? Every time they seemed to be getting to a good place some new horror swept in and ripped it all away.

But I would for you
Give you all of my time
Lay my heart on the line
I'd even walk through a fire

[Sislana]

Ready and gather all our strength
The night has come of soaring reigns
For the honour, have no fear

Seeing Ristar rise from the couch and approach him had his heart settling some, his lips curling into a light smile as he watched her. The man was not dumb enough to think she had not been upset that he had ushered her inside. Ristar Black was not one that took kindly to being knocked down a peg or put in her place, even if it came from the man she loved. However, Caine was also willing to take a few licks and burns from her if it meant being able to help his growing family. She was too close to the situation to be able to simply walk away. He had seen the look in her eyes when she watched Austin, he could almost hear the gears turning in her head. Ristar had wanted to grill the man, to fix things for her sister, and let the two men know how stupid they were. Unfortunately for the redhead, this was not her particular fight and that meant she could not be the fixer in this situation. Caine had done what he thought was best overall and hoped that she would be able to come to terms with that and accept it.

He leaned his hip against the bar as he watched her munch at a sausage link, his gray eyes examining her face quietly as she spoke. It dawned on him that he had never fully asked her what to expect when it came to her genes coursing through their son. They had been so focused on what the wolf would do that he had not bothered to ask. ”I have never really asked you what to expect with him. I know that you have voiced not truly knowing what we can expect given his wolf, but I would be curious to know more about what your DNA brings to the table.” He lifted his gaze to the gorgeous face of his woman, his heart stumbling in his chest at the simple sight of her. How could she manage to look so effortlessly beautiful and yet so devastatingly dangerous? Ristar was an enigma wrapped inside of a miracle and he would never stop feeling grateful that she was his. Mirroring her actions, Caine plucked himself up a piece of toast and munched on it quietly, his gaze shifting to their bouncing son.

It was amazing to him just how much the boy had already grown in his short little life. Even with the wolf, he had never seen a child grow so rapidly. It had him mourning the little time they had left with him at this size, the man wishing he would stay little forever. He could not fathom the thought of a grown boy waltzing around sooner rather than later. Of course, it was also exciting to see him grow. He was completely enamored with the boy and would lay his life down for mother and son without a question. Stretching out his foot, Caine gave the bouncer a little nudge and chuckled at the look of delight he received. Turning his attention back to Ristar he smiled at the woman, his hand reaching out to brush a few stray curls from her eyes. ”Thank you for blessing me with him, eldurinn minn. You have made my life so complete. I love you.” Perhaps it was a little random and out of place, but he wanted to include some sweetness in their morning. It had not been the best of days, and their topic had always seemed to bring up some undealt feelings in the past.

Finally lowering himself to the barstool next to Ristar he shifted enough so that he could eat without disruption but still see her face fully. Quietly he tipped his head, watching her beautiful face for a moment before a question ran through his head. ”Your sister, are her children affected by the vampire in the same sense?” Caine wondered back to when he had met Meris and Kimmuriel, realizing that he had only seen Trinity in passing. Neither of them struck him as overtly supernatural, but then again neither did the sisters. Their gifts were subtle when they wanted them to be and vibrantly magnificent in the same breath. He marveled at the family that was quickly becoming his own, his eyes shifting down to Ragnor once more. ”Do you think he will have a gift like the rest of you? When did your children start displaying their abilities?” He knew he was rattling off questions at this point but his curiosity was getting the best of him. Caine was confident that they could, and would, handle whatever was thrown their way in stride but he was not against being better prepared.

He made a few silly faces at the bouncing child before shaking his head with a soft laugh. Kid was too cute for his own good. ”We’re going to be chasing girls off with a stick before too long. Someone is going to be a heartbreaker, aren’t you?” Caine’s voice turned into a silly coo towards the end, his lips scrunching into a kissing motion as he showered Ragnor with weird noises. There was just something about their little miracle that kept his softer side showing at nearly all times. It made him wonder if Ristar was still as attracted to him as she had been before their son. Caine had been all ‘strong and foreign Viking’ at one point. Now he was slipping more into silly dad. Of course, he liked where his life was leading him. Domesticated. Happy. Content. It was everything he had wanted when he first felt Ristar’s heart calling to him. Now that he had it, he would do everything in his power to make sure that things stayed how they should.

We shall withstand this night of war
Ready and gather all our strength
The night has come of soaring reigns

[Ristar Black]

Come, break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you

The words she tossed back, and the tone in which she spoke them, had him wincing again as if she had struck him. He hadn’t even considered how she would feel about what he had said, even though he technically hadn’t said anything about their sex life. He had merely insinuated it. Knowing he was splitting hairs, and she would call him on it, Austin kept that thought to himself and lifted a brow when she paused. Wait, what had she been about to say? Curiosity stirred in his icy gaze as he watched her, his lips twitching again as a smile threatened to spread over his features. He had an idea of what it was, but ignored the urge to call her on it. She was upset with him, rightfully so, and he still had some groveling to do before he could return to being the joker he usually was.

”You’re right.” Was all he said, hoping it was enough for now. Sighing softly, he removed one of his hands from the pocket of his shorts and ran his fingers through his hair. Bits of it were stuck together, thanks to blood he couldn’t be sure was his own, causing him to hiss softly when his hand got stuck for a moment. He did his best to pry it apart, flushing at his own awkwardness. Gods, today just wasn’t his day. He considered turning back with her to hose off the gross that was building on his skin, her words pushing the thought back to have his eyes softening a bit. Ah, now here was something he could fix. Tucking his hand back into his pockets, Austin did his best to hold back on his baser urges and nodded his head in understanding.

”If putting up with his glares and his comments will make your life a little easier, I’ll deal. It might be hard at first, but I can learn to ignore it.” Just thinking about having to face Kimmy and what was sure to be an onslaught unlike any other had him wanting to groan. A thought drifted through his mind that had him grinning, mischief dancing through his bruised and battered eyes. ”What if I just carry a squirt bottle around and treat him like a feral cat? It’d piss him off, but it would be better than hitting him. Oooh, what about a nerf gun?” Delight shot through him at the idea, only to have the look she gave him in response shut it down two seconds later. Okay, so maybe that was a bad idea. But, it was better than what he had done, in his opinion anyway.

The shiver and nerves that played over her sinful curves and gorgeous face had concern shifting over his own. He knew the shadows bothered her, his own mind having been keeping tabs on them as well. It triggered a bloody memory from his fight with Kimmy, the male’s own abilities too similar to Jeb’s to be a coincidence. His mind wondered over whether he should bring it up to her or not, but only for a moment. She was obviously oblivious to it, so why bother making her feel even worse by telling her. He made a mental note to speak with Ri and Caine about it later before tucking it away. Her whispered words pulled him in a step, his body moving before he could stop it. Gods, she was breaking his heart with those big, sad eyes of hers. He itched to touch again, his fingers clenching in his pockets as his body once more inched in closer to bridge the gap between them.

”Lana, I wouldn’t have let that happen. I’m not going anywhere, and as much as I wish it otherwise, neither is Kimmy. Our dislike of each other might be extreme, but neither of us want you to go through losing the other. That’s a pain I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.” The words had a darkness rolling through him, color flooding his eyes for a moment as the merc showed his face. It had the pain in him easing off a bit, a momentary relief before he shook his head. After a few seconds, his vision cleared and his gaze returned to its usual icy shade. The effort of keeping the beast within at bay took a bit out of him, causing him to sway on his feet a bit as the pain returned. He stepped back to keep from touching her, from reaching out to steady himself on her, still wanting to respect her wishes even though it went against his own. Her words, thankfully, gave him something to focus on other than the feeling of his bones knitting themselves back together within him.

”To quote one of the greatest artists who ever walked the Earth: ‘I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that.’ I’m sorry, Lana, but you won’t be getting me to say those words to Kimmy.” On this he would stand firm, not feeling the need to apologize to the punk for what had passed. It had happened, they had lived, it was done. The rest of her words didn’t change his mind, but it did have him chuckling softly. Now that, he could most certainly do. ”I can, however, give you my world on all the rest. No prayers needed, gorgeous, we’ll make it work.” Satisfied with that, he ran his tongue over his bottom lip as the healing process on his face kicked into gear and the wound healed itself within seconds. A true grin spread over his handsome features as he looked down at her, feeling better that they had gotten things out in the open. Granted, he probably should have tried to do it without pummeling the kid, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

”Now, unless there was anything else I missed, or that you need to say, can we go back? I really need a shower, and I would love to have breakfast with you, if you’ll let me.” Once more, he held his hand out for hers with hope dancing in his bright eyes. He needed more than just a shower, but he didn’t want to bring his injuries up when they were so close to settling things. If she didn’t take it this time, well, he’d simply drape his arm around her shoulders and lead the way back. She had said her peace, he had apologized profusely, now it was time to move on.

Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you...

Sislana

[Ristar Black]

'All the writers keep writing what they write, write.
Somewhere another pretty vein just died...'

His sudden interest in the genetic code she had supplied half of their son with had her arching a brow slightly in question. She had been pregnant for six months, Ragnor had been topside for two weeks, and now he wanted to know more? Amusement swirled within her starry eyes as she watched him, taking her time with finishing her food. She said nothing as she reached for her tumbler, washing the sausage down as his attention shifted to the baby at their feet. Doing the same, she smiled at the way the baby responded to the nudge and felt her heart flutter a bit at seeing the love in the little boy’s face. He might have still been young, but it was obvious who his favorite was. For once, the feeling didn’t bother her. Instead, it had her own love and devotion for the blonde dancing through her sapphire gaze as she returned her focus to his handsome face.

”I love you too, úlfurinn minn, and you really don’t have to thank me. After all, you had just as much to do with this little blessing as I did.” She flashed him a devious grin before setting her tumbler aside to grab a slice of toast for herself. ”And to answer your previous statement, your guess is as good as mine. With his siblings, it was easy to anticipate. Since he has the wolf, I’m not sure what he will need or what abilities he will have as he grows. Little man is a mystery, and one that I hope won’t take too long to reveal itself to us.” The thought brought back her nerves over what the future held, but she did her best to ignore them. Pushing herself from her seat, she moved around the bar and rummaged around for a bottle of water. She really wanted coffee, but her caffeine intake had been keeping the baby up at night. Her body could filter alcohol out of her breast milk, but coffee for some reason was impossible. It left her grumpy at the best of times, and irritable at the worst. Hoping for the latter this time around, she stretched back up to face him just as his questions drifted through her head.

”Hmm, let’s see. Kimmy isn’t, the Drow from his father's side took over most of Sis’s genes and canceled out the good stuff like the rapid healing and the powers. Which is why I am still a little shocked by his display earlier.” The memory sent a chill down her spine and had her shuddering a bit. She had no idea the boy had such capabilities, and she knew for a fact his mother was just as in the dark as the rest of them had been. Just like Austin, Ri wasn’t about to bring it up to her sibling for fear of upsetting her so she pushed it aside and moved back to her seat beside her love. ”Trinity is, but that’s a result of her husband turning her when they got together. Vlad was a vampire, and so were their children before they passed.” Pain washed over her at the loss, knowing it was the reason behind her niece and sister’s current and ongoing war with one another. The fiery female wanted so badly to step into that mess as well, but knew neither woman would appreciate her nosing in. It made for an uneasy time whenever the pair were around each other, but she loved them both and made it a point of dealing with it when the situation arose.

”Meris is the only one that was born vampiric. Her father was turned by my ex-husband during his time here, and passed on the gene to my niece when she was conceived. She’s got one hell of a gift, and would probably give even you a run for your money if you tried to go toe to toe with her.” The affection Ristar held for Meris went beyond that which she held for Kimmy and Trinity. It wasn’t that she loved the girl more, it was just that she loved her differently. She had spent so much more time with Meris, that to the redhead, the girl was just as much hers as she was Sislana’s. It was an odd thing to think about, of course, but that’s just how her life was sometimes. Twisting the top off her water bottle, she let the thought slide away and drank deeply while she listened to the questions he continued to pose to her.

”Nothing about him is predictable, so I can’t really compare him to the others. Besides, even they weren’t all the same.” Thinking back to each of her children, a soft smile played over her lips and she set her bottle aside to tick each child off one by one. ”Lily was around two when she started showing her gift, was a bit of a surprise when she sneezed and the lightbulbs in the house blew out.” Memories passed through the connection they shared, giving him a front row seat to what each of her babies had been like when she had first witnessed their gifts. ”Sylia was about ten months old. She had just started walking and had grabbed her father’s coat in passing. The damn thing froze so quickly it shattered against him. Torden’s was the longest to show, since his is linked to his fighting technique. Boy has uber focus skills that I think you’d find interesting to watch.” Once more she paused, grinning at him now as she let her mind wander towards the thought of him sparring with her son. If he wanted an in with her eldest boy, that was a sure fire way to get it.

”The twins both had their gifts show up on their first birthday. Rori predicted it, her eyes fogged up and she said the words: ‘Liam bad’ which was followed by her brother’s eyes turning black and half the party freaking out because they couldn’t see or hear anything.” It had been horrendous to deal with screaming children and irritated parents, but it served her right for trying to do things differently with her kids. Their birthday was the last one she had that involved anyone that was outside their immediate family. She had questioned her role as their mother for making such a decision, but she really couldn’t handle another headache of that size if her son decided to blind half a dozen people again on a whim. ”Riley was the earliest one to show powers. He was about four months old and very determined to be understood when he wanted or needed something. He would share his thoughts with his sister or father when they were around, since he hadn’t learned how to speak yet. Scared the hell out of Meris the first time he did it.” She laughed softly as she ticked off the last finger, her little trip down memory lane coming to a close as the memories drifted off. Each of her older children had been a handful, but she wouldn’t have changed a single moment with them.

The way he spoke to their son, and mentioned girls, had her smile creeping over her lips once more as she watched him. His thoughts might have been full of worry, but if he knew what was going on in her own mind he’d have changed all of that really quick. Ristar loved seeing him like this, the beast of a male who could shift into a massive wolf and quite possibly snap a lesser man in half if he felt the need to, was turned to mush by a fifteen pound baby. He was settling into his role as father and fiance better than she had expected, and it only made her love him more for it. Of course, she kept that to herself as she watched him. The fiery female adored him more than anyone else, but she also knew better than to overfeed his ego. He was still riding the high that her sister’s ‘fairy tale’ comment had started. Toss in the ‘love doctor’ bit, and she was definitely careful with how she praised him and the words she chose to use.

”Let’s not talk about girls and Ragnor in the same sentence, huh? It’s bad enough I have to worry about what his brother’s are going to do once they figure out just how much of a ‘babe’ magnet having a baby brother can be. We’ll never see him again.” She sighed as the thought returned, wondering if she had time to mention it to Syl before she left. If the brunette could beat her brother’s to the punch, maybe Ri wouldn’t have to step in at all. She could only hope, she mused as she picked her toast back up and snacked on it.

'I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see,
That you’re the antidote to everything except for me...'

Location: Tavern main.
Company: Ragnor and Caine. Thoughts: ‘Ah, memories…’

Sislana

[Sislana]

I wouldn't let down my walls
I wouldn't let myself fall
I wouldn't risk it all on love again

Her head nodded as he uttered the words that acknowledged she was right, her gaze locking on his own for a moment. The hiss that passed through his lips had her gaze flicking upwards, a sympathetic look passing over her face as she watched him. Austin might have been healing, but he still looked like hell. Her resolve for being upset loosened and her body took a step forward on its own. Still not enough to fully close the space between them, but enough that she felt like she could reach out and grab him if she needed. Honestly, given that they were always touching one another it felt really unnatural to not do so now. ”Why don’t you just start with not calling him Kimmy? Might make him a little less murderous around you. He hates being called it, the only reason he tolerates it with Ristar is because she is his aunt. That woman means the world to him. Try Riel. Or just his name.” She felt strange giving Austin tips on how to get along with her son, especially given that the two loathed one another, but she would do it if that meant avoiding another situation like this. She was not sure that she could handle seeing the pair go at one another in such a primal rage one more time.

Almost as quickly as he had softened her resolve, however, his jokes had her shooting him a look that shut him down rather quickly. Sislana needed Austin to learn that there was a time and place for everything and this was definitely not one of them. Thankfully for the pair of them the man got the hint and let the joke die on his tongue. Smart man. Yes, okay, she loved silly Austin. It was one of the things that truly made him who he was, but it also could get old really quickly. She needed a partner that understood when to be serious and when to be silly. A little give and take. Her eyes shifted around the area once more, the need to make sure that they were safe almost too much to ignore. Instinctively Sislana knew that Austin would never let anything happen to her again, but her mind did not always have the best control over her body. There was just some things that she needed to make sure for herself.

His words drew her attention back, her violet eyes locking on his bruised and dirtied face. Even with the bruises, dirt, and drying blood he was still devastatingly handsome. It was enough to knock the air out of her lungs and have her dying to simply leap into his arms. Damn man and his ability to disarm her with that boyish smile of his! Her lips parted to speak only to have the words choke in her throat at the sight of his eyes changing color so rapidly. A chill ran down her spine as she watched the color fade almost as quickly as it had come, but she did not miss what it meant. The Merc. It had her lifting a brow in curiosity, wondering if Austin was having a hard time keeping control over the darker side of him. ”Babe,” she started carefully, forcing herself not to retreat a step backwards when he inched closer. ”Is it hard for you to…keep him in check right now? Or, during situations like this?” She kept her voice as casual as she could, genuinely just curious to know. They had not often discussed the Merc, given past dalliances with him, but she could not help herself right now. They had promised one another all or nothing and that meant knowing more about the darker part of Austin. His sway had her reaching a hand out, nearly touching him before the man took a step back.

It was frustrating and endearing that he wanted to respect her wishes in this moment. She felt guilty for having put him in this particular situation, but it was important to her. Austin wanted her to voice how she was feeling more often and he needed to understand that she was not some kitten that could be pacified with a few pets. She had shifted some to keep herself contained, her knees nearly giving out beneath her at the next set of words. Violet eyes widened and snapped to his face, shock resonating through her entire being. Wait. Had he really just said that? Of course, it was not actually saying that he loved her, but this was the closest he had gotten since she returned. It had her heart racing to life in her chest, the woman convinced it would burst free at any second. As she did when the Merc showed up, she parted her lips to speak only to have her tongue feel like dead weight in her mouth.

When he asked if they could return, and reached his hand out for her own, Sislana stood there frozen for a moment. Her mind was struggling to catch up with the rest of her and it had her feeling dumbfounded. So many different things were flooding her mind, nearly causing her to go into overdrive. She was fighting the urge to jump into his arms, wrap hers around his neck, and scream how much she loved him right in that stupid mug of his. Thankfully, for her at least, the suggestion of breakfast had her nodding slowly and her brain finally rebooting. ”Yes, that’s fine. But, I want to take a look at you after you’ve showered. Or before. Whatever you prefer. Need to make sure that you’re okay with my own two eyes and all.” For the first time since they had started walking, Sislana took the offered hand with her own as she intertwined their fingers. Just the simple touch of his hand on hers had her heart stumbling in her chest and a sudden flush filling her cheeks.

There she was again, feeling like a damn schoolgirl who had a crush on the quarterback. Austin had that effect on her and she truly hoped it never dimmed. He was the only one in her life that could calm the storms within while sending a flurry of butterflies through her stomach at the same time. Yes, Sislana Shadowlord was head over heels, truly, madly, and deeply in love with Austin Drake. He was the love story she had always hoped for. Her thumb ran absently over the back of his hand as she stood in thought for a moment, her eyes washing along his face. ”You have no business walking back, handsome. Hang on.” Before he had a chance to react, Sislana stepped up to him and pressed a gentle kiss to his now healed lip, her eyes falling shut as she did so. Her hand stayed connected with his as she flexed her finger, the pair suddenly vanishing from their place in the trees. Within moments, they reappeared standing in the middle of their bedroom as Sislana pulled from the kiss with a soft smile. She took a small step back from him but did not yet break the contact. Having just given him the green light for affection again she did not want to fully take it from him if there was more he needed in that moment. Her free hand balled into a fist before she lifted it between them and unraveled her fingers, a few white pills for the pain nestled in her palm. ”Here.” She smiled a bit more at the look that passed through his face before giving the hand she held a gentle squeeze. ”Take these, and your shower, let me get a good look at you before you’re done, and then we’ll go back downstairs. I’ll wait. Deal?”

But I would for you
Give you all of my time
Lay my heart on the line
I'd even walk through a fire

[Sislana]

Ready and gather all our strength
The night has come of soaring reigns
For the honour, have no fear

As Caine listened to Ristar he continued to dote his attention on their son. He enjoyed seeing the faces that Ragnor would make and the joy that danced behind his eyes. No matter what the future held, there was no doubt that this young wolf pup would be forever loved with a ferocity not many would understand. As images began to slide through his mind the blonde glanced over at Ristar, thankful once more for the connection that they shared. It made story time more vivid than one could ever imagine and he always enjoyed seeing the little shows she provided him. His brow perked as she mentioned Kimmuriel’s ability that he had displayed once more, nodding quietly. Her words confirmed his suspicion of the display being just as much news to her as it had been to his cousin. For a moment he wondered if his future sister-in-law was aware of it but decided against asking. For now. Maybe he would ask Austin his thoughts about it later on. Dude could definitely use a beer after this morning's events and who was Caine to deny his quick growing friend that?

He found it interesting to learn that Sislana’s eldest daughter had not been born a vampire and wondered if her father had canceled out the genes as he had done with his son. It equally intriguing that she ended up being turned after all, his brows furrowing when Ristar mentioned the loss of her children. He recalled Ristar giving him a rundown of her nieces and nephew earlier in their relationship, and the memory of the middle child losing her two babies made his stomach hurt. His gaze shifted back to the bouncing Ragnor once more, the thought of losing him making the man want to snatch him from his little roamer. Thankfully Ristar was able to ease his mind as she continued down her little list. Ah, Meris. The result of a man that had passed through both sisters like they were the flavor of the week. Rei was a sore subject on the best of days, and it made a flash of anger jolt through his body. What kind of man not only bed siblings but had offspring with both of them? It was a wonder that the sisters could stand being in the same room with one another, let alone show love to the two children that had resulted. Caine thought about voicing his displeasure for the Durden children’s father once more but held his tongue and simply nodded. ”I bet she could.”

A chuckle passed through his lips at the comment of Lily bursting the bulbs in the house, the image helping ease the makings of a sour mood. She was such a maternal woman that he wondered if she were to do something like that now if it wouldn’t send her into a tissy. His lips curled into an unmistakable grin at the image of Sylia shattering her fathers coat. From what he had gathered of the former husband to Ristar, he was not the warmest of people. He could not imagine that the vampire had taken kindly to his material objects being ruined by a toddler, no matter if he sired her or not. ”I will have to ask him about it the next time that I see him. Could be interesting to have another sparring partner. Not sure your sister would much appreciate seeing Austin spar any time soon.” He sent the redhead a knowing look before falling silent as she continued her explanations. It came as a surprise to him to hear that Aurora had referred to her brother as ‘bad’ and had the man turning a brow upwards. ”Does she still consider him ‘bad’?” He did not know much about Liam, having not really interacted with him more than a greeting or two in passing. The thought of a ‘good’ and an ‘evil’ twin had the man drawing a comparison to Sislana and Jeb and quickly had him shaking the thought out of his mind. No. Ristar would have most certainly mentioned that. He chalked the wording off to a toddler simply not having an expansive vocabulary and let his mind move onto her next words. Once more he grinned, the image of Riley freaking out his sister something that amused him. It was something he could so easily see the redhead doing.

Her mention of not mentioning their son with girls had laughter finally rolling out of his throat as he straightened up and turned to face her. The little trip down memory lane had softened her previously grumpy features and had his heart fluttering in his chest. The damn woman was a goddess in the flesh and she didn’t even know it. Caine’s signature half smile curled onto his lips as he watched her, not at all caring that he looked like a total dolt. Ristar had a way about her that simply set his heart on fire and he would never be done with it. ”Nah, he’s too much of a momma’s boy. He’d find his way home eventually.” Reaching out, Caine covered his hand over the one of hers that rested on the bar. He brushed his thumb along her delicate and silky skin, reveling in the way it felt beneath him. She was majestic, plain and simple. Was it any wonder that he struggled to keep his hands to himself when it came to her? ”What I really worry about is if we have a daughter. If she looks anything like you, I’m going to be locking her away and giving Austin a weapon. I’ll need help fending off callers.” He shot her a playful wink before laughing again, his fingers squeezing her hand before he pulled it back. ”Speaking of, we should probably keep practicing for that. Don’t want to forget how things work. That body of yours…mmm, I can’t get enough of those curves.”

We shall withstand this night of war
Ready and gather all our strength
The night has come of soaring reigns

[Ristar Black]

Come, break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you

The bits of advice she offered him had him biting down the inside of his cheek to keep himself from stuffing his foot in his mouth. He knew the other male hated being called Kimmy. It’s why he used it. They were guys, it was a rite of passage to be teased and picked on for your name. Granted, he hadn’t had to endure it, but he hadn’t been saddled with a doozy like Kimmuriel. Poor guy. Austin knew he should probably feel sorry for the kid, but he much preferred the previous option. The look in her eyes, though, told him he had to remember why she was doing this. She wanted them to get along, in whatever way they could that would keep them from bashing on one another again. So, taking a deep breath, he nodded his head and did his best to smile in thanks.

”Riel, got it. I don’t think I could do Kimmuriel every time. Sorry, gorgeous, but it’s a mouthful on a good day. Did you pick it, or was it one of those things his dad gifted the poor kid?” He truly didn’t care either way, but if it was the latter then it would make it easier for Austin to understand the little punk. From all the things he had learned of Malhavoc Shadowlord, he definitely seemed the type of father that would have given Lana no choice over the name of their first born son. It had him wanting to throttle the p***k, but he held back the desire for fear of the merc showing his face again. The darkness within was settled, for now, and he didn’t want to have a repeat of earlier on his hands. Especially when his momentary lapse had caused the look her alluring gaze was currently sporting.

”A little. He’s had free range for a while now, so he’s chomping at the bit to get back to his usual routine.” He admitted as he rolled his shoulders to loosen the muscles that had tightened in them at the mention of his more lethal side. ”Don’t worry, though, I’ve got him handled. The tussle with Kim-, I mean Riel, gave him a taste so he’s being a little more irritating than normal. Nothing that you should fret over, my dear. I won’t let him anywhere near you or the others.” It was an oath he had made after the first, and only, time the beast within him had made himself known to her. After he had lost her, he had given in just so he could handle living without her. Now that she was back, he was determined to get back to how things had been. And that meant putting the merc back in his little box. It was definitely harder than it had once been, but he was dealing with it as best he could considering.

The sudden shift in her expression worried him that she didn’t believe him, that she was really afraid that he would lose himself to his monster. For a moment, all he could do was stand there and watch as shock registered in her violet eyes as they locked onto his own. Concern swirled into his and had him tipping his head to the side a bit, the question of her well being jumping to his tongue immediately. He knew he had ******** up, but had he really done such an awful job at fixing it? His hand trembled a bit as he watched her, slowly easing back as he settled with the refusal he assumed her expression and silence meant. Austin cursed his own stupidity, his recklessness, and a number of other things before the feel of her fingers linking with his shot it all out the damn window. Now it was his time to look at her with surprise dancing in his icy gaze. Her words drifted through his head and had him switching gears to now and smile at her. She wanted to check him out, well, that was definitely something he could arrange.

”Let’s go with after. If I wait any longer, I’m going to smell worse than I look.” He joked a bit, his hand giving hers a little squeeze as he turned to head back towards home. The feel of her holding steady in her spot stopped him, bringing his attention back to her with a dark brow raised slightly in question. Before he could ask, though, she was stepping in close and causing his heart to jump up into his throat. Any cognitive thought he might have tried having vanished, his body shifting into overdrive when she said her peace and set her lips on his. Gods in heaven, the woman was his own personal drug and he was more than happy to stay addicted to her if it meant she kept that sexy little mouth of hers on his. It took everything in him not to simply melt into her, knowing he wouldn’t be able to give her anywhere near the usual performance he was capable of with her. All he could do was wrap an arm around her, curling his free hand into the back of her shirt as he held onto her.

The sound of air rushing around them registered for only a split second, then she stepped back and they were no longer in the woods. It took his rattled mind a bit to register the change, his world spinning from nearly ODing on the woman he loved. He couldn’t help but laugh softly at her antics, adoring her all the more for saving them the trip back to their room. Austin opened his mouth to thank her for it, only to have his eyes widen when she held her hand out to him. Damn, the woman was a mind reader today! Grinning, he accepted the pills and popped them into his mouth. Far more than used to taking Tylenol dry, he swallowed the meds and prayed they went to work sooner rather than later. Her request was returned with a nod, a quick kiss in thanks, then he was releasing her hand to amble into their bathroom. He didn’t bother with the door, still not comfortable with having barriers between them when he couldn’t keep his eyes on her. Especially when it came to their room. The setup might have been different than their original one, but the fear was still there in the back of his mind and it tormented him constantly.

Forcing it aside, for now, he went about the usual routine of getting clean. After about twenty minutes, he felt almost completely back to normal and knew he smelled far better than he had in the woods. He wrapped a towel around his waist, looked himself over in the fogging mirror, then slipped back out into their room. He considered getting dressed first, but Lana had asked to check him out. And what better way was there to do that then when he was rocking his birthday suit? The thought had him grinning like the dork he was before he turned to face the woman he loved, his icy gaze watching her as he held his hands out to his sides to give her a view of every bruise and wound he was currently rocking. He knew he wouldn’t be carrying them long, but if it made her feel better to see them then who was he to stop her?

Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you...

Sislana

[Ristar Black]

'All the writers keep writing what they write, write.
Somewhere another pretty vein just died...'

Thanks to her powers, and the lovely bond they shared, it wasn’t hard for her to pick up on his emotions concerning the male that had stolen the hearts of both sister’s. His anger had her watching him for a moment, concerned that the topic would shift their morning even more than it already had been. Thankfully, he took it in stride and kept his feelings about Rei to himself. Loving him all the more for it, Ri reached out and set her hand on his cheek affectionately. She said nothing, simply watched him through adoring eyes before letting her hand return to the counter top. The fiery female would find a way to thank him for being so wonderful later, when they weren’t still locked in the midst of family drama and battling buffoons.

”A bit of advice, ask him about his collection. He’s a bit like Austin in that aspect, though Torden collects swords instead of comic books.” She smiled a bit at the thought of her son sharing his nerdy side with the man she loved, knowing it would be an easy way for the behemoth to gain another favor from her children. Sylia might have been his biggest challenge, but if he got Torden on his side, things would definitely work out better for him in the end. The mention of Austin fighting, and Sis’s thought on it, had her snorting a bit into her water bottle as laughter bubbled out of her. Ristar did her best not to choke on the drink and covered her mouth with her hand, her amusement lighting up her starry eyes as she lifted them back to his own storming ones.

”I’m sure she’d be okay with you being the one to do it. It’s no secret how close you two are becoming nowadays.” A mischievous grin spread over her features as she watched him, her brows wiggling playfully at him at the insinuation her words rang with. The two males were bonding at a rate that surprised the sister’s, since they came from such different worlds and had so few things in common. Ri loved the thought of the bromance blossoming between them, and was okay with it as long as the pair kept the topic of their spouses out of things. Thankfully, her sister was on the same page as she was, so she was content to let them be. They each needed a friend outside of their loves, and the women needed time to themselves once in a while. It was a win-win in her book. The thought had her snickering softly into her drink as she lifted the water back to her lips, only to have the thing stop halfway up at his question.

”Oh, you misunderstand, my love. She wasn’t saying he was bad, just referring to what he was doing as bad. Which it was.” The nonchalant tone she carried would tell him she had no worries over the twins. They were nothing like how their Aunt and Uncle were. Liam might have been a pest, and more mischievous than all her children combined, but he wasn’t evil. He loved deeply, and cared for his family on the same protective level that the man at her side did. Of course, her thoughts on her son were biased, but that didn’t mean they were completely wrong. ”She used the same saying until she was three when she started adding the words ‘will be’ to the statement. Nothing gets by Rori, as you have seen firsthand already.” She grinned at the memory of him with ribbons in his hair, the time feeling so long ago and yet so recent at the same time. He had won over Riley and Aurora within minutes of meeting them, and had suffered for it in the best way. And she had fallen for him so hard and fast it had scared her senseless. Looking back, though, she was glad he had put himself through it. Without his stubbornness at getting her to see the truth, they wouldn’t be where they were now. Emotions burned in her throat and had her eyes filling with tears, which she quickly brushed away before he could catch her with them.

”Oh, honey, you are wrong in that one. That kid is a serious daddy’s boy. I’m just the feeding station and portable bed. If you could do what I do, I’d become obsolete.” She teased as she finished off her water and set the empty container aside. Stealing a bit of bacon from his plate, she continued to feed herself and smiled sweetly at the feel of his touch on her skin. Little sparks of desire spread up her arm from where he had made contact, the feeling one she was more than used to when it came to the male she adored. His words had the emotion mixing with her amusement, knowing if their daughter looked like she did then she was most certainly going to be gifted with her need to fight against those that cared for her. It had her shaking her head at him, even more so when he turned the topic onto something with more heat to it that turned her ivory features to rose within seconds.

”When we have a daughter, locking her up will do no good. My grandfather tried it with me, and well,” She shot him a devious look and snapped her fingers, her flames engulfing her curvy form to have her vanishing from his side. Reappearing in the rafters above him, Ri grinned down at him and let one leg dangle over the edge while her arms wrapped around the knee of the other as she set her foot to rest on the beam beneath her. ”It didn’t work out well for him. You had better hope she takes more after you in the power department, my sweet. Though, I’m sure a wolf could still manage a jailbreak if need be.” She laughed softly once more, enjoying her view from the rafters and waving her hand down at their son when her voice pulled his curious gaze up to where she was perched above them.

'I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see,
That you’re the antidote to everything except for me...'

Location: Tavern main.
Company: Ragnor and Caine. Thoughts: ‘Silly man…’

Sislana