[Octavian + Vest 3 (I think) the rest to come as I locate them.]
Octavian was in a mild state of detriment. He hadn't seen his literal angel in some time. The thought was the whole lot of them had packed up and gone off somewhere with the owner of the lab. The halfbreed hadn't noticed life returning to that building or he wouldn't have looked quite so sulky for the moment.
Not only did he look sulky, he looked thin. Normally broad and imposing, the halfbreed had become lithe and almost sickly looking. He obviously hadn't been eating well, even though some part of him wanted to. He had to stay powerful to be able to rend that.. what did she call him, teal blue? Greenish? That other male dragon. Octavian was going to rend him to bits when he was found. The other residents of Wolf's house had told Octavian that Laurent had fled, fearing the halfbreed's reaction. Apparently the green male didn't know who Vestakia was, or else he 'would never have imposed'. Bullshit. Octavian growled lowly, vibrating the bench he was stretched out on. His large wings draped over the sides of his perch, and he looked rather dead save the glistening of his eyes.
Octavian sighed, wondering if it wasn't something he had done wrong that had sent them all off in the first place, anyway. That would have been typical.
The lab was empty. It been eerily empty, in fact. None of the Professor's personal pets remained, save for the Arctic dustling that she just barely "owned". And even she seemed to have taken off for the mountains...
Professor Feline had hardly left any notice, either. In fact, she left but a small note saying to expect her back in December. Surely no one read it to Octavian, however-- perhaps no one read it. Perhaps it got loose from its adhesive-backing and fluttered into the sand.
Smiling, Feline sat with her pets all packed into the oasis bus, a transportation vehicle specially designed for driving in the sand. They were finally home. Truth be told, Feline was visiting family and taking a break from all of her labor and weary, restless nights and fear. Not to mention her worry over Comet Serpents... it had all taken such a toll on her nerves. However, her venture outside the oasis was great publicity for her lab. She had even received donations towards her cause, and she had plans to renovate the oasis already.
Vestakia, however, wasn't feeling too wonderful. In fact, she had been downright depressed the moment they had left. She had fought valiantly to get away and say goodbye to Octy, not knowing if they'd ever even return. Sure, the professor said they would be, but how could she believe her? What if she enjoyed a normal life outside the desert? She never even said goodbye! The whole ordeal filled her with guilt and sorrow, and at times her halo completely flickered out of existence and left her in the dark.
Sighing, the golden dustling sat in the very last seat with her face glued to the window, her eyes staring out listlessly at the sky. Would Octavian even be there, waiting for her? Or would he be gone? ..What if he went looking for her and got lost? A sob escaped her lips as she imagined the desert without him. She'd be so ridiculously lonely.
The bus soon came to a halt outside the oasis, and the professor stepped out, gazing at the small town in the distance. How wonderful it was to be home!
Octavian caught the distant sound of bus brakes, but he barely paid attention. His hearing was dulled with his thoughts, brooding and perpetually negative. The only outward sign that the screeching noise had registered with the large halfbreed was the responsive twitch of his wing pairs, as though at least that part of him still had some desire to explore. It wasn't until the wind picked up, carrying the enticing smell of the inhabitants on the bus, that Octavian stirred. Even then though, his movements were delayed and somewhat groggy. In the back of his mind, the whole thing was probably a dream. Screeching, and a faint scent on the wind. Hunger and desert had done worse to minds. Octavian had heard of humans that went mad in the sands, and had dug their fingers to the bone in search of water. Hearing things was hardly as bad as that.
Though there sat the bus. The colorful male blinked, and stared hard at it. Mirage perhaps. Though it was a bit too solid, definitely metallic under the light of the desert sun. Suddenly overwhelmed by the truth, the sickly looking and thin halfbreed collapsed in front of the stopped bus. The door opened, and there stood the professor. Which could only mean...
I told you. Now why would you believe that her dear Octavian could chase her away?
Because he's a bru... The hostile voice was silenced rather quickly, a few strangled noises ensuing its cut off word.
Perhaps it was just old habit. Maybe deep down I knew that would never happen.
Thats a good boy, Octavian, the sweet voice soothed him.
Stupid human... how could she do this to me... A tear was lost between her featherfur and the glass window as she shut her eyes. None of the other dustlings bothered her much, not even Enivali. They all knew how depressed she was and they knew nothing they could say would cheer her up.
"We're home!" the professor cooed as she turned to her lovelies. "Aren't you excited?" The dustlings looked bewildered. They had been gone so long... The foxes were sleeping, and the serpent didn't look too awake, either. "Remember? The lab? Come on, guys... and help me with my luggage, there's a ton."
Vestakia perked up as the bus stopped. Her human's language sounded so utterly foreign... what was she saying? She didn't even know anymore. One bad side to hating the professor was that she could never understand her now. It was worth it... I'll never forgive her...
"Come on Vest!"
She may not have heard the rest, but her name was enough. "Mrrr..." she grumbled, looking up from the seat. All at once, the distant lab came into view.
They were home.
Would he be there? Will he still love me, even after leaving? I... I really missed him. Her heart started to ache. What if... what if he's found a new lover?
Quietly, she sank farther into her seat.
Professor Feline walked down the steps as the bus driver opened the bus door. Gasping, she stepped onto the sand, blinking at the halfbreed. "Hmmm... looks familiar. Octavian was it? Tsk! What's happened to him?"
Octavian? Slowly, like a cat curiously approaching a mouse trap, she walked down the aisle, past her friends, and looked down. It WAS him... and he was alone... no prissy little dustling clinging to him. Octavian!
Leaping down the stairs, pushing Feline out of the way, she landed in the sand and immediately pressed herself into his side. "Octavian! I... I..." she stuttered. She couldn't even find the words to say-- she wanted to say so much, but nothing would come out... and the solace his beating heart brought to her fitful mind was so soothing she couldn't help but stop trying to talk and just cry on his chest. "I'm sorry."
He was still swearing that on some level the whole thing was an illusion. Octavian's deep blue eyes blinked at the Professor when he heard his name, not quite registering what had happened. He was just so damn hungry.
Of course he hadn't found a new lover. All of those close to him in proximity wouldn't have dared. To them, he was a wildcard, never really knew when he might take your leg off, and when he'd be sweet. Lately of course they'd gotten bolder, a frail frame makes anyone look like a kitten after a while. Octavian blinked, hearing his name again. For a moment all he could see were yellow feathers and fur. Warm tears. Sobbing and an apology.
The world seemed to click together for him in an instant. Growling low, Octavian ran his beak along hers, and gently groomed what fur on Vestakia he could reach. The motions were more vigorous than anything he'd done in the past week, after the last real solidness to him had dissapated. He wouldn't have to speak to let her know it was alright. He could groom her and snuggle her for as long as was needed to make the girl understand, and yet he whispered to her in his soft, rasping tone anyway, "Don't be. I would have wated a lifetime, and you came back sooner." It was more eloquent than was characteristic, but he had quite some time to think up poetic greetings in the event they might be used. In that sense, Octavian had learned a little something in his lover's absence.
The Professor stpped back onto the bus, smiling and shaking her head. "Come on guys, we're home, let's go." The herd eventually began to stir and leave the bus, each giving a curious glance to the the two writhing dustlings.
Vestakia didn't care, however. She had missed his color, his face, his scent.. his markings.. his wings.. everything. And as he spoke to her, the void in her heart began to fill, and she sighed deeply and happily-- feeling months of sorrow wash away. There was nothing left to say. Then and there, Vestakia vowed to herself that she'd rather die and stay dead than be dragged away ever again.
As the bus pulled away and the professor dragged her luggage and her dustlings back to the lab, Vestakia remained with Octavian, pressing as much of herself against him as possible, just to feel his pulse as much as possible.
"Octy, you look so sick..." she whispered, her voice still a bit sobbish.
Octavian had missed her terribly as well. The past months were already starting to fade into a dream, the angel was back and she was cuddled up against him again. The male could have pounced her into the sand right there, had they been at least somewhat alone. He kept up his grooming of what parts of her he could reach, smiling inwardly. Yes, I imagine I do look like hell. "I've been on a diet," he rasped jokingly, "though I think I'm ready to start back on real food." The last couple words were emphasized strangely. Octavian was after all male, and had a little point to make after Vest's dissapearance and discrepancy. Though the latter didn't matter anymore. Laurent was dead walking.
And all of that could wait, forever if thats how long it needed to be left alone. For now Octavian just wanted to nuzzle and get his angel's scent all over his fur again. Perhaps grab a bite to eat somewhere in there, though it was a secondary goal.
Draping her wings over her lover, Vestakia felt more warm, wet tears roll down her face as he made a joke about dieting. She knew how that felt... being sick to one's stomach just from despair. She had managed to stay alive and eat, however, just for the sake of hope.
Instantly her instincts spoke up, and she whimpered, nudging him. "You do need to eat, Octy... I can't have you starving to death on me now." She reluctantly sat up, rubbing the tears away on her shoulder, her halo now glowing with renewed relief and happiness. "But I'm not going back to the lab. I can never forgive my human for taking me away like that. I need to find somewhere new to live.."
He almost felt sorry he wasn't crying. Vest seemed so wrapped up in tears, and all his were gone really, replaced by happiness and relief. He looked at his ribcage, mildly confused. The halfbreed wasn't so close to death with his starvation, really. He tilted his head, musing to himself. Yes, thin, yes, his featherfur was rather dull. Octavian seemed to zone out on his bony chest for a moment. He couldn't help it, his mind was off from the lack of so many things, though mainly his drained posture and spacey mental state was from a little anemia caused by general lack of food intake. That would come back gradually. "Yes," he mumbled, "I could really use some steak."
Octavian nuzzled into her wing, breathing in. The male couldn't pinpoint what he had missed more, the sound of her voice or the feel of her warm feathers. Softly he took to his feet and let his eyes run over her again. Beautiful. It took almost a full thirty seconds for him to register the second part of what she'd said to him. "Hmm? But thats your professor." He tilted his head the opposite direction, mental gears grinding. "Vest, I'm not sure if you would like where I've been residing. Though you're welcome to look..." He trailed off, thoughtful. She probably most certainly would not like all the females that tended to hang around. Though Cicera and Nerieda were too naive to make a pass at any male. Skadia, however, was rather bold. He would have to let Vest make the decision.
Vestakia smiled and nudged him with her snout, almost hard enough to push him over in such a slow state. "Anywhere you live is perfect for me," she purred, unaware that he lived with more females. "Why wouldn't I like it? Is it messy? I can handle that," she laughed, "now let's go find something for you to eat..." she added, decisively, leaving small kisses on his withering abdomen as she nudged him again, wanting him to take her to his home.
"If I can't live with you," she added, somewhat put off that he didn't welcome her in, "I'll find somewhere nearby in the desert to stay. I won't stay with my human anymore. I do need to get my pillow back, though.. eventually.."
Octavian made a crossways step to keep on balance from the nudge. He shook his head a bit, as if to clear it, and made a slow turn in the direction of his residence. Mind was starting back into motion, which meant the god damn voices were soon to follow. In his nullified state, Octavian had been nearly mental torment free, save general anguish from the absence of his lover. I wonder if 'mate' is a more appropriate term. He mused idly, and started in his chosen trajectory. "Come on then, I'll introduce you to everyone who hangs about." The halfbreed looked over his shoulder and smiled gently at her, his eyes starting to brighten. "You can share my pillow."
Grinning happily, tears still fresh in her eyes, Vestakia half-followed, half-helped him walk. Her heart was aching with unresolved passion, and she wanted a place to rest, relax, and show Octavian just how much she missed him-- after a meal, of course. And she'd run out and fetch a desert hare for him if she had to!
Slipping underneath him and reappearing like a ferret on the other side of him, she held her face against his neck and sighed happily, even as the air around them slowly became chillier and chillier. Her legs barely even have the strength to walk on her own anymore. She was drunk with happiness.
Octavian had a hard time walking a straight line, he kept looking over at Vest and giving her quick nuzzles and grooms nearly the whole way. Her nimbleness and overly happy attitude made him brighten up even more on their walk, the mental gears finally back in place. As they approached the front porch, he gave the large bench where he'd been a seat cushion not so long ago a glance before slipping through the oversized dog door in the front of the house. The refrigerator was pretty much right there, since the house flowed straight into the kitchen past the foyer. Octavian had a short vision of knocking it over and ravaging the contents. He grinned as best an animal with a beak could, motioned for Vest to follow, and threw the door of the cold box open. In seconds he had the entire meat drawer out on the floor, and was shearing open a pack of hot dogs. "Ulp. Just go frrr nything in there, th humn doesn't mind." The sentence was spoken between and during bites, making it muffled intermittantly.
Vestakia followed him inside, and nearly snorted with laughter at the spectacle that was Octavian. He was adorable, but more importantly, he was eating-- and that made Vestakia feel relieved. Her poor boy...
Stepping forward, she browsed the refrigerator and pulled out a bunch of grapes. Sure, she was hungry, but the last thing she wanted to do was act like... well, a male. Snickering to herself, she ate up a few grapes, watching Octavian happily. So cute.
However, the scent of other dustlings cut through the hot dogs and Octavian and the house in general. Lots of them. Sighing, she realized Octavian probably lived with other females... but that was okay. Nodding inwardly, she decided not to judge him. He lived with them, but he had gone through hell for her and hell again just waiting for her. She trusted him, and it felt wonderful.
As she finished the grapes, she sat beside Octavian and groomed his back lovingly.
The whole pack of hot dogs was gone. The halfbreed's brain connections were slowly reforming with the intake of food, though he did lick the inside of the wrapper with a look of infinite sadness for just a moment. Octavian huffed a bit, and blew the plastic shell away before leaning around to groom Vestakia's chest and side. He was glad she'd found something to eat in the refrigerator. Sometimes the human didn't keep much in the way of fruits and vegetables around, since most of the dragons here were more toward the carnivore side of life. He breathed her in again, and this time all of it registered. Her smell, her touch, it was absolutely intoxicating. If Octavian hadn't been certain he needed a few days of solid meals to regain full strength he would have pounced her right there.
Though there wasn't much time to think about such things. The other dragons were peeking around corners at the arrival of the newcomer. Most had a vague idea of who she was, since the halfbreed would mutter something with a lovesick look about his golden angel often.
Cicera of course hung back. Laurent was completely absent, having fled like a coward, though the scent of the teal male lingered slightly. Nereida was for the moment, completely clueless about anything. She was just learning the ropes of society. The foxes and the two serpents didn't seem to waver at Vestakia's arrival.
It was Lilith and Skadia who approached eventually. Skadia, the snowy corrupt, looked cool and collected as usual. She sat back at a comfortable distance from Vestakia, and flashed a smile that fit her look, cold. Though the aloofness in her demeanor was unintentional, it could easily have been misread.
Lilith had a sour look of complete disdain toward the angelic female, and it didn't take long for the sadistic gears in her brain to start grinding. She was mean by nature. It was the way she was built, thats what she had learned. Some deep rooted instinct had fired when Lilith saw that glowing halo, and she instantly hated Vestakia right down to her smallest feather.
Have to run that b***h of an angel out. In a split-second decision, Lilith switched her expression to a loving smile at Octavian. She ducked slightly and rubbed herself along his large chest and across his side, making sure to snake her tail along under his chin as she withdrew. "Where've you been, Octavian?" She asked in the sweetest voice she could muster.
If only we were alone... she mused, lazily opening her eyes as she laid her head against him to glance at the others in his household. Nothing too amazingly intriguing. She smiled weakly and shut her eyes again, her heart screaming "find somewhere private!" silently within her chest.
And then a female's voice slit Vestakia's heart in half.
Instantly she realized another female had just rubbed against her male. She had pressed her filthy featherfur against Octavian's skin.. left bits of fur.. molecules.. atoms of herself. Attached to him. HER male. Vestakia's eyes snapped open and her heart dropped.
Her halo flickered.
"...And who might this be?" she asked, her voice unwavering. She was so certain he had seen no one else while she had been gone... she had be so damn sure. But now nothing could be certain. Distrust filled the hole in her heart that Lilith so swiftly created.
Octavian hadn't exactly heard Vestakia. He was too busy staring at Lilith slack-jawed. For a moment all he could do was stutter half-words until he regained some level of composure. It was taking a moment for him to think still, but it was starting to happen faster. Unfortunately, that also meant the initial reaction that would have had him ripping into Lilith litreally at this very moment was deleayed and somewhat nullified. The halfbreed's eyes narrowed and he made an attempt to bowl the demon female out of the way with his bulk.. of which.. he had little left. Octavian gritted his beak and shot the encroaching female a glare that would have withered any other being on the spot.
Vestakia's words registered just as Lilith was purring out an answer.
"I could ask the same of you." She cast the yellow angel a sidelong glance, desperately trying to maintain a coy smile. Then Lilith tried to drive the dagger further by rubbing along Octavian's other side, and lying down to rest against his legs. "I don't think I've seen you before." She looked up at Vestakia, keeping the fake expression of kindness.
Octavian waited a moment. He listened. He let Lilith get very settled against his legs. And then he leaped sideways.
If you had been eating this whole time, we could be ripping her to pieces right now.
For once, I have to agree, Octavian.
Hush! Don't you think I've got this situation figured out? I see what she's doing.
Face it, Octavian. On some level, you need us.
The halfbreed winced inwardly.
Lilith fell, and looked up at Octavian with the same kind of hurt expression a long-time girlfriend would stare at a cheating boyfriend with.
Vestakia backed away from Octavian and Lilith, glancing at both, back and forth, her mind and heart both shouting different commands-- but her body couldn't react.
Her heart, weakened by such a sight, Octavian with.. this.. demon.. was overcome by her mind. Instantly, her legs began to move and her eyes locked onto Lilith. Her molecules were on Octavian. He would smell like her now. Vestakia would inhale bits of this demon when she groomed her male. No, this was not Octavian's doing. Demons were evil. She must've seduced him...
That's it... she seduced him...
In a flurry of featherfur, Vestakia ran and leapt towards Lilith, who was still lying on the ground, and landed atop her with claws and beak bared. She wanted to rip her apart, halo and wings be damned! This harlot seduced her mate! Corrupted his mind! Angrily, cursing at the demoness, she tore at her flesh and aimed to do as much damage as possible.
It was Vestakia's turn to be stared at slack-jawed. Octavian had known somewhere deep down that she could be aggressive, but damn. After all, here was this female that he hardly knew in the first place rubbing all over him, getting white on his featherfur, and now Vestakia was going to claw her eyeballs out or something.
Wake up, Octavian. You've been sleeping.
No, I haven't. Octavian blinked at himself.
Rouse thyself, demon. Where is your inner monster?
He stifled a characteristic sharp growl, and his dazed expression cleared.
Lilith made a noise of pain unusual for her species and gamely tore away from Vestakia in a huff, visibly bristled. She took up a more defensive stance and tried not to be horrified by the patches of featherfur she was missing, and the light trail of blood flowing down one foreleg. The demoness raised her head and made a disgusted snort at Vest. "Its not my fault you can't keep him loyal." She allowed herself a premature taste of victory. "After all, you did abandon him." Another little taste. Like I would ever dream of getting hot and sweaty with that half blood.. this girl is just as overdefensive as I thought she'd be. The demoness turned and shot Vestakia a withering glance before retreating for the back door.
Octavian, in the meantime, had clawed grooves in the kitchen tile so deep he was biting into floorboard. He could not go back to being as he had been. Because that would mean another creature who had tried to disrupt the bond between himself and his mate would be marked for death, and he was chivalrous enough not to hit a female who had done such a thing too much.
Instead of chasing her down like he desperately wanted to, Octavian gave his head a solid shake to try and turn down the rising wave of total hatred. That was reserved for someone else. "Vest, I hope you know everything she just said to you was a lie." His voice sounded more solid, its natural growling rasp.
Good, you're paying attention.
What the hell do you want?
You.
Vestakia sat down on her haunches and let the demoness talk-- it was all talk, nothing more-- and as she left, Vest returned her glance with a frosty stare. Once she was gone, she frantically spat the featherfur from her mouth and tried to get it off of her claws. "Filthy... filthy..." she murmured, "filthy demon..." It was difficult to keep her words off her mind, but she succeeded.
Turning towards Octavian, stiff yet understanding, she let herself smile. "No need to explain, my love. A demon's seductions are hard to resist, I'm sure." Flashbacks to Laurent flooded her mind, and made her feel sick. "I understand."
Slowly, she lowered her front half and just laid on the ground, the brief adrenaline rush slowly draining away and leaving her sore and feverish. I can't live here.
Octavian drew back from her slightly and stared down at his love. He bristled defensively, and looked some strange combination of hurt, shocked, and angry. Desperately he fought down all the words that were threatening to cross his tongue. The halfbreed was not so stupid as to listen all the time anymore. Now the extremes were at his disposal when he needed them, no other time. At least, that was what he kept telling himself. He was not so stupid as to say something like, Well, I'm sorry you're making assumptions, but some of us stay true better than others.
Even if he really, really wanted to.
Instead, the words were, "You don't believe me," In a soft, hurt tone. Right about there was when all the house occupants seemed to scatter, and it was very lonely in that big kitchen all of a sudden. "After everything, how could you not believe me?" He frowned and lowered his beak nearly to the ground, fighting to keep the natural dramatic sulking he felt coming under control. It was a losing battle. Octavian pulled one of his leathery wings forward. Filthy demon. The halfbreed stared at the mark of his heritage. The piece that had caused him to maul more than one. Perhaps it was true. The one thing Octavian did manage to resist was a mild desire to rip that wing to shreds as proof of.. something. That he could be good if he wanted to. He cast another hurt glance up at Vestakia and sulked toward the stairs.
Vestakia remained in her position on the floor, her whole body beginning to ache. It's not that I don't believe you... but I know how hard it is to resist... Maybe even you're not quite sure if it happened or not. That's how I feel. Now what? How was she supposed to feel? Pissed? Depressed? Apologetic? Or... indifferent...
Quietly, she placed her head on her paws and stared at the ground. Octavian really didn't deserve this. He didn't choose to be seduced. It wasn't his fault. She was just hurting him by leaving him alone...
Quickly, she stood up and followed after him. Her poor, poor Octy.
As Octavian got to his room and nudged open the door, he found yet another unexpected visitor invading his personal space. The small by comparison black and white halfbreed was only sharing a space with Octavian for about half a second before she went flying out of the room and vaulted straight into the wall, scrambling away in terror as the male chased her up to the doorframe, his jaws spread and his wings flared. He really did live with a lot of other dusts, and the number seemed only to be growing. Octavian grumbled to himself and caught sight of Vestakia, uttered a dramatic sigh, and sat back on his haunches in the doorframe. "You still look like you don't believe me."
Vestakia frowned at him. "I don't know what to believe. I just want everything to be happy again... Depression is tiring, isn't it?" she mumbled, softly, knowing he knew what she meant.
"I love you, but I can't live here with you. I'll have to find a home elsewhere. It will hurt too much to stay here." She winced inwardly, but stepped closer to him. "And it doesn't matter if I do or don't believe you. I will feel the same either way..." she added, her eyes a bit bloodshot. "I'm sorry..."
Octavian chuckled in his deep rasp. "You get used to it. Most of the dragons here are almost as strange as I am. That one who just dented the wall in, for instance." He stood up and curled around her, nuzzling her tenatively. The thought of her being apart from him right now was heartwrenching, even if she chose to think he had done something with Lilith. The halfbreed nosed her gaze in the direction of his now empty room, the ample space bare except for his pink and blue covered pillow and random pieces of furniture that told it had once been a working bedroom. "The house is large, really the only shared space is the kitchen, Vest. Please give it a chance, golden angel." Octavian wrapped his feathery wing around her in the old gesture of affection. He was still hurt, granted, but being without her entirely was worse than having her angry with him any day.
She truly didn't want to stay, or be any part of a place filled with such heartache--but with just a few simple words from her lover's heart, she broke down and rubbed her cheek along his chest, trying not to cry. "Alright.. alright.." she whispered, her voice cracking slightly, "I will. I'm sorry." And it was true, she was sorry... but she knew, even if he had cheated on her, she probably deserved it for what she did in the first place.
She had no right to be angry at all.
"I really, truly, love you, Octavian." And that was all that mattered.
The halfbreed rested the underside of his beak on her shoulder for a moment in a makeshift snuggle. It had taken him a while to realize what had been going on that made her so ready to find somewhere else to live. The answer wasn't necessarily that Lilith lived here, it was that there was still teal fur in places. At least, thats what made more sense. But that explanation could come later. He wouldn't let her go out where Laurent might get her again, not ever. Octavian ushered his golden angel into the room and kicked the door closed. "You don't have to be sorry, so long as you always love me. Because I will always love you."
Smiling briefly, she entered his room, enjoying the fact that his scent hung everywhere-- hardly a trace of anything else could be sensed. It was relaxing. Intoxicating, almost. And she was so happy to know he still loved her, even after everything that had happened... Shutting her eyes, she realized anything could happen, and they'd make it through. And it made her feel safe, and strong.
Swiftly, Vestakia nudged a piece of furniture in front of the door so no one could push it open without honestly trying, and she turned and gave Octavian a come-hither glance, a soft grin covering her face.
