Chapter 1

(This is a spin-off from Alpha to Omega from around chapter 28-29. This story will feature brown wolf and can probably be considered stand-alone to a point, once it gets going.)

Too many people.

After being under the care of the local elder vampire’s heir for nearly two weeks he was finally able to walk again. He probably shouldn’t yet , but he wasn’t very good at following directions.

Mainly because he was the one that always gave them, never the other way around.

Reaching up, he rustled his unruly mane of dark brown hair and gave a quiet grunting-growl. His human form really didn’t suit him. He was a pretty bulky, dark brown werewolf but as a human… tch.

Tall, scrawny, and with a head of messy hair that just made him look like a young human that hadn’t had time to tend to his hair properly… or just decided to leave it be intentionally. He was nearly seventy, and even though wolves could live much longer than humans, some even reaching two-hundred, he didn’t want to look too young! 

Pausing at a busy corner, he glanced around, then tilted his chin up slightly to sniff the air.

Fish.

He’d been following the scent ever since he’d stepped out into the overcast early morning. At the beginning it was only a faint scent brought in by the wind, but now it was easily traceable.

The elder vampire who had assisted him in healing his leg and the pup he’d brought to his town had given him some human money to go buy food, but the few fish he’d found at the market closer to the home he was temporarily staying at didn’t smell nearly as fresh.

If he was going to buy food for his pack’s last remaining pup, he wasn’t going to get anything but the best. The little guy had survived a terrible attack from an invading pack while a lot of their larger wolves had been out hunting. He was the only one that made it.

Thanks to the vampire’s heir.

The heir, Taru, was a fantastic doctor, and he hadn’t hesitated to treat either his broken leg or the injured pup he’d been brought, even though human towns were rarely tolerant of werewolves, let alone willing to let one step inside their borders safely. 

He knew that the locals wouldn’t tolerate him for long, though. The only reason they weren’t already aiming silver arrows at him was because of his benefactor.

I owe elder Vrasje.

He really did. To be able to simply walk through a human town as a werewolf was not something to laugh about. He would definitely return the man’s kindness when he was able.

Until then…

Turning his head, he sniffed the air again, then hurried in the direction he smelled not just fish, but salt water, too.

He was approaching the sea.

The thought of being close to such a large body of water was intimidating. He’d never been the best swimmer, and he highly doubted that his human body would fair much better at the task.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to go fishing.

Almost there.

As he climbed to the top of a small cobblestone hill, he saw what he’d come for. Tons of it.

A massive fish market was set up on the long street leading directly to a string of wooden docks. Ships of all sizes were moored within feet of each other.

There was so much going on.

Too much.

Uncomfortable but determined, he forced himself to act calmly and headed for the market. The smell of fish drowned out every other scent by the time he got to the first booth.

“Fresh snapper! Sir, you surely can’t pass up such a beautiful fish!”

He fidgeted, startled by the man’s yell. There had been no reason to raise his voice… he was already stopped right in front of him.

Disgruntled, he continued to the next booth, but made sure to step back a few paces.

It didn’t seem to matter. The next seller quickly chimed in, seeing his chance to make a sale.

“Our grouper is freshly caught just this morning! You can’t get anything better than this!”

He really could get something better. It was called peace and quiet.

Licking his lips nervously, he hurried forward, mixing in with the bustling crowd as best he could. His leg was beginning to ache but he refused to limp. He already stood out enough to the local vampires being a werewolf. Even with the bracelet Vrasje had given him to warn vampires about trying anything with him, it wouldn’t be able to trick their eyes.

Even with Vrasje’s protection, an injured werewolf wasn’t likely to be ignored.

Just find some fish and go.

Determined to get out of the busy area, he hurried up to another stall and, thankfully, wasn’t yelled at.

“Hello sir, I don’t have as much as my neighbors, but I caught all of these myself early this morning. Please have a look and let me know if you’d like anything,” the tanned young lady in front of him said with a pleasant tone.

He nodded as he looked over the fish. They all looked fresh and weren’t stacked up on top of each other like all the other booths.

They look good.

Now he just had to figure out the prices. They were labeled, but math wasn’t exactly necessary out in the forest. He could count to ten, but he’d never used money before, let alone had to add up monetary amounts.

I shouldn’t have been so stubborn and accepted an escort.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when a cold hand suddenly slid along his wrist until the money was no longer in his hand!

Turning his head to the right and the slightest bit up, he was about to demand his money back when his slightly parted lips slowly closed.

Pirate.

He’d seen them from afar several times when he was looking out over the sea on a hunt, but he never dared come close to the saltwater waves. He’d lost several of his old packmates to their curiosity. Kidnapped to foreign lands.

Now that he noticed, everyone that had previously been crowding the area had drifted away. There was only one person besides the man to his right that dared come close.

“Captain… he smells a little like that elder who’s always trying to get ahold of you,” the man behind them said, drawing his attention to him for the briefest moment before he returned it to the man still calmly standing beside him.

He knows elder Vrasje?

He also wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he was a pirate.

The man was wearing a weathered tricorne hat with a faded skull carved into the side and a dark, worn long-coat. His face was in need a decent shave considering the other males he’d seen around, and his hair was clearly just tossed up into a ponytail without much thought. Dark tendrils even hung down haphazardly. A few were gently being nudged by the wind in front of his left eye every so often.

He couldn’t see much else without leaning forward, and he didn’t dare. What did it matter what the man looked like, anyways?

“What would you like?” the man finally asked, his voice raspy, as if he’d had too many salted dishes recently and hurt his throat.

Unsure of his situation, he turned his head back to face the now-nervous seller and pointed at a random fish.

“How many?” the man asked as he counted the money he’d taken in a blur of fingers.

How many was a good question. He had no idea how much money he had been given, nor could he understand how to compare it to the prices of the fish.

“As much as I can get,” he eventually said.

“Any specific preference?” the man asked, his eyes calm behind his bangs as they silently assessed him.

Prefer… ance?

“Um… fish?” he replied, not quite understanding what he was asking but hoping he got the answer right.

On hindsight, though, it didn’t make much sense to ask him if he wanted fish twice.

Unsurprisingly, the man gave a quiet huff that sounded suspiciously like a stifled laugh.

“Alright, fish it is,” the man said as he pointed at several on the table.

The proprietor quickly packaged up everything he requested, then accepted the money. After counting everything out, she handed the man a single coin back and thanked them for their business.

I got so many fish!

If he’d been in his wolf form his tail would have been swishing back and forth contently. As it were, he was still human, but that was fine. He gladly accepted the large packages, then turned to face the man still beside him.

He was nice for a pirate. Maybe they aren’t all bad?

His attention was snapped back into focus when the man tossed the single returned coin upward, then caught it between his dirty gloved fingers before holding it up to him at eye level.

“My charge, little Ilio,” he said with a half-smirk.

Ah, that’s fair.

Nodding, and figuring that their interaction was complete, he hurried around the man and began heading back up the hill. 

It was a much easier walk since almost everyone had cleared out of the market by the time he’d gotten his fish. It was also bone-chillingly quiet besides the faint sound of the waves brushing against the docks and the few birds calling overhead.

Perfect.

He walked a few more paces before realizing something.

The bracelet lord Vrasje gave me is gone.

That’s when he realized something else.

The pirate’s payment hadn’t been the coin at all. It had been the silver bracelet that was already on his wrist right beneath it!

Turning, he looked over his shoulder. The pirate had turned and walked away a short distance, but as his eyes found him, the man turned and met his gaze with a calm smirk. He was nearly to the docks already with his subordinate at his side, too.

He considered going after him to retrieve the bracelet, because it hadn’t been a cheap item and he wouldn’t be happy losing something that was entrusted to him, but…

I need to get this fish back before it spoils and if he stole it, he probably won’t give it back so easily.

The faint scent from the bracelet was also likely to wear off quickly now that he no longer had it on his person. The smart decision was to leave.

Damn.

Resigned, he turned back around and hurried toward Vrasje’s home. There were quite a few more eyes on him as he moved into the busier portion of the town, but thankfully no one tried to bother him.

By the time he got back it was drizzling lightly and his leg was just about to give out. Thankfully, one of Vrasje’s servants was waiting for him and quickly took the fish from his exhausted arms and carried them away to the kitchen.

Sighing with relief, he stood in the doorway for a few moments before he felt eyes on him.

Looking up, he quickly frowned and looked down at his bare wrist.

“Someone took it,” elder Vrasje said as he descended the steps in a blur, taking the words from his mouth before he could speak them.

Vrasje slowed down a few feet away, then finished walking forward with such an air of authority that he quickly lowered his gaze.

Normally, he wouldn’t show submission around a vampire, or even another werewolf, but the man had helped him immensely, so he would gladly show his gratitude with a few simple submissive gestures.

When the vampire gently took his wrist in his own and narrowed his eyes, his heart suddenly sped up and he quickly looked away again.

“I apologize, a pirate took it from me when I was distracted. I was going to go retrieve it as soon as I brought the fish back.”

The hand holding his wrist dropped away before Vrasje turned and began heading back toward the stairs.

“No need. Do not return to the docks since you got enough fish for several days. Your pup was just fed and is sleeping so you should get some rest, too,” he said before disappearing up the steps and around the corner.

He had been dismissed that quickly.

Furrowing his brow, he looked down at his wrist in confusion, then back up to the spot where the vampire had disappeared.

He considered going back out to try and retrieve the bracelet anyways, but in the end his leg prevented it. There was no way he’d be able to walk all the way back to the pier without causing serious damage.

I’ll rest then. Perhaps tomorrow I can go find it.

Instead of returning to the room given to him, however, he walked through the house and straight out the back door.

He’d rarely spent much time inside since coming to the vampire for help after his pack was attacked. He felt more comfortable outside, so Vrasje had ordered his servants to set up a few hammocks in the back gardens for him.

The light rain had stopped, too, so he happily wandered to his favorite hammock beneath a large oak tree a little ways into the greenery. It was comfortably hidden. A small wooden overhang had been build into the upper portion of the tree to block the rain, too, and it had done a fantastic job of it.

Content, he hopped into the hammock and stretched out with a yawn as his arms lifted over his head and he arched his back the slightest amount.

Feels so good.

He would have tossed his human clothing at that point, since it was just a pair of loose black slacks and a gray shirt, but as soon as he closed his eyes everything else quickly began to fade away. He had no trouble at all relaxing into the taut fabric and within just a few moments he was drifting off as the hammock swayed gently in the comfortably cool breeze.

The last of his fleeting thoughts before falling asleep were of the strange man he’d met down by the pier and how, even though he’d stolen from him, he still couldn’t quite consider him so bad… for a pirate, of course.

Chapter 2

The gentle swaying of his hammock drifted into his dreams, making him feel like he was somehow standing on one of those massive ships down at the harbor. It was overwhelming, at first, but as his mind focused and he stumbled a little back and forth, trying to get his balance, he managed to realize one specific thing…

Jerking his eyes open suddenly, he fumbled and flailed until he was unceremoniously deposited onto the grass below his hammock. Not a second later he was on his hands and knees, vomiting what little he’d eaten the previous evening. 

Why am I so dizzy? 

He felt like he’d been spun in circles by frustrating pups for over an hour! 

After emptying the contents of his stomach, he fell over onto the crisp grass, panting up at the still-dark sky. 

Why in the world did I dream of being on a ship? 

He could barely swim passably. There was no way he’d ever find his way onto a ship!

Shaking his head in the grass, he felt the cold dew brush against his cheeks. The faint chill allowed him to calm down more, cooling his risen temperature back down to normal. 

He rested for a while before slowly pushing himself back up, then the rest of the way to his bare feet. The thought to return to his pup and check on it had him turning toward the house, but the scent of sweat quickly stopped him. 

He’d worked himself up vomiting…

I suppose I can go wash off. 

He had no interest in using the vampire’s bathing facilities, though. A pond or fountain worked just as well as long as it wasn’t inundated with algae. 

So, with a purse of his lips he turned back around and stalked off toward a fountain he knew the vampire had running near the back of his gardens. It was similar to the one in the front, but smaller and much less frequented. 

Content, he made his way to his target without any interruption, only limping slightly even though his leg was beginning to ache quite a bit. Once there, he stripped off his clothing and tossed it to the side before hopping into the little fountain. 

He quickly rinsed off, then grabbed the small box of soap he’d been allowed to bring out to use. He wasn’t really a fan of the stuff, and he’d gotten the lightest scented one, which was rose and honey, but still… a wolf had no reason for human soaps. 

If Vrasje hadn’t made it mandatory to wash once in a while in order to come into his house, he wouldn’t have touched the stuff. 

Glowering to himself, he began lifting the bar to his most troublesome area, according to the vampire. 

Stupid human armpits. 

His wolf had never smelled bad to others. 

“Morning, little Ilio.” 

Huh?

Looking up, since he’d found himself a nice spot to sit down in the water, he realized that he now had a visitor. 

Why is he here? 

He knew that the pirate wasn’t on great terms with lord Vrasje, considering what the man’s friend had mentioned at the market the other day. 

So what reason would he have to come to such a place? 

“I was just in the neighborhood and caught your scent,” the man said as he nimbly hopped up onto the edge of the fountain, then grinned down at him as he nudged the brim of his hat with a light flick. 

“What is my naked friend doing out here so early? Surely you aren’t bathing in a decorative fountain?” the man asked, making him frown. 

Was it so bad to be bathing outside in a decorative fountain? He could have gone to find a pond, but he didn’t really think it mattered much. They were on private property so it was highly unlikely that unfamiliar people would appear. 

And yet here is the pirate from yesterday. 

…

Wait a second!

Narrowing his eyes, he looked down at the man’s wrist and scowled. 

“Give that back, pirate.” 

The man didn’t seem to have heard him. Instead of responding to his words, he nudged off his high boots and then stepped into the fountain barefoot. 

Before he could get out another sentence the man sat down right in front of him and reached forward in a blur, grabbing his chin as he tilted it the slightest bit upward. 

“Let’s get better acquainted, my friend. My name is not pirate , but Inkani. I am the captain of a beautiful ship called the Black Raven,” he said, then raised an eyebrow at him. 

Um…

“Okay,” was all he could think to say. 

There hadn’t been a question directed at him, so he wasn’t sure why the man was looking at him expectantly. Eventually, that expectant expression withered away into one of confused intrigue as the man leaned forward a little. 

 “What is your name, little pup?” 

Oh. 

He was just about to reply brown wolf , because that was honestly what he was being called if someone needed his attention right now, but for some reason he bit back his words and simply stared back. 

People normally gave each other names, to his knowledge, but no one had ever called him s— wait a second. 

“Ilio,” he replied abruptly, smiling a little as he figured out the question. 

He’d never heard of that word, so surely it was the man presenting him with a name since he used it to address him already. 

At first, Inkani’s face didn’t change a single bit as he continued to stare straight at him. However, after nearly a full minute of silence between them, the man’s expression began to shift. 

When he finally released his chin, only to lift that hand and pat him on the head, he knew that he’d gotten his question correct. 

So my name is Ilio. 

It didn’t sound bad. 

He lost himself a bit in his thoughts and paid for it with a swipe of soap across his eyes! 

Thankfully, he managed to close them right before it got into them, but what the heck?!

“Why did you do that?” he asked and he quickly reached down to bring water up to wash his face. 

It took him a few moments to remove it all, and while he washed it off he could feel the man moving around him in the water, circling him like a vulture observing a possible meal. 

Once he had managed to clear the soap away from his eyes, Ilio looked up… at the same time the man sat back down in front of him on the edge of the fountain. 

“Where did you come from, my Ilio?” Inkani asked, once again ignoring his previous question. 

 He knew the answer to his, though!

“The forest!” he chimed happily, his previous frustration lost to his excitement about the simple answer. Just like that. 

The man’s lips curved up into an appreciative smile as he reached forward again and settled his hand against his damp hair. 

He liked the odd attention. 

I’m probably just missing my pack. 

A lot of his wolves loved to brush against him and lick his muzzle in submission. Of course, he doubted that Inkani was submitting to him in any way at the moment. The man was  leaning over him, reaching over him, and touching him without permission.  

The man was all dominance. 

Considering he wasn’t a werewolf, though, Ilio decided not to bother with any kind of correction. 

“Indeed you did,” Inkani finally said before reaching lower and retrieving the bar of soap from Ilio’s hand. 

“Come here, my pup.” 

His words were gentle yet somehow commanding at the same time. 

He saw no reason to decline since the man wasn’t being mean. Well, except when he’d swiped that soap across his eyes, but he hadn’t seemed like he’d wanted to really hurt him. Besides, they were on Vrasje’s property. If the vampire didn’t know he was here yet, he’d likely know very shortly. 

Once he scooted closer, Inkani reached back up and began rubbing the soap into his messy hair. It felt odd, and seemed odd, since his head never smelled, but he didn’t mind just letting the man do what he wanted. 

“Your hair is so dirty, little Ilio. Have you never washed it properly?” Inkani asked, making him glance up at him slightly. 

“No, I don’t like water,” he replied, earning a chuckle from the man before he suddenly felt claws scratching at his scalp!

It startled him a bit, making him reach up and grab one of the man’s wrists, but after a moment of hesitation he slowly lowered his arms back down and tilted his head slightly. 

“Feel good, pup?” Inkani asked as he got busy scrubbing. 

Ilio only gave a mumbled “mm,” before turning to give the man his back, then leaning his wet head against his pants, dampening the fabric without a care. 

“I’ve never seen a wolf so relaxed,” Inkani mused as he finally finished his scrubbing and began simply wiping some of the soap that had dripped down Ilio’s face gently back into his hair. 

Ilio took a few extra moments to relax before he blinked open his right eye. 

“You have met other wolves in this town?” 

 Inkani seemed to be observing him again as he gently guided his head to tilt this way or that with his hands, lifting it from where it rested against his knee with the utmost of care. He also began to gently rinse it out with some sort of ability he had, manipulating small portions of water to remove the soap without making him dip his entire head underwater. 

He appreciated it. 

“I have met no other wolf in this town, though I have heard of lord Taru’s new heir.”

Ilio nodded. 

“He is also lord Vrasje’s mate,” he added. 

The man’s expression changed the slightest fraction, hinting at surprise, or maybe it was annoyance, before he quickly schooled it again with a sarcastic looking smile. 

“I suppose I should leave him be, then.” 

They fell into a peaceful silence as the man continued his work. Normally, he wouldn’t be so calm around others who weren’t from his pack, but the vampire now guiding him gently by the shoulders to turn and face him again just didn’t bother him. 

When Inkani lifted a thumb up to press against his lower lip, Ilio blinked up at him, confused. 

“Can I see your teeth, love?”

He had no idea what he wanted to do that for, but since it didn’t really seem like an issue, Ilio slowly opened his mouth. 

“Ah, there we are,” Inkani said within only a few moments of looking around in his mouth. 

When it seemed like the man intended to reach toward the tooth that often ached on the bottom, far left side, Ilio quickly leaned away and closed his mouth. 

“Sorry, little one. Does that tooth hurt sometimes?” Inkani asked, earning a quick but small nod from Ilio. 

I’m not little though…

It hurt all the time, though he was used to it by now. The only time he really had trouble with it was when he was eating. 

“I’m afraid our time together is now over for today, but if you wish for some assistance with that tooth, you know where to find me,” Inkani said before offering him one more slight smile as he stood up. 

I know where to find him? 

A faint rustle to his left alerted Ilio to others approaching, drawing his attention in that direction right before Vrasje appeared with two vampiric servants at his side. 

“Inka, you should go. Lord Vras—huh?” 

As he turned to address the man, his slight smile dropped into a frown. 

He’s… already gone? 

     

(Why you already sizing up my poor boy like you’re gonna sell him next chapter? XD)

Chapter 3

He’d forgotten his boots… and he hadn’t given back the bracelet! 

Ilio sighed as he stood up, biting back the need to shake off the droplets of water clinging to his skin since his body was still human. 

With careful movements, he climbed out of the fountain and scooped up the tall shoes. 

Hmm, they smell like fresh leather. 

They must be new, or close to it. 

Grinning, he nuzzled against the smooth leather, then calmly began walking off toward the edge of Vrasje’s property. 

He understood the man’s warning, and he did  appreciate it, but he also felt an unexplicable need to return Inkani’s shoes to him… and retrieve the bracelet that he’d taken. 

Surely he would accept a fair trade. 

Oh wait… I’m naked. 

Turning back around with a frown, he was just about to return to the house for some clothing when he noticed a small bundle of something sitting where Vrasje had been standing. 

Curious, he hurried over and was relieved to see that the man had left him clothing. 

After quickly changing into a pair of black pants and a dark red shirt, he picked the boots back up and turned back around to leave. The walk back to the docks was done in a bit of a haze. He simply followed his nose as it guided him step by step through the quiet streets. 

He was a bit surprised, however, when he didn’t  end up back at the docks. 

Instead, his bare feet took him to a much more active part of town. 

I didn’t know some humans preferred darkness. 

The sheer amount of activity made him hug the tall boots closer. He didn’t really want to walk forward, but his nose told him that Inkani was somewhere within the bustling area before him. 

Just make the trade and get lord Vrasje’s bracelet back, then leave. 

Hunching his shoulders, Ilio nervously stepped into the growing throng of people. He could feel eyes on him immediately, and within moments, whispers began to meet his ears. It hadn’t been smart to come out at night as a werewolf in a human town protected by vampires. 

The crowds around him slowly started closing in, but he refused to stop moving until, finally, he was standing in front of a massive, bustling inn.

At least, that’s what it looked like from the outside. 

It smelled a bit… odd, though. Like a bunch of different flowers mixed together trying to cover up the underlying smell of sweat. 

He didn’t like it, but Inkani’s scent was definitely coming from inside. 

Licking his lips, he lowered his head and hugged the boots as he lifted his foot up onto the first step. Right before he could shift his weight forward, however, he was grabbed by the back of his collar and yanked backwards, making him fumble and nearly drop the boots before colliding with a damp chest. 

Smells bad. 

Ilio tried to force his way free, but whoever had grabbed him had a solid grip and refused to let go. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a werewolf have the balls to walk right into our town without lord Vrasje’s protection,” the vampire said as Ilio glared at him over his shoulder. 

I had his protection but Inkani stole it. 

He needed to get that bracelet back. 

“Hang on a minute, Morry,” another man said as he stepped forward and put a hand on the man’s shoulder. 

Morry  didn’t look happy, but he reluctantly released Ilio, allowing him to turn and face the two with a scowl. 

“Elder Vrasje’s scent is definitely on his clothing, but it’s not very strong. He’s also got lord Inkani’s new boots… he would never just forget those,” the man said before falling silent. 

The two men looked at each other for a few extra moments, yet neither of them spoke. Their expressions, however, changed quite dramatically by the time they returned their focus to him and pointed over his shoulder. 

“You were heading in the right direction. Lord Inkani is inside there, up on the second floor,” Morry said with a smirk that wasn’t the most settling. 

Ilio mentally shrugged it off, though. He knew that he was probably walking into a trap, but it couldn’t be helped. He wanted Vrasje’s bracelet back and he had a good enough item to trade for it. At least, he felt like it would be a reasonable trade. 

After hesitating for only a moment, he slowly turned around and walked up the steps. 

The building was surprisingly dark inside, even though he could hear plenty of people and vampires milling about and music being played down one of the halls. 

That wasn’t where Inkani’s scent was coming from, though, so he paid it no further mind. 

He could also feels eyes on him, even though he couldn’t see anyone else in the long hallway. That didn’t mean that there weren’t others there, though, so he picked up his pace and eventually ended up stopping in front of the last door at the end of the hallway on the second floor. 

His heart was beating a little fast, but he knew that his situation wasn’t the best. He was rightfully nervous. 

Licking his lips, he reached forward and grabbed the handle of the door, then gently turned it and pulled outward. 

It swung open with ease on silent hinges, gifting him a much stronger dose of Inkani’s scent… and  someone else’s. 

He unintentionally gave out the most pathetic, insecure grumble of a growl he’d ever unfortunately heard, then immediately felt his face heat to the temperature of the sun. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have come here. I could have found him by the docks another day. 

“Sweet one, come here.” 

Just like that, he was walking forward into the dimly-lit room. He had to move around a large folding screen, then around a small corner before he saw the person he’d come to speak with. 

The man was resting in a comfortably large padded arm chair with his surprisingly-long hair draped over the low back. His bare feet were propped up on a footrest and his body was mouthwatering.

Uh, I should have eaten before coming. 

He’d never thought he’d ever consider eating a vampire! 

“Come, sit,” Inkani said as he patted his lap with a knowing grin. 

He knew that he wouldn’t sit there, and besides, Ilio’s attention had moved to someone completely different at that moment, anyways. 

“Be good, little pup. She is just tending to me,” Inkani said with humor in his voice.  

He wasn’t laughing. 

Ilio felt uncomfortably irked, yet he couldn’t understand why.

 Not wanting to linger while feeling so awkward, he steeled his nerves and met the man’s eyes. 

“Return lord Vrasje’s bracelet and I will give you your shoes back,” he said, his voice quieting a surprising amount as he finished speaking. 

He’d meant to sound determined and unflinching, yet he ended up sounding like a nervous little pup trying to get one of the adult wolves to pay him just the slightest bit of attention. 

His quiet words might have had something to do with him finally noticing that the man before him was quite close to being naked, with only a simple pair of white undergarments on that barely went down to his knees. 

He nearly dropped the boots before he managed to yank his eyes away from Inkani’s body!

“Such a pure little wolf!” 

The vampire captain was quite impressed with his perusal, evidently. So much so, in fact, that he couldn’t stop himself from laughing for nearly three full minutes. 

He honestly didn’t mind the man laughing at him that much, but when the woman standing behind his chair, leaning an arm on the space next to where Inkani was resting his shoulders began to giggle, he got annoyed again. 

A second, slightly more impressive growl slipped from between his parted lips as he narrowed his eyes on the woman.

Inkani began to speak again a moment later, but Ilio couldn’t focus on anything but the woman still smirking at him. 

His attention only returned to Inkani when the man gave a gesture that sent the suddenly-scowling woman away to another room. 

“Still a male, I see. Do not worry, we didn’t get a chance to do much since I needed to bathe and shave, first,” Inkani said, making Ilio suddenly realize the changes to the man… besides his lack of clothing. 

He shaved most of his beard and washed his hair. 

It wasn’t quite as long as lord Vrasje’s but it was still very pretty. 

It looks really soft. 

“You are such an absent-minded little one. Do you lose focus this much while out in the woods? I can’t imagine that your alpha would be very happy with your lack of concentration,” Inkani said as he suddenly appeared before him and reached up at to gently but firmly grasp his jaw. 

Ilio blinked out of his daze again as his chin was tilted the slightest bit upward. 

“I apologize, I am not usually so distracted. I don’t feel well,” he replied, being honest. 

Every time he was around Inkani his stomach felt strange and now it was getting to the point where he felt as if he might throw up. 

A cold hand against his forehead made him jump abruptly, finally allowing the boots he’d been carrying to slip from his fingers. 

“Ah, you do have a bit of a fever, my Ilio,” Inkani whispered before leaning closer and pressing his own forehead to his. 

Ilio felt his entire body tense up as the man’s scent completely overwhelmed his senses. His heartbeat thundered within his ears as saliva pooled in his mouth, forcing him to swallow again and again. 

Pretty soon, he heard Inkani’s laughter building up again, though it thankfully dispelled itself after only a few moments. 

“Little one, are you in heat?” 

Male wolves didn’t go into heat. Inkani likely knew that as well since his voice had quite a bit of humor still left in it. 

Ilio slowly shook his head, trying to dispel the cloud of confusion that was trying to distract him again while at the same time answering the man’s question. 

“I am not,” he managed to mumble before lifting his hands to press against the man’s bare chest. 

It was a bad idea. 

His mouth, which had previously been nearly full with saliva suddenly dried up and his heartbeat doubled instantly as it thrummed like a hummingbird around a delicious flower. 

Before Inkani could respond he gave a little shove. Thankfully, the vampire allowed him to push him a few steps away. The air cleared enough after a few seconds to allow Ilio to calm his mind, then a quick bite to his tongue nudged away the remainder of the clouds muddling his thoughts. 

“Inkani, I brought your boots back. Give me Vrasje’s bracelet,” he said firmly, his voice having regained a good portion of its strength. 

The captain didn’t look like he was interested in the offer, though. He didn’t even look away from Ilio’s mouth when he mentioned either item. 

Why is he…

His eyes widened as understanding quickly dawned on his face. 

I bit my tongue. 

“Do you… want to make a different trade? My blood for lord Vrasje’s bracelet?” 

He could see Inkani’s fangs already peaking out from beneath his upper lip as he spoke, making him feel like his new offer might just work. 

Unfortunately, the man’s dazed expression fractured a moment later and he took a steady step backwards. 

“You think I’d ever  consider feeding from a werewolf?!”

Ilio felt his heart skip a beat in his chest as he uncomfortably lowered his gaze from Inkani’s. The man had seemed interested a few moments ago, yet now he was being laughed at again. 

I don’t like it here. I don’t want to be here anymore. 

Vrasje had said that the bracelet wasn’t important and to not bother retrieving it. He should have just listened. And honestly, he probably hadn’t even gone to find the pirate lord for the bracelet, either. He’d just felt like he’d needed to, so he did. 

“I apologize for bothering you, lord Inkani. I’ll leave now,” he said as he forced himself to stand straighter and meet the man’s dark eyes. 

No sooner had he spoken those words that he realized something wasn’t right. 

Someone’s behind me, blocking the door. 

“Ilio, I think I’ve been nice enough to you. Werewolves might be more animal than human, but they are not stupid. Did you think that I wouldn’t try to catch you? Did you think that I would possibly  let you go back to the forest?” Inkani said, humor, once again, in his words. 

He’d known that the man was likely going to cause him trouble. He’d sensed it right from the very beginning, but that hadn’t stopped him. His instincts had been quieted by something else. Though what it was, he had no idea. All he knew about it now, was that the feeling had made him uncomfortable and confused. It wasn’t worth risking his life to continue pursing it. 

“I will go back to the forest. Tell your men to move aside,” he said with a voice that wasn’t quite his own. 

His wolf had finally had enough of the pirate’s mockery, but Ilio knew better than to just let it out. An aggressive alpha wolf in such a small space would be disastrous. He didn’t want to cause elder Vrasje more trouble. 

“You’re not an omega.” Inkani said as he suddenly paid much closer attention to him. 

Even though he was only wearing a thin pair of undergarment pants he looked more than ready to tear his throat out if the opportunity arose. 

Ilio didn’t respond. It was obvious that he was not an omega now, so there was no reason to waste his breath answering his question. The man would now likely assume that he was a beta, A more formidable werewolf, but not one that was impossible to take down. 

Something was still off, though. 

He’s not trying to attack yet. And his man behind me hasn’t moved closer, either. 

“Let’s make this a fair fight, hmm? I’ll keep my men away if you agree to fight me as your wolf. If you win, I won’t bother you anymore, but if you lose… you belong to me,” Inkani said, making Ilio realize exactly what he had been missing. 

He wants my wolf. 

His brow furrowed a little as he tried to put the rest of the pieces together. A wolf wasn’t easy to fight. The human version of a werewolf would always be a safer target, and yet Inkani wanted him to shift in order to fight him alone. 

Sure, his leg still wasn’t fully healed, but that wouldn’t be much of a handicap to an alpha wolf. It just didn’t add up. 

I don’t want to fight him. 

He still couldn’t explain why he was so partial to the man, but it was what it was. He didn’t want to hurt him, but he knew that he also shouldn’t shift, either. 

Well, that left him with one remaining course of action at that moment, then. 

With a quiet sigh, Ilio met Inkani’s dark eyes one more time before promptly sitting down right where he’d been standing and crossing his legs like he’d seen humans do countless times. 

Once he was comfortable, he looked back up with a tired smile and calmly spoke. 

“I refuse to fight you and I refuse to shift.”

Chapter 4

“You refuse to fight me and you refuse to shift?” Inkani repeated with a twitch in his left eye. 

A thin smile spread across his lips as he knelt down in front of Ilio. Instead of meeting his gaze, however, he looked over his shoulder and upward. 

“Bin, he’s not going to fight me, or shift. Isn’t that just grand?” he said, mocking, once again , in his tone. 

The man standing behind him let out a deep chuckle. 

“I’ve never seen a werewolf so easy to catch before.”

Ilio tilted his head slightly as he heard the man approach him from behind. His inner wolf’s hackles rose with each step closer and once he was within a foot, his upper lip lifted to reveal partial canine teeth and a warning growl slipped from between his lips. 

Except, they retracted immediately and his body relaxed when Inkani settled a hand against the side of his face. 

“Just a little pat to the cheek and my ferocious pup is soothed into complacency, hmm?” Inkani said as he reached up to pat Ilio’s hair with his other hand. 

He liked the attention, a lot, but was forced to lift his own hands and brush the man’s away in order to keep his mind from being swayed again. 

Inkani seemed to find his reaction entertaining, because he was soon poking at him here and there, then tapping his head and removing his hand before Ilio could swat it away, only to poke at his belly, knee, and even nose!

It got to the point where he had no other choice but to simply try and shield his head with his arms and hunch into as small a ball so he could to try and avoid the man’s frustrating attention!

“Sir, it is already past two in the morning, perhaps we should begin heading back to the ship?” the other pirate, Bin, said. 

Thankfully, his words finally  had Inkani’s hands withdrawing from a frazzled, stressed Ilio, whom refused to remove his arms from his head or straighten back up into his sitting position. He just wanted to crawl into a quiet, peaceful den and hide for the next week or five.

This man is too much. 

He heard the two converse as Inkani stood up and moved about the room a bit, but he still refused to raise his head. Instead, he focused on calming his overwhelmed heartbeat and clearing his, once again, fuzzy mind. 

Things quieted after about five minutes, and when he didn’t hear anything else for another minute after that, Ilio slowly lifted his head and lowered his arms. 

Oh? 

Inkani was just finishing up chewing something with his eyes on a small map he held before himself as he sat on the edge of a mussed bed. 

He was dressed now, in a pair of black pants, the high-boots Ilio had brought him, and a partially open, weather-worn faded white shirt. Add the single stud earring in his right ear and the look of concentration on his face and Ilio was, once again, completely distracted. 

He wasn’t able to even think straight until his nose picked up the scent of something that smelled absolutely delicious and had evidently been brought over to him. 

Without even thinking he reached up and grasped the item that was being offered to him, then immediately slid it between his lips. 

“And here I thought you were looking at me all this time. You just wanted the venison jerky I had in my coat pocket,” Inkani said as Ilio hungrily tore into the thick slice of dried meat. 

It tasted so good. Better than good!   

“You… wasted our best jerky on a wolf?” 

The man sounded like he was in complete disbelief, but Inkani didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, he appeared quite pleased with himself as he grinned playfully at Ilio. 

“I see no issue with giving my little one something to nibble on for the walk back to the ship,” he said as he gently settled his hands beneath Ilio’s arms and picked him up with ease. 

He wasn’t exactly happy about it, but at the same time he had something in his mouth to occupy his attention and  he couldn’t really find the motivation within himself to fight back, even though he knew that he should. 

Instead, he simply settled against Inkani’s chest and continued to hold onto the large piece of jerky he was working on as the man began to walk out of the now-bustling business. He was even gently patting his back, quelling his nerves with the simplest touch. 

They began their walk through the busy streets as if they owned them… and considering how fast people moved to get out of their way, they might as well have. 

The two talked for quite some time about their plans while Ilio worked on his treat. He was just finishing it up after about twenty minutes and licking the remaining salt from his lips when something else pressed against them and he immediately allowed them to part and allow it inside. 

Sweet. 

He’d never tasted anything like it. 

“It’s a honey mint candy. They weren’t to my liking originally, but now I fear I’ve grown a bit addicted to them,” Inkani said as he looked the slightest bit down to meet Ilio’s wide eyes. 

Of course, that sort of attention at such close range had his heart, which he’d finally managed to calm down a bit, immediately rev back up. His face also quickly began to warm again, making him look away with a nervous grumble. 

He heard, and felt, the man’s faint chuckle in response, but thankfully Inkani didn’t try to pat his head or poke at him again. 

Instead, he returned his attention to his crewmate and continued their conversation, allowing Ilio to carefully get his heartrate back under control. Once he was feeling okay again, he turned his attention to his current situation. Of course, he had no intention of being kidnapped, but he also wasn’t sure how he wanted to react yet, either. He wasn’t exactly enjoying being carried, since they were so similar in height, but he also didn’t dislike it enough to force the man to put him down. 

Sucking on the candy he’d been given, he wracked his brain for different ways to go about the situation. He was thankfully getting used to Inkani’s scent, too, so his mind wasn’t too hazy. 

He was just going over a pretty decent plan to get out of the man’s arms before they got to the docks when his nose derailed everything as it lifted into the air and sniffed a few times. 

Something smells really good. 

Inkani stopped walking a  moment later and turned his head in the direction Ilio was staring. 

“That nose of yours is pretty sharp, hmm?” Inkani mused as he turned and began walking down a small street. 

His crewmate hurried after them, reminding Inkani that they had to get going. Unfortunately for Bin, the captain simply shrugged him off until they were ducking inside what appeared to be a tiny tavern. 

“Oh, my word! Lord Inkani, I haven’t seen you in quite some months!” a little old lady said as she hurried toward him and gave him a half-hug. Inkani used his free arm to return the gesture while Ilio hunched closer against his chest and grumbled quietly. 

The only reason he didn’t outright growl was because the place they’d walked into smelled amazing. He didn’t want to cause trouble because he wanted to eat whatever food they were making. 

“I’d like to order something, if you happen to have anything ready, ma’am?” he asked as he walked with her over to a long counter. 

“Of course, of course! We are just finishing up cooking our beef tip stew for the day. It’s fresh and piping hot!” she said as she hurried to the back, only to reappear a few moments later with a little steaming bowl. 

“Give it a try, just in case he isn’t sure,” she chimed as she offered him the little bowl with a knowing smile on her face. 

 “You don’t think I’m asking for myself, hmm?” he said even as he lifted the little bowl up to press against Ilio’s lips. 

Ilio eagerly grabbed the man’s arm gently as he turned as much as he could toward it. The moment the little bowl was tilted upward and a bit of its contents were poured into his mouth, Ilio couldn’t help but grin. It tasted absolutely fantastic! 

He’d been surprised by the cooked food elder Vrasje had offered him previously, but while good, it was sorely far behind whatever this woman had made! He even licked most of the bowl clean before Inkani could return it to the woman with a chuckle. 

“I think we’ll definitely be having that. Two portions, please, as well as some honey cornbread if it’s ready,” Inkani said as he used his free hand to pull out some money from his back pocket and set it on the counter. 

The woman took the money with a smile, then pointed behind them. 

“It should be ready in just a few minutes. Go ahead and have a seat and I’ll bring you some drinks. Is there anything specific your friend wants?” she asked, making Ilio tilt his head. 

“Let’s try a lemonade for him and I’ll just take a glass of spiced blood,” Inkani said before turning and carrying him over to one of the two well-worn booths in the tiny restaurant. 

Ilio quickly moved off of the man’s lap once he got seated and got up on his knees to look around the dimly-lit place, curious, since it was his first time inside of a human restaurant. 

It wasn’t exactly what he’d thought it would be, but he wasn’t disappointed, either. He hadn’t really had many expectations and honestly, the food was amazing so far, so he was content. 

“Our food is coming, sweet one,” Inkani said as Ilio noticed the old lady heading for their table with a large platter of food that smelled like heaven. 

It had only been a few minutes since they’d sat down. 

He quickly dropped back down and was immediately rewarded with a large bowl of stew set in front of him! 

In less than a second he was tipping the bowl toward himself, ready to make quite a mess. Except, a cold hand settling over his own made him pause and look up, confused and a little sad. 

“Here little one, use this so that you don’t make a mess for granny Laura, okay?” Inkani said as his shipmate finally sat down across from them with just a simple red drink. 

Ilio spared him a brief warning glare to steer clear of his meal, then returned his focus to the item that was being offered to him. 

He knew what it was. A human spoon, but he’d never needed to use one before. It seemed like such a waste of time if you could just drink your meal instead. 

I guess I’ll do it. 

He reluctantly grabbed the spoon and began eating, though keeping things from sliding off of the darn utensil was surprisingly hard!

“You’ll get the hang of it, here,” Inkani said, immediately drawing Ilio’s attention to something that was being brought up to his lips. 

It was yellow and smelled quite sweet, like the honey he sometimes managed to steal from low-hanging beehives. His own food momentarily forgotten, Ilio happily opened his mouth to allow the new delicacy inside. 

Oh my gosh!

He’d never tasted something so delicious! Unfortunately, werewolves didn’t exactly understand how savoring food worked, so he chewed it up immediately, then swallowed it down. 

“There is plenty more, Ilio. Eat your fill,” Inkani said as he reached forward and moved the yellow honey dish closer to them both. 

He was a bit surprised to see Inkani eating, since he knew that vampires didn’t process food all that well, but as their meal went on, he noticed that the man’s bites were much smaller than his own and he was mainly focusing on the broth of the stew. 

Maybe he doesn’t want it all? 

He would absolutely help him finish it if that were the case!

“My Ilio, where did you get this?” Inkani asked, snapping Ilio out of his thoughts as he realized what the man’s fingers were gently touching within his hair. It was an old scar that was only visible when his hair was really messy, since it prevented a bit of it from growing do to the damage that had been inflicted there. 

With only a light blush he licked his lips and lifted his legs up onto the seat so that he could be a bit more comfortable. 

“In a fight,” he said simply. 

It wasn’t rare for werewolves to fight, and since he was an alpha, he’d gotten into plenty of heated matches. 

“Oh? My little one can fight?”

He really could. His wolf stood on even ground with almost any other alpha and he’d even managed to force Marquise to retreat a few times when they’d had territorial disputes. 

His skill, unlike most alphas, though, was speed instead of strength. Sure, he was pretty strong, too, but his agility was what really made him stand out. 

Hearing the front door open, Ilio got back up on his knees to look over the back of their shared seat. At the same time he felt Inkani’s hand lower from his hair, but instead of returning to his side, it settled against Ilio’s, instead, and gently guided him until he was pressed up against him. 

Only then did Inkani turn his head to look at the approaching small group of men. 

Vampires?

Ilio unthinkingly moved a little closer to Inkani, too, and even settled one hand on the top of his right shoulder as he felt his inner wolf bristle. 

“What have we here? Pirate lord Inkani, his useless second in command, and… his next fur coat?” one of the men said as he stepped forward from the small group of three. 

He’s bald, greasy, and smells like cat pee. I’ll kill him if he tries to touch my Inka. 

 “Good morning, gentlemen. I didn’t realize you were coming to town so soon. Had another raid foiled by an angry grandma with a frying pan?” Inkani asked calmly with a slight tilt of his head. 

The bald man’s face quickly turned red with rage, but Inkani simply smiled pleasantly before speaking again. 

“Let’s not make trouble for sweet Laura, hmm? You came here to eat good food, and so did we.”

Yeah, go away!

The man’s hands slammed down on their table, nearly making their drinks tip over. 

I haven’t even gotten to try my lemonade water yet…

He was getting mad. 

“Your new fur coat has quite an attitude for something that’s going to be dead soon,” the man said, clearly trying to get a rise out of any of them. 

Ilio growled loudly, feeling his wolf begin to come to the surface as whiskers slipped free from the skin around his nose. He could sense Inkani watching him and he knew that he should restrain himself better, but he also liked the idea of the man being impressed with his ability to protect him…. not that he needed it, but still. 

He might also just be wanting to get his wolf out so that he could finally kill him, but either way, he knew better than to fully shift. 

“I think I’ll wait to wear him until he chews your face off. Besides, I couldn’t just kill my mate like that. He deserves at least a little love first.” 

Ilio had heard everything he’d said, but he’d only comprehended the words my mate  before his mind froze. Halting his body, too.

My…

“You seem surprised, my pup? Don’t wolves generally understand when they find a mate? I know that it doesn’t happen very often, but I’ve been able to use it enough with my wolf hunts. Catch one wolf from a bonded pair and the other will definitely try to rescue it.”

But… alphas almost never sense their mates. 

He’d never met a single one that had felt a mate bond before. 

 The bald man snickered, then outright laughed as he hunched forward on the table a little. 

“A fucking wolf wants you as a mate?! And here I thought you actually had to work for a living! You’re just a whore for dogs, aren’t y—” A loud squeal of shock and pain broke up the man’s remaining words as he fumbled backwards, holding his hands over his now-bleeding left eye. 

The man’s two acquaintances immediately unsheathed the blades hanging at their waists, but neither dared step closer. 

Ilio wanted them to, though. He’d teach them a lesson, too! 

As it were, he’d managed to catch the bald man by surprise with his speed. Whether or not he’d cut the man’s eyeball was yet to be seen, but he’d definitely done a lot of damage with his claws considering the amount of blood steadily dribbling down onto the floor.  

He felt Inkani’s hand gently grasp his wrist where his hand was now gripping the man’s leg for balance, but he disregarded the attention since no words came with it. In fact, Ilio inched closer to the other two, leaning a little ways out of the booth as he flashed his wolfish fangs at them. 

He hadn’t shifted yet. But it was getting pretty damn close to happening. 

“I believe you gentleman might be happier eating elsewhere. It seems like my fur coat  isn’t feeling very friendly today. I do apologize for the inconvenience, but we were  here first,” Inkani said nonchalantly, not seeming to mind at all that Ilio had partially climbed into his lap to posture at the other vampires. 

The only thing he was really missing in order to fully shift would be a bit more muscle and a soft, thick brown coat. 

Wisely, the other group of men decided to retreat, with the two uninjured vampires helping their bleeding friend out the door. Of course, they didn’t leave without cursing them to hell and back, but Ilio had already turned his attention elsewhere.  

Food also momentarily forgotten, he settled in Inkani’s lap, straddling his rough pants with a look of nervous wonder on his face as he looked the slightest bit down at the vampire. 

He couldn’t find any words to say, neither could he deny what the man had said, now that the words had been spoken. 

Inkani offered him a content smile and reached forward to pull him into a hug. He gladly snuggled in, overjoyed with the attention. 

It’s unfortunate… 

 Iliio blinked against the man’s worn shirt. 

Had he… just heard Inkani’s voice in his head? 

Sneaking a tiny glance up at the man’s face as he looked across the table at Bin, Ilio felt his breath catch in his throat before quickly averting his gaze. Inkani’s eyes had changed from calm and cool to cruel and hostile within half a second! 

Set up the skinning table below deck when we return. I want this one taken care of quickly. 

(You’re gonna get some claws to your face, too, if you don’t start behaving Inka XD Good luck trying to skin your baby.)

Chapter 5

Ilio had to focus everything he had on keeping his heartbeat somewhat calm. It was still a bit flustered from the interaction with the other vampires, but a sudden jump in beats wouldn’t slip past Inkani. 

You can’t skin me if I refuse to shift…

Of course, he knew that there were several different kinds of ways to get a werewolf to shift forms. Normally, threatening or outright attacking one was the easiest way. There were also several herbs, the strongest being wolfsbane, that could force a shift. 

He probably has plenty of that. No wonder he thought it was funny when I said that I wouldn’t shift. 

Heaving an internal sigh, Ilio turned his attention away from the little snippets of conversation he was still catching from Inkani and let his focus change to something much more interesting. 

I wanna lick. 

If the man intended to skin him soon, surely he wouldn’t mind at least a little attention from the wolf he understood had bonded with him. So, since he was already in the best position for the attention he wanted to give, Ilio simply leaned a little closer to the crook of Inkani’s neck, then let his tongue slip from between his lips. 

The only response he got from the man holding him was the faintest fidget from the fingers he had settled against his waist. He was very good at keeping himself under control, it seemed. 

Disgusting dog. 

The thought was expected, so Ilio just shrugged it off as he went about gently cleaning his love’s neck. After every couple licks he’d nuzzle his forehead against his cool skin, smiling even though he understood his predicament well. 

Shut up, there’s nothing cute about it. 

Even though he was clearly thinking those words to his friend, Inkani was already settling a hand in Ilio’s soft hair, rustling it gently as if to show affection. The man was completely two-faced in his actions, but not in his words. At least what he said internally matched his dark heart. 

Since the man was trying to act a little, Ilio didn’t hesitate to continue his ministrations. 

Are you done yet, Bin…? I need to go wash this slobber off. 

Okay, now he was trying hard to hide his smile, because it had morphed into a giddy smirk!

“I forgot how good Ms. Laura’s food is, I might just need seconds,” Bin said, making Ilio nearly burst out into a fit of laughter. 

The man was using him to tease his captain. It probably wasn’t the best idea, but it sure was entertaining. 

“Fine, stay here and eat. I’m leaving and so is the ship,” Inkani finally grumbled as he got up from his seat with only a tiny bit of adjusting so that Ilio would stay in his arms. 

With the man’s temper souring, Ilio finally leaned away and returned his tongue to his mouth. 

His neck is all red… 

He was pleased with his work. 

“Bye Ms. Laura, thank you for the meal,” Inkani called to the woman who had gone into the back. 

He got a thankful shout in return, but the old lady was clearly busy so she didn’t return to the front to see them off. 

A faint drizzle had evidently started up while they’d been eating, drawing Ilio’s attention up to the sky for a few moments as the little droplets tapped against his skin. 

For a wolf who couldn’t swim well, he really loved water in all of its other forms. 

“Happy, Ilio?” Inkani asked, a smile in his words as he began to make his way down the street. 

Ilio noticed that they weren’t too far from the docks as he lowered his gaze until it fell upon the man still carrying him. 

“I have to go now,” he replied instead of answering a simple yes  or no. 

He was  happy to be around his mate. His body practically hummed with excitement, but his mind had cleared enough to know that it didn’t matter how he felt. Inkani only saw him as a fur coat. 

“Time to go, hmm?” 

The man’s arms tightened around him expectantly as his voice took on a slightly bitter tone. 

Ilio steeled himself and nodded at the man, their noses barely two inches apart from each other. 

He could just-barely see one of Inkani’s fangs beginning to elongate past his upper lip when a strange sound met their ears, drawing both their attention, simultaneously, a little ways farther down the road. 

Ah, more vampires.

Ilio was already growling as the group inched forward, making Inkani slow to a stop about five meters away. 

There were nearly twenty vampires this time, and even as Bin suddenly appeared at Inkani’s side, two against twenty weren’t good odds… even with him helping in his other form. 

“Lord Inkani, what a pleasant surprise,” the man said, making Ilio glance at Inkani with an are you serious  expression on his face. 

His vampire caught it out of the corner of his eye and smirked before refocusing his full attention on the men before them. 

“I don’t think you understand the definition of the word pleasant , but I’m afraid I don’t have time to sit you down for an English lesson right now. Perhaps we can reschedule to another time? Your captain has already crossed me today, and I’m sure you are already aware of the consequences he’d suffered…” he said as he began walking forward, clearly not worried about the mass of vampires beginning to spread out, evidently intent on encircling them. 

“Sweet one, do you think you can handle a few?” he asked abruptly, making Ilio frown as he looked back at him. 

If he didn’t shift, he probably could only manage a couple, but if he did shift…

If I don’t shift, then Inka and Bin would have to take on most of the vampires here. 

It would give him a decent enough chance to escape, but it would also put his vampire in danger…

If I don’t try to leave, I’ll be killed when I step foot on his ship…

It wasn’t something he could argue to himself about. It was just a blatant fact. 

“I think I can take two,” he said calmly. 

Inkani gave a quiet chuckle and nodded. 

“Good enough. Bin and I will clean up the rest,” he said as he quickly but carefully set Ilio back down on his bare feet. 

Before he’d even gotten his balance the two vampires had blurred away. Inkani had lunged forward while Bin had taken on the vampires that had circled behind them. 

To his surprise, the two had engaged all but two of the vampires attacking them, Leaving him the exact number he’d said he could handle. 

The two he’d been left with weren’t pushovers, and to his surprise, dodged quite a few of his attacks, but at the same time, he wasn’t exactly used to fighting as a human. He was more than a bit clumsy now that he had to rely on gangly legs and uncoordinated arms. 

He’s not terrible…

Ilio immediately grinned as he slashed his claws across one of his two enemy’s faces, proud of the praise he overheard. As the man stumbled backwards, he glanced over his shoulder to look at Inkani. He was quite busy with his own set of vampires, taking on eight without seeming to break a sweat. 

Bin, to his surprise, had the same amount surrounding him, but… 

Where is the bald man, though? Inka had said that these were his men. 

He assumed that it was the captain, since he appeared to have control over the group, yet the man was nowhere to be seen still. He quickly refocused his attention on his two opponents and traded several attacks with each before the obvious sounds of bones breaking met his ears from the left side. 

The entire area seemed to go deafeningly silent as all eyes turned toward the newcomer. The group of hostile pirates quickly backed off several meters, clearly becoming defensive in an instant. 

“Demon lord Karalius? What is he doing here?” 

“Where did he come from?” 

“He’s got the captain…”

Ilio didn’t dare look away from the man standing a few meters away. He didn’t seem focused on him, so he didn’t dare try to cause problems yet. The fighting had stopped, so Ilio simply waited and watched as the man observed the situation at hand. 

His attention flicked slightly downward to what the man was holding in his right hand. 

The bald man? Isn’t he their captain?

Either way, his neck was clearly snapped, though he didn’t seem like he was dead yet. Well, as dead as a vampire could be. 

Ilio jerked his gaze back up as he felt the man’s eyes finally fall on him. 

“A wolf in a human city…” the demon drawled as he took a step forward, letting the unconscious body of the bald vampire slip from his fingers without a care. 

His black nails were sharply pointed into dangerous claws and his black clothing, and especially his weather-worn coat, seemed to shroud him in a haze of darkness and miasma. When the man stopped in front of him, Ilio fought himself not to avert his eyes. He was a good bit shorter than their new guest, but at least he wasn’t being crowded… yet. 

“I came into the city because my pack was attacked. Elder Vrasje helped me,” he said, proud that his voice wasn’t shaking. 

He’d never met an actual demon and had rarely even heard of their existence. He had honestly thought that they were just lore. Something thought up to keep young pups in line… yet now one was standing in front of him, and even his alpha wolf wanted to back away. 

“Elder Vrasje… the werewolf hunter?” the man said as he grinned at the thought of the vampire helping anything akin to a wolf. 

Does… does he have an extra set of fangs behind his first pair?!

“Little wolf, who is it that you are fighting for? Surely not Kalju, as your claw marks on his face have made that quite clear, then…” the man’s black eyes lifted until they found their next intended target. 

“Pirate lord Inkani…” 

The man’s words drifted off into thought as he seemed to glance around a bit, evidently reminded of something, perhaps. When his attention fell onto the person he was looking for Ilio noticed a flash of his double fangs again as his mouth opened with another slight grin. 

“Binan…” 

Ilio wasn’t sure if it was fondness he heard in the man’s word, or simply pleasant toxicity. Either way, the two knew each other.

  The demon looked like he was about to walk around him and go towards his new quarry when he seemed to reconsider and stopped right beside Ilio, having taken only one single step. 

Ilio turned his own body in order to see the situation better. 

Ah, that’s why he hesitated. 

Inkani had moved to his crewmate’s side and while he wasn’t baring his own fangs, he was clearly ready to fight if it came down to it. 

The demon was weighing his options when one of the vampires from the bald man’s crew spoke up. 

“Why are you hear? Did you not learn your lesson the last time you crossed us?!” 

Ilio felt his face drain of color. Did that man have a death wish? Or really, a second one? 

Even without crossing claws with the man standing mere inches from him, he knew that he would be a formidable match, even for his alpha wolf. Hell, he might even manage to take him down easily, if the legends about demons were true. 

Karalius smirked and, finally seeming to dismiss Ilio and Bin, began heading toward the person who had called out to him. 

“I do apologize for my poor performance during the last time we met, I am feeling much better after eating my fill of souls,” he said, making the pirates suddenly appear a lot more nervous than they had been moments earlier. 

Did demons really eat souls? 

He had no idea, and he wasn’t given much time to ponder the thought, either. In a blur he was back in Inkani’s arms and speeding away from the area faster than his confused eyes could register. 

“Lord Inka?” he questioned as he hunkered down and wrapped his arms around the man’s neck, not wanting to be a hinderance. 

He knew that he should be trying to get away from him, but it was also obvious that they both needed to get away from the demon before things got bloody. 

They didn’t stop until Ilio heard the clacking of planks beneath Inkani’s boots. 

We’re already at the docks…

He looked over his shoulder as a strong gust of wind rustled his hair. 

Wow. 

“Not bad, hmm?”

I’ve never seen such a big ship before. 

He grunted in surprise when Inkani suddenly leaped upward, his form easily cutting through the whipping wind until he came to land on the upper deck of his vessel. 

The ship rocked from side to side in the rough surf as its owner looked at him with a knowing smirk. 

He should have run away much sooner. He’d had plenty of opportunities, too.

“Captain! Ready to set sail again?” someone asked as they hurried forward, only to stop a few feet away and nod their head respectfully. 

Inkani returned his nod with one of his own as his arms tightened around Ilio. 

“Yes, let’s go. Bin has already returned, right?” 

The other man made a signal to several others Ilio was just now noticing before responding.

“Yes sir! He went below deck to take care of what you had requested.” 

The skinning table…

Ilio blinked away his blurring vision again, a bit surprised that it had returned when they weren’t moving at all. 

Uh…

His stomach gurgled quietly, at first, but then began to grow in volume as he felt a strange sensation in the back of his throat. 

“Good, I’ll head down there now. Let’s get out to sea,” Inkani said as he began heading across the long deck. 

I don’t… feel so good. 

The ship dipped as it was freed from its mooring, making Ilio hiccup suddenly as his stomach twisted into an uncomfortable knot. 

Inkani simply patted his back in response as he spoke to several vampires that were working around them. The man was quite content to chat for a while. 

I need to get down…

He wiggled a bit in the man’s arms, but he refused to give him any leeway. 

“Inka… I don’t…” 

Another pat, followed by a tighter hold. 

Ilio pressed his hands against the man’s chest and pushed himself as far back as he could manage, trying to put some distance between them. 

“Behave, you’ll be able to rest very soon,” the man said as ringing started up in Ilio’s ears. 

I don’t feel good. I really don’t.

He hiccupped again. Then almost immediately afterward two more slipped from between his lips. 

On the fourth hiccup he felt a burning sensation suddenly shoot up his throat, but before he could stop it, everything he’d eaten and drank in the past few hours left his body in an abrupt stream of vomit… and since Inkani refused to release him or give him much room at all, the man took the brunt of the explosion right to his shoulders and chest.

Chapter 6

He was beginning to feel a tiny bit better.

“Are you sure you’re okay to do it? I’m not tired at all. And you can’t try to feed him wolfsbane again. He’ll just throw it up and make us start from square one again.” 

Hmm? That sounds like Bin… and no wonder I have a bitter taste in my mouth.

“I won’t do it again and I can handle a sick dog. Give him here.” 

He felt himself being swapped over to Inkani’s arms and happily snuggled in. 

“See? He likes me more anyways,” Inkani said with a haughty tone. 

Bin just seemed to think that it was funny, because the man gave a quiet chuckle before responding. 

“He definitely does. I think he’s beginning to feel better but it will probably take a bit longer to be sure.” 

Inkani began to gently move his body back and forth, making Ilio curious as to what he was intending to do. 

“You need to use your legs, too. I really can do it if you can’t manage…” Bin said, a tiny hint of teasing in his otherwise serious voice. 

Ilio felt Inkani’s arms tighten around him slightly before relaxing as the man gave out a quiet sigh. He began moving a bit more, his actions seeming more focused. 

I still don’t understand what he’s doing, though. 

“That’s it. Match the sway of the boat as best you can. That way he won’t feel as nauseous,” Bin said, making Ilio finally realize what they were doing. 

“I think I got it. It really isn’t much moving, but it’s frustratingly-specific. If I don’t focus I lose the rhythm immediately,” Inkani said, his voice clearly a bit strained with his attention on his task. 

“Alright, I’ll leave him to you now then, boss. I’m going to go get some blood,” Bin said as Ilio heard his near-silent footsteps walk away. 

Things were quiet for quite some time after that, and as the cool wind rustled his hair and his stomach remained reasonably calm, Ilio couldn’t help but drift back off to sleep. 

Mmm? 

Something smelled really  good. His stomach didn’t hesitate to grumble loudly, eager to inhale whatever it was.  

“My little one is awake?” 

Ilio moved a tiny bit, worried that he might bother Inkani if he did so too much. 

Wait a minute… I’m not in his arms anymore.

He was a bit sad about that fact, but at least that allowed him to stretch out without worrying about being a bother. He even lifted his arms over his head and yawned widely as several bones cracked along his legs and back. 

Such a good sleep. 

He waited a few more moments before finally opening his eyes. 

My vampire. 

His mind was immediately more awake as he pushed himself up and was rewarded with a pat to his head for the effort. His body was still a little weak, but that was probably because he’d thrown up so much earlier. 

“It’s been three days, my problematic pup,” Inkani said as he stood up, making Ilio quickly scurry from the bed and onto his own two feet. 

He could feel his wolf just beneath the surface, likely confused as to why he had kept it at bay for so long when their mate was right in front of them. It, thankfully, wasn’t as  affected by the pull, or it would have shoved itself into control a long time ago. It was, however, definitely getting annoyed with being cooped up since it had been his main form for the majority of his life. 

Soon. I’ll try to let you out very soon, but just not yet. It’s not safe. 

His wolf didn’t believe him, but he couldn’t blame it. An alpha wolf not being safe? It was extremely unlikely and honestly a bit humorous. 

“Let’s go get some food in you, my ilio,” Inkani said, snapping him out of his thoughts as he gladly accepted the hand that was being offered to him. 

He had no idea where they were, but he’d take just about anywhere if it meant that they were no longer on that rocking ship. 

Oh? 

After being led down a long walkway, then through two double doors, Ilio began to hear voices. The farther they walked the louder they became. 

His crew is here, too? 

It made sense, but then that meant that they really did stop somewhere and get off the ship. 

Before he could think much more into that fact Inkani led him up to a large door, then leaned forward and pulled it open. The previously raucous room immediately quieted as they walked along a filled table that stretched nearly as long as the room, itself. 

There was only one seat left available at the very head of the table, and there were plenty of pirates eating standing up. 

It must be for Inka…

Proving him correct, Inkani dropped down into that large seat as soon as they got close, then tugged him down to settle in his lap. 

He definitely didn’t mind! 

The man seemed to pick up on his excitement because the arm that had settled around his waist tightened the slightest amount. 

“Do not mind us, my friends. We are just going to join you for a meal,” he said with a content smile. 

Of course, most of the crewmen were only drinking blood or eating raw steaks, but a meal was a meal. And just like that, the volume in the room rose back to its former glory as the vampires went back to their conversations. 

After a few minutes of relaxing against Inkani a little maidservant appeared before them and set down a few delicious-looking plates of food. 

Smells good. Looks good. 

He was just about to lean forward and grab one of the plates when he noticed Inkani’s arm reaching past him to pick one up, then bring it back to him. 

“Here, little one. Eat well today,” he said as Ilio gladly took the offered food. 

To his surprise, though, as he ate first one plate, then another, Inkani didn’t even bother getting himself a glass of blood. After finishing up the last few bites of his third plate, Ilio turned a little in Inkani’s lap and looked the slightest bit up at him. 

His actions drew the man’s attention away from a conversation he was having with another vampire situated to their left… which was perfectly fine with him. 

“Sweet one, what do you need?” 

Ilio licked his lips, a little nervous with so many people around them. 

“U-um, you haven’t eaten anything. Aren’t you hungry, Inka?” 

The man’s eyes widened the slightest fraction as the sound within the room suddenly vanished in an instant, drawing Ilio’s attention towards the other pirates. 

They, too, were staring at him in return… but why?

Feeling a cold hand against the side of his face, Ilio gladly let Inkani guide his attention back to him. The man was smiling, but a small fang was now visibly poking out from beneath his upper lip, too. 

So cute!

“I am hungry, Ilio. Let me have a little?” he said as he leaned his head down and nudged his nose into the crook of his neck. 

I thought he wasn’t going to feed off of me…

“Uh, boss? Is it safe to do that? You mentioned that he wasn’t an omega. What if he’s an alpha and can control you after you drink his blood?” one of his crewmen asked nervously. 

Ilio felt Inkani’s chuckle vibrate gently against where their body’s touched. 

“This little pup? An alpha?” he laughed again as he lifted his free hand to muss up some of Ilio’s already-shaggy hair. 

He really wasn’t that  little. Sure, he was scrawny, but he was only an inch or so shorter than Inkani, himself. 

“Let me enjoy my meal. It’s not like I’m getting a coat from him anytime soon, anyways,” he said, a hint of frustration to his words as he returned his face to the crook of Ilio’s neck. 

At least he smells good. 

Ilio felt his face warm and his heartbeat picked up its pace at hearing Inkani’s words in his mind. 

It’s a good thing he likes me, too. I can hear his heartbeat speeding up with just this little bit of attention. 

He really did. He liked him too much, no matter what Inkani thought of him return. 

“Just relax, I’ll be gentle,” Inkani finally whispered before licking the warm skin of Ilio’s neck. 

Without thinking, Ilio gave a startled yelp and smacked his hand over that exact spot, giving Inkani barely enough time to lean away before he got smacked! 

“What the hell?!” Inkani hissed, clearly angry that he’d been denied after seemingly having permission. 

Ilio quickly hunched his shoulders and looked down as his entire face burned from embarrassment. He’d been fine with Inkani doting on him and claiming him as his wolf in front of the others, but feeding from him? He hadn’t thought about it previously as anything that would make him nervous, but now that Inkani actually wanted to bite him, he didn’t think he could manage if it were to happen in front of all of his men!

“You’re really getting shy now ? I’m not going to let them have any,” Inkani said, clearly annoyed but trying to smooth over the situation so that he could eat. 

His fangs were both extended and his words were slurring the slightest bit. 

So cute…

But he couldn’t do it. At least, not in front of everyone else. 

“Let’s go back to that room? I don’t mind if you bite me there,” he said, hopeful that he wouldn’t have to put on a show. 

He’d honestly never been bitten by a vampire, so he wasn’t sure how he’d react. But either way, it felt like it might be an intimate thing, at least between mates, so he didn’t want it to just happen with all of his crewman watching. 

This damn dog…

“Are you done eating?” Inkani growled out, clearly trying to keep himself under control. 

Ilio quickly nodded. 

“Yes sir, it was good. Thank y—” he was up and in the man’s arms before he could even finish his sentence!

Inkani easily carried him out of the room, then down the halls they’d previously traversed and back into the little bedroom. The man paused after shutting the door, however, seemingly torn between where he wanted to put him down. 

“Bed is fine. I might not be able to sit up well,” Ilio said, secretly hoping that the man would listen to him. He wanted  him in bed. 

Inkani did as suggested and walked over to the bed, but instead of simply setting him down on it, he actually fell into it with him! His instincts immediately told him to struggle, and he had to put forth a lot of effort to calm his wolf, but after about two minutes of being pinned beneath the man he managed to relax enough to open his eyes. 

Opening my eyes wasn’t a good idea. 

He couldn’t manage to shut them again now, though. 

Inkani was still leaning over him, their lower halves pressing together haphazardly, but that didn’t bother Ilio in the least. In fact, he was more than happy with their current situation. The look in Inkani’s eyes, especially… I like it.  In fact, before the man leaning over him could change his mind about the situation, Ilio reached up and wrapped his arms around his neck gently but firmly. 

He got an immediate growl in response, but he was getting used to the man’s grumpy attitude. 

Still mine. 

Fighting back a grin, Ilio waited until Inkani was comfortable, then tilted his head back and to the side, allowing the man to return to the spot he’d previously vacated… the crook of his neck. 

This time the man didn’t bother going slow, which was honestly appreciated. He didn’t mind feeding him, but he’d never been bitten by a vampire and wasn’t sure how painful it would be. 

Granted, he’d taken plenty of bites from wolves before, so if it was anything compared to those, he would probably be fine after a few moments of getting used to it. 

Wait, why does my neck feel weird? Almost like it’s numb? 

Was Inkani doing that? Numbing the area he intended to bite? 

It was a bit surprising, but as he thought about it, he realized that it had to be true. He could barely feel the man’s tongue still lapping against his skin. 

“I’m biting now.” 

Ilio blinked out of his thoughts right before he felt his body tense as Inkani’s two razor-sharp fangs pierced his skin!  

  It… doesn’t hurt at all? 

Ilio quickly relaxed his body, letting his blood flow more freely for Inkani to drink. The man readjusted his fangs a little here and there, but for the most part he simply fed quietly, swallowing every few moments once his mouth was partially filled with blood. 

Pretty soon Ilio was softly sifting his fingers through Inkani’s hair, slowly but surely untangling it from the sloppily-tied length of fabric that had been holding it together. 

He got a few warning grumbles for his efforts, but Inkani was clearly not willing to chastise more than that while eating. 

His lips turned upward into a happy grin as he simply enjoyed his time with his vampire. He was also quite relieved that the man had let his guard down so much around him. Now, if things truly got out of hand, he could control his actions. Of course, he didn’t want  to have to do that, but if it would save his literal skin? He would. 

Why does he taste so fucking good? 

The man’s words nearly had him bursting into a quiet fit of laughter, but he just barely managed to hold it in. He felt Inkani move a little bit afterward, then a little bit more a few moments later. Finally, he managed to retract his fangs and lift his head.

Their eyes met for the briefest of moments, Inkani’s pitch black ones making Ilio’s breath catch in his throat. 

Uh, I feel a little dizzy. 

He probably should have waited for his food to settle before feeding the man, but he doubted that Inkani would have wanted to wait again. 

He looks really full. I fed him really well. 

As if to prove his point, Inkani gave out a quiet hum of contentment, yawned with his fangs still partially extended, then fell to the side onto the blankets next to Ilio. The man was out cold not a moment later, snoring quietly with little smears of blood dotted across his lips. 

Ilio didn’t hesitate to move onto his side as a huge grin took over his face. Hmm?   Leaning forward, he gently licked the man’s soft lips clean of blood. And, even though Inkani was definitely asleep, he still  got a quiet grumble in response to his actions. 

You’re just a grumpy vampire, huh? 

He grinned again, but then noticed something else he hadn’t caught onto before. His smile fell a little as he reached over toward the man’s face, but stopped himself at the last second before he could touch the dark circle beneath Inkani’s right eye. 

Did he… not sleep at all? 

Deciding that he shouldn’t poke at him anymore so that he could get some good rest, Ilio made himself comfortable where he lay… but couldn’t manage to stop fidgeting. He rolled over four times, bit his nails for a while, then stuck his head beneath the extra pillow before finally returning his attention to Inkani. 

The man had slept through all of his tossing and turning like a baby. 

Hmm…

No longer able to help himself, Ilio inched his way closer again, then nudged himself beneath the man’s arm until he was settled right up against Inkani’s chest. He was just about to close his eyes when the arm he’d snuck beneath suddenly tightened around his middle at the same time a loud growl echoed around the room. 

Ilio immediately tensed up, worried that he’d awoken Inkani and pushed him past his patience limit, but to his surprise, the man simply moved him around a bit in order to get himself more comfortable, much like one would a large pillow made for hugging, then fell right back to sleep. 

He was left a little confused, and more than a bit stunned that he hadn’t been thrown right off the bed for cuddling, so it took him a while to relax again. When he did finally calm down, however, he was all smiles as he closed his eyes. He wasn’t exactly tired, but he was a little nauseous since he’d been fed from so soon after filling his own belly, so he decided to simply rest until his vampire awoke. And if he fell asleep during that time? He’d be more than okay with it.

Chapter 7

He’s finally asleep. 

He’d begun to get worried about his captain after the man refused to rest for nearly three days. Inkani had stayed up for almost seventy-two hours straight just to keep his pup from having more tummy aches. 

Just a fur coat, huh?

The guy had even attempted to feed on him in front of his entire crew, too! If he’d tried any harder to stake his claim, he would have had to pee on him like an actual dog! 

Rubbing a hand over his face, Bin refocused his attention on his own growing problem. 

“Why do you keep following me? I know I changed you, but I can’t be your master.” 

Karalius’s ghostly form stood across the street shrouded in black miasma. It wasn’t the actual man himself, but a copy, of sorts. It had fooled him the first few times he’d seen it, but now it was easy to tell apart. 

“You keep following me, but I can’t give you what you want. I changed you into a vampire to try and help you, but in the end you were attacked before I could return, and now you’re a…”

Hell, he didn’t even understand what the man was now. A demon was the easiest description, but he’d never even seen one in real life, and neither had the rest of their crew. It was just a word used to describe some sort of fictional beast more aggressive than a werewolf and more cunning than a vampire. According to legend, they could also fly, too, but he’d yet to see that happen. 

Of course, there was no way for him to explain how the man caught up with him so often when he clearly didn’t have a ship to sail on, so the ability to fly wasn’t out of the question. He also had no idea how the form he currently saw worked. It couldn’t speak, nor could it move quickly or even with much consideration, and yet it still always seemed to find him. 

And when it did, then its true form would, undoubtedly, show up sooner or later, too. 

“I really should tell Inkani, but he just fell asleep with his pup,” he mumbled as he rubbed at the back of his neck.  

Besides, Karalius only ever attacked him, so as long as no one came out to try and help him, they would probably be safe. 

Deciding to err on the side of caution, anyways, Bin started heading down the darkened cobblestone street. The town they had stopped at this time was a little smaller than the previous one, but it tended to cater more to pirates than normal folks. 

That meant that there were still quite a few people milling about even though it was getting close to midnight. Several of the larger men were even eyeing him up, but no one dared to make a move yet. 

He wasn’t exactly built like most pirates, and since he’d been changed into a vampire when he’d been pretty lean, that was the body type he carried into his undead state. 

The other thing that might have kept other people from jumping him right then and there was the abyssal miasma slowly following him down the street. It stumbled here and there on the cobblestone, though everything it did happened in slow motion, as if it was just a literal cloud of darkness and there wasn’t much weight to it. 

Of course, you could still tell that it was a person, or at least had the basic outline of one, but there was nothing else beneath that darkness. 

It was just a mindless tracker formed into a cloud… and it was just for him. 

Shrugging off his unwanted follower, Bin stepped into a little shop he often frequented when he was in town. The place was really busy, but as soon as the older gentleman running it noticed him he quickly rushed him off to a little table in the back corner.  

Two moments later and the dishes that had been stacked on that table were cleared away and it was wiped free of crumbs. A small menu was then brought over, along with his regular glass of warm tea. 

“Thank you, Jim. Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready,” Bin said as he began to glance through the menu… even as he noticed Karalius’s miasma begin to hover around the open front door. 

The man, or his partial form, never seemed to enter any establishments. He wasn’t sure why, because having to invite a vampire inside was just a myth. And since the restaurant was a public dwelling anyways, it wasn’t even considered a home that would work in that kind of situation. He wasn’t technically a vampire anymore, either.

So why don’t you come inside? I know I joked around with you about it when you were little, but you don’t still think that it’s actually true, do you? 

“All ready?” Jim asked a few minutes later after Bin had decided what he wanted. 

He ordered a raw steak for himself, along with a small bowl of garlic mashed potatoes, then glanced out the door. There was still a bit of miasma drifting inside. 

He’s still there…

“I’ll also take a container of partial beef stew to go once I’m done please,” he added. 

It was called partial  because the meat was only partially cooked. It was just enough to be really flavorful, but not enough to hurt a young vampire’s stomach too much. 

He calmly watched the other patrons mill about the restaurant, enjoying their meals. When it came time to go, however, they seemed hesitant to walk past the threshold of the exit. 

I’ll leave soon, just let me eat in peace first. 

Right as he thought that, Bin’s meal was delivered. 

It wasn’t all that large, so it was easy to take care of without wasting too much time. It was, however, one of the beast meals he’d likely get to eat for the next few months. Unfortunately, a stop at Cove Town didn’t occur too often, and had likely only happened during their current trip because of his captain’s sick pup. It also just happened to be his home town. 

I’ll have to thank Ilio once he’s feeling better. 

That is, if the captain even let him get close to the wolf again. He’d shooed him away on more than one occasion recently when he’d tried to help out again. It almost seemed like fur coat  was just an endearing nickname for the little wolf now instead of the promise of a death sentence. 

“Here is your stew for the road, Binan. Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad to see that you’re doing so well,” Jim said right before he was called away to another table across the room. 

I’m glad that you’re doing well too, dad. 

They had never been a very close family with his father working all hours of the day at his restaurant, and once he’d been changed by Inkani, he’d left with little more than a goodbye . Now, years later, he still didn’t have much of a connection to the man, but he did make it a habit to come by his place for a meal whenever they managed to visit the area. 

Getting up, Bin calmly walked to the front door and stepped out into the crisp evening air. 

Too smoky in there. 

He’d heard it in his dad’s lungs, too, but he wasn’t going to lecture an old man on allowing cigars in his shop. It was his life to live. 

Ah.

The miasma that had been waiting for him was fluctuating calmly across the street now, but within just a few moments it began to move towards him again. 

Let’s at least move away from such a busy area first. Just in case the food isn’t to your liking. 

He honestly wasn’t even sure if he could feed miasma, but it was worth a shot to distract it for a while. It had been more than two days since he’d rested, himself, and he’d probably sleep a lot better without having to worry about waking up to Karalius waiting outside his bedroom window. 

The miasma calmly followed after him, it’s form not even hesitating for a second. Sometimes it got a little closer, and sometimes it fell back so far that he had to glance over his shoulder in order to make sure that it was still following. 

I’ve never actually brought him anywhere intentionally…

He hadn’t really considered what he was doing until he was already almost home, too. 

Or, well, it used  to be his home. Stepping up to the rundown shack, Bin lifted one hand and pressed it against the dirty, worn wood. 

The door swung open with a creak, revealing an inside that was clearly neglected. 

I wonder if my dad has even come home at all this month. Maybe he’s just decided to sleep at the restaurant now that I’ve been gone for more than two years. 

It wouldn’t surprise him. 

Stepping inside, he looked around for a clean spot, but couldn’t find anything remotely reasonable. 

I suppose it doesn’t really matter as long as I don’t put my hands on the floor. 

With that thought, Bin walked over to the far side of the little room and settled down against one of the more solid walls. Once he was comfortable, his gaze lifted to the doorway. Unsurprisingly, Karalius’s miasma was churning patiently at the threshold. 

“You’re really not going to come in? I got you something to eat,” he said as he held up the little container after removing the lid. He wasn’t even sure if it could  eat, but it was worth a shot.

The miasma condensed slightly in response, but did not move any farther. 

Hmm…

Setting the container down, Bin looked back up and nodded slightly to the side. 

“Come in and eat.” 

That way I can leave you here distracted for a bit while I go back and rest.

The dark cloud pulsed abruptly at his words, then, ever so slowly, began inching its way inside. 

It really does think that it needs an invitation. 

Bin was just smiling at the absurdity of the man still thinking that such things were true when his blood suddenly froze in his veins at the sound of a very  solid, booted footstep resonating throughout the tiny room. 

The cloud of miasma that had followed him throughout the town had been a simple wandering tracker. It had never showed any signs of life or given any kind of signal that it was anything else. And yet, as the demon calmly stepped partially out of the miasma, leaving it to cling to his back and legs like a tempered fire, Bin couldn’t help but question where he’d gone wrong. 

Had he found me while I was eating and fused back together with the cloud to trick me? 

But that didn’t make much sense. The man never cared whether he attacked him in bustling markets or silent alleyways. Everywhere was fair game. 

So why did you wait until right now to show yourself? 

He tried to swallow past the nerves building in his throat but couldn’t manage the action as the demon, dressed from head to toe in dark browns and pitch black, finally stopped in front of him, then knelt down on one knee. 

Familiar obsidian eyes met his, trapping his gaze in their hostile depths. 

“Master Binan…” Karalius whispered in his rough, yet-relaxed voice as his head tilted the slightest fraction and a smirk crooked up one side of his lips. 

“Your pirate lord has finally let you slip out of his sight.”

Chapter 8

Hmm?

Something felt off. 

Nuzzling against Inkani, Ilio focused on the man until he noticed the slightest signs of movement. 

He’s okay… but then why do I feel so unsettled? 

Ilio carefully inched his way out from beneath his vampire’s arm, though it took a lot of effort. He’d finally gotten to rest with his mate and now he was going to walk away. 

Just need to check out the area. 

He wanted to make sure that Inkani was able to sleep well so he would just go check the area out real quick. 

Except, by the time he got to the front door of the inn he could tell that everything was not  fine. 

Master Bin? 

He knew that the man had been standing guard out front, but now he was gone…

Lifting his nose up a little, Ilio sniffed a few times as he channeled his wolf closer to the surface. 

He left? 

Turning his head in the direction the man’s scent was coming from, he sniffed a bit more, picking up another scent that didn’t quite seem right. He then looked back toward the building Inkani and his crew were in. 

Bin is very important to Inka…

Deciding to check out the situation further, Ilio began following the scent left behind by the vampire. He quickly became aware of the eyes watching him as he quickly found himself in a bustling part of town. 

It’s too late at night for all of this activity. 

Brushing off the attention he was getting, Ilio continued on his way. After a little while he stopped outside of what appeared to be a busy restaurant, but he didn’t dare step inside, as the smell of cigars was already burning his nose. 

He went inside, but then he came out. 

He took a few steps away from the building and sniffed the air again. 

Farther down the street. 

“I’ve never seen a wolf walk right into a settlement before.” 

“Is that really a dog? He smells like one, but being here is suicide…” 

“He’s kind of cute. Maybe I’ll keep him for a while before I skin him…” 

Bug off, all of you. I already have a vampire. 

Ilio didn’t wait for them to start trying to surround him. Channeling his wolf, he allowed its power to begin radiating outward, making the vampires that had begun walking toward him immediately hesitate. 

“No way…” 

“He doesn’t look like he could be so strong…” 

Ilio made it a few more yards before his path was blocked by a burly looking vampire. He could have just gone around, but it was clear that just exuding power wasn’t going to deter them for very long. 

“You might be a strong wolf, but you’re also a little twig. I’m not going to pass up such a large payday just because I’ll have to fight a little dog for it!” the large man said, his words encouraging several others to step closer, too. 

He just called you a little dog , Ilio thought to his wolf with a hint of laughter to his words. 

His dog  was already lifting its hackles and baring its teeth internally at their situation. It wanted out. 

“He’s probably just a decent beta, guys. We can take him if we work together. Then we can split the coins we get from piecing him out,” the man said, earning a few hesitant shouts of agreement from the circle of men now surrounding them. 

I haven’t let you out in quite a while. I suppose now is as good a time as any. 

With a little half shrug, Ilio smiled slightly up at the bigger man, his teeth already changing into fine points. 

“I’m not sure how you vampires say it, but I think I have it somewhat right,” Ilio said, then added. 

“My wolf will speak with you now.” 

Before the larger vampire could even draw the giant sword on his back, Ilio’s massive wolf was on him!

For all of his goading words, the man fell surprisingly fast after his throat was torn out. The few vampires that had been closer, pretty much set on taking him on, too, quickly backed away as his wolf lifted its now-bloody face. 

Letting his tongue lol to the side, Ilio swung his tail back and forth a few times, his wolfish side clearly entertained by the quick kill. 

Well, the man might  live, but it definitely wouldn’t be an easy life if he did, vampire or not.    

“W-wait a second. Why does he smell like lord Inkani?” one of them asked, making several of the other vampires begin sniffing the air. 

Quite a few of them even took a few more steps back once they caught scent of his mate. As for Ilio, he simply shook out his coat, stretched out his fuzzy legs a bit, then continued on his way since the group in front of him had hurried to part after his initial kill. 

“Is… is no one going to stop him? He might be an alpha who knows Inkani, but he’s not that  big!” someone yelled from somewhere behind him. 

Ilio didn’t bother looking over his shoulder, but he did tilt his ears back a bit to listen. Vampires always thought that they could walk completely silently, but there was really no such skill. At least, not to an alpha wolf. 

So, when he heard two vampires try to creep up on him from both sides, he calmly waited until the moment before they intended to strike, then swung around with so much force that his paw sprayed sand in the opposite direction, then slashed both of their throats open in one simple, swift motion. 

Both vampires fell backwards, their screams turning into gurgles as blood flowed out onto the ground, as well as into their torn wind pipes. 

They wouldn’t live pleasantly if they survived, either. 

By now, there was quite a bustle of commotion around him as vampires, and even a few humans, whispered none-too-quietly about how fast and lethal he was. And how his wolf didn’t match his human form. 

In all honesty, though, it did match him quite well. He was tall and lanky as a human, and his wolf was pretty slim but reasonably muscled. Most other alphas, including Marquise’s wolf, were easily bigger than his own. 

He, however, was plenty fast enough to hold his own against them, too. 

When no one else dared to step forward after a few more moments, Ilio slowly turned back around and continued on his way. This time, no one bothered to try any kind of sneak attack, either, and eventually, the stragglers that still followed him a block or two fell away as well. 

By the time he came upon a rundown looking shack home, he was pretty much alone besides a wary glance from a homeless peasant here and there. 

He hadn’t been too sure about the other scent mixed in with Bin’s, but now he could place it without hesitation. 

That demon is here, too. 

Hurrying forward, since he was now quite a bit more worried, Ilio stepped into the doorway with his ears perked up and his teeth slightly bared. 

His appearance didn’t go unnoticed. Karalius, who was kneeling in front of someone he could only assume was Bin, slowly looked over his shoulder just enough to meet his wolf’s golden gaze. 

“The dog is here… but I do not sense your vampire,” he said, his words sounding quizzical, as if he were contemplating the situation at the same time he was speaking about it. 

Noticing that Bin was currently being held down by his throat, Ilio didn’t bother wasting anymore time. With a grunted growl, he lunged forward… only to have one of his large paws break right through the dilapidated floorboards and send him fumbling forward with a painful yelp!

Several splinters quickly planted themselves in his skin beneath his fur, but Ilio didn’t let them distract him as he quickly regained his footing and scrambled out of the hole, then leaped toward the demon who had now risen to its feet. 

As Karalius flexed his fingers, Ilio noticed razor sharp claws beginning to elongate from the man’s regular nails. 

“You would rather raise a dog over me…” 

It hadn’t been a question, but more of a statement. Perhaps it would have even sounded heart-wrenching if the person saying it had been able to express any kind of emotion besides anger and hatred. 

The man easily dodged Ilio’s first attack, his speed on par with his own. They danced within the tiny home until the walls began to crumble and the floor was in tatters, yet neither were able to land any meaningful hits. 

By the time they’d broken apart from their sixth bout, they had all but swapped their starting positions. Ilio now stood in front of a barely-conscious Bin, while Karalius’s form took up most of the destroyed doorway. 

Ilio was panting pretty hard but was still ready to attack again at any second. Karalius, on the other hand, was calm and collected, but seemed like he was no longer interested in continuing their fight.

The man’s form wavered as the miasma that had drifted off of him during their clashes flared like a freshly-lit fire. It crawled up the left side of his body and eventually clouded even the features on that side of his face. 

Another second later, and the man had dissipated into a dispersing cloud of dark purple smoke. 

Ilio remained on guard for another five minutes before finally lowering himself to the floor and beginning to gingerly licking at his more-damaged paw. 

At some point he felt a faint pressure lean against him, but after a quiet grumble, he ignored it and continued with his cleaning. 

I should try to get him up and back to Inkani…

“Ilio…” 

His fuzzy ears pricked up and tilted slightly before his head lifted and turned in the direction of Bin’s gruff, tired voice. 

The man was leaning into the thick mane of fur on his shoulders, allowing Ilio to see the dark purple bruise beginning to color a good portion of his neck. 

I wonder why Karalius wants to hurt him so badly. 

Bin didn’t seem like such a bad guy, even for a pirate. 

“Captain is lucky…” 

Ilio flicked an ear, not really interested in chatting. Mainly because he was in quite a bit of pain, and he also couldn’t exactly speak while in his wolf form. 

He was just about to return his attention to cleaning his bloody paw when he heard the sound of familiar footsteps outside. In a blur he was up and facing toward the door! His wolf even gave a tiny whine as its tail flicked from side to side excitedly. 

When Inkani’s form filled the doorway a moment later, Ilio couldn’t help but hop a bit on his front paws, even though they still hurt quite a bit. 

The pirate looked like he was about to draw his sword, but after a moment of contemplation, decided to leave it in its sheath at his waist as he hurried forward. 

“Captain…” 

Inkani immediately knelt down beside them, his attention focused Bin. He checked over his crewmate with careful hands, then gently helped him to his feet. 

Ilio immediately began following after them as they started toward the door, but to his surprise, Inkani told him to stay where he was. 

“I’ll be back for you. Wait here,” he said as he made it to the doorway with Bin. 

Ilio, of course, didn’t want to wait, but a hissed warning from Inkani a few moments later did finally make him sit down with a quiet whine. 

“You made quite a mess in town. Wait here and I’ll come back and get you. If you try to follow us right now you will only cause more problems.” 

Resigned, Ilio lowered himself down to the floor, then settled his head in the dirty spot between his paws. Inkani had left him. Just like that. Of course, he understood why it could be an issue for him to walk around right then, but even with his injuries he could easily handle a few more vampires. 

I wouldn’t let anyone bother you…

Huffing out a sigh, he waited, and waited, and  waited. It wasn’t until the sun was nearly about to break free from the night sky did he hear those same familiar footsteps again. 

When Inkani finally appeared in the doorway again, Ilio didn’t hesitate to stumble to his aching feet and hobble over with an excited whine. 

Upon closer inspection, the man looked incredibly conflicted, and still quite a bit tired, too. 

Inka? 

When Inkani knelt down, Ilio nervously stepped closer to finally put himself within easy reach. The first thing his mate did was grab two fistfuls of his fur as a quiet growl left his lips. 

“You…” 

The word was hissed and a little slurred, but that was no surprise considering that the man’s fangs were extended to pinpoints. 

It looked like it was a dangerous situation, but Ilio managed to see through his man’s act. Or, well, it wasn’t technically an act. He didn’t doubt that Inkani wanted to skin him right then and there, but he knew that it wouldn’t be appropriate. 

For one, he’d just saved his close friend and ally. And his second reason was more leaning towards aesthetics. His coat was quite a mess at the moment since he’d been sick for the past several days. It also had several spots of blood still remaining from his fight with Karalius. 

All in all. He wasn’t going to make a very good fur coat right now. 

“Can you shift back?” Inkani finally asked after nearly a full five minutes of simply holding onto him in silence. 

It would hurt, but he wasn’t going to complain. 

Ilio closed his eyes and slowly felt his fur beginning to recede back into his skin. It took a few minutes since he was already pretty worn out, but he eventually managed to complete the task. 

Before he could really process his new situation he had something partially wrapped around him, and then in the next moment he was being lifted up into familiar arms!

Forgetting all about his minor injuries, Ilio wrapped his arms around his vampire’s neck and snuggled in as the man began to carry him back toward the inn. 

They were silent for quite some time as they made their way back through the now even-more chaotic part of town. 

Something smells really good. 

Even with his injuries, Ilio couldn’t help but lean back a little and look around as his dirty nose lifted into the air. 

“I know what you’re looking for,” Inkani said as he turned to his right and walked down a few yards, adjusting the blanket that was wrapped around Ilio’s waist a little as he moved. He then stopped at a stall that was just getting started for the morning. 

“Have any ready yet, Jim?” 

The short, plump man running the stand turned around from what he was doing and immediately beamed at them. 

“Lord Inkani! It has been far too long!”

Inkani nodded and offered the man a tired smile. 

“Ah, oh yes! I will have one ready in just a moment!” Jim exclaimed as he quickly turned his attention to tending his frying vat. 

Ilio watched him like a hawk, licking his lips every few moments as the scent of whatever was cooking caressed his nose. 

A few more seconds of impatient waiting and the man finally turned to him and handed over a large steaming item that looked like a skewer of meat rolled in some sort of flour and fried with what smelled like honey and cinnamon. 

“Here, hold it tight, okay? If you drop it I’m not coming back for another,” Inkani said, his voice already chastising as Ilio sloppily grabbed for the treat!

He nearly dropped it, too, but thankfully managed to keep hold as Inkani paid and turned back toward the direction they’d been heading. 

It smells so good!

Since werewolves weren’t exactly ones to saver their food, Ilio immediately dug in like a starving pup!

“I know I fed you earlier. You didn’t throw up again, did you?” Inkani asked as he walked. 

Ilio quickly shook his head, but his mouth was way too busy devouring the hot treat to bother with words. 

They walked in silence for another stretch of time before they finally arrived back at the inn where they were staying. 

“Captain! Bin was treated and just fell asleep a few moments ago. The doc says his wounds should heal up fine as long as he gets enough rest,” one of his crewman said as he ran up to them. 

Inkani nodded and thanked the man, then turned and headed straight back to their shared room. 

Once there, he took the skewer that was now completely cleaned of any scrap of food and set it aside, then put Ilio down in a chair before walking over and retrieving a small washbasin and cloth. 

For the next ten or so minutes the man cleaned him, wrapped a few of his worse cuts, and even helped him get into a pair of soft pants before walking him over to their bed. 

He lied down obediently, but when Inkani didn’t join him, and instead walked toward the door, he immediately pushed himself back up. 

“Stay there and rest. I have some things I need to do and I want to go check on Bin. I’ll be back in a little while,” Inkani said sternly. 

Ilio was just about to get right out of bed anyways when Inkani gave him a quiet warning growl. 

“I’m not asking, Ilio. Stay there and get some sleep. I will  be back when I finish what I need to get done.” 

He still wasn’t happy, but eventually he relented and slipped beneath the covers more. In fact, he tossed and kicked a bit, too, messing up the whole bed out of frustration. All his antics got him, however, was a quiet bit of laughter before he heard Inkani walk out the door. 

Still a little grumpy that he didn’t get his time to cuddle, Ilio reached up and grabbed Inkani’s pillow and even tossed it off the bed before curling up with his own beneath his messy hair. 

He’d intended to go to sleep quickly and not bother waiting for Inkani to return, but, of course, he couldn’t manage to even grow tired until he heard his vampire quietly slip in through the door, then climb into bed after removing his boots and sword. 

Ilio was going to wait until he drifted off before closing the distance between them, but before he could consider it Inkani’s arms were around his waist, pulling him backwards until his back was pressed against the man’s firm chest. 

I-I…

He was a blushing mess!

Thank goodness there were no candles lit in the room!

 “A little pup seems to have tossed my pillow somewhere without me noticing. I suppose he’ll just have to share his for tonight,” came Inkani’s deep voice right behind his ear. 

Ilio had no response because his tongue was completely tied in knots and his heart was beating so quickly that he wouldn’t have been able to get in enough breath to speak even if he wanted to!

So, he pushed aside his former frustration and forced himself to close his eyes, even though he really wasn’t all that tired since it was early morning. To his surprise, however, as soon as Inkani began to relax against him, his body simply followed suit. 

Pretty soon they were both fast asleep, but as the day progressed they ended up rolling around a bit in order to get more comfortable, or perhaps they just weren’t used to sleeping next to another person yet. In any case, by the time midnight came around Ilio actually ended up being the one with his arms around the other, and Inkani would be the one hugged comfortably against his  chest.   

The sight would have given just about anyone who walked in on them a heart attack from shock… except for Bin, of course.

Chapter 9

He was mad at himself. 

No. 

He was absolutely furious  at himself. 

Not only did I not skin him, but I even brought him back and let him grab me while sleeping!

For all the curses he was shouting at himself in his mind, Inkani was completely calm on the surface as he stared down at the werewolf still fast asleep in his arms. 

The worst thing, however, was that damned tooth of Ilio’s! His pup had practically been teething on him for half the night because that thing kept hurting him in his sleep! 

Acting fine on the outside but when you’re out cold you cry like a baby from pain. 

Of course, he’d yanked the thing out after the brat’s fourth bite to his arm, but not before using his tongue to put a bit of his numbing saliva around the damaged area. 

Even numb, that should have woken you up. Are you that content simply sleeping beside me? 

“Tch, crazy mutt,” he finally growled as he walked out the door and down the hall, carrying a partially-clothed Ilio. 

He hadn’t really planned on being up so early, but when one of his crewmen ran in exclaiming that he’d heard word of the royal navy heading their way, he knew that he couldn’t chance it. 

Captain Moral was exactly as one would expect him to be when considering his name. Upstanding. Exemplary. Righteous.

Disgusting government rat. 

He didn’t have to worry about the man taking Ilio, though. It was his crew, and his own head, that he had to watch out for. 

No one liked werewolves, besides that strange elder vampire, Vrasje, who had bonded with a crippled pup, but the naval military? They would take one look at Ilio’s wolf and immediately cut it down. 

The thought made his heart itch, but Inkani simply pushed away the images and finally stepped out into the morning sun. His ship was already being prepared to leave, and, evidently, not a second too soon, too. 

A ship was just breaching the horizon, its white sails like little dots on the waterline. 

We need to go. Now. 

As if on cue, Ilio began to wiggle a bit in his arms, drawing his attention down to the pup that was finally  stirring back to life. 

I’ve flicked you more times than I can count for biting me. Then stuck my tongue in your mouth to numb the tooth I pulled out soon afterward, yet now you awaken because of a little sunshine? 

In the end, though, Ilio had slept through it all. Now, however, he finally gave out a big, content yawn, then opened his sleepy brown eyes. 

The moment they settled on Inkani they seemed to brighten considerably as a smile slid onto his face. 

“Inka!” he exclaimed, more than a little excited that he was in his arms. 

This dog…

Scoffing in disgust, Inkani abruptly dropped him, but grabbed one of his arms right before he could hit the ground and yanked him up to his feet. 

“We are leaving,” he said before turning and abruptly walking away toward the pier. 

He could hear Ilio scrambling to catch up behind him, but as the pup’s footsteps slowed a bit, Inkani glanced over his shoulder curiously. 

Ah, it makes sense that it’s going to hurt a little now that my numbing saliva has likely worn off. 

Ilio was holding his cheek, clearly confused and hurting a bit. 

“I took out your bad tooth. It will heal soon,” he said before slowing to a stop and, once Ilio caught up, taking his free hand and gently tugging him forward a little faster. 

“The royal navy is coming. We need to get back out to sea immediately,” he said, as if the pup would even understand such implications. 

He’d also grabbed hold of him just  in case he tried to hesitate after having been seasick their entire previous voyage. 

Evidently, he hadn’t needed to worry, though, because before long, Ilio was the one pulling him toward the ship.

You’re just going to get sick again, so why are you still wanting to go?    

“Lord Inkani’s safety is most important to me,” Ilio said without missing a second between Inkani’s thought. 

Hang on a second… did he just— “Inka? How did you take my tooth out without me waking up? I don’t sleep that deeply,” Ilio said, cutting off his next thought and making Inkani level a glare at him as they finally got to the ramp and headed up. 

“Vampire saliva has a natural numbing agent. The strength of it depends on how old the vampire is, or how much they care to numb your pain,” he said as a strong gust of wind whipped their clothing about. 

Ilio remained quiet for the last minute it took them to ascend the ramp, but as they finally stepped up onto the gently-swaying ship, he turned and looked the slightest bit up at him with a smile that had Inkani’s eyes immediately narrowing. 

“Elder Inka must like me a whole lot since I didn’t even wake up from my tooth being pulled!” 

Inkani’s face deadpanned before he heard someone walking up the ramp behind them, giving him a chance to break free from their current conversation to see who it was. 

As soon as he laid eyes on the man he hurried forward and helped support him. 

“Bin, I was going to have someone go get you if you hadn’t already been brought up,” he chastised, frustrated that his injured first mate was trudging up the ramp all by himself. 

Of course, Bin just gave a quiet chuckle in response, making Inkani sigh. They knew each other far too well to bother getting upset at one another. 

Where he was extremely stubborn, Bin could be even more-so. 

Such a troublesome group of people I’ve accumulated. 

“Hey Bin, has lord Inka ever used his saliv—” Ilio’s mouth was silenced by an abrupt shove and growl. 

“Go be useful and get his bed ready. He’s the first room right below deck,” he said as he nodded toward the entrance they were slowly making their way towards. 

Ilio immediately did as told, hurrying off before disappearing down the stairs. There was a quiet yelp a moment later, making Inkani glance sideways at his first mate at the same time Bin looked over at him. 

“I believe your pup just fell down the stairs…” Bin noted matter-of-factly. 

Inkani just huffed out his annoyance and continued onward, earning another quiet chuckle from Bin. 

By the time they got down the steep flight of stairs and stepped into Bin’s cabin it was surprisingly neat and tidied up. 

“Hmm? If you don’t want him I might be interes—” Another shove, this one for Bin, came from Inkani as he pushed the now-fumbling man onto his bed. 

Bin grunted a bit as he landed, but it didn’t take him long to stretch out, then drift right off to sleep as he hugged a pillow to his chest. 

“Tch, ferocious first mate my ass,” Inkani grumbled as he turned around and stepped back out of the room. 

He could hear Ilio hurrying after him, first on his left side, then on his right. The guy seemed to want some attention, though he really wasn’t interested in giving any. 

Eventually, Inkani’s brows ended up knit together and, finally, he simply stopped and turned around, startling Ilio into skidding to a stop so that he wouldn’t bump into him. 

“Is this what you want, you darn dog?” he growled as he lifted his arm, then dropped his hand down atop Ilio’s messy hair!

Uh…

The look of pure, unadulterated joy that immediately shone through the guy’s dark eyes was unsettling, to say the least. 

You… like being pet that much? 

Inkani waited for Ilio to do something. Literally anything , but the guy kept perfectly still, his hands eagerly clutched together in front of him against his chest, clearly enjoying the fact that his mate’s hand was actually settled on top of his head. 

Curious, even though he still a bit put-off, Inkani began moving his hand a bit here and there, truly beginning to pet him. 

This is so strange. 

Even so, Ilio’s smile grew with the extra attention, and he even closed his eyes and tilted his head up the slightest bit as if to nuzzle into his touch! 

Inkani was just about to remove his hand, having had enough of their odd interaction, when his fingers bumped something they hadn’t expected. After a moment of silent scrutiny, Inkani’s eyes widened as he gently but firmly grabbed hold of a wolf ear… on top of Ilio’s human head!

“What the hell is this?!” he asked as he tugged on it, earning a little yip from Ilio as his new ear tried to wiggle out of his grasp. 

Realizing that he was stressing the guy out and likely wouldn’t get a response if he continued, he relented and released the ear.

“H-he just wanted some attention, too. It’s been a long time since he got to be around anyone…” Ilio said in a hurried, nervous tone. 

Inkani was about to say that the wolf had been out plenty the previous day, and caused quite enough trouble in that short span of time, but bit his tongue at the last moment to silence his words. 

Instead, he took a slow, calming breath and stared at those two fuzzy wolf ears in the darkness. 

“…the next time you shift completely, I’ll kill you,” he said instead before turning abruptly and continuing down the hallway without another word. 

He finally didn’t hear the pup’s footsteps following him, telling him that Ilio hadn’t moved yet and was likely still digesting what he’d said. 

I don’t need a mutt clinging to me. 

Ilio was in his life to become a fur coat. Nothing more, and nothing less. The mate bond had nothing to do with him. He couldn’t feel anything from it, and he never would. 

Wait a second…

Pausing right before the large doors leading to the galley, Inkani recalled that Ilio had just fallen down the steps before he’d cleaned up Bin’s room. 

He hadn’t noticed any extra bruises besides the ones that Karalius had given him, but it was  pretty dark in the hallway. 

hmm…

Annoyed, Inkani looked over his shoulder. 

“Ilio, get over here!” 

His pup immediately ran over, though now that he was actually paying attention, he could hear the slight misstep in his gate. 

This dog…

He scooped up the brat as soon as he got close enough to grab, then stepped through the double doors and into a swath of candlelight. 

“Hey there, captain! We replenished a good amount of our food and blood supply so feel free to help yourself if you’re hungry,” one of his cooks said with a wide smile. 

Cooked food was more of a luxury for those vampires in his crew that still enjoyed a decent meal once in a while, but the guy sure knew his craft well. 

“I’m good,” was all Inkani said as he brought Ilio over to an empty, long wooden table and sat him down atop it, then began checking over his leg. 

He had favored this a little when I first found him. 

It looked like he’d taken another hit to it during that fall, though. 

Sighing, he reached up and easily cut all the way around the upper portion of Ilio’s already-torn pants, leaving just enough for him to remain decent. He then looked a little closer at the long cut reaching across his knee before making a face and leaning forward. 

It only took three licks to seal the wound, but Ilio was surprisingly fidgety during the process, forcing him to hold on tighter to his leg, even after he’d given him a warning growl. 

Leaning back up, Inkani was just building a scowl on his face for the mutt, and a few choice words about behaving when someone was actually trying to help him were waiting to be loosed from his mouth, but both of those things abruptly vanished like wisps of smoke when his eyes suddenly widened to the size of saucers. 

This dog…

This god damn dog is kissing me!

Chapter 10

He saw the attack coming. 

He also figured that it was, at least, slightly deserved… but that didn’t mean that he was going to take the hit, though. Ilio easily dodged backwards as he saw the man’s blurred claws coming at his face. 

Inkani seemed more than a bit surprised that his attack had missed so easily, but that didn’t stop him for long. With a furrowed brow and frustrated hiss, he struck out again, then again, then again!

“Hold still you damned dog! You wanted me to get physical with you so badly, so why are you running away now?!” Inkani snarled as he dug his claws into the thick wooden table right where Ilio had been not a moment before. 

“I would like a less aggressive form of that contact, please,” Ilio said as he leaped up onto a little ceiling beam to dodge another swipe… unfortunately, it wasn’t all that high. 

Inkani was just about to join him, clearly not finding his words very placating, but when one of his crewmen fumbled into the room, his attention was immediately stolen away. 

“What is it?!” 

Glad I’m not on the receiving end of his frustration any longer.

It was odd to see someone get so worked up after such simple contact, though. 

Perhaps he feels the bond, too? 

He could obviously tell when a wolf was affected by it, but maybe he could sense a little of it within himself, too. 

Maybe if I bed him he’ll calm down. 

Ilio tilted his head one way, then the other as he half-listened to the new vampire ramble on.

Uh… my stomach doesn’t feel so good. 

The ship was also shaking a bit more than he remembered it had last time as well. 

“Well speed up! We can’t let that bastard catch us!” Inkani yelled, snapping Ilio out of his daze as both vampires suddenly hurried from the room. 

Ah, wait… wait for me. 

Ilio tried to gracefully dismount the ceiling beam, but his stomach lurched and he got a bit dizzy, resulting in a not-so-graceful flump  to the floor. 

Ow. 

He slowly pushed himself up as the other vampire, who had been back by a kitchen-like area, hurried out the door, too. Something was clearly wrong, but he just couldn’t bring himself back to his feet without nearly puking. 

I have to go help… Inka needs me. 

He was just trying to get up again when he felt fur sprout from his back and the top of his hands. 

You want to come out? 

His wolf snorted just beneath his skin before pushing him out of the way completely! 

Hey!

Ilio internally scowled as his wolf finished its transformation, then quickly shoved its way through the slightly open doors. It’s large paws made quick work of the dark hallway, eventually bringing them to the stairs leading up onto the deck area. 

He was just lifting a paw to start their ascent when the boat gave a hard jerk to the left, making him stumble right into the wall near Bin’s room! 

That hit, and the sudden shifting of the boat actually did have him gagging a bit, but while his human form had been quite nauseous, his wolf only felt a little bit of the discomfort.

Shaking his coat out as he stood back up, Ilio looked up into the opening at the top of the stairs. 

Raining…

It was also surprisingly windy, and as the loud gusts picked up even more speed, they swept downward towards him, bringing with them the scent of strangers. 

Hackles rising, Ilio quickly but quietly stalked up the stairs one by one, his muscles tensing further with every step. He slowed to a stop a few steps from the top before pinning his ears back and inching his head up just enough to be able to see over the edge of the deck floorboards.

The heavy rain coming down just outside misted his nose as the droplets broke on the worn wood, making it twitch every few moments as it quickly dampened. 

Hmm? 

There were definitely strangers onboard, and, more specifically, they definitely didn’t seem friendly. 

His hair looks like someone peed on it. 

It was a very dirty blond, cut to shoulder length and possibly styled, at some point, but the wind was undoing any work that might have been done to it previously. 

How is his hat staying on his head?

Inka’s was long gone. Likely taken away by the gales. 

I can’t hear them. 

Even with his ears pricked up, he could barely catch whispers, let alone words. He could, however, read the situation just fine. 

Whoever the group of men to his left were, they weren’t there for a friendly chat. In fact, several of them were beginning to draw their swords. 

He would have let them start to fight before he intervened, but when he saw Bin step out from behind Inkani and draw his own blade, Ilio’s heart twitched slightly. He had no affinity for the man, but he was the only vampire he knew that was currently supportive of his attempts to claim his captain. 

Ilio was just about to lunge forward and break the tension, and even bared his fangs a few times to test out how menacing he felt he looked, when the ship lurched again. This time he was ready since he was already on edge and easily caught himself before he could slam into the wall again. 

Several of the men on deck before him had to adjust their weight to balance, but it was clear that they were more used to the shifting of the boat than himself. 

That abrupt rocking drew his attention to something else, however, making him think that simply interrupting the group wouldn’t be nearly as useful as something a new, different course of action…

Patiently, Ilio waited until the boat was yanked to the side again, then darted out of his hiding place and to the left as the wind immediately buffeted his thick coat and the rain soaked him straight to the bone without mercy!

He could sense eyes on him immediately but disregarded everyone as he finally got to his intended destination and promptly clamped his jaws down on a rusty metal three-pronged hook, then pulled as hard as he could as he pushed against the side railing with a paw on either side of the contraption!

The railing creaked from his effort, but as the ship rocked slightly left again, he was given just enough reprieve to force the large hook free!

One of its prongs snagged the inside of his mouth as he finally released the heavy hook, but he ignored the sting and watched as the item sailed through the air until it splashed harshly down into the raging waters. 

Before he could turn toward the other two hooks he heard several loud hisses and sensed unfamiliar people approaching, forcing him to swing around and roar as loud as he possibly could!

Of course, he likely looked a bit funny with his coat completely soaked, but he still felt like he had enough scare in him to make others think twice about trying anything, and, thankfully, he was correct. 

The group of men that had been about to charge him slowed to a stop, clearly nervous about taking on such a formidable beast. 

“Captain…?” one of them questioned right as the piss-blond haired man stepped forward. 

The man was now surrounded by what Ilio could only assume was his own crew. At least, those who had come over to their ship. 

“Pirate lord Inkani… actually has a werewolf on his side?” 

He sounded completely baffled by the possibility. 

Standing proudly but still menacingly, Ilio let out another warning growl, just daring the man to try his luck. 

“I do, and he’s an alpha, too. Not a nice one, either, I promise you that,” Inkani said as he stepped closer, a fanged smirk on his face. 

“Care to try your luck with both of us, captain Moral?” 

Ilio kept his teeth bared as the other captain considered his options. He had clearly come after them with the intent to attack, but now he had to consider a new piece of the puzzle that he hadn’t expected to have to combat. 

It was big, normally modestly fluffy when not soaked to the bone, and absolutely obsessed with his enemy. 

They all waited in silence as the wind began to calm down, then, finally, the rain followed. Once the last droplet had fallen the other captain quirked his lips up and gave a light huff of humor. 

“So lord Inkani has a dog now.”

He then thought silently to himself for a few more moments, then lifted his let hand and gave a slight wave back toward his own vessel. 

“Let’s go. I’m not interested in losing crewmen today,” he said before turning and walking over toward the railing a few paces away. 

His crew followed him carefully, making sure to keep their eyes on the other vampires, and Ilio, in the process. Then, once they were all close to their captain, the man stepped out of the throng with his blade at his side, guarding his men as they leaped and climbed the rope back to their own ship. 

He remained there, standing stock-still like a statue, until every single one of his crewmen were safe, then, finally, he turned and leaped up, himself. 

Why didn’t Inkani try to get him while he had no one to help him? 

He could have also gone after the man rather easily, but for some reason, he’d decided against it, too. His thoughts quickly turned to other things, however, because soon there was a hand gently patting his damp head. 

“Finish cutting off the hooks they have on us, then get us the hell out of here before he decides to use his cannons!” Inkani yelled to his crew as he stood at his side, stroking his wet fur absentmindedly. 

Ilio swished his tail a bit and nuzzled into that hand with a quiet grumble, quite pleased with his reward. They waited and watched until everything was taken care of, then, finally Inkani turned to stand in front of him, then knelt down with a half-grin on his face. 

“You… are a brat! What the hell did you think you were doing?” 

Huh? 

Ilio tucked his tail a little and averted his eyes for a moment before looking back up at Inkani, confused. 

I was trying to help you. Didn’t I help you? 

“Shift back, now .” 

With his shoulders drooping and his head lowered, Ilio slowly let his human body return to full control. He expected to be yelled at as soon as he finished the transformation, but to his surprise Inkani was rather quiet as he reached forward and grabbed his jaw, then tilted his head up so that he could get a better look at his face. 

After another moment he reached forward and gently grabbed the skin at the edge of Ilio’s mouth, then tugged it a bit in order to see inside. 

“You darn dog, cut your mouth all to hell,” he said, clearly frustrated. 

He stood back up after another few seconds, then reached down and promptly yanked Ilio right up into his arms! 

“I’m going to deal with this mutt. Finish up here, then get back to resting,” he said to Bin as he walked past the man. 

And just like that, Ilio found himself situated on Inkani’s bed, still naked, with his mouth open and aching as the man first disinfected, then sewed the surprisingly-large cut the pronged hook had scraped into his left cheek, closed.  

By the time he was done Ilio’s jaw was partially numb and partially throbbing. He also wasn’t feeling good again, since he’d been forced to shift back to his human form. 

“Here,” Inkani said, bringing Ilio out of his tired thoughts as something warm was pulled over his head. 

He quickly wiggled into the too-big night shirt, then fought back a yawn so that he didn’t accidentally pull his stitches out. 

“Get some rest, I’ll be back in a bit,” the man eventually said as he walked toward the door. 

But…

He didn’t want him to go, but he knew that he had to check on his crew. So, not wanting to be even more of a burden, Ilio kept his mouth closed and simply nodded, then crawled into the bed beneath the sheets and faced away, even though it hurt his cheek to do so. 

The door opened and closed a moment later, leaving him in the darkness with Inkani’s scent everywhere around him. 

I’m not going to rest until you come back. 

And, surprisingly, he was able to stay awake until the door creaked open again nearly two hours later. 

He waited patiently as he heard Inkani do a few things around the large room, then remove his clothing before tugging something else on. Another minute later and he was finally  climbing into bed. 

The moment he was beneath the covers Ilio rolled over, his eyes eager to take in the man’s shirtless upper body. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be asleep?” he asked as he stared at him with thin glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose and a book freshly opened in his hands. 

Ilio inched a little closer on his belly and forearms, testing the waters concerning how much the man might let him get away with at that moment. 

He didn’t get very far before the book Inkani was holding promptly thumped him on the head, then stayed settled against his recently dried hair. 

“Did I say that I wanted your attention?” Inkani asked as Ilio glanced up from beneath the book still situated against his messy hair. 

Ilio pouted until the book was removed and he received an eyeroll for his efforts. 

“Happy, brat?” Inkani asked before moving to open the item again to start reading. 

Considering his options, Ilio decided not to just go in for another kiss this time, but he also wasn’t interested in simply leaving the man alone yet, either. 

So, after another moment of thought he simply lifted himself up and flopped his upper body down on top of the book, and  the man’s lap and hands!

“Hey! The hell are you doing you mutt?!” Inkani hissed as he quickly moved his hands, and the book, out from beneath him, then tossed the item aside onto his nightstand before grabbing Ilio’s ear and tugging angrily. 

 Ilio ignored the man’s clear insistence on him moving and, eventually, his reddened ear was released with a loud huff from Inka. 

“Am I not allowed to even relax in my own room now? I haven’t gotten a chance to even read a book in three months, and now, when I finally get a few hours to myself, you just have to demand attention from me, huh?” 

Ilio’s heart dropped in his chest as he slowly pushed himself up and away from the man until he was sitting sulkily beside him, hugging his knees to his chest. 

He saw Inkani retrieve his book again from the corner of his eye, then settle in to begin reading. 

I just want some attention from my mate…

Of course, he knew better than to expect much to begin with. He knew his situation, and he had been trying to push for a little more affection, but each time he did so he always got negative responses, then a little bit of care, then ignored again. 

He was just sighing out a deep breath when he felt a cool arm wrap around his middle, then a hand settle against his waist before he was abruptly tugged backwards against Inkani’s firm chest!

U-um?!

“Just be quiet and let me have some time to myself, please? I’ll have dinner with you later, okay?” Inka said as he moved his hand from his waist up toward the book. 

For once, it was a good thing that he was scrawny, because now he got to snuggle with Inkani as he read his book! 

It wasn’t exactly  the kind of attention he wanted from the man, but as he settled in against him with his head resting on his shoulder, he honestly knew that he couldn’t have hoped for anything  better. 

And, even though Inka had said that he wanted the time for himself, every once in a while Ilio felt the man’s hand lift to gently rustle his hair, likely thinking that he was already fast asleep… 

He wasn’t.

Chapter 11

Dinner was quite limited since they didn’t have many humans on board. It was also brought up to his quarters since neither of them really wanted to bother going down to the galley. 

Add that to the fact that Ilio couldn’t chew much at the moment because of his cut up mouth, so their options became even slimmer until they were left with what was now situated in front of a rather unhappy looking werewolf. 

I can’t blame you for making that face. I wouldn’t want to touch that slop, either. 

His pup also didn’t look all that good now that he was actually looking him over. 

Wait a second…

Reaching forward, he pressed his palm to Ilio’s forehead, then scowled. 

“When were you going to tell me that you were feeling sick again?” he asked, frustrated. 

Ilio leaned against his hand as he gave out a quiet moan of exhaustion. 

“My wolf was fine… but I don’t think my human body works as well on a boat,” he said as he moved his body slowly into a lying down position. 

Inkani pondered his words as his hand drifted down to settle against Ilio’s back, then start rubbing gently of its own accord. 

Hmm…

“Ilio?”

He heard a little groan from the pup, but no other response afterward. 

“Change back into your wolf form.” 

Ilio tilted his head enough to glance back at him with one eye, clearly on guard now. 

“Don’t give me that look. I’m not going to skin you. If your wolf does better, then just stay as your wolf more often,” he said, annoyed that he even had to say it out loud. 

Ilio slowly pushed himself back up into a sitting position, his expression a mixture of so many emotions that Inkani gave up on trying to read it. 

“What?” he eventually asked, becoming frustrated again. 

 With a growing, nervous smile, Ilio leaned forward until the guy was nearly about to climb into his lap!

“You won’t skin me?” 

Inkani furrowed his brows, questioning anew, a werewolf’s ability to understand English. 

Leaning forward, himself, Inkani firmly grasped Ilio’s jaw, though he made sure his fingers were no where near his stitches.

“I. Will. Not. Skin. You. Now transform or I’m going to make you sleep on the deck so that you don’t vomit in my bed.” 

Ilio was a fluffy, giant wolf in the blink of an eye… and the look of pure delight on his fuzzy face made Inkani shove his jaw away with a roll of his eyes. 

“Your coat looks like shit right now anyways. What good would that thing do me?” he grumbled as he tried to lie back down. 

You son of a…

Straightening back up, Inkani turned and bared his fangs at the wolf that had situated itself behind him. 

“I have plenty of pillows, dog,” he ground out, earning a quiet whine as Ilio hesitantly moved out of his way. 

Inkani was just about to lie down again when he noticed something that really made his blood boil. 

“You!” he growled as he pointed a finger right at Ilio’s wet nose. 

“You shed like hell!” 

As if to dump a boatload of salt onto his wounds, the huge wolf simply licked its muzzle, then tilted its head with a questioning stare. 

This… this is unacceptable! 

Storming out of bed, Inkani stomped over to one of his tall dressers and, after rummaging through it for a good bit, finally pulled out a shoddy looking hairbrush. 

Turning back around, he stared at the giant panting beast as it watched him from the edge of his bed…shedding on everything!

“You, over here now,” he said as he pulled over a small stool to sit on. 

Ilio appeared before him a moment later, excited and wiggling a little as he danced on his big paws. 

This dog…

He had half a mind to chain it up outside to the deck mast, but at the same time, he doubted that he’d be quiet, and he’d probably cause all sorts of trouble for his crew that needed to work around that area. 

“Okay, listen up, punk. I’m going to brush you out and you’re going to sit still and behave, got it?” he said with as much authority as he could muster. 

Ilio’s wolf flicked an ear, whined a little, then sat down obediently. 

Okay, let’s see what we’re working with here. 

Leaning forward, Inkani began his work… and nearly had a heart attack! 

The brush was completely full of hair after just two simple strokes! Staring at the item in disbelief, he realized something he might have overlooked. 

Fur coats, evidently, didn’t shed nearly  as much as their living owners! 

I should just skin him. A coat is a coat, right? 

As he began to rant within his mind, his hands got busy working through Ilio’s extremely thick coat. He did the left side first, then the front and face. By the time he finished up the right side it was well into the night. 

Leaning back with a groan, Inkani slowly stood up and stretched several different ways, feeling his back crack a bit with each direction he moved. 

When he was finally a bit more comfortable, he looked down at a very  sleepy pup. Ilio had honestly lied down a while ago, but he’d been receptive enough to moving whichever way he needed to that Inkani hadn’t needed to prod him to stand back up. 

“You know, you still haven’t eaten yet, you oversized lug,” he said as he stared at the wolf’s back end… the last, and most fluffy portion of the animal’s coat that he had yet to get to. 

Ilio grunted and nudged his legs backwards until he looked like he had two turkey drumsticks sticking out on either side of his tail. 

Sighing, Inkani considered their options, but quickly dismissed going down to the galley when he heard rain begin to pelt against the door. 

After a few more moments, he walked over to the little nightstand beside his bed, then pulled out the top drawer. 

He’s not getting all of it, he told himself as he took out the bag of fresh pork jerky, then turned around… to a drooling wolf that was sitting right at his feet. 

“You’re only getting a few pieces. This is mine and it’s not easy to come by recently,” he said as he pulled out a thick piece of salted meat. It was much softer than the bag he’d previously had, and just the aroma was enough to make oneself drool. 

Ilio’s wolf eagerly opened and closed its mouth, as if already chewing on the delicacy. A few more globs of drool also dribbled down from its jowls and dripped onto the floor. 

The moment the jerky gor without reach, Ilio jerked his head forward and inhaled the item, chewing for all of five seconds before swallowing and looking up again with a thump of his tail. 

You… 

“That’s supposed to be savored! How could you eat it in five seconds?!” 

This dog is so uncultured! And it sheds too much! And it—h is mind lost track of its next insult as Ilio tilted his head again, then lulled his tongue out to the side to practically grin up at him. 

All the happiness in the entire fucking world was in his soft, squinting eyes.  

“You… you’re only getting one more. And you better savor it this time, because you won’t be getting another!” he said sternly as he picked out a smaller piece. 

Much to his surprise or, honestly, not , that piece, too, vanished in a blur and was swallowed down. This time, however, it only took the beast three  seconds to completely remove the treat from existence!

“…”

That’s it. No more. You get not a single crumb ever again!

Until he slipped him one while he was cleaning up a bit about ten minutes later. 

Then he gave him the end of a piece that had way too much seasoning on it. 

The next few tidbits were rewarded after Ilio wiggled beneath his bed to fetch a few things he hadn’t noticed had rolled beneath it during rough weather. 

He then helped him nudge aside a particularly stubborn dresser, allowing him to clean behind it before helping to move it back. 

By the time he finally dropped back down onto his bed and closed his eyes, the bag slipping from his hand to the floor was empty and his wolf was curled up against his side, snoring within two minutes flat. 

Tilting his head on his pillow, Inkani stared down at the oversized dog snuggled up against him in the darkness. It was already fast asleep, as if it knew that the safest place in the world was right at his side. 

A vampire’s  side. 

A vampire pirate’s side. 

And not just a pirate, either. But one that hunted  werewolves. 

Shedding all over my bed again.

Scowling, he reached down and poked the giant pup’s damp nose. 

He got no response, but it still sated his frustration enough for him to relax a bit more. 

Tch, not worth my time. 

Settling in, he finally closed his eyes and began to relax. He knew that captain Moral was likely to find them again as soon as he decides what he wants to do about Ilio, but the pup had given them enough time to at least get some rest after having had to leave port so quickly after having just landed. 

And then there was Karalius. 

Sighing, he pushed away all of the thoughts that tried to weigh his mind down. 

Rest. You need to rest or you’ll be useless when you really have to fight either one of them. 

He struggled to keep the thoughts away, however, and throughout the night he continued to roll from one side to the other until something firm wrapped around his waist. Another moment later and he felt something warm press against his back, further halting his ability to move. 

A growl unconsciously slipped from his barely-parted lips, but after a few more moments he settled down as warmth quickly spread through his normally-chilled body. 

Stupid… dog. 

There was silence for some time after that thought, and just before he finally began to drift off, he thought he heard a quiet, whispered response of, “this stupid dog love you,” but disregarded it as just another one of the random thoughts humming around his mind as he slipped off into a sound sleep.

Chapter 12

Captain is finally asleep…

Bin slowly pushed himself up, feeling his body ache as it continued to heal. His vampiric body had never been the best, as it didn’t process blood well while stressed, but it did try its best to handle the damage it often sustained. 

Another day or two and I should be able to manage… unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to get another hour, let alone a day. 

He could already sense Karalius nearby and had caught glimpses of his miasmic form earlier during their situation with captain Moral. The man was persistent, he would give him that. Not the best at hiding that he was tracking someone, but quite exemplary in the actual tracking. 

He’d probably run off to the ship the moment Ilio chased him away. 

Bin’s eyes suddenly widened as he quickly jumped out of bed and ran for his door! 

Why the hell would I think that it was just his miasma here? 

He hurried up the stairs to the deck a moment later, then stopped at the threshold as rain hammered down in a rage just beyond his bare toes. 

Kara…

Karalius stood beneath the downpour, his miasma diminished and fracturing constantly in the pouring rain. A pair of dark, silk-thin wings, much like a bat’s, pressed against his back every now and then, but they were mostly battered and blown about by the windy storm around him. 

What are you doing out there? Aren’t you here to try and kill me again? 

He’d been resting for quite some time. 

Plenty of time for a demon to sneak into his room. 

As he continued to consider the situation, Karalius finally  seemed to notice him and began drifting in his direction. 

Alright, stay calm. He hasn’t tried to attack yet, so there must be a reason. 

He waited patiently until Karalius was finally standing before him, their feet nearly boot to toe. 

Wait a second…

Bin slowly took a step back, then down one step. He waited there for a full minute before a disbelieving smile slid across his dry lips. 

You won’t enter without permission this time, too, huh? 

He couldn’t believe that such simple words from many years past still could hold back such a powerful being. 

If Inkani knew what was keeping you at bay he would be on the floor laughing for hours. 

Of course, he wasn’t going to taunt the man before him because of his oversight, though. He appreciated not being assaulted long enough to get some decent rest. 

“Are… are you able to talk right now?” he asked, curious to see if the man’s mind was lucid enough for conversation. 

Karalius tilted his head slowly one way, then the other as his left eye began to form within the miasma. 

Bin felt his heart lift the slightest fraction in hope as the man before him truly began to materialize. He never seemed able to rid himself of the darkness wisping up from his flesh, but he managed to restrain it enough to allow the majority of his true body to be seen. 

There you are.

Karalius finally lifted his gaze to meet Bin’s, his dark eyes seeming surprisingly exhausted. 

“Master Binan…” 

His words were deep and gruff, proving that he was, somehow, quite tired. 

I can’t exactly bring him downstairs with me, though, and it’s pouring outside. Bringing a bed up to get soaked through wouldn’t help, either. 

He wanted to ask why the man was there, but he knew that he would just get the same answer as always. 

The heir was simply following its sire. 

“I’m sorry that I left you. That I’m not strong enough to be your master, but I’m not going to let you kill me. I have a place in this world now, and you need to go find yours… without me.” 

He noticed the man’s eyes narrow immediately as a myriad of emotions swam across his face. When he finally settled on a calm expression, Bin was more than a bit wary. 

“I am not trying to kill master Binan,” Karalius eventually said, startling Bin enough to nearly make him step right off the stair he was currently settled on!

Not trying to kill me? What else could you have been possibly trying to do with your hands around my neck before, then?! 

Forcing his disbelief to the back of his mind, Bin cleared his throat, then clasped his hands behind his back as he looked at those dark eyes still glued to him. 

“If you aren’t trying to kill me, then what, per se, were you trying to do the last few times we’ve met?” 

Karalius only waited a few moments before responding steadily. 

“I am going to change you into what I have become.”

Change me… into that? 

“By killing me?” he asked after a few seconds of nervous hesitation. 

He definitely didn’t  want to become a demon. 

Karalius slowly shook his head, the tendrils of miasma still suffused throughout his dark hair drifting in the air with the movement. 

“I have never tried to remove your heart, master.” 

Bin quickly thought back to all of their previous altercations, but he couldn’t discern a single time where the man had truly gone for a killing blow. 

“I don’t want to become what you are. I’m sorry that it happened. I should have been watching you, but my father had called me away while you were resting. I didn’t think that you’d get attacked by anyone, let alone so quickly,” Bin said, reiterating the words he’d spoken many times already. 

He really did feel terrible for what had happened, especially because it was his own fault that he’d had to change the young man in the first place, but he was only so strong. How could he eve hope to support an erratic demon when his own body and mind were already so damaged that he had to rely on Inkani whenever he couldn’t handle things? 

Memories of his past tortured him nearly every night, and his body, having already been damaged while still human, hadn’t taken well to being changed, either. 

What could he possibly do for Karalius besides let him try to find something better? 

The man before him took several minutes to process his words this time, and, unfortunately, during that interval that miasma around him returned to covering a good portion of his right side, splitting his face nearly down the middle as it shaded one side in billowing darkness. 

I really wish I could do something for you after all of the pain I caused you in our past, but I don’t know what else I can do. 

“Little Nana…” 

Bin felt a tear involuntarily slip from his eye at hearing the old nickname Karalius had given him when they were younger. 

They had been inseparable growing up, even though Kara had been raised in comfort while he’d been stuck in his father’s hobble of a hut. 

They’d spend days on end together, and he eventually was invited over to the young master’s home to play since Kara’s health began to decline. 

No one was sure what was causing the illness, but he managed to convince him not to seek medical help because the black plague was currently ravaging the country and several of his symptoms were in line with the illness. 

Even his parents had hesitated in seeking help after their private doctor was unable to figure out what was wrong. 

Waiting had been the worst thing to do in the end. Kara’s health began to rapidly decline after a little more than a month. He was soon bedridden, but during the last week of his human life, Bin ended up in his own predicament. He did  end up getting the black plague, and with his body already not being the healthiest, it nearly took his life in his father’s empty shack. 

Desperate for water to cool his raging fever, he’d blindly crawled from that run-down hobble until his aching, dirty knuckles bumped against a shoe. 

That was how he’d met his captain, and the man that had saved his life without a second thought.

Truthfully, Inkani had sired many other vampires, as he didn’t care about human rules concerning only changing one person, but he was the only one that Inkani refused to allow to wander off on their own. He honestly treated him like his true heir and looked after him like one would a son. 

I can’t look after you, though. Every time I try to at least be nice, you attack me. 

He’d returned to Karalius’s bedside the moment he’d been able handle his new vampiric side, but by that time his best friend was cold and lifeless. 

No one could bare to be in the room any longer, but what the humans had missed, his newly improved hearing managed to catch. 

He’d still been still alive, but the dying process had already begun. 

He’d had no idea about the intricacies of changing others besides what he’d remembered Inkani doing to him. So, with that simple bit of information he’d picked up Karalius and brought him back to his empty, dirty home. 

There, he’d changed him as he held his lifeless body in his arms… 

Not soon after he’d settled his friend on his dirty straw cot to rest, his father had come calling, needing help with chopping firewood for the restaurant’s stoves. 

In the short amount of time he was gone, a group of aggressive young men, who were honestly looking for the pirate lord, ended up barging into his home and attacking Karalius, who had likely just awoken as a new vampire.

The memory made him sick to his stomach, especially now that he was staring at the same man he’d failed all those years ago. 

“Will you…” 

Bin licked his lips nervously. 

“Will you attack me if I let you come in to dry off?” 

Silence was his answer. 

Bin sighed as he felt his body begin to signal that he needed to go back and rest soon. Everything was starting to ache. 

“Master Binan…” 

He blinked, then glanced down at the icy-pale hand being held out to him. 

Furrowing his brow, he considered his options, but before he could even decide on what to do, his hand was already settling against Karalius’s frigid one. 

“Master is very warm.” 

Vampires weren’t nearly as warm as humans and were often considered to be quite cold, but he couldn’t deny that Karalius’s skin felt like touching ice. 

“You’re just too cold, Kara,” he whispered quietly, unable to lift his eyes away from their hands as Karalius slowly moved his thumb over his damp skin. 

When the man began to lift his hand upward, Bin finally managed to snap out of his daze and look up. 

Those… 

Karalius had his double set of fangs extended, the foremost teeth looking quite lethal as they glinted a deadly white in the darkness. 

He’d expected the man to pull him forward as soon as they’d touched in order to try and hurt him again, but he didn’t expect this . That was probably why, when he the first bite came, he didn’t pull away like he knew he should have. 

Bin winced as the man’s front fangs finally slid into the palm of his hand like a blade cutting through butter. 

He could feel the pull against his skin as Karalius began to drink not a moment later, making his own tired heart speed up in his chest, pumping the blood faster for its heir. 

He honestly began to feel a bit strange as he continued to stare, and likely would have let the man simply drain him without saying a word, but then he felt a sudden stabbing pain in his hand that he hadn’t anticipated!

He’s using both sets of fangs?! 

With the cloudiness in his mind quickly clearing, Bin tried to pull away, but Karalius’s grip was like a vise and his body, which was still partially concealed by miasma, seemed fastened to the planks. He didn’t budge no matter how hard Bin tried to get away!

“Kara, please stop,” he rasped out as he truly felt his strength begin to drain away. 

He really didn’t want to have to wake Inkani, but he was reaching his limit. 

Shaking his head to try and clear it, Bin did his best to pull his hand free again, but it didn’t budge at all. 

“Kara, I ca—huh?” 

Karalius had retracted his fangs. 

Straightening back up on shaking legs, Bin fought with himself not to pass out as he panted hard, needing to get oxygen back into what little blood he had remaining. 

He didn’t have lungs to aerate his body any longer, so he needed to pull in as much as he could, as fast as he could, and hope that enough of it entered his bloodstream. 

  Dizzy…

“Master Binan?” 

His body slowly fell forward as his legs finally gave out, no longer able to hold his weight.

Cold hands easily caught him, then lifted him up against a damp chest. 

“Master?” 

He couldn’t spare a single breath to respond, and he couldn’t even be bothered to flinch as he felt Kara’s cold hand press against his cheek, then gently tug at his hair. 

“Master Binan, wake up,” Karalius said as Bin felt the man sit down against something, then adjust him a bit in his lap. 

He wasn’t technically asleep yet, but he might as well have been with how much control he had over his body right then. 

In fact, his consciousness was quickly beginning to pull him under when he suddenly smelled something shocking sweet. When that scent got closer and he felt something press into his mouth, Bin bit down instinctually. 

He also gave out a tiny growl in response, too, but it was so quiet that its sound was likely whisked away by the wind before it could even meet Karalius’s ears. 

“Take it back.” 

Bin would have likely been incredibly confused and contemplating their situation thoroughly right then if his mind wasn’t throbbing with the worst headache of his life.  

“He’s going to need more than that.” 

Bin groaned and tried to open his eyes as he heard his captain’s voice, but he just didn’t have the strength. 

He could also hear Karalius return Inkani’s words with a snarl of his own, but as he drifted in and out of lucidity, Bin caught little bits and pieces of their miniscule conversation until, finally, Kara withdrew his cold hand, and something soft and warm settled against his mouth in its place. 

The new smell of fresh, hot blood was impossible to resist, and within seconds his fangs had pierced skin. He knew who it was, too, and while Kara was outright growling, was clearly not happy with the wolf taking his place feeding him, he was thankfully allowing it to happen.

Thank you, sweet Ilio. I will repay you tenfold when I am well again.

Chapter 13

Ilio really  didn’t like Karalius. 

The only reason he was honestly helping or, really, two reasons, were because Bin didn’t mind his intentions with his captain, and said captain was clearly worried about his subordinate’s situation. 

Hungry…

In the next few moments he felt Bin’s fangs finally retract, then familiar, strong arms easily lift him up and away. 

Karalius gave another, slightly louder growl than the ones he’d been grumbling while Bin had fed from him, but it was quickly answered by a much fiercer warning snarl. 

Karalius fell silent immediately. 

Ilio thought that Inkani would just carry him back to his room, but when they began going below deck, his fuzzy ears perked up and he lifted his now-human head. 

“Why did you keep those things out again?” Inkani asked as they finished descending, then headed down the same familiar hallway from before. 

Leaning back just enough to see the man in the darkness, Ilio tilted his head and flicked one of his wolfish ears. 

“Did lord Inkani not like them before?” he asked, a hint of disbelief to his words that evidently made the older man audibly scoff. 

Ilio waited for him to say something further, or order him to retract them, but when the man remained silent, Ilio tucked his head against Inkani’s chest in order to hide his pleased grin. 

When they walked into the galley it was quite a bit busier than it had been before. Most of the people present were drinking glasses of blood or nibbling at pieces of raw meat. 

Ilio didn’t really mind when all eyes turned to them, but he did give out a quiet grumble when he saw someone heading directly for them. 

He also felt Inkani’s hands covering up his naked backside a bit more, though he didn’t pay that much mind. 

“Captain, what’s going on with that demon on deck? Master Bin…” 

Inkani continued walking as the man spoke, forcing him to fall into step with him until he finally stopped next to a worn pair of wooden double doors. 

“Leave them be. Even if you lot wanted to help, Karalius would just kill you, leaving me with next to nothing for a crew. I will deal with him if the situation arises.”

The man looked more than a little bit surprised, but it didn’t take him long to school his features and nod respectfully. 

“Understood, captain. We will be ready if you need us.” 

Inkani returned the man’s nod, then nudged open the double doors and stepped into a much quieter, dimly-lit back room. 

Ilio was then set down on a faded leather stool before Inkani began gathering items from the old shelves. Not wanting to be a bother, Ilio patiently waited… until Inkani looked like he was heading for the doors again!

His vampire must have sensed his unease, because he slowed to a stop before looking over his shoulder. 

“Stay here and behave. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” 

He didn’t want to stay there, and honestly, he also didn’t want to behave, but Ilio did both without a fuss anyways. 

The man was definitely gone for more than a few minutes , however, and soon he found his mind wandering. The first thing that came up was his pack. 

Having been the leader, he was never the closest to any one specific wolf. It wasn’t easy for an alpha to find a reliable mate, and he honestly hadn’t been looking very hard, either.   

He also had never quite figured out how they’d been attacked so easily, too. Their pack wasn’t defenseless, and even while hunting there were guards stationed around their dens. 

It was pretty obvious that they had been betrayed, but by who, he wasn’t sure. Wolves weren’t as obvious as humans when they were trying to be sneaky. They didn’t normally talk and their faces were covered with a good layer of fur, making only the most obvious of expressions readable. 

He missed his pack, but with Inkani by his side, he wasn’t nearly as lonely as he would likely be as a rogue. 

It had probably been coming to that, too. I’d gotten hurt pretty badly, but besides me and a few of my personal guard wolves, only the pups had been killed. 

It was likely an attempted takeover that had failed. 

He blinked a few times, frowning at the thought. 

It actually had succeeded. He was gone and now the pack was likely already settled with a new ruler. It was likely a beta, since there were no other alphas amongst their ranks. 

A beta would work fine for a while, but not likely for too long. 

He was just about to delve further into those thoughts when his fuzzy ears perked up and he lifted his head, then sniffed as he heard Inkani finally returning through the double doors. 

Smells good…

“The cook just went to sleep so I made you something. it’s nothing special, but you should be able to eat it, even with your stitches,” Inkani said as he brought over a large piping hot bowl and a blanket. 

He handed Ilio the bowl, then wrapped the blanket around his naked body before lifting him from the stool… only to settle down onto it, himself, before lowering Ilio into his lap. 

Once he was comfortable again, Ilio looked over his shoulder, curious. 

“Are we not going to eat in the main room?” he asked. 

Inkani glanced towards the double doors, then back to him with a look he couldn’t quite decipher. 

“Did you want to?” he eventually asked, quickly earning a shake of Ilio’s head as his reply. 

“Then eat, pup.” 

Ilio did as told, taking a big scoop of the contents of the bowl before putting it into his mouth. 

Uh… 

He whimpered almost immediately afterward, and with a poke to the side of his cheek from Inkani, quickly returned the mouthful of food to the large spoon. 

“You darn dog,” Inkani sighed as he quickly lifted the spoonful of food to his own mouth, then chewed and swallowed as he dipped the spoon back into the bowl, then lifted it up toward Ilio’s lips. 

“You’re supposed to blow on it,” he said impatiently. 

Blow on it? 

Ilio stared at the food right before his nose as his fuzzy ears tilted forward slightly, then to the side a bit. 

After a few more moments of contemplation he pursed his lips, then blew a tiny breath toward the hot, thick broth. 

Once he was done he grinned and looked over his shoulder, hoping that he’d done it correctly. 

Inkani… did not look impressed. 

“Just… just let me do it,” the man eventually said as he took the bowl from him, then lifted the spoon up a little more so that he could blow on it, himself. 

After a few soft puffs he lowered it back to Ilio’s mouth, where it was promptly consumed with a content hum. 

Much cooler but still warm. 

He understood now, but when he reached up to take the spoon again, Inkani moved it away, then dipped it back into the bowl. 

“Just behave and eat,” he said quietly as he began to blow on another spoonful. 

Ilio didn’t bother trying to take the spoon again and simply did as told. They ate the dumpling and shredded chicken meal that way for quite some time, with Inkani stealing a bite every now and again. 

By the end of their meal Ilio wiggled a bit, stretching what he could before looking up with a sleepy smile. 

Oh?  

Without really thinking, Ilio leaned up the slightest bit and licked a little line of soup from Inkani’s chin, then snuggled in with a content exhale. 

He could sense Inkani’s body tense after his abrupt attention, but it relaxed almost immediately afterward, making him grin inwardly as he was lifted back up into the man’s arms and carried out of the small room, then the larger galley. 

“Is your stomach handling the food alright?” Inkani asked as they walked through the dark hallway beyond. 

Ilio gave a sleepy hum of agreement, but evidently only earned a quiet laugh from Inkani in response. 

When they finally returned to the deck, Ilio looked toward Karalius and Bin. The demon slowly turned his head to watch them, but Bin was still clearly out cold in his arms. 

“Will he be okay?” he eventually asked, since Inkani had slowed to a stop to observe them. 

It had thankfully stopped raining, but they were still soaking wet. 

“Can Bin get sick?” Ilio asked, a tiny bit worried about the man. 

Inkani stayed silent for a few moments before nodding his head the slightest bit. 

“He can. He was already struggling when I changed him. It was a miracle that he didn’t die from being turned into a vampire.” 

Ilio frowned. 

“Then he needs to go inside and dry off.” 

Inkani was silent for a few moments before he turned to face the other two. 

“Why aren’t you going in? Bin will get sick if he stays out here in wet clothing,” he said honestly. 

Karalius blinked up at him for a few seconds before looking down at the man sound asleep in his arms. Another moment later and his attention lifted back to them. 

“I was not invited.” 

Isn’t that just some folklore thing? 

Even he  knew vampires didn’t have to be invited in. And Karalius wasn’t even technically a vampire…

Ilio expected Inkani to tell the man just that, but instead, he went a different route. 

“I invite you to use my cabin to take care of my heir.” 

Karalius looked a little shocked by the sudden invitation, but he quickly managed to process the information and carefully get to his feet. 

“We will go downstairs to rest. If you need me, just call my name,” Inkani said as he watched understanding cross Karalius’s face. 

The demon then nodded his thanks before carrying Bin into Inkani’s personal cabin. 

“Is that really okay?”   Ilio asked nervously. 

“We don’t have a choice right now. I’m the only one that could likely handle him, and with Bin in his hands already and captain Moral likely around the corner, it just wouldn’t be worth the effort to try anything right now.”

With that, they headed back downstairs and into a spare cabin. It was much smaller, as was the bed, but Ilio found that he didn’t really mind as he cuddled up with his vampire, using the lack of room to get away with practically hugging him like a lover. 

The man grumbled a bit, but there really was no other way… besides making him sleep on the floor. 

Luckily, things didn’t come to that, and while Inkani wasn’t too tired yet and decided to stay awake for a bit in case Karalius needed him, Ilio gladly drifted off to sleep so that his stomach could process the meal it had just been given without getting upset again.

Chapter 14

The fire in the makeshift hearth had just gone out.

Karalius watched the last of the dying embers fade into blackness, frowning as the warmth in the room dwindled away with them.

Nana needs warmth…

He had no idea how to light the fire again, though, and immediately considered calling for assistance, but then he realized something and lifted the arm he wasn’t currently using to support Bin against his chest.

Dark flames licked calmly at his cold skin.

Perhaps…

Pursing his lips, he reached towards the burning coals. When his fingers touched them, he barely felt anything. Curiously, he allowed his demonic energy to drift into the fireplace, lighting it anew with dark purple and black wisps.

Is it helping?

He wasn’t sure, and immediately became anxious again. He would have likely given up and yelled for the pirate lord if he hadn’t noticed Binan’s eyelids begin to flutter gently.

“Master Binan? Nana?” he questioned as he pressed his cold palm to the man’s pale cheek.

After a few moments of tense silence, Bin finally opened his eyes halfway. He looked surprised, at first, but that emotion quickly faded as exhaustion took over.

“Master Binan, is it warm?” he asked cautiously.

Bin seemed confused as he tried to process his question.

“Ah, warm?” his voice rasped, hinting at a possible sickness to come.

Worried, Karalius gathered the man closer, scooted forward a bit more, then allowed his miasmic flames to settle overtop Bin’s body. It took a few more moments to see a reaction to his efforts, but when he did he could tell that something was working.

Bin stretched his legs out, then moved against his arm a bit before yawning wide, his vampiric fangs extending, then retracting, as the situation played out.

Karalius watched him silently, enjoying the man’s actions. He’d always loved watching Binan, ever since they were young. The boy was quite adventurous and stubborn, but also very caring.

He was nothing like his sire.

Even before he’d been changed into a vampire, then a demon, he’d only cared for a few things in his life. Everything was replaceable except for the little hunting dog he’d had, his little sister, who had died a year before he had been changed, and the little boy with the cute name from the rundown neighborhood nearly two miles away from his own.

They’d met by chance, and the days he’d spent digging holes and climbing trees with Binan had been some of his most treasured.

Karalius seemed to have gotten lost in thought, because by the time he’d returned his focus to the man in his lap, Bin had sloppily removed his soaked shirt and was trying to take off his wet pants.

“I will help,” Kara said stiffly as he reached for the garment.

Bin, surprisingly, fumbled out of his lap before turning to face him.

Ah, color is returning to his face.

His fire must be helping.

“Why are you moving away? I was not attacking you,” Karalius questioned, confused.

Bin licked his pale lips and slowly got to his feet as the miasma around him dissipated. Karalius followed him up, seemingly wary that he might not be stable enough to stand yet.

“I-I was just surprised. I didn’t think that you’d still be here,” Bin said, trying to cover up his reaction with a poor excuse as he looked around the room cautiously.

This is Inkani’s cabin?

He was about to reach out to the man when he felt a nudge in the back of his mind. It was the captain letting him know that he was there if he was needed. It was a huge relief.

Able to relax a little with that newfound knowledge, Bin walked over to one of his sire’s dressers and took out a pair of soft sleep pants. He didn’t even bat an eye as he then tugged off the remainder of his clothing, then replaced them with the warm pants.

Much better.

Before he could turn back around, however, he felt a pair of chilled fingers grab his bare arm. Bin jumped in response, but then turned to face Karalius.

Oh?

He hadn’t seen such a look on the man’s face in quite some time. Not since they were both alive. Reaching up, Bin brushed aside the man’s bangs, allowing him to press his fingers to Kara’s cold, furrowed brows.

“Kara, is everything alright?”

The man before him seemed distracted by the fact that he was willingly touching him, and thus, didn’t hear his question as he stared silently at his finger still pressed to his forehead.

What are you doing, Kara?

“Master Binan should rest. You will not survive a transformation in your current state,” Karalius said, returning to his previous position concerning their situation.

Right… you just want to change me.

He’d let himself forget that for a moment there.

Retracting his hand, he raised it to his own mouth and coughed gently.

“I don’t think I’ll be okay to try and change soon,” he said, his raspy throat making his words sound quite believable.

And honestly, he could very well get sick, even after having fed well from Ilio. He didn’t really want to, but he didn’t mind playing the part to keep Karalius from trying to harm him if he had to.

He hadn’t seen a worried expression on the man’s face since he’d been changed. It was a relief to know that there were still emotions buried beneath his frozen exterior.

“Master Binan needs to rest,” Karalius reiterated as he simply reached over and grabbed Bin’s waist, then lifted him up without an ounce of effort before setting him on the edge of the bed.

“Okay, okay,” Bin said as he nudged the man’s hands away and scooted back into the bed. “I’m going to sleep.”

He slipped beneath the covers, then stretched out with a quiet groan before nuzzling into one of his captain’s many pillows. He was glad that the man took good care of his things, as his blanket was super soft and his pillows of the best quality.

Pretty soon he was sighing contently and closing his eyes, nearly ready to get some rest. The only thing stopping him was the odd sensation of being watched…

Blinking his eyes open after about ten or so minutes, Bin was surprised to see that Karalius hadn’t moved a single inch.

This man…

Sitting up slowly against the pillows, Bin covered a cough with his hand, then cleared his scratchy throat.

“Kara, what are you doing?”

Karalius was as still as a statue, his eyes unblinking for several seconds as he processed his words, then tilted his head like a curious, confused dog.

“I am watching master Binan sleep,” he eventually said, making Bin frown.

The young man before him used to be so bright and inquisitive, yet now his mind seemed so simple that he was merely a puppet to his demonic sickness.

“Kara, do you plan to stand there for the rest of the day?” he asked, noticing that it was already bright outside, yet the man had likely not slept yet, either.

It took another moment to process, then a response was given that made Bin’s frown deepen.

“I do not sleep often.”

You don’t sleep often?

Furrowing his brow, Bin sat up a bit straighter.

“Why don’t you sleep often? Are you not tired?” he asked simply.

Karalius didn’t take long before he responded this time.

“I am always tired, master Binan.”

Hmm…

Scooting over a bit, Bin gently tapped the spot beside him in the bed.

“Come lie down then.”

Karalius looked at the bed, then back up to Bin, repeating the motion several times before he took a cautious step closer. Bin expected him to finally listen to him for once, but when the man paused right at the edge of the bed, seemingly refusing to move a single inch closer, he sighed.

“What is it now? Remove your wet clothing and tug on a pair of Inkani’s pants, then get in bed,” Bin said, honestly quite tired.

The man before him pursed his pale lips, evidently deep in thought. What he ended up saying nearly a full minute later actually had Bin’s mouth hanging open in pure shock!

“Master Binan, are you requesting my assistance in creating offspring?”

Bin couldn’t find the words he needed to say.

Any words.

“We should not do such a thing at this time, Nana. You are unwell and carrying a child can be hazardous,” Karalious said, taking his stunned silence in stride.

Bin finally managed to pull himself out of his stupor a few moments later.

“I-I was just offering you a place to rest. We can’t make offspring, anyways. We are both male,” he said, drawing a confused frown to Karalius’s face.

“You… wish for me to remove my clothing and rest with you. Is that not an invitation to procreate?”

Scowling, Bin rubbed a hand over his face, then yawned as he laid back down.

“Just… just listen to your sire, alright? Your clothing is wet and I’m feeling unwell. I told you to put on a pair of pants, and do you want me to get better so that you can change me, or not?”

Karalius immediately began stripping, tearing a bit of his damp clothing in his rush to rid himself of it. He was naked within moments, and after another minute, had a pair of dry pants on, yet he still refused to climb into bed.

So stubborn…

He was just about to roll over and give his back to the man, intent on letting him figure out the rest on his own, when Karalius spoke again. This time, however, his voice was much quieter. As if he were almost nervous.

“Master Binan, is my body not too cold to be next to yours?”

Bin turned his head on the pillow to stare at him in the dim room.

“I have plenty of blankets. Get in bed Kara, now .”

With that final order, Bin turned onto his side, facing away from the man before closing his eyes.

It was nearly ten minutes later, and he was nearly already asleep, when he finally felt the bed depress beside him.

He expected the man to lie down, but when there was no further motion, Bin grudgingly rolled back over and opened his aching eyes.

“…Kara?”

So tired…

Karalius blinked out of his thoughts and turned his head towards him.

“I do not wish to disturb master, so I will remain awake until you are rested.”

Disturb me? Does he still think I want him in bed to breed?

“Why would you disturb me if you slept?” he asked as his eyes began to drift closed again of their own accord.

There was silence for so long after he’d spoken that Bin nearly fell asleep, but he managed to pull himself back to conscious as he heard Karalius finally answer his question.

“I wake up a lot because of the screams…”

Bin forced his eyes open again, then propped himself up on one elbow.

“Screams? Do you have nightmares, Kara?”

The man nodded slowly.

“What are they about? Who is screaming?” Bin asked as he made his aching body sit up fully.

Karalius didn’t seem to need long to figure out the answer to that question. His expression fell slightly in the darkness as he looked off to the side.

“Me,” he said in a voice so quiet that Bin had barely been able to hear it. He then lifted his solemn gaze back to meet his before adding, “It is me who is screaming… It never changes. I am always screaming for master to save me.”

Chapter 15

He couldn’t speak. 

Bin just stared at the man before him as tears streamed down his face. 

I made you like this. This is all my fault. 

He’d deserved all those times Karalius had come after him. He should have just let him change him, or kill him, or whatever would have happened, happen. 

Heck, he was just trying to form those exact words and give the man permission to do as he wished when Kara suddenly reached up and pressed his cold hands to either side of his face, then used his thumbs to wipe away his tears. 

“When you are changed, emotions become very quiet. There will be no need for tears,” he said with a calm expression on his tired face. 

Bin closed his mouth and coughed a little, then sighed out a breath, sniffling. 

“Th-there won’t be a-any nightmares today,” he finally managed to say, making Karalius tilt his head curiously. 

“There are always nightmares, master Binan. I am used to them.” 

You’re a terrible person, Bin. 

“Master Binan, I do not need to rest today. Master must get better in or—” Bin had reached up and pressed two of his fingers to Kara’s lips, silencing his repetitive monologue. 

“I understand, Kara, but I don’t think I can rest by myself, and I don’t think I can sleep with you staring at me all day,” he said, trying to get the man to agree to at least lie down and shut his eyes for a while. 

It seemed to take his mind a bit to put his words together into something he understood, but when Karalius finally spoke, Bin felt his tense body finally relax the slightest fraction. 

“I will lie down with master so that you can sleep well.” 

Bin smiled sleepily and with a bit of effort, helped Karalius finally lie down. The man’s body was oddly stiff, and it didn’t take long for Bin’s mind to process why. 

You don’t show emotions, but you are literally scared stiff to simply try to sleep…

As Karalius stared up at him with his cold, dark eyes, Bin took that rare moment to look him over. His stomach couldn’t handle what he saw and quickly diverted his gaze away from the multitude of scars covering the man’s chest and arms. 

“Nana, why do you still not sleep?” Karalius asked, making Bin quickly yank the blankets up and over them as he settled against him. 

“I-I am sleeping. Right now, I’m going to sleep!” he stuttered out, then closed his mouth to cough a little. 

Once he was done coughing he looked up, his cheek pressing against the man’s cold shoulder. 

“You have to close your eyes, too. I can’t sleep when you’re watching me,” he said sternly, making Karalius quickly shut his eyes. .. though he still kept his head tilted towards him on the pillow. 

You are such a kid underneath that adult exterior. 

Or his understanding had diminished to that of a child’s, but he didn’t want to think that such a thing had happened. 

As he continued to think through his myriad of thoughts, Bin found himself drifting off, quite content against his chilly heir. 

It didn’t take long, however, before he was awoken by stressed panting and quiet, terrified cries. 

His muddled mind took a few moments to register the situation, but as soon as he realized what was going on he quickly scooted upward a bit, then wrapped his arms around Karalius’s jerking head. 

You’re going to hurt your neck moving like that while you’re asleep. 

Heck, he would have smacked him pretty hard with his forehead, too, if he hadn’t tucked his head against him at some point while sleeping. 

He immediately considered waking the man to end his nightmare, but then he remembered that he often didn’t sleep because of that exact reason, so if he woke him up, he likely wouldn’t try going back to sleep again. 

Dammit…

Hugging Karalius’s head to his chest to try and keep it from moving too much, Bin leaned closer and carefully whispered to him. 

“Kara? It’s okay now, sweetheart. Your master is right here. Binan is here and he won’t let anyone hurt you.” 

Of course, he knew that his words weren’t completely true, because honestly, Karalius was much stronger than him, so if they could hurt Kara, then he definitely wouldn’t be able to prevent anything, but he was more focused on the here and now, and right then, Kara needed to hear what he needed to hear. 

He’d evidently made the right decision, too, and as he continued to whisper reassurances, Karalius slowly began to calm down. 

When his head stopped swinging from side to side Bin reached up with one hand and began running his fingers through the man’s messy hair. 

Someone needs a bath. 

Or, at least, his hair washed. 

Once Kara had completely calmed down again, Bin settled himself back down to rest. 

Unfortunately, the man startled him awake not an hour later. This time he really was crying out for him, making Bin hurry to reassure him again before he woke himself. 

That situation repeated itself nearly five times that day, and even continued well into the next night before Inkani silently slipped in to check on them. 

Bin quickly pushed himself back up into a sitting position when he saw the man enter, but his arms immediately began to shake in response, exhaustion making him nearly fall back down to the sheets right then and there. 

Inkani saw his struggling right away and moved to the edge of the bed, then leaned over, reaching for him. 

Bin couldn’t do anything but accept the assistance and allow himself to be lifted up and over a soundly sleeping Karalius, then hugged tightly against his own master’s chest. 

He was a little nervous about leaving Kara alone, especially after how many nightmares he’d had, but Inkani didn’t seem interested in discussing anything. At least, not while they were still in his room. 

So, Bin remained silent as Inkani stepped out into the calm, cool air. It was already well into the night and a plethora of stars were shining down on them from above. 

“My Bin, drink,” his sire said, immediately pulling Bin’s attention away from the stars and down to a small spot on Inkani’s neck that had clearly just been scratched open a bit for him. 

He immediately did as told, surprised at how hungry he was one he’d slipped his fangs into Inkani’s neck. 

“You are sick, Bin. You should not have stayed up taking care of him all day,” Inkani said, his tone chiding yet gentle. 

He knew that he shouldn’t have, but Inkani also understood the pull he felt towards Karalius, even if he refused to accept him as his heir. 

Heck, Inkani had taken care of him for nearly two weeks straight to be sure that he’d survive the change when the most he did for the previous people he’d changed was give them their first feeding before never seeing them again. 

Inkani was just opening his mouth to speak again when they both heard the door to his cabin slam open right before a rather disheveled Karalius stormed out. 

He was already hissing and would have likely been spitting fiery miasma if he hadn’t just woken up seconds earlier. 

When he noticed that Inkani wasn’t even bothering to bare his fangs in response, and Bin was simply looking at him from where he remained held in his own master’s arms, he actually managed to calm himself down a bit. 

Of course, that didn’t stop him from demanding his master back, though. In fact, he didn’t even bother with words, and instead walked right up to them. 

The only thing that stopped him from grabbing Bin right out of Inkani’s arms was Bin reaching over to press a hand to his chest gently. 

“This is my own master, Kara. He saved my life, and he was just feeding me a bit more since I didn’t sleep much,” he said, then stifled a quiet cough with the crook of his arm. 

Karalius didn’t look happy, but understanding did dawn on his face after a few moments. 

“Master did not sleep? I slept very well…” he said, making Bin’s heart sigh with relief. 

Thank god you got some rest. 

The man did  look quite a bit better, even with his messy hair and plethora of scars. His eyes weren’t as dark and his skin had the slightest fraction of color to it. 

Unable to hold back his relieved smile, Bin gestured for Inkani to let him down. His master clearly wasn’t happy, but he did as told. 

Once back on his feet, Bin turned to Karalius and was about to check him over when he was suddenly lifted right back up!

“H-hey! I’m not a child! I can walk just fine by myself,” he said as he poked Kralius’s forehead, only for the man to completely ignore him as his attention returned to Inkani. 

The two were silent for quite some time as the wind began to pick up, rustling their hair. When one of them finally did speak, it was his master. 

“I’m not interested in causing problems, nor do I plan to get between you two, but my heir has clearly not rested yet, and you, on the other hand, look much better. Are you treating my Binan appropriately?” 

The arms holding him tightened slightly as Karalius held him closer. 

“I do not know why master Binan hasn’t slept well. I was told to rest, and then, when I woke up, he was gone…” 

The despair he heard in Karalius’s voice made Bin purse his lips, then lean forward to wrap his arms around the man’s neck. Before he could speak, however, he began coughing again, but this time he couldn’t manage to stop it as tremors wracked his exhausted body. 

It took quite some time before he managed to regain control of himself, and right as he finished his last, gruff cough, a small piece of honey mint candy was slipped between his lips. 

“You need to watch him closely, okay? I’ll send up some medicine as soon as I can get it made, and he needs to sleep as much as he can…” Inkani said, his voice drifting around his aching head like the wind itself. 

The cold hand rubbing his back slowed to a stop in response. 

“I will make sure that he rests. I will not sleep this time,” Karalius said, making Bin inwardly sigh. 

The man needed more  rest, not less, but he couldn’t, and wouldn’t , argue with Inkani. So, once their little group parted ways Bin was brought back into Inkani’s room and settled into bed. 

He was tucked in with one blanket before another was pulled up overtop it. Then another… and another . 

By the time he finally managed to convince Karalius that was warm enough, the man had used up all of the blankets on the bed, spare chest, and even the one stored in the bottom drawer of Inkani’s dresser! 

Karalius then made sure that he’d finished his candy treat with a quick mouth-inspection, just to be sure that he had nothing to choke on, then demanded that he go to bed immediately. 

This guy… acts more like master Inkani than I thought he would. 

Glancing to his right and up, Bin watched Karalius watch him from where he sat cross-legged at his side. The man’s eyes narrowed in response to his attention, silently telling him that he was currently not  sleeping, as he should be. 

Alright, alright. I’m going to sleep. 

And he did, and while it was kind of odd to know that Karalius was staring right at him the entire time, that awkward feeling eventually shifted into something closer to a secure one. 

He might not be strong enough to protect Karalius in most cases, but he knew darn well that no one would dare try to mess with his heir… and if they did, they likely wouldn’t walk away from the confrontation. 

With such a strong person watching over him, it was no wonder that he easily fell asleep once he finally let himself relax again…

Chapter 16

He wasn’t very happy. 

Ilio had woken up to a cold bed, alone. 

Even though that had upset him, he’d still stayed put so that he didn’t bother Inkani. He could sense that the man wasn’t very happy, and also that he was above deck, likely dealing with Karalius and Bin. And yet, still , he waited. 

So, when Inkani finally  returned nearly forty minutes later, Ilio was ready for some attention, praise, or, at least, some sort of physical contact. He’d even accept a simple head pat as his reward. 

And yet, his handsome mate simply walked right past him and began removing his clothing. 

Ilio definitely didn’t mind the show, but his cautious hopes of a little more snuggling were promptly dashed when Inkani began pulling on a new set of clothes!

“Inka…?” he questioned, doing his best to keep his upset out of his voice. 

When the man had pulled on a pair of clean undergarments, then added trousers and fastened two belts around his waist, he finally looked over at him. 

Ilio perked up a tiny bit, but he knew that there wouldn’t be anymore physical attention for the time being. 

“We’re heading back to land,” the man finally said as he tossed Ilio a set of clothes. 

Land? Already? 

He was surprised, but definitely not upset about the sudden news. His feet definitely handled land better than water, so he gladly hopped out of bed and pulled on the clothing he’d been given. 

Hurrying to follow after Inkani, who was now heading out the door, Ilio considered their situation, and the reasoning the man might have for docking again so soon. 

He understood that they left in a rush previously, and that they might need supplies sooner over later, but the main reason he could think of was the other captain. They’d left port previously to try and outrun him, but that had clearly failed, leaving his wolf to scare away their pursuers into retreating… but it likely wouldn’t work a second time. 

He wanted to ask which port they were going to, but decided against it. What did it matter where they were going? He didn’t know anywhere but his home forest, so a name wouldn’t make any difference. 

They were just stepping out onto the deck when Inkani reached back and gently rustled his hair, much like one would a cat that had silently requested attention. 

And just like said cat, Ilio wanted to nudge against that hand with a content hum, but before the thought could even fully form in his mind, that hand he so desperately wanted attention from withdrew as its owner got busy commanding his crew. 

Having been left to his own devices, Ilio considered his options. He wanted Inkani’s attention, but that was rightfully being given to his crewmen at the moment. They needed their orders and Inkani was the one who had to give them. 

Twitching his wolf ears, he paced around the deck for a few minutes, doing his best to stay out of people’s way as he pondered what to do next. The answer, however, ended up, quite literally, smacking him in the face. A length of rope had broken free from one of the sails and swung across the deck as several vampires ran after it. 

Unfortunately, none were able to stop it before it managed to catch him across the face. The welt stung, but Ilio was thankfully fast enough to react before the rope swung away again and was able to snag it. 

It nearly pulled him overboard just from its size and momentum alone, but he managed to stop it right as he slid into the railing! Wincing, he held on with all of his strength until several of Inkani crewmen got to him and grabbed hold of the rope, too. 

Together, they managed to rein it in and pull it back to where it needed to be fastened, then held it still as gale after gale tried to rip it from their grip. By the time it was finally secure again Ilio was actually panting. 

The rush of adrenaline actually had him smiling, though he was getting some nervous looks from several of the vampires around him before they quickly got themselves back to work. 

Ilio hesitated for a moment, considering what else he could do as he wiped at the blood now running down his cheek. That’s when he noticed a different vampire struggling to move something across the deck. 

I can help with that!

He hurried over and, with the two of them together, managed to move the object easily enough. Once that task was complete he was whisked away to help with a stuck lever, then moving more items, then climbing a sail to assist in mending an upper portion.

By the time he was finally done helping everyone they were approaching the docks of a rather large city. 

That’s much bigger than the one near my territory…

It was a little intimidating, to tell the truth. 

He was just feeling a slight twinge of apprehension in his belly when he noticed his vampire walk over to the railing to look at the city. 

Grinning, Ilio hurried over, earning Inkani’s attention as he came to a stop at his side. 

Can I have a head pat? I helped a lot! 

Of course, he wouldn’t say such things out loud, but he still wished for the attention as hard as he could!

He was a bit surprised, however, when Inkani’s brow furrowed and he quickly leaned closer. The man’s hands grasped his face gently but firmly, then turned it a little to the side. 

“What is this?” Inkani asked, though Ilio wasn’t really sure if he was expecting him to answer. 

He had no doubt that the man was looking at the gash he’d gotten from being smacked with the rope earlier. 

“A rope got loose and hit me. I’m fine though,” he said calmly, smiling even though it hurt a little. 

His luck wasn’t the best, so it had hit him on the same side of his face where his stitches had been. He tasted blood, of course, but he kept that to himself. 

Moving his hand slightly to the side, Inkani pressed his thumb against Ilio’s lower lip and narrowed his eyes. 

“Open.” 

Ilio obeyed immediately, even though they now had a rather rapt audience since the boat was just about done docking. When Inkani realized his stitches had been broken his eyes flashed with a dark fury Ilio had never seen in them before. 

Before he could react, Ilio was lifted up into the man’s arms! Inkani then yelled over his shoulder for his men to take care of the rest before promptly jumping over the railing the moment the shipped stopped by the docks! 

Knowing that he was angry with him, Ilio hunched over and silently wrapped his arms around Inkani’s neck. 

I thought I did well… 

He was coming to understand that the man was mad about him having messed up his stitches, but he hadn’t done it on purpose. He’d also worked really hard to impress him, yet his injury seemed to overshadow all of that in an instant. 

He silently sulked the entire time Inkani carried him, and only began to pay attention when they left the city behind and began walking through a beautiful wooded area. 

They were still on a road, but he couldn’t help straightening a bit in Inkani’s arms so that he could look around. His wolf ears flicked here and there, eagerly taking in the sounds of the little forest. 

I like it.

When he looked back at Inkani a moment later, the man turned his head to face away, seemingly looking at something. Ilio followed his line of sight, but there was nothing that stood out…

Tilting his head, he flicked an ear and twitched his nose. 

I want to run as a wolf. 

“No, you’ve already hurt yourself enough for one day,” Inkani replied immediately as he held him a little closer. 

Ilio was confused, but not upset. He liked the attention so if the man didn’t want his wolf running around, then he wouldn’t. 

He was just about to begin nuzzling into Inkani’s hair when he noticed something down the road. 

A house? All the way out here? 

It was up on a small hill and surrounded by trees of all sizes. It wasn’t quite as big as a mansion, but it was a nice size and looked to be well maintained. 

“Is that your house, Inka?” he asked, curious. 

The man nodded as they began heading up the small hill. 

“I can’t just live on the ocean, now can I?” he asked, making Ilio frown. 

I thought that was exactly what you did. 

A stifled laugh broke the momentary calm and Inkani looked away again, making Ilio tilt his head. After a moment of silence Inkani slowed to a stop and returned him back to the ground, much to Ilio disappointment. 

“You can walk fine, right? I think I’ve spoiled you enough today.” 

Never! 

In fact, when Inkani continued contently on his way, Ilio scowled at his back and kept his feet firmly planted right where they were. 

It took the other man nearly a full minute to realize that he wasn’t being followed. He then turned around, giving him a look  that was clearly not impressed with his stubborn response. 

“Ilio…” Inkani warmed. 

Ilio glared down at the dirt beneath his feet, but stood strong, determined not to give in yet. He was tired of only getting little bits of attention. Sure, things were  progressing, but his wolf was becoming impatient and beginning to affect his own temperament. 

I shouldn’t be so stubborn, but human and vampire mates kissed, at least, and they want to touch each other. 

He honestly felt like a dog around Inkani, always wanting attention while the man rarely sought out any from him in return. 

I don’t… The man’s thought ended on a sigh, making Ilio look up just in time for his hand to be grabbed. 

“Let’s go,” Inkani said before turning back toward his house and beginning to walk again, tugging him along behind him. 

Ilio stared at their entwined hands for a moment before hurrying forward to walk beside him. The simple contact quieted his wolf a little, allowing him to relax a bit and finish the ascent in peace. 

Once they got to the top, Inkani became all business. 

The business he became? 

Well, that was the cleaning up Ilio  business. 

He was promptly brought into a large bathing room and stripped, then tossed into a tub that could easily fit two, if not three, people. Water was pumped into it as a fire was started beneath it, leaving Ilio to sit awkwardly inside as the water slowly rose. 

While the tub filled, Inkani brought over several different items. Ilio knew some of them, but others, not so much. 

When he saw a man walk inside and bow respectfully, he scowled but bit back a growl. 

“Oh behave, he’s not going to stay in here,” Inkani said as he got up and walked over to accept some small items from the man.  

After dismissing him, Inkani returned to the tub and set down the last of the items, then turned his attention to him. 

Ilio immediately perked up with the attention directed at him, and was more than willing to do exactly what Inkani asked of him as they began the bathing session. 

His hair was taken care of first, but instead of simply wetting it, then scrubbing some simple soap into it before rinsing, Inkani had to have used at least  three different things before he finally gave him a break! 

With a kink in his neck, Ilio finally straightened, then turned his head this way and that, trying to get it out with a quiet groan. He was just about to try and snap his head to the side to get some relief when Inkani reached forward and grabbed him around the neck gently but firmly. 

A minute later and he was giving a very  content sigh of relief as the man adjusted his muscles somehow. When he was done, Ilio felt much  better. 

“Good?” Inka asked as he withdrew his hands and retrieved a new item. 

Ilio nodded slowly, still surprised that his neck was already feeling better. 

“You were working a lot, then I had you lean over for a while so that I could take care of your hair properly. It’s no surprise that your muscles tensed up a bit.”

He… was watching me work? 

When Inkani reached over with a soft cloth and, after dipping it lightly in the water, lifted it up to his face, Ilio obediently closed his eyes. 

He kept still even though his face hurt quite a bit because of whatever Inkani had put on the cloth, but the pain ebbed after a little while. 

“Good boy…” Inka said as he continued to work, making Ilio grin happily.

He behaved perfectly throughout the entire process, until, that is, Inkani stripped out of his own clothing and climbed into the large tub with him! 

“What? I need to bathe, too. You just need to wash your body and you can get out,” he said as he reached over the edge of the tub and grabbed a bottle of hair product. 

Ilio watched him like a hawk as he began cleaning his own hair, but ran out of self control when the soap began to run down the man’s bare neck and chest. 

His instincts told him to lick it, but he knew better. It wouldn’t taste good, at all. He did, however, understand how to wash the man’s hair now. So, with only a fraction of hesitation, Ilio reached forward and gently slid his fingers into Inkani’s hair when the man reached down to add more soap to his palm. 

Inkani froze, which was to be expected. Ilio didn’t let that stop him, though. 

You’re not used to being taken care of. 

He wasn’t either, but he’d been so obsessed with getting attention that he’d forgotten to try and give some, too. Inkani never really came to him to be touched, but maybe he could work a little harder at getting him used to allowing it. 

He already carries me a lot, and he lets me sleep in his bed with him…

Pursing his lips as he heard a quiet growl start up from within Inkani’s chest, Ilio scooted the tiniest bit closer, then began massaging the man’s scalp with his clawed fingers. 

“What are you doing, Ilio? You don’t have to clean me,” Inkani said, his voice sounding partially frustrated, but also, a little bit… conflicted? 

Ilio wasn’t really familiar with the specific sound of each emotion yet, but he was learning quickly. So, after a moment of consideration he decided to continue with what he was doing. 

He earned a couple more grumbles from Inkani in response, but then the man quieted as he closed his eyes and seemed to relax a little bit. Ilio took the chance he was given and carefully cleaned his man’s hair until it was as soft as silk. 

Once he was positive he’d done a good job, he helped Inka rinse his hair, then reached over the edge of the tub to grab a large bar of soap. 

By the time Inkani had his eyes open again Ilio was pressing the light-smelling soap against his chest with the most focused expression he’d likely ever worn. He was so intent on doing a good job, in fact, that he didn’t even notice the expression that swam across his mate’s face as he began cleaning his body. 

You’re… really supposed to use a cloth with that…

His hands moved with precision and his eyes made sure not to miss a single speck of dirt… but he did  miss that thought from Inkani. 

He finished the front of the man’s upper body within five minutes, then paused just long enough for Inkani to turn around and give him his back before continuing his mission. He really liked touching the man’s back, too. His muscles were well defined but not bulging like some bigger men, yet he was just as powerful. 

“I’m more powerful…” Inkani mumbled, making Ilio grin as he continued to work. 

“My Inka is the strongest vampire,” he said, not even hesitating with his words. 

Inkani scoffed and straightened his back a little. 

“Of course I am. I’m an elder vampire and I’ve fought my way to the top of the hierarchy. Even elder Vrasje has to think twice before messing with me.” 

Ilio finished his task and set the bar on the edge of the tub, not wanting to push his luck and try to wash the man beneath the water. Instead, he reached up and leaned forward, wrapping his arms loosely around Inkani’s shoulders from behind, then settling his chin on the man’s left shoulder. 

“Elder Vrasje didn’t dare mess with you,” he said, drawing his man’s attention to him as their noses nearly brushed. 

“I’ve fought him enough times for him to know that I’m not someone to mess with any longer,” he said smugly. 

I like that expression on his face. 

His Inka was strong, and deserved to be smug. 

“What’s with all the praise all of a sudden, anyways?” Inkani asked, making Ilio fidget a tiny bit internally. 

“I-I’ve always thought that my Inka was amazing,” he hurried to say, just-barely managing to hide the fact that he was just trying to get his man used to wanting attention from him. 

Of course, he did  think that his vampire was amazing, but that wasn’t his main reason for their current situation.   

“Who’s your  vampire?” Inkani grumbled, catching some of his musings anyways. 

Ilio swallowed down some saliva before forcing himself to respond. 

“You,” he said firmly as he hugged the man a little closer, then leaned over, putting their mouths within an inch of each other. 

“Elder Inkani is my vampire.” 

He waited nearly ten full seconds as he watched Inkani partially roll his eyes, blow out an annoyed breath, and glare at him the slightest bit, but when he didn’t withdraw, or ask him to stop bothering him, Ilio leaned forward just enough to finally finish closing the gap between their mouths.

Chapter 17

Inkani is nervous. 

Bin watched the greenery slowly pass by them as Karalius carried him toward his captain’s home. The man seemed to be on auto-pilot, because no matter what their surroundings, whether it be the town or the forest, his footsteps remained steady and perfectly in sync. 

He wasn’t feeling nearly as bad as he had earlier, but he hadn’t gotten a whole lot of sleep before Inkani was back on deck, shouting orders to head for land. He honestly thought that Karalius would break the door down and attack them for being too loud, but before he could respond in such a way, he’d grabbed one of his cold hands and held it tightly. 

The touch had calmed the fury in his eyes, to a point, but he had no doubt that if he got disturbed again once they got situated at Inkani’s home, there would likely be hell to pay. 

He was just settling down for the rest of the walk when a familiar scent caught his attention and he immediately perked up to look around. 

Ah! 

“Kara, look!” he said as he pointed a little ways off the side of the road. 

His demon’s gaze followed the direction he was pointing, and when Bin looked back to see what he thought of what he’d found, he noticed the slightest fraction of intrigue in the man’s normally-dead eyes. 

“It’s our favorite tree, remember? Your mom had one planted in the backyard and we always used to press our faces into the fresh blossoms so that we would come back in smelling like flowers!” Bin said as Karalius began drifting in that direction without needing any instruction. 

Without a single word he walked all the way up to the small tree. It was just-barely taller than he, himself, was, so it didn’t take any extra effort for Kara to simply lean forward and brush his nose into a bunch of white blossoms. 

When the man turned his attention back to him, but didn’t step away from the flowers at all, allowing the blossoms to frame the left side of his pale face, Bin nearly began to cry. 

Karalius noticed his change in demeanor quickly and took a step back from the little tree, then lifted his free hand up to brush the spot beneath Bin’s right eye. 

“Nana, what is wrong? Did you not want to see the tree?” he asked, not understanding. 

That look of confused worry ended up doing him in. Tears began to stream down Bin’s face like raindrops falling from the sky, startling Karalius even further. 

The man tried to wipe away each tear before they fell, but his efforts were fruitless, making him even more stressed. 

He looked back and forth between the tree and Bin several times as he contemplated what he could do about the situation, but when he eventually lifted a miasma-covered hand, seemingly intent on burning the tree down to stop his master’s tears, Bin reached out and grabbed hold of it!

“I-it’s not the tree, Kara,” he stuttered, knowing darn well that it did involve the tree, but it was Karalius’s actions with it that actually made him cry. 

You’re still in there. 

His tears had come because of how relieved he’d felt when his best friend pushed through the darkness in his mind and did something they had done so long ago as if it were second nature.   

When Karalius slowly lowered his hand again, Bin grinned and sniffled. 

“I was just surprised, that’s all. Now you’ve got pollen all over your face,” he said with a light laugh. 

“Does master not like the tree any longer?” Karalius asked, still not comprehending very well. 

 Realizing that the poor tree might still go up in flames if he wasn’t careful, Bin got himself under control and reached up to finally wipe away his tears. 

“Does the pollen not smell good to master? I don’t understand,” Kara said, his expression changing to resemble a puppy who just wasn’t able to figure out how training worked. 

The image of the man holding him somehow growing dog ears and a tail made Bin nearly burst out into a fit of laughter, but he managed to hold himself back, but just barely. 

“It smells good. It smells good!” he said with an entertained smile on his face. 

His response finally seemed to calm Kara down, because the miasma that normally shadowed part of his body slowly dwindled down to simple irrelevant wisps. 

He’d actually never seen it so restrained. 

“Would master like to smell good, too?” Karalius asked after a small bout of silence. 

Bin looked toward the tree, then back to Karalius, his smile still firmly in place. 

“Sure!” 

He was just about to turn back toward the tree, expecting Karalius to close the distance between them and it again, when he noticed him lift his free hand up to settle against his hair… right before he leaned in and gently rubbed his cheek against his own. 

I… 

Bin’s heartbeat steadily increased to an uncomfortable, and unfamiliar, pace, as Kara continued to nuzzle his cheek like an attention-seeking feline. The man then moved back just enough to press his nose to the same spot. The soft exhale of his breath as Kara lifted his gaze to meet his own nearly had Bin leaning away in order to break the contact, but he didn’t want to startle him again. 

So, he silently bit his tongue and endured the strange situation until, finally, with one last brush of noses, Karalius withdrew completely. 

“I have always liked master Binan’s scent, but now he smells sweet, too.” 

Bin looked away as Kara began to walk again, allowing them to fall into a comfortable silence. With the peace restored, Bin thought back to their current situation. He’d only ever been to Inkani’s home once, and that was when the man had sustained grave injuries… from captain Moral. 

The town was considered a haven for pirates and thousands had flocked there for safety in numbers. The royal navy didn’t dare set foot there. 

His thoughts on that subject faded away as they reached the top of the hill. They now stood in front of Inkani’s large home, but for some reason, Karalius hesitated going inside. 

Do you want an invitation? 

Instead of getting a chance to voice that question, Bin was a bit surprised when Karalius suddenly turned and began walking around the outside of the home. 

“Kara, where are we going? You can go inside. Inkani won’t mind,” he said quickly, though his words didn’t seem to have any affect on the man’s comfortable pace. 

At least we aren’t walking away, but still…

“Why don’t you want to go inside?” he asked after a moment. 

As he waited for a response, Bin noticed one of Kara’s thin wings whip about as a particularly strong gust of wind buffeted them. 

He reached out right as it drifted close enough, then caught it carefully between his fingers. 

It feels just like leather. 

Except it was much colder and thinner. 

“Kara, how did your wings get damaged?” he asked curiously as they made their way around to the back of the house. 

That’s where Karalius redirected where he was heading and started moving away from the structure, making Bin quickly look over his own shoulder, worried… until he noticed where his demon was heading. 

A few moments later they settled on a large wooden swing hanging from a mature oak tree. Karalius didn’t begin swinging on it, but that was perfectly fine. With him having finally stopped completely, Bin took the opportunity to closely examine the man’s damaged wing. 

The other one didn’t look any better, but he couldn’t reach it comfortably from where he was situated straddling the man’s lap. 

“There was a bad storm when I flew to find you on your ship, but my wings had already long-since been wearing thin,” Kara finally answered him. “The storm tore them further.” 

Bin frowned as he held up a particularly mangled portion of wing. 

“Does it hurt?” 

Karalius slowly shook his head from side to side as he lowered his hands a little to hold Bin’s thighs, since he had straightened up onto his knees in order to get a better look at the man’s damaged wings. 

“It does not hurt. I rarely feel pain anymore.” 

That’s good, at least. 

Releasing the wing gently, Bin leaned back just enough to meet Kara’s eyes. 

“Can I run inside real quick and grab some items? I promise I’ll be back in just a moment,” he asked, keeping his words and tone calm even as he felt Kara’s grip on his thighs tighten as he spoke. 

He let his words hang in the air so that Karalius could process them in his own time, though he expected that his request would be denied since he didn’t respond after two full minutes, but when the man did finally reply, Bin was taken aback. 

“Master Binan may go inside to retrieve what he wishes.” 

When Kara’s fingers slowly relaxed, then lifted to his waist in order to help him to his feet, Bin was still in shock. In fact, he was so surprised that he didn’t move an inch even when Karalius stood up, too. 

“Master?” the man asked after a silent minute passed. 

That inquiry finally got him to snap out of his daze and quickly take a step back. 

“Th-thank you! I will be right back. Wait here for me, okay?” he said, excitement clear in his voice. 

Karalius slowly nodded, but didn’t sit down again. It was clear that he didn’t like letting him go, but he was still allowing it for some reason…

Bin turned and calmly walked up to one of the back doors of his master’s home. He was inside a moment later, but instead of rushing to grab what he’d intended to, he calmly shut the door, then turned to look out the window. 

Karalius watched the back porch with such extreme focus that he thought the man could actually still see him, but when a small orange and yellow butterfly suddenly began flying around his head off and on, his attention was slowly taken away by the small insect. 

He watched the man watch the butterfly for several seconds before turning away with a small smile on his face. 

While he’d only been to Inkani’s home once, the man had still gifted him a room for whenever he wished to return, with or without him. 

Heading up the stairs, he went in the opposite direction as Inkani’s room and walked to the end of the hall before entering the large room there. 

He immediately went over to one of his dressers and pulled out a sewing kit he’d requested the one time he’d been there in order to mend some of his and Inkani’s clothing. His master had said that there were plenty of servants who could sew them, but he’d refused the assistance. 

Inkani hadn’t argued, and Bin was given a sewing kit within the hour. 

I’ll just bring some blankets and blood, too. 

He wasn’t sure if Kara would allow him back in the house, so he had to make sure that he grabbed everything he’d need, just in case. 

By the time he stepped back outside, he had his arms completely full of items. Thankfully, Karalius hurried forward and up onto the porch in order to take some from him. They ended up sitting on the steps  as they went through each item. 

Kara didn’t hesitate to wrap the blankets that were brought out around Bin’s shoulders, and Bin quickly gave the other man a container of warm blood to drink. As the man sipped it quietly, Bin took his chance and settled himself behind him in order to truly look over his damaged wings. 

As he gently stretched the right one out to its impressive, full length, he was surprised, and saddened, to see that it was far more tattered than he’d previously thought. 

I don’t know if I can mend this much damage…

He noted each cut and hole, eventually counting over fifty on just that one wing alone. Part of the main bone that connected the appendage to Karalius also seemed broken. 

“Master, will you remove my wings?” 

Bin startled at Kara’s abrupt question. 

“I-I wasn’t going to!” he said quickly, not wanting the man to think that he’d intentionally cripple him. 

There was silence for a short time as the wind rustled their hair and Bin wracked his brain on how he could possibly save the man’s ability to fly, but when Karalius spoke again a while later, he fidgeted. 

“Master Binan, will you remove my wings for me?” 

Still holding the damaged right wing, Bin frowned. 

“I… was trying to figure out a way to save them for you,” he eventually said, sorrow in his voice. 

Sure, taking the man’s wings would make it much harder for him to catch up to him if he were to run, but he didn’t want to hurt him. He’d never intended to hurt him, or for him to get hurt. 

“I can no longer feel them and they are torn to the point of being useless. Will master not remove them for me?” Karalius replied calmly. 

Hunching his shoulders, Bin sniffled, but took out the small knife he kept at his waist. 

“A-are you sure?” he asked, knowing that Karalius didn’t say things just to say them. The man had been sure the moment the words had left his mouth. 

“Nana, please remove my wings.” 

Bin felt a tear slowly make its way down his left cheek, but he didn’t dare say anything more as he lifted his knife and, as gently as he could, began removing the man’s soft gray wings from his back.

Chapter 18

He’d known it was coming. 

For the past few days he’d been able to hear some of Ilio’s thoughts off and on. The guy was extremely focused, yet distracted easily. He loved to eat and was always hungry, but also constantly thought about offering him more blood. 

You would think that your mind would at least be worried about your old pack or wolf things, he thought as their mouths finally separated. 

“Elder Inkani is my mate and his crew are now my pack. The wolves I left behind will be fine, or they won’t. Life will continue whether I am there or not,” Ilio said, sounding much wiser than he normally did. 

In fact…

Turning to face him a little more, Inkani reached up and poked the side of his face. 

“What’s with all that rubbish?” he grumbled as he nudged Ilio again, this time in the chest, then promptly got himself up and out of the cooled water. 

Of course, his pup was quick to follow, and even hurried ahead and grabbed both towels that had been left for them. 

Not really feeling much fight in himself, Inkani didn’t protest when Ilio silently gestured that he wanted to dry him off… or grope him. Perhaps the translation had been mixed up between them, because Inkani eventually had to snap his teeth and bare his fangs to get the guy to stop squeezing him in certain places!

This brat needs to learn some manners. 

Stalking out of the bathing room, he could sense Ilio hot on his heels but ignored him as they stepped into his bedroom. 

He was dressed in minutes, much to his pup’s disappointment, but when he finished pulling on one of the newer pairs of boots he’d previously left at his house, he noticed something that didn’t quite sit well with him. 

Straightening back up, he stared at Ilio for several moments, making the young man, who still  had his darn wolf ears out, wiggle a little with excitement from the attention. 

“Where is the rest of your clothing? They brought up several things that would fit you,” he said as he pointed to the small stack of items on his bed. 

Ilio followed the direction he was pointing, but didn’t seem too thrilled with the prospect of more clothing. 

Huffing, Inkani stepped forward and began sorting through the items. They weren’t the greatest, since he hadn’t gotten a chance to actually buy anything specifically for the man yet, but they all looked like they would fit well enough. 

Eventually, he settled on a pair of black breeches and a plain white shirt. Once Ilio had tugged them on, however, Inkani immediately frowned. 

Why does he look so funny? 

The clothing was too short. 

Most of the people his weight were smaller. 

“Why are you so tall?” he grumbled as he ordered Ilio to remove his clothing to try on something else. 

Instead of just stripping down to his undergarments, everything quickly found its way onto the floor, leaving him completely naked. 

I…

Rubbing a hand down his face, Inkani heaved a stressed sigh, then peaked between two fingers to see Ilio’s face light up at the attention of simply being looked at by him. 

How did I get myself into this mess? 

I wan to kiss him again! He looks so handsome and cute!

Inkani narrowed his eyes as he lowered his hand, not happy with Ilio’s random thought having jumped into his mind. 

“I am tall because I ate well and grew up,” Ilio answered a bit late, clearly having gotten distracted by the attention he was getting. 

Reaching over, Inka poked Ilio’s forehead, then leaned closer. 

“You’re not getting another kiss until you’re dressed properly and ready to go downstairs,” he said sternly… then realized his mistake. 

Ilio was dressed in a full set of clothing within two minutes flat! Not only had he put on the appropriate undergarments, but he also found a nice pair of tan pants in the pile of clothing, along with a button-down white shirt that went quite well with it. 

Is he… is he even wearing socks? 

“Am I dressed properly, elder Inkani?” Ilio asked abruptly, making Inka blinked out of his thoughts and give the guy another once-over. 

“I suppose it will do.”

He was reasonably presentable, especially with his shirt tucked in and a belt fastened at his waist. 

Inkani was just starting to turn around in order to walk out the door when Ilio stepped forward and reached up, taking his face between his hands and pressing his lips against his for a second time. 

This little brat!

He was about to shove him away, but managed to stop himself right before he was about to act. 

I… did say that he could kiss me again once he was dressed and ready to go downstairs. 

Sighing out the frustration he’d let build, he gave Ilio a full ten seconds before he nudged his chin with a finger. 

“Alright, enough of that.” 

He was just nudging the guy away when he saw his face and fidgeted. 

“What’s with that look? You got your kiss, why do you look like I bit you instead?” he asked as he grabbed Ilio’s hand and tugged him out the door. 

I wouldn’t mind if you bit me, too. It would have more feeling…

Inkani stopped in his tracks and turned his head to glare at his mutt. 

“What did you just say?” he asked, slipping up and revealing that he was definitely hearing him. 

Ilio seemed to take that information in stride, because he didn’t even bother commenting on it and, instead, focused his attention on the actual subject. 

“You should just bite me. You put a lot more effort into that than you do kissing me.” 

This brat! I let him kiss me twice without any kind of repercussion and now he’s complaining?! He’s not even good at kissing!

Fuming, he began walking faster, forcing Ilio to focus on keeping up. Unfortunately, much to his annoyance, the guy’s legs were nearly as long as his own, making matching his stride easier than he’d wanted. 

Darn brat…

He was just about to tell him to hurry up anyways, even though he wasn’t falling behind, when he saw the guy blur past him, making him startle and stop abruptly. 

When Ilio slowed to a stop it was all the way down the hall by the top of the stairs. 

“What are you doing?” Inkani grumbled to himself as he began walking again, taking his time now that his frustrating partner was already at their destination. 

Having clearly not heard his musings, Ilio simply grinned before hopping up onto the railing. 

“H-hey! You better not slide down that! Be a decent dog and walk down like a real person!” 

Of course, his stubborn mutt still wasn’t listening and promptly slid down the railing and out of view. 

What has gotten into him? 

Hurrying forward, Inkani ran down the stairs and followed his nose until he came across the dining room. Ilio was seated at the table in front of a small spread of lunch items. 

“You think this is for you?” he asked as he walked in, his narrowed gaze squarely settled on the werewolf at his table. 

Ilio looked up as he spoke, but his mind was clearly on the food as his tongue licked at his lips almost nonstop. After a moment, he nodded, answering his question before returning his attention to the delicious food before him. 

Inkani wanted to tell him that it was for everyone but  him, but they both knew that would be a lie. He barely had any servants and most of them were vampires, anyways. 

I’ve also eaten far too much human food recently, so none of that even looks appetizing right now. 

Walking forward, it looked like he was going to take a seat at the other end of the table, but then he turned and walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling windows. 

“Just eat what you want,” he ended up saying on a sigh as he looked outside, then felt his mouth open in slight surprise. 

Bin…

His heir was standing behind Karalius as the man sat on the old wooden swing fastened to the large tree out back. 

What is he doing? 

He considered sending him that very question but stopped himself as he realized what was going on. 

Why… are you braiding his hair? 

Now that he was actually focusing on them, he was also curious as to why Karalius was no longer wearing his coat or shirt. 

Why is his chest bandaged, too? 

He didn’t think that the two would fight and he definitely  didn’t think that Bin could injure the demon. At least, not in his current state… or mindset. 

He honestly didn’t know all that much about his heir’s past besides that it hadn’t been the greatest. He’d known of his friend, Karalius, and eventually, he’d let him know about how the man had become a demon because of him, but that was about it. 

They seemed to be managing well enough together now, at least. Of course, he knew that Karalius was only being gentle because of Bin’s illness, but he had faith in his heir. The man was wise beyond his years, and very sweet. Hopefully he would be able to handle his old friend safely. 

Of course, he would step in if he was needed, but he knew that Bin didn’t want him to unless it was absolutely necessary. 

I have my own thing to deal with, anyways , he thought as turned around to see Ilio tear a chicken leg apart with practiced ease. 

Mine is a bit more of a glutton, unfortunately. 

Said glutton was now grinning at him as he happily chewed his meal. 

Inkani solemnly glanced back outside to Karalius, then returned his gaze to Ilio. 

What a difference between our pursuers… 

Inwardly sighing, he walked over and finally  sat down next to Ilio. The brat immediately scooted closer to him and even tugged his overflowing plate along with him. 

You know you can eat where you were, right? 

Ilio finished off the drumstick he’d been working on, then set the clean bone down atop the pile he’d already compiled before promptly standing up, then stepping to the side a bit before sitting down in Inkani’s lap! 

He gave the guy an immediate warning growl in response, but it went ignored as Ilio got comfortable, then reached for another drumstick. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” Inkani finally asked as he unconsciously reached around Ilio’s belly in order to keep him from falling. 

He waited impatiently for the guy to finish the bite of food he’d just taken. then got an answer he wasn’t expecting. 

“It’s not fair that I’m the only one eating,” he said as he scooted back a bit more, then tilted his head just enough to give Inkani room to feed. 

The sudden invitation had Inkani’s heart humming with anticipation. He’d grown quite accustomed to his pup’s blood, but at the same time…

“I have plenty of blood available to me. I don’t need yours,” he said as he looked away, needing to focus on anything  else in order to keep his fangs from slipping into that warm flesh. 

Ilio didn’t respond for a moment, though he could feel him moving around in his lap and see a bit from the corner of his eye. 

When he felt Ilio turn around completely and straddle him, Inkani’s attention immediately snapped back to the younger man with a hiss. 

“I’m not drinking from you again. Do you think I’m stupid? I know that you can control me if I suck your blood.”

Ilio tilted his head, frowning slightly. 

“I don’t think you’re stupid, but you’ve been drinking from me for a while now and I haven’t tried to control you,” Ilio said calmly as he tugged at a button on Inkani’s shirt gently. 

He looked a bit nervous now, but he managed to keep his gaze level with his… for the most part. 

Hmm, he has a point, but at the same time, how would I know if he’s even controlling me? 

That thought had his mind churning with an idea. 

“Hey Ilio? Can you control me right now if you wanted to?” he asked, curious. 

Ilio pursed his lips but nodded after a moment. 

“Yes, I can.” 

Nodding in return, Inkani settled back against his chair and licked his lower lip once, drawing Ilio’s attention immediately down to it. 

“Have me do something.” 

Ilio frowned as he looked up. 

“Have you do something…?” 

He didn’t sound happy about his request. 

“It can be anything. I just want to know how it feels when you’re controlling me,” Inkani explained. 

Ilio looked away for a moment as he considered his request. 

Is it really that big of a deal?    

“It is! I don’t want to control my Inka.” 

Yours? 

Inwardly scowling at how stubborn his dog was, Inkani reached up and poked the man’s nose. 

“I just want to know how it feels so that I can know if it happens in the future.”

Ilio still didn’t look very happy, but after a moment he sighed, pouted a little, then spoke. 

“Elder Inkani… please pat my head.” 

Inkani immediately  felt his body react as if it was suddenly controlled by strings and tied to a marionette device. His hand lifted on its own accord and soon found its way to Ilio’s soft, messy hair. 

Once there, his fingers moved gently, sifting through that hair like one would a dog’s log fur. 

He waited with baited breath as the action finally finished and the spell  of sorts wore off, returning full control to him. Inkani immediately yanked his hand away, then stared at it with wide eyes as his heart thrummed against his ribs. 

It hadn’t felt painful, or even numbing. 

I just… couldn’t control or fight against it in any way. 

It was scary how easily he’d been forced to respond to Ilio’s words. The thought to tell him to get away from him came soon after he’d calmed himself down, but he couldn’t speak those words. 

He’d told  him to control him. 

Finally meeting his gaze again, Inkani internally fidgeted as he saw the uncertainty and nervousness in his werewolf’s soft brown eyes. 

Dammit. 

He was just about to tell him to turn back around and finish eating when he noticed the faint motion of Ilio’s pulse just beneath the warm skin of his neck. 

“How… much longer will you be able to control me?” he asked instead. 

Ilio thought for a moment, then shrugged a little. 

“I’m not really sure, since I’ve never actually used the ability and was only ever told about it, but it’s pretty easy now, so I’d say at least another month.” 

A month…

He’d fed from him quite recently, too… 

Fuck it!

Leaning forward, Inkani growled loudly as he quickly sank his fangs into Ilio’s neck before he could try to talk himself out of it. If it would take a month to wear off, he might as well eat at least one more time. 

He could feel Ilio’s excitement at his acceptance to feed and wanted to to roll his eyes, but the gesture never happened. Instead, he simply adjusted his fangs a little to allow the man’s blood to flow more freely into his mouth as his other arm wrapped around Ilio’s waist. 

It was just a simple gesture and response to him feeding, his instincts making him secure his prey, even though the blood was being given willingly. 

He soon felt Ilio’s hand gently sifting through his hair, but couldn’t find the motivation to growl at him for touching him without permission. 

I will take care of him. 

Inkani internally rolled his eyes. 

I’ll keep him safe and stay with him, no matter what. 

He bit down a little harder, but Ilio didn’t even flinch as he hugged him close. 

Who will you keep safe? That bloody captain Moral is going to come for us again, and now that he knows you’re with me, he’ll bring silver bullets. What will you do then? Inkani thought as his arms tightened around his werewolf. 

“I’ll still take care of you and keep you safe. I am not immune to silver, but I am an alpha. One shot, or two, or three, won’t stop me,” Ilio said, responding to his thoughts. 

Inkani blinked a few times as he continued to feed, but he soon found that he had nothing more to say, or think. He didn’t want Ilio to follow him back onto the ship when he left, but he also knew that the man would absolutely refuse to stay on land without him. 

They were at an impasse, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chapter 19

The royal guard was circling the area. 

Word had spread fast, and while no one was fleeing, because they really did have an incredible amount of power being gathered in such high numbers… 

“Master Binan is worried.” 

Bin blinked out of his thoughts and walked out onto the balcony where Karalius patiently waited. The man had finally let him remain inside in order to rest, but he was still hesitating in following. 

The moment his bare feet stepped outside, however, the man was upon him, scooping him up and chastising him for walking outside without shoes on while he wasn’t feeling well. 

“You should not be out here without shoes, Nana, and why do you still have marks beneath your eyes?” 

Bin pursed his lips and looked away, a little embarrassed at the nagging. 

“I-I’m just used to the rocking of the ship. I’m sure I’ll get used to it being so still soon,” he said honestly, ignoring the shoe comment altogether in favor of the other. 

He really didn’t want it to seem like he needed to be rocked  to sleep like an infant and, perhaps, not all  of his sleepless nights could be blamed on such an excuse. 

He was nervous about the current situation between himself and Karalius, of course, but he was also worried about his master and his new pup. On top of that, he had wanted Karalius to come inside just in case the pirates that had settled the area as permanent residents, most of which being vampires, found him walking about. 

While vampires and the rare capable human were welcome, he wasn’t too sure that Karalius would be given the same acceptance. 

“Won’t you come in and rest with me?” he asked after a few moments of silence between them. 

That silence stretched on and on as Karalius looked off into the distance. 

I don’t like that you’re out here by yourself. 

Of course, he knew that his master had guards stationed in the shadows, but there weren’t many, and now that Kara’s wings had been removed, he was even more at risk. 

“I will look after master Binan from here. It is safer to guard from the outside,” Karalius finally said before setting him back down on his feet. 

But it’s not safer for you. 

When Karalius began walking over towards the railing, Bin pursed his lips and fought back a scowl. The man was his  heir, and should have listened to what he was requesting, but no matter what he said, Karalius seemed determined to decline him. 

Frustrating man. 

“Take off your coat so that I can check your wounds,” he said instead as he walked over to the man. 

Karalius paused for a moment, then turned around to face him with his normal calm, blank stare. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he wisely held his tongue and, instead, unbuttoned, then shrugged off his heavy jacket. 

You never even put your shirt back on… 

It was too cold to walk around outside with only one layer at night!

Now truly mad, Bin grabbed Kara’s arm and promptly pulled him into the house, then used his abilities to slam the double doors to the balcony definitively shut! 

When he shoved the man down onto a padded stool a moment later, then spun him around so that he was facing his bandaged back, Karalius seemed too stunned to respond. 

“Sit still and behave,” Bin grumbled as he got busy undoing the bloody bandages. 

To his surprise, Karalius did as told and sat straight and silent the entire time he cleaned his back. He could tell that it hurt him a bit, but he kept himself quiet and barely flinched more than once. 

Once all of the blood had been cleaned up, Bin looked over the wounds and sighed silently as he pressed a hand against Karalius’s cold skin. 

I’m so glad that it’s healing well. 

The blood had been expected, since it had been a pretty bad set of injuries, but everything looked healthy still and nothing was infected. 

Moving around him to the dressing table, Bin grabbed the salve he’d been using to heal the wounds, then walked back around to begin gently applying it. 

He was just about done when Karalius finally decided to speak. 

“Nana, when will I be able to change you safely?” 

Bin’s hand slowed to a stop against his cold skin for a second time. When he didn’t respond after several moments, Karalius turned around on the stool so that they were now facing each other with their noses mere inches apart. 

His tongue felt like chalk in his mouth, unable to make a single sound. 

Karalius tilted his head up slightly. 

“Master Binan, when will I be able to change you sa—” his repeated words were cut off by two fingers gently settling against his cold lips. 

Karalius remained silent, but when Bin also couldn’t speak, the man before him slowly began tilting his head to one side, clearly contemplating the situation as best he could. 

Just the look of confused, nervous, determination on his face made Bin’s heart break all over again as tears threatened to spill over the edges of his eyes. 

When Karalius finally decided on a response, it wasn’t verbal, nor was it what Bin had expected. 

The man’s tongue slipped from between his slightly parted lips and brushed against Bin’s fingers in one slow, intentional motion. The gesture made Bin suddenly feel all of the blood in his body abruptly rush to color his pale cheeks!

He tried to yank his hand away quickly to break their contact, but Karalius easily caught it in his cold, tight grip. The man’s expression remained unchanged, not even showing any sign of strain when Bin tried to withdraw his hand. 

“Karalius,” he finally said sternly, warning him. 

Instead of releasing him, Karalius’s fingers tightened as his head tilted in the opposite direction as before, still clearly processing the situation. 

When he did finally speak, Bin couldn’t help but blink in his own confused surprise. 

“Master Binan wishes to share a bed with me again?” 

Frowning, Bin thought over his words carefully. 

He knew that Karalius had known that he’d wanted him to come inside. He didn’t mind sharing his large bed with the man, so why was he asking about such a thing when he already knew the answer?

“Y… yes?” Bin eventually replied, unsure what Karalius was truly thinking about. 

The man before him went silent again as he thought through his words, his mind trying to keep the pieces of information he was receiving connected long enough to form a complete thought. 

Bin waited patiently. It took Kara nearly two full minutes to figure out what he wanted to say, but when those soft dark eyes lifted back up to his eyes, Bin couldn’t help but feel his face tinge red again. 

“I will take care of master Binan this evening,” he said so quietly that Bin almost lost the words to the loud thrumming of his nervous heart in his ears. 

Bin stared, trying to figure out what the man meant, when Karalius suddenly stood, then stepped the slightest fraction forward. When Bin instinctively took a step back, Karalius followed with another forward one of his own, then another. The man could have easily stopped him since he was still holding his wrist, but instead, he let him continue to retreat for some reason. 

Bin was trying to figure out what Karalius was intending to do when he suddenly felt something firm press against the back of his legs, forcing him off balance. Not a moment later and he was flat on his back in bed, his hair splayed around his head as his demon quizzically assessed their new situation from above him, leaning over his body on his hands and knees. 

This was definitely not what I was trying to get you to do! 

He was just about to correct the man and order him to finally release him, but before the words could leave his parting lips, they were sealed by Kara’s. 

“…”

His first instinctual response was to shove the other man away immediately, but the moment his free hand pressed against Karalius’s chest, he hesitated as an unnecessary thought slipped into his mind. 

He… is terrible at kissing!

Not that he had much experience, himself, but it honestly felt like he was kissing a piece of ice! 

No longer worried that things might turn inappropriate, since his demon seemed uninterested in moving any further… or perhaps didn’t remember how such situations actually went, Bin reached up with his free hand and nudged the man’s cheek until Karalius relented and leaned away, a curious look in his dark eyes. 

What is that look for? 

Before he could voice his question Bin’s mouth was sealed again.

You brat…

He glared at Karalius, meeting his calm eyes with his own narrowed ones, but the man didn’t seem to process anything besides the fact that he was being allowed to continue showing his affection. 

The signal that he was getting annoyed was clearly lost on him. 

Before he could bring himself to push the man’s face away again, he saw something that made him hesitate. 

Why are you closing your eyes? This isn’t a good kiss! This isn’t romantic, or even anything close to it! 

He was so focused on rambling nonsense in his own mind that Bin gasped when he felt Kara’s cold tongue brush against his lower lip! The slight opening now between his lips drew Karalius’s attention as Bin’s breath slipped out and eventually, slowly , drew the man’s tongue to press into that warmer space. 

That tongue was so, so  cold. 

At first Bin tried to make sure his own tongue avoided contact with Kara’s, but after only a few moments he felt wholly uncomfortable denying the man the slightest bit of warmth he could provide him if he simply allowed the touch. 

The moment their tongues pressed against each other Karalius gave the most content, quiet sigh Bin had ever heard. It sounded as if he were being granted something monumental. Something that he’d worked hard to earn throughout his entire life up until that moment. 

Bin slowly lifted his hand up to press against the man’s left side, then, after a slight pause in the motion of their tongues brushing together, Karalius’s lowered his body until it was settled carefully atop his own. 

Of course, it wasn’t the most intimate of positions, and they weren’t even lined up where it mattered, let alone the fact that they were both still very-much fully clothed besides Karalius’s upper body, but that only made Bin grin as Karalius now returned all of his focus into continuing their imperfect, terribly-slow kiss. 

At that moment, however, Bin realized that he now understood something that had his body relaxing completely as the man’s grip on his wrist finally loosened, then fell away completely in order to allow that hand to delve into Bin’s hair. 

We used to joke around about this sort of thing when we were kids. 

They had been reasonable, upright boys, but they had been boys nonetheless. There had been plenty of jokes, and when Karalius had been taught about his duties as a man when it concerned his future wife, he had taught it to Bin, whose father was never home to pass along such information. The two had even joked about marrying each other to keep themselves from the headaches of women, but of course, it had just been in jest… 

His grin stretched slightly as he felt his heart lighten, then grow heavy, then lighten again, unable to decide how he should feel about their current situation. 

In the end, he was left speechless and unable to do anything but stare as Karalius finally leaned away just enough for their eyes to meet as he opened his again. 

Seeing his own reflection in those dark depths, Bin could only swallow, then lick his cold, damp lips. 

There was another long pause as his demon considered their current situation, but to Bin’s surprise, when Karalius simply reached up to tug gently at a small length of his bangs, he couldn’t help but smile and reach up, too, settling his hand calmly over Kara’s. 

His gesture had the man tilting his head slightly, trying to understand what his response should be, no doubt. Bin didn’t wait for him this time, though. Instead, he reached up with his other hand and pressed it against the back of Karalius’s cold neck, warming the skin there the slightest fraction as he guided him back down for another slow, terrible kiss because, if he was being completely honest, it might not have been all that  terrible…

Chapter 20

Why isn’t he trying to cover up… at least a little? 

He knew that his pup didn’t mind being naked in front of others, but for some reason it was bothering him  now. 

Even though the garment maker said that he’d get the most accurate measurement without any type of clothing in the way, Inkani had still offered Ilio a small undergarment for modesty. 

He should have known that it would be declined, though, because what werewolf gave a damn about modesty?  He was quite well endowed, too, so even if he did  get embarrassed, it wouldn’t have been because of that !

While Ilio stood perfectly still with his back ramrod straight, Inkani was fighting himself not to scratch a million different itches that were suddenly popping up all over his body. 

This damned dog, kissing me repeatedly only to turn around and let some random old man measure him from head to toe! 

Of course, he was the one who had called the man to his home to do exactly what he was doing so that they could get Ilio some clothing that actually fit, but he was still uncomfortably mad about it. 

Granted, he could have gotten a woman, but the only available tailors in the area were all young and… just too young! 

“I won’t look at anyone else. Inkani is the only one that I want to be mine,” Ilio said, making Inkani nearly jump out of his skin, and the window, startled by the sudden admission, and right in front of the tailor, at that!

Thankfully, the old man kept his mouth shut and remained busy and professional until he finally stepped away, marking one last measurement on his notepad before turning toward him with a slight bow. 

“I have a few things in his size, but the majority of it will have to be made. I can have what you requested done in about a week, if that suits your lordship?” the man said with a firm, sure voice that beget his years of experience. 

Pleased, Inkani nodded his head and tossed the man a pouch of coins. 

“That will be fine. That’s half the payment. I’ll give you the other half when you deliver the garments,” he said, making the tailor quickly nod his agreement. 

“Very good, my lord. I will have them done and see you in one week. Take care.” 

The man couldn’t have left any faster. 

Now then…

Staring pointedly at Ilio, Inkani opened his mouth to reprimand him, but when no words came to mind concerning his misgivings, he slowly closed it and scowled down at the floor. 

He soon noticed a pair of familiar, bare feet step into view, forcing him to lift his gaze until it was level with Ilio’s. 

“What do you want?” he asked, trying to make his voice sound annoyed, but really just seeming like he was running out of steam to confront the man standing before him. 

Ilio remained quiet for a few moments but Inkani could hear the gears turning in his mind as he considered what to say. They hadn’t known each other for all that long really, but he couldn’t deny that Ilio had definitely grown up a bit. 

He’s actually thinking about what to say in order to try and keep me from grumbling at him, instead of just blurting out what he wants. 

“Can we go for a run?” 

A… 

He hadn’t expected him to request such a simple thing, but at the same time, it made sense. He’d been restricting the man’s movements so that he didn’t wander off and get hurt, since most vampires weren’t fans of werewolves to begin with. 

“Uh, sure. It’s been a bit since I’ve let you run around,” Inkani said, willing to bend his rules a little bit… so long as he was coming along, too. 

Before he could even make his way over to the few garments still settled on his bed that he’d been lending Ilio, there was a panting wolf by his leg, its breath dampening the cloth there as its tongue lolled to the side. 

I should have figured that you’d want to run as a wolf. 

“Alright, let’s go. You need to stay close to me though, alright?” he said as they headed out of his bedroom. 

Ilio bolted ahead of him right away, but then skid to a halt and turned around to scramble back to his side, then run around him repeatedly as Inkani continued his content pace. 

This is going to be exhausting…

Looking over his shoulder, he thought toward Bin. 

Going out for a bit. We’ll be back later. 

He got a nervous static in response, but when he didn’t sense anything negative, he figured that his heir was just busy with his demon and decided not to bother them further. 

The moment they stepped outside Inkani realized that right then might not have been the best time for a run. 

It’s drizzling…

It had been raining earlier, too, so the ground was quite damp and spongy. 

An abrupt tap against his knee drew his attention downward. 

You…

Pointing back to the open front door, Inkani grumbled at Ilio. 

“Go put that umbrella back. It’s not even raining much and how would I even be able to use it while running?” 

His pup’s thick eyebrows rose on its canine face as if to say I’m sure you could figure it out , but Ilio wisely kept his actual thoughts to himself as he hurried back inside… only to return a moment later with an overcoat between his panting jaws!

This little shit…

“Take it back Ilio, now. “

The wolf before him snorted and wrinkled its nose, but did as told, returning the coat to the waiting hands of the butler standing by the door. 

When it didn’t appear to be bringing anything else back from inside, Inkani began walking toward a nice trail his property maintained that cut through the forest heading north. 

A snorted huff from behind him caught his attention, but he knew better than to look. Ilio was probably just trying to mess with him again. 

So, instead, he picked up his pace until they were both running at a comfortable pace. 

Why is he still snorting? 

There was also a whistling sound, and it eventually prompted him to slow down and turn. 

I should have just kept going…

Pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose, Inkani heaved an annoyed sigh and pointed to the ground next to the edge of the trail they were on. 

“Put the brick down.” 

When Ilio just looked off to the side and began wandering past him as if he hadn’t heard, Inkani bared his fangs. 

“You’re getting dirt all over your mouth. If you think I’m gonna kiss you again after this, you’re insane,” Inkani growled as he quickly stomped after the wolf, not willing to let the matter rest yet!

They had only walked about forty paces, side by side, when he abruptly lunged towards the wolf, trying to grab the dirty brick!

Ilio had evidently seen his attempt coming, because he quickly bolted ahead with an excited snort!

You little shit!

“Give me that brick!” Inkani yelled as he hurried after him. 

Ilio actually let him get close several times, but no matter the distance, it was never quite  close  enough. 

That was how they ended up running four full miles without even realizing it… 

Eventually, finally , Ilio slowed to a stop near the top of a waterfall. His tongue was hanging out from the side of his mouth, behind  the brick. 

Even Inkani was breathing hard as his blood struggled to keep up with his body’s needs. 

I need to feed again later. 

Ilio must have heard his thought, because the pup was soon wandering closer with a slow, back and forth swish to its tail. Once it was nearly at his feet, it finally  dropped the brick. 

That… dirty tongue. 

Sitting down in a large leaf pile, Inkani stretched out his legs and leaned back against a firm tree. 

It didn’t take long for a certain wolf to wander closer, but right before it could try to lick his face Inkani jerked his arm up and nudged the beast’s head away. 

“Not with that dirty mouth.”

Ilio gave him a you’ve got to be kidding me  look, but Inkani just returned it with a glare. 

“No.” 

Ilio stared at him for another full minute before grumbling and sitting down. 

Inkani thought that he was finally free to relax for a bit before they needed to head back, but right before he was about to close his eyes he saw Ilio’s wolf lift its back leg as he ducked his head and stuck out his tongue. 

“H-hey!” 

He quickly grabbed the punk by his scuff, earning himself a confused growl from the large wolf. 

“I don’t want you licking my face with dirt all over your tongue, but that doesn’t mean you go and lick your balls instead!” 

The fur beneath his hand suddenly changed to warm skin, startling him enough to quickly let go. 

“Why did you change back?” Inkani asked as he quickly looked away, though he wasn’t sure why. 

He could hear Ilio moving almost immediately, his weight crunching the leaves beneath him as he inched his way closer. 

When Ilio didn’t climb on top of him, however, he blinked, then frowned, confused, before turning to look at the man settled to his left. 

“Elder Inkani, is it okay if I don’t lick your face?” Ilio asked once he had his full attention. 

Uh…

Changing the subject, Inkani asked instead; “Why were you running around with a brick in your mouth in the first place?”

Without hesitating, and with a straight face, Ilio responded simply. 

“Because I wanted elder Inkani to chase me.” 

What exactly was he supposed to say to that? 

Hunching his shoulders a bit and nudging some leaves with his boot, Inkani looked away again as he replied, “well, you got your wish.” 

He heard a confirming hum from Ilio, but then the sound of leaves rustling met his ears. Then, only a few moments later, his thigh began to warm from Ilio’s hand settling atop it. 

The touch drew his attention back to the man, but again, what did he say? It took him nearly a minute of looking into those soft, dark eyes to realize that there was really only one thing Ilio likely wanted to hear from him right then. 

“You want to touch me?” 

The man’s nod was immediate. 

Inkani closed his eyes for a moment as he listened to the sounds of the forest. 

There was no one nearby. 

His fangs itched as he opened his eyes again and turned his body to face Ilio. 

“Fine, you can touch, but—” he nearly swallowed his tongue as the hand on his thigh tightened painfully and Ilio leaned much closer!

Before his brat could get ahead of himself, Inkani grabbed his jaw and squeezed, snapping him out of his eagerness and bringing him back to himself. 

“I’m not interested in pain, okay? I get enough of that in my daily life.”

The hand on his thigh quickly relaxed its grip.  

“And keep that dirty mouth away from mine.”

Ilio made an agreeing grunt. 

Figuring that his rules were reasonable enough, Inkani released the man’s jaw and leaned back in the pile of leaves. He should have probably thought through his instructions more before letting Ilio go, however, because he soon realized that his rules had been sorely lacking. 

Soon his pants were down around his knees and a too-hot mouth was sealed over his suddenly-awake length!

Ten damned seconds! That’s how long it took for Ilio to get to what he’d wanted!

Inkani wanted to chastise him about asking permission for such areas, but again, he realized, much too late, that he had  technically given him permission. 

Broad permission, but permission all the same. 

…fuck it. 

Swallowing down his pride for once, Inkani tinted his head back and let his body simply enjoy the awkward sensations he was being given. 

He had to admit, though. 

He’s absolutely terrible at this. 

The guy was definitely trying, but it seemed like he was needing to focus more on not biting him than actually pleasuring him. 

In fact, after a few minutes Inkani couldn’t help but lift an arm up in order to hide his fanged grin. 

Sure, he still ended up cumming… after nearly fifteen minutes of fumbling, but even after sitting up and looking at Ilio’s proud, dirty face, he just couldn’t take the situation seriously. 

Thankfully, his werewolf didn’t seem to notice and likely just thought that his expression was simply one of content happiness. 

He couldn’t really argue too much on that, though. He was pretty happy, even if it was mostly due to humor, and while it had been awkward, he definitely felt a bit better after believe relived, even if he now had a few scrapes on his lower bits for Ilio’s efforts. 

Shaking his head as he held back another laugh, Inkani finally pushed himself up to his feet, then fixed his pants before brushing off some leaves. 

Not a second after he’d finished, however, he was up in Ilio’s arms as the man began their long walk home!

“…I am perfectly capable of walking, you know.”

Ilio grinned at him, then tilted his head a little. 

“Elder Inkani’s belly has been rumbling.” 

I…

He was going to tell him that he could easily feed when they got back home, but at the same time, if he nibbled on Ilio, he could easily turn his attention outward instead of having to watch where he was walking…

Of course, he could do that anyways, with ease, but he wasn’t interested in such logic right then. 

Thus, after blowing off a few specks of dirt from the man’s neck, Inkani gladly nuzzled his nose against the warm skin there, then bit down. 

He’d just have a quick drink, then go back to walking on his own. 

Except, even after he’d finished filling his belly, Inkani didn’t ask to be let down. 

His attention remained on their surroundings as he lazily licked at Ilio’s warm skin, the two little puncture holes he’d made long-since healed by his saliva. 

It wasn’t until a good while later that he finally  asked to walk again, but when he was actually set down and straightened up, his lips turned downward into a confused frown. 

We’re… home? 

Ilio was beaming next to him, the spitting image of enthusiastic energy even though he’d just run four miles, then carried him back the other four. 

Lifting a finger up to his lips as one of his servants opened the front door about thirty feet ahead of them, Inkani hissed out in his quietest voice. 

“You did not  just carry me all the way back here.” 

Ilio looked confused for a moment, because he clearly had  just carried him all the way back home, but then he seemed to understand what he was trying to get at. 

Except…

When the darn brat ran up the stairs suddenly, then glanced at his servant before looking back at him, Inkani knew he was up to something. 

“I’ll see you upstairs for our bath, my Inka!” he shouted as he waved, then disappeared in a blur!

Inkani swallowed. 

He hadn’t promised him a b— shit. 

That was what he wanted for keeping quiet. 

Stomping up the steps, Inkani grumbled the entire way there as he heard Ilio running around inside the house to get things ready. 

When Inkani stopped in front of his servant, the man bowed, not a hint of a smile on his face since he sensed his dreary mood. 

Inkani had a million things he wanted to say to the man, but in the end he sighed and walked past him, leaving him with one simple parting sentence. 

“Never get married.”

Chapter 21

They’re growing back…

He had no idea how, because it shouldn’t have been possible, and especially not within three days of having them removed, but he couldn’t deny what he was feeling. 

Being extremely gentle, since he didn’t want to wake the man currently sleeping against him, Bin felt along the bony ridges protruding faintly from the man’s back. 

I’ve never seen such regenerative abilities. 

Sure, vampires and werewolves could heal some pretty nasty injuries without much help from common medicine, but to completely regenerate an appendage? 

It was unheard of. 

He considered letting his master know, but at same time, it probably didn’t matter one way or the other. Even without his wings, Karalius would easily be able to kill him if he wanted to. 

He was just looking up at the ceiling, considering going back to sleep for a bit when he felt the man pressed up against him move. Bin immediately closed his eyes and remained absolutely still, but when Karalius simply moved his arm farther up onto his chest, then gave a content, sleepy sigh, Bin risked squinting one eye open. 

Ah, he just scooted up a little and got more comfortable. 

His shoulder was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable from the weight of the man’s head, though. Pins and needles danced up and down the right side of his body but it was clear that Karalius was oblivious, even as he adjusted himself a little more, then yawned wide enough for Bin to see his two sets of fangs extend to sharp points, then retract again as they settled back into his mouth. 

…you’re not a demon. You’re a cat. 

As if agreeing with him, Karalius nuzzled his cheek against his shoulder, then gave a smaller yawn with only one fang visible. 

Such a scary, powerful demon and yet you sleep like a kitten when you’re comfortable. 

Reaching over, Bin gently touched the tips of Karalius’s fingers that were resting atop his bare chest, then lifted one gently.

I never noticed that your claws come out when you sleep. 

In fact, he didn’t remember seeing them any other time the man had fallen asleep. 

He’s always stressed and tossing and tur— His eyes widened as he realized something he should have right away. 

You’re… sleeping peacefully. 

Looking up from the man’s hand, Bin studied Karalius’s relaxed expression. 

He really is sleeping well. 

As he continued to stare, his fingers gently massaged the fingers he’d been inspecting previously without really noticing. 

Ah, it’s already dark outside again? 

Bin, are you up? 

Blinking, Bin furrowed his brow and looked back up toward the ceiling.

Yes, I’m awake, he replied, curious about what his master wanted. 

Is everything okay? I haven’t heard from you in two days. 

Bin felt his eyebrow twitch as he glanced back outside. 

I guess we were just really tired, he eventually replied, still stunned that they’d slept for so long. 

When his master didn’t respond again right away, Bin figured that he was going to want to see him at some point soon. So, he reached over and gently began petting Karalius’s soft hair. 

“Kara? It’s time to wake up,” he whispered quietly, doing his best not to startle the man. 

When his demon didn’t respond, Bin moved his hand down to softly brush his thumb against his pale nose. 

Come eat something soon, please, Inkani finally replied, proving Bin right. 

“Kara?” 

When he still  got no response, he leaned closer and opened his mouth just enough to nip at the man’s nose. He honestly wasn’t expecting a response for the little bite, either, since the man seemed to be so deep asleep, so when he suddenly felt cold lips press against his own, Bin’s eyes widened into saucers and he squeaked, startled!

He immediately tried to pull away out of instinct, but there was suddenly a hand behind his head, easily keeping him still until Karalius ended their kiss about a minute later. 

Bin immediately rolled onto his other side as soon as he was freed, trying to hide his blush. 

“Did master not wish to have his kiss returned?” Karalius asked with a hint of smugness to his words that had Bin’s skin itching. 

You know that wasn’t a kiss, you brat. 

Scowling at the wall, Bin forced himself to sit up then, finally, glare over his shoulder as Karalius sat up beside him. 

Uh…

There was a problem. 

I don’t remember biting you last night!

He evidently had, though. Twice. 

“W-we should get dressed,” he eventually mumbled as he quickly scooted out of the bed. 

Why is his back healing so quickly but he couldn’t heal two little sets of teeth marks?!

They both thankfully still had their pants on, so at least he knew that nothing else had happened last night. 

Why are you watching me instead of getting dressed? 

He could feel the man’s eyes glued to his body as he tugged on a shirt that was a little too long… intentionally. It covered the important parts when he tugged his pants off, then quickly switched them out for new ones. 

“Master Binan?” 

Once he had his pants up and was fastening the belt, he turned to the side a bit so that he could look at Karalius. 

“Hmm?” 

The man had moved to the edge of the bed closest to him and was sitting with his legs tucked beneath him, looking like an eager child. 

I sense a trap. 

Karalius smiled widely, one fang poking out from beneath his upper lip. 

Cute…

“Master Binan, I will sleep with you from now on, okay?” 

Bin frowned, blinking, confused. 

“Didn’t you say that you’d rather stand guard from outside?” he said, even though he wouldn’t argue. He preferred Karalius to be inside. 

And why are you suddenly being calmer? 

“I will guard from the outside during the day, then guard from master’s bed at night,” the man said simply, making Bin even more suspicious. 

When the man just continued to stare, Bin pursed his lips and went to his closet to retrieve another set of clothing. It took him a minute to find something he thought would work well for his heir, but when he turned around, Bin nearly jumped out of skin. 

Karalius tilted his head and grinned as he stood right in front of him. 

You brat. 

Pushing the clothing into the man’s arms, Bin waited until Karalius grabbed them, then walked around him just to get some space. 

Why is my heart beating so hard? I’m not tired.

Maybe he just needed to feed… even though he’d evidently done that with Karalius twice  last night. 

Oh. 

Turning abruptly, Bin opened his mouth to speak, but his words got caught in his throat as his eyes landed on his completely naked heir. 

He turned back around and stared out the balcony doors as he heard Karalius chuckle quietly. 

“Master, will you help me with my shirt?” 

Bin turned back around, only to scowl. 

His shirt is long enough, but still…

“Where are your pants?” he asked as he hesitantly walked back over and began fixing his shirt. 

He saw the man point behind him, but didn’t bother turning to see. They had obviously been tossed on the bed. After quickly fastening the man’s shirt correctly, Bin turned and grabbed his pants, then pushed them against his heir’s chest. 

“Do you need help with these, too?” he asked sarcastically. 

When Karalius immediately grinned and tilted his head like a curious cat, Bin quickly retreated and finished getting himself presentable. 

We’re coming down soon, master , he thought to Inkani, giving him a heads up that he was bringing Karalius with him. 

When he turned around again, he was a bit surprised to see Karalius standing by the door, clearly waiting for him so that they could leave. 

…no. 

“Come here, Kara,” Bin said as he gestured him toward the seat in front of the mirror. 

Once the man sat down Bin got to work on his messy hair and also used a damp cloth from the washbasin and cleaned his face for him. Once done he noticed Karalius examining his appearance, seemingly considering it silently. 

“Let’s head downstairs,” Bin said, bringing the guy’s attention back to him.

Karalius glanced back at the mirror one more time, then stood up and walked over to him. 

“Master, I am hungry.” 

Bin led him out the door and started down the hall. 

I’m not surprised since I bit you twice last night. 

“Master has food waiting for us,” he said as he felt Kara’s cold fingers slip against his own, then close around them. 

Bin glanced at their now-joined hands, but then decided to just ignore the touch. If the man wanted to hold his hand, then that was fine. Besides, it was a lot better than his previous intentions.

They took their time walking downstairs, allowing Bin to steal a few more glances at the man beside him. His eyes were calm and his back was straight, but what was new, and what kept holding Bin’s attention, was the lack of dark circles beneath Karalius’s eyes, and the way he just seemed a lot more able to focus since they’d woken up. 

He actually seems happy now, too. 

He could see real emotion in the man’s dark eyes, and while most of it was curious, happy, or content, there were other ones that he couldn’t quite place his finger on. 

By the time they got to the dining room Bin felt his fangs pressing against his lips. He might have nibbled on Karalius last night, but he clearly hadn’t taken much. 

They both immediately went to the table settings clearly made for them and sat down, then grabbed the goblets of blood in front of them. 

His master waited for them to finish drinking and set their glasses down before he spoke from his seat across the table from them. 

“How are you two feeling? You slept for quite some time,” he said calmly as he looked between them a few times. 

Bin felt the fresh blood he’d just consumed flow up to his cheeks, tinting them pink. 

“I think I was sleeping off the remainder of my illness, and Kara had been sleeping out on the balcony, so I think he just needed to rest inside…” 

 Inkani nodded after a moment, but Bin’s attention had already wandered as he glanced around the room, then back to Inkani. 

“Master, where is your werewolf?” 

He noticed Inkani’s eyebrow twitch slightly at his question, but he quickly calmed his expression. 

“Upstairs. He’s taking a nap.” 

A nap? I didn’t know he ever ran out of energy. 

Bin was about to question if he wasn’t feeling well when he noticed a faint scent in the air. 

Oh. You fed from him… 

Must have nearly drained him for the guy to not be at his side. 

“Captain Moral has gathered a large amount of ships just outside the harbor. Many of the locals are beginning to board up their shops,” Inkani said, making Bin’s eyes widen.

“They’re actually going to attack an entire town of pirates?” 

It was an insane thing to consider, but at the same time, captain Moral had risen in the ranks over the years he’d been tailing them. 

“I’m not sure if he’s crazy enough to try that, but it wouldn’t be hard for them to cut off our supply routes,” Inkani said, making bin nod in agreement. 

They weren’t on an island, but they were close to British-controlled territories. Of course, they had plenty of men guarding the boarder there, along with booby-traps galore, but if they were attacked from both the sea and  land simultaneously? 

“I don’t like it,” Bin mumbled as he accepted a second glass of blood. 

He expected Karalius to be given another one, too, and he did receive a glass, but this time it looked like plain water. A dish was also set before his heir that had grilled chicken, potatoes, and some sort of hash on it. 

Before he could question Kara about whether he wanted it, the man immediately tucked in, eating as if he were starving. 

I suppose it makes sense that he’d need to eat. 

Vampires tended to eat because they wanted to, but he wasn’t really a vampire. 

He needs to eat…

Noticing that the food was disappearing quickly, he asked the servant to bring another dish, as well as another glass of water for his heir.  

There was soon a second dish and glass in front of Karalius, but the man didn’t seem to even notice the servant as he immediately switched from his just-cleaned plate and started digging in again. 

“Are you feeling better, Karalius?” 

Hearing his master’s question, Bin looked towards him, but quickly returned his attention to his heir. 

Karalius didn’t answer until he finished his second portion of chicken and hash, only slowing enough to lift his head from the plate when there was only a few bites of potato left. 

“I… I think so. My mind is quieter,” he rasped as Bin reached over and cleaned off the bits of food he’d gotten on his chin. 

“When was the last time you’ve eaten a human meal?” 

Karalius frowned as he thought for a moment, then shook his head. 

“I was never hungry for human food. I ate souls and drank a lot of blood…”

A servant brought over a large mango and Karalius immediately accepted it and bit right through the skin, clearly still willing to eat more. 

Bin looked back at his master, excited that they’d discovered something new concerning his heir. 

“Keep him well fed, Bin. The servants can make him something whenever needed,” Inkani said as he stood, making Bin nod. 

“I’m going to go into town and speak with some of the men I have stationed on the docks as lookouts, as well as those in charge of the town’s defenses,” Inkani said, making Bin quickly stand up, too. 

“You’re not coming. I need you to stay here and look after your heir, and don’t let Ilio wander off to find me,” he said sternly, not interested in arguing. 

Bin didn’t like leaving his master alone at such a tense time, but he wouldn’t argue. 

“Yes sir. Please be careful and come back soon.” 

He followed Inkani to the front door, seeing him off, then returned to the dining room. 

Uh…

He shouldn’t have been surprised considering this was the first time in a very long while that Karalius had eaten. 

And he ate enough for two people, if not three. 

Grinning to himself, Bin walked over and carefully managed to lift his sleeping heir up into his arms. The man immediately snuggled closer, then yawned just enough to show a single fang. 

Back to bed with you. At least until your body digests. 

It would give him some time to finally get some work done, and he had no doubt that he’d have to keep an eye on Ilio once he awoke, too.

Chapter 22

Ilio shook out his thick coat as he wandered down the wooded path, following his nose to the one person who kept stubbornly avoiding him. 

He knew that Inkani had taken an excessive amount of his blood on purpose, but if he thought that a few nibbles was going to keep an alpha wolf down for long, he was sorely mistaken. 

His little babysitter  hadn’t even bothered coming after him, either. 

Karalius seems to have his attention quite well. 

Of course, he would have intervened if he’d sensed any malice from the man, because his mate’s heir was still technically important to him, but when he’d felt absolutely nothing amiss, he’d taken off faster than a rabbit being chased by hounds. 

Now that he was nearly approaching the town, however, Ilio slowed and focused more on his surroundings. It was no surprise when he sensed some vampires nearby, clearly following him as he wandered along. It was also no surprise that they were keeping their distance, too. 

Glad I didn’t let my Inka get away with just some bites. 

He’d pretty much rubbed their bodies together in any way he could manage while the man fed, all-but fusing their two scents together as one. 

No vampire would dare attack him without thinking twice about it when he smelled so much like Inkani. 

Slowing to a stop atop a small ridge, Ilio looked out across the land below, the trees extending nearly all the way to the sea. 

That’s a lot of ships… and they’re too close. 

He didn’t like it. 

They all looked too well taken care of, and far too clean. 

Why are there so many? Where are all the pirate sh— his heart sank in his chest when he noticed a familiar mast… sticking just barely a meter out of the crashing waves beside one of the docks. 

Inka’s ship…

Heck, there wasn’t a single pirate ship still operable before his eyes. The royal navy had severely damaged or completely destroyed every last one. 

Why hadn’t he said anything? 

They had just been relaxing and messing around the past few days, and yet…

Clenching his jaws together, Ilio snorted and pawed at the ground. 

Where is my vampire?

Leaping off the edge of the ridge, Ilio quickly bounded down the steep rocky slope, then through the forest below. 

Soon he was walking into town, his large paws making small depressions in the worn away dirt and sand. More and more eyes found their way to him as he approached the busy area. 

  He earned a few hisses as he passed close by several people, but his main focus was on picking up Inkani’s scent amongst all the smells of body odor, food, and blood. 

No one seemed panicked yet, but they also weren’t just lazing about, either. Everyone had something to do and the only thing any of them bothered to spare him were glares or grumbles. 

Pretty soon Ilio found himself by the docks, his hackles raised to pinpoints as his streamline body stood tall. He wanted to roar a warning across the boisterous waves and howling wind, but for once, he knew better than to provoke. 

A few humans or vampires was one thing, but an entire fleet of ships manned by a vampire they’d already had a close call with? He wasn’t interested in bringing that kind of trouble to his man. 

Besides, an attack was already clearly imminent. He didn’t need to spur it forward any quicker. 

Thus, he calmly turned around and walked away, returning his attention to the direction he’d been going before he’d gotten sidetracked by curiosity. 

Pretty soon he was outside of a large tavern, his fluffy tail swishing back and forth behind him in interest. He didn’t even need to step inside to know that there were a lot  of people in the building. 

My Inka is in there…

If his vampire was in there, then he would be in there, too. 

Thus, Ilio simply gave his coat another shake, then nudged open the crude double doors with his nose. 

The bustling room inside immediately fell silent as all eyes turned to him. 

It didn’t stay quiet for long, though. Soon the volume had risen to twice its previous height, making Ilio’s sensitive ears flick repeatedly in annoyance. He was just about to snap his jaws at a particularly loud, rotund man chortling to his right when the sound of a loud slam   from further inside brought everyone’s attention to the person who’d split their thick wooden table in two. 

That quieted everyone down well. 

Ilio twitched his damp black nose, then grunted and hurried forward as his eyes landed on Inkani. 

Ah, that’s mine. 

Nonchalantly loafing forward, Ilio nudged past several people and tables until he was able to crawl right up into the large chair the establishment had provided for his mate. 

Just enough room for me, too. 

Well, not really, but he made it work. 

Satisfied, Ilio curled up as best he could in Inkani’s lap, but when he finally looked up at the man’s face with a proud wolfish grin, the man didn’t seem nearly as excited. 

“What are you doing here, Ilio? I told you not to go out by yourself,” Inkani chastised even as he pet his fuzzy head. 

I will listen next time, Ilio thought to him, earning a look that made him pin his ears to the side. 

“Trying to look cute isn’t going to work when you’re that big. Get off of me, you oaf,” Inkani said, nudging Ilio until he was forced to slip from his mate’s lap. 

He eventually settled beside the man’s chair, his eyes narrowed and ears pinned back as he glared at each and every other person in the room what dared stare at what was his. 

He promptly got a smack on the back of his head for his efforts! 

Behave, we were discussing some important things. 

He had been behaving, though. He hadn’t bitten anyone yet. 

“As I was saying, the enemy is likely to attack within the next three days. They don’t want us to get too comfortable, but they also know that quite a few of us are higher ranking vampires. I also have recently acquired an alpha werewolf, too, and Moral knows of him,” Inkani said, drawing several pairs of eyes back and forth between the two of them. 

Ilio huffed out a grunt but kept quiet as people began to speak again, adding their thoughts to Inkani’s as they discussed the encroaching royal navy. He began trying to pay attention after a few minutes of scoping out the room for any issues, but when a giant plate of meat was set in front of him, there was no more room left for any other thought in his head!

He contently munched away as the talks got more serious and voices slowly began to rise as each person was determined to be heard. 

This steak is so good…

There were also a few pieces of salmon on the plate and it didn’t take long for them to disappear into his belly, too. 

He was just about to reach for the last item on his plate, a single salted, boiled egg, when his ears abruptly flicked forward and he let out a loud, rumbling growl. Its sound was deep and prolonged, lasting far longer than normal as his lips slowly pulled away from his massive teeth.

The sound of a loud drum began to thrum throughout the docks as it was struck once, twice, then three times in succession.  Each hit was louder than the last, and as the third sounded, its vibrations radiating through the floor, every man within the establishment immediately jumped to their feet and charged for the door!

Ilio stood up as Inkani did, but neither of them moved from their current spot yet. 

“They’re going to come after you first,” Inkani said, drawing Ilio’s gaze up to him. 

He’d already figured that he’d be a main target. 

The royal navy was used to dealing with human and vampire pirates all day long, but now that an alpha werewolf was thrown into the mix, it would definitely throw a wrench into their plans of a smooth attack. 

“I want you to stay here for as long as you can,” Inkani said right as Ilio began wandering forward, ignoring his request. 

“Ilio! This is no time to be stubborn! They will kill  you without a second thought!” 

Slowing to a stop near the end of the table, Ilio glanced over his shoulder as Inkani walked up to stand beside him. 

And I will kill them without needing to think at all , he replied as he pawed at the worn floorboards, itching to get out the door and begin tearing people apart. 

Inkani remained silent for a few moments, clearly contemplating what he could say to get him to listen. Thankfully, he realized rather quickly that there was no way he was going to keep him inside, just waiting to be surrounded. 

“Stay with me, okay? Don’t run off or get distracted,” he eventually said, making Ilio snort and nod his large head. 

He had no intention of leaving the man’s side. 

Okay. 

Seemingly relieved the slightest fraction, Inkani unsheathed his blade as the noise outside the tavern grew exponentially as cannon-fire was added to the fray. 

“Let’s take care of this before Binan and his demon have to get involved, hmm?”

Ilio’s lips slowly retracted again as his full set of sharp teeth revealed themselves. 

If his mate wanted the situation handled before his heir was bothered by it, then he would gladly take care of it. 

In the next instant Inkani blurred forward with a snarled hiss that Ilio gladly matched with his own roaring growl as he, too, bolted from the tavern and out into the chilly twilight air!

A shrill whistle sounded the moment he managed to crunch down on his first victim’s throat, making his fuzzy ears flick in the direction it came from. 

In a blur he had the annoying man’s arm in his jaws, but before he could deal a killing blow the sound of three cannons went off simultaneously!

Without thinking, he hunched down to jump away, but before he could even put enough pressure on his paws to move, a firm hand had gripped the back of his scruff and yanked him away… right before two of the three cannonballs slammed into the now-dead man who’d blown the whistle! 

The moment Inkani released him Ilio blurred forward and took down another man in a navy uniform, easily disemboweling him with his claws as Inkani snapped the neck of another man in unison! 

They quickly but carefully worked their way through the waves of military men as they came ashore, never straying more than a few feet from each other. 

Several pirates had already been killed closer to the water, but considering several of the ships were focusing their cannons on him, specifically, their firepower wasn’t as strong as it needed to be. 

Thus, within about twenty minutes enough of the encroaching forces had been injured or killed to not make it worth continuing… for the time being.

They were allowed to retreat without too much interference, because honestly, they’d done some pretty good damage, themselves. Sure, they’d lost more men, but they also had  more to lose. 

The ships themselves likely couldn’t match the amount of men still able to fight on shore, but…

They are coming from behind us, too, aren’t they? Ilio thought to Inkani as the man began hurrying toward those he still felt were alive in order to help with their injuries. 

Yes, they will, though it should take several days to get here since none of our border guards have relayed any negative news as of yet. 

Ilio wrinkled his nose, then darted forward abruptly… seconds before a cannonball disintegrated the large boulder he’d previously perched himself on! 

“They’re still after you. Get into the woods!” Inkani yelled at him. 

Ilio, however, had other ideas as he nonchalantly swished his tail and yawned wide. 

Let them keep trying. They’ll burn through their ammunition faster.  

He could sense Inkani’s displeasure at his thoughts, but the man decided not to argue as he picked up a wounded vampire and began carrying him into the safety of the forest. 

Ilio watched him, then blurred to the right as another cannonball sent up a massive spray of dirt where his paws had been a moment ago. 

They’re not very smart. 

He was just about to comment something else when the familiar boom and screech  of a third shot had him leaping backwards. 

The ball of metal flew past his nose, the whistling of the wind from its speed making him snarl. 

Loud… and annoying. Hmm, wait a minute. 

Glancing down by the docks, Ilio flicked his tail from side to side as he realized something. 

I’m going for a walk , he told Inkani before darting forward, down toward the docks. 

What? Wait! 

The man’s response was lost on him as he easily closed the distance between himself and the worn planks. As he’d expected, not a single one was damaged. 

They’d been extremely careful. 

Smirking to himself, Ilio stood right in the middle of one of the longer docks, then waited as he stared out at the ships dotting the horizon. 

Within moments he got what he’d expected, and forced himself to wait to dodge until the last second! 

Fragments of wood pelted his coat and face as he landed about five feet away from the damaged planks, but before he could even bother to assess the damage, another cannonball was heading towards him, then another! 

Pretty soon he had to put all of his effort into dodging as he leaped from one stretch of docking to the next! The navy quickly began anticipating where he intended to land and even brushed his coat with several shots as they thought ahead, missing a full-on hit by mere centimeters! 

Even with the bruises and scratches he was acquiring, Ilio continued to dance around the increasingly-damaged docks until, finally, he retreated back to solid ground, panting heavily as his tongue lolled from the side of his mouth. 

Shift back, now! 

Startled, Ilio immediately let his form waver at the same time he felt strong, familiar arms wrap around his naked human form and carry him away. Not a moment later he heard four more blasts ring out right behind them!

Soon they were deep within the forest, heading back towards Inkani’s home. 

“I destroyed the docks so that they can’t get on land as easily,” he said, proud but quiet, understanding that his actions had made Inkani mad. 

As if proving him right, the man tightened his hold on him as he sped up, but didn’t quite start running yet. 

“You did well… but I’ll beat your fuzzy ass if you try something like that again without at least telling me ahead of time,” Inkani replied with a hint of warning to his tense words. 

Ilio hunched against him as he adjusted his arms around the man’s neck. He was just about to say something to try and placate him when they heard the sound of wings overhead, drawing their attention up just in time for their jaws to drop!

Karalius descended from the sky like a fallen angel. He somehow still landed on his feet even with the sloppy flying, and in quite an impressive crouch, too. 

“Ah, Bin,” Ilio said, surprised. 

The vampire calmly slipped from Karalius’s back as the demon stood up, stretching his paper-thin, pinkish-black wings. 

“His wings are still reforming, but thankfully they managed to regrow quickly after being fed so well,” Bin said as he lifted his eyes to Inkani’s. 

“The house is already burning. We just-barely made it out.” 

B-but… hadn’t Inka said that it would take them days to get here?! 

He could feel the rage boiling within the vampire holding him, but when Inkani finally responded, his voice was deathly calm and contained. 

“Then the guards at the border are already dead. We need to return to town and warn everyone,” he said, clearly unwilling to leave his crew to get ambushed.

“I believe you have more important things to worry about right now, elder  Inkani.” 

That voice…

Ilio was immediately released as Inkani turned around, allowing him to shift back into his wolf form as both their narrowed gazes landed on an unwelcome guest. 

Captain Moral.

Chapter 23

Ilio quickly took stock of the situation and realized, unfortunately, that captain Moral wasn’t their only problem. 

We’re surrounded. 

Inkani was right about what he’d said earlier, though. He could feel the majority of their unfriendly visitor’s attention focused solely on him. 

I smell silver… a lot of silver. 

He could sense Inkani tensing beside him, clearly trying to figure a way out of their current situation. Ilio left him to his thoughts and turned his attention Karalius. 

Considering Bin was Inkani’s heir and second in command, he doubted that he’d try to flee, even though he’d been ill recently and was likely not able to fight much. 

That meant that they would have a demon on their side, at least, because he doubted that Karalius would ever leave Bin to truly die, no matter how much he wanted to push him to the brink, himself. 

Inka, they don’t know about Karalius, do they? he asked, drawing Inkani’s eyes to him for the briefest moment. 

Not to my knowledge. 

The man had wisely tucked his new wings back into his shirt, making him appear like a sickly vampire instead of a powerful demon.

Moral’s troops are going to target me first. I can smell the silver in the air. Let me lead away whichever ones will follow me. 

It would be beneficial to their group if he could make at least half the man’s crew follow him. 

No. 

He’d expected Inkani’s response. 

You aren’t allowed to leave, the man added, sensing his displeasure. 

You said that you’d listen next time I told you to do something. 

Ilio flicked an ear as he heard the clicks of several pistol’s being cocked. 

There was no time for him to try and persuade his mate. 

I apologize , he thought to him, making Inkani tense, but before the man could even turn to face him Ilio had dug his paws into the damp ground and bolted into the dense woods behind them! 

His movement had been an unexpected blur, making the bullets that were shot at him in response all miss as their entire group scattered and the fight began! 

With his heart pounding in his throat, Ilio ran just fast enough to keep the vampires pursuing him comfortable that they still had a chance to take him out. 

Their bullets whizzed past his ears and several even cut into his thick coat, but time and again, the worst he got out of the rain of ammunition were mere scrapes and scratches. 

Clenching his jaw, Ilio snorted and turned to his left as his nose picked up the scent of water…

Picking up his speed slightly, he blurred forward, whipping through the underbrush like a bullet, himself! 

Within moments he was breaking free of the thick vegetation and leaping out into an open marshland. About one-hundred yards away was a massive waterfall reaching up into the sky and beneath his paws was a thin layer of water that saturated the ground for as far as his eyes could see. 

The abrupt sound of gunfire made him jump not a second later, but before he could even turn around a curtain of water shot upward in a circle around him, then burst into a multitude of droplets it absorbed the impacts of the bullets one after the other! 

As he panted hard, Ilio could sense the vampires that had been chasing him quickly approach, hoping to be the one who broke through the water barrier, but little did they know…

Three…

Two…

One…

The large group of vampires suddenly slowed to a stop, each one seemingly now stuck in the ankle-deep water. 

Ilio took his chance and darted out from behind the protective curtain of water with a roar! Even though he’d left the barrier behind him to dissipate on its own, just enough water seemed to follow him to keep the bullets still aimed at him from connecting with his body as he began tearing apart person after person! 

He had just killed his tenth vampire when he heard a loud blast echo from the northern side of the forest. Not five seconds later his vampire slid out from the underbrush as if the ground itself had pulled him from the trees!

Ilio was just about to head his way but was startled, along with the remaining vampires around him, when another loud blast was heard right at the edge of the forest, then smoke began to billow upward! 

Run!

Ilio immediately did as told and darted to the side just in time to avoid a second blast that had been directed at him! 

It exploded with a force strong enough to blow the soaked ground and water sky-high! Bits and pieces of mud and grass pelted his thick coat as he ran to his mate’s side, his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth as he tried to catch his breath. 

 “He used to only be able to do basic fire manipulation,” Inkani said as he gathered the water from around them into a vortex in order to protect them from the few bullets that were still aiming at them. 

More and more vampires began to emerge from the forest and, after a tense minute, captain Moral, himself, strode out, his large dark blue commander’s coat whipping in the wind stirred up by Inkani’s water spout. 

We are badly outnumbered…

“There’s not much I can do about it. I can’t yell loud enough for my men to hear,” Inkani said calmly, but while his words might have been true, if a bit sarcastic, they gave Ilio an idea. 

Twitching his nose, he glanced up at his mate, then tilted his head. 

I can. 

Inkani blinked down at him for a second before returning his attention to captain Moral just in time to deflect another fireball into the nearby trees! 

Ilio waited as the blast shook the ground beneath their feet and set another portion of the forest on fire. However, once the noise had died down and the accompanying bullets ceased completely, he took his chance! 

Tilting his head back abruptly, Ilio opened his mouth, sucked in a breath, then howled with all the force he could muster! 

When he finally closed his mouth a few moments later and refocused his attention forward, his ears were standing tall and his eyes were now leveled on Moral. 

Inkani had quelled his water vortex to a slow, translucent whirlpool, allowing them to hear and see much better. 

Captain Moral had stopped near the edge of the marsh, his hands glowing with energy he had yet to release. 

“Your wolf is faster than I thought it would be. He clearly ran to give you a chance to survive, yet you still followed after him immediately,” he said, making Ilio sneak a disapproving look at Inkani before returning his attention to the vampire in front of them. 

“I’m honestly surprised the great elder pirate Inkani would risk his life for anyone besides his preferred heir, Binan.” 

Inkani straightened the slightest bit and narrowed his eyes as he slowly lifted his hands to either side. 

All eyes were on him… but that was their mistake. 

With an abrupt lunge downward, Inkani snarled and slammed his hands into the thick mud! Ilio hopped to the side in response, a little startled and confused. At least until he heard the screams. 

Jerking his head to the side, Ilio watched with wide eyes as several vampires, already up to their waists in mud, suddenly disappeared beneath the surface of the marsh, as if being pulled in by an unseen force!

Returning his attention to Inkani as the man slowly lifted his hands from the murky water, Ilio could only think of one thing. 

My mate is amazing! 

He whined happily and wagged his damp tail, lifting his front paws in a little dance of excitement!

The few vampires that managed to escape were now standing on the bank behind their captain, but the previously confident man now looked a little more pale than normal. 

“What’s wrong, captain? Wolf got your tongue?” Inkani asked as Ilio snarled, lifting his upper lip eagerly. 

I don’t… yet. 

Captain Moral bared his fangs as he took a step backwards, his hands still glowing an angry, bright yellowish-white. 

He actually looked like he was about to lose control and just try to bombard them with fireballs when they all heard a loud snarl from high above, giving them just enough time to look up before Karalius dropped down from the sky, splashing water and mud high into the air! 

“What?! Why are they still alive?!” captain Moral questioned as he took another step back. 

While the small group Moral had remaining seemed to grow even more nervous, Ilio watched Bin slide from Karalius’s back before the demon tucked its wings against its back. 

It looks like they won’t be useable again until they heal. 

The new large holes in them didn’t seem to bother Karalius one bit, though, so he didn’t waste his worry on him. In fact, while it was obvious that the man was bleeding from a few places, it clearly hadn’t slowed him down. 

His demonic aura is back, too. 

“What the hell is he?” one of captain Moral’s men questioned nervously, looking as if he were about to piss himself. 

Ilio wrinkled his nose. 

He already had. 

The man’s words only seemed to infuriate his captain further, but right as he stepped forward to begin attacking again, several loud yells echoed from over by the waterfall. 

Took them long enough. 

Inkani’s crew burst out of the woods, their numbers swelling as more and more appeared from the underbrush! 

“You little devil of a dog. You called them here with your howl, didn’t you?” Inkani said as he patted Ilio’s head approvingly. 

Ilio knew that he was the only wolf in the area since there had been a border before captain Moral’s men had broken through it. Thus, howling was a clear signal to Inkani’s crew that their leader was in trouble. 

 Now that they were here, along with Karalius and Bin, captain Moral knew that he didn’t stand a good chance any longer. The man retreated with one final snarl, but while they had won the initial battle, there was no doubt that there’d be another. They were trapped, after all, and without a ship, it was only a matter of time before the man came after them again. 

“Let’s regroup and get some food and rest,” Inkani said as he waded out of the water to greet his crew and begin giving orders. 

They would retreat back to the town for now since Ilio had destroyed the docks, making it difficult for any vessels to land and attack. 

Ilio hurried to follow after his mate, and to his surprise, once he began walking at his side, his ears twitched here and there, picking up praise after praise for his smart thinking in summoning them to their aid. 

It was odd being praised by anyone, and especially vampires he didn’t know very well, but after another gentle pat from Inkani, Ilio snorted contently and decided to accept the gratitude he was given… as well as a turkey leg one of the vampire’s had evidently been about to eat when they’d been interrupted by his distress howl. 

All and all, it wasn’t a bad day after all.

Chapter 24

Snorting out a nose-full of dirt, Ilio panted up at Inkani as he sat at a worn down table in a tiny tavern high upon the hills of the town. A few cannonballs had attempted to hit the building, but with Inkani’s water spell deflecting the few that came close, combined with the sheer distance they were from the shore, there was really no chance of anything happening. 

There was also still a large amount of pirates milling about, since they couldn’t flee to the border or their sunken ships. It was a stalemate, but it wouldn’t last for long. 

Gnawing a floorboard that he’d previously ripped up in frustration to dig his comfy hole in the dirt beneath it, Ilio thought to Inkani. 

We need a ship. 

It wasn’t just an idea, but a factual statement. As things were right then, if they didn’t get a ship, it was only a matter of time before they were overrun and killed. 

“Those men that were attacking you, captain?” 

Inkani smirked as he nonchalantly reached over and removed the broken plank of wood from Ilio’s mouth, making him wiggle his wet nose until the item was promptly replaced with a big chunk of steak. 

Ilio immediately ducked his head beneath his little fortress under the damaged floor and began chomping away, using the remaining floorboards to hide his prize, not even caring that the meat was now completely caked in dust and dirt. 

“We need to decide what ship we’re going to try and commandeer,” Inkani said, voicing Ilio’s thoughts to his remaining crew. 

Thankfully, most of his men had managed farely well against the invaders, giving them a better chance of escaping when the time finally came to act. 

Moral’s ship would be our best option, Ilio said, drawing Inkani’s gaze down to him. 

The men you had killed at the marsh were likely all his. That reduces his total number of available defenders. 

Of course, other crews might have lost some men in the attack the other day, but it was unlikely that the numbers evened out. Moral’s troops had been the ones to try and ambush them. 

  “My wolf has a suggestion that makes a good bit of sense,” he said as his crew continued to discuss what ship they could possibly target. 

The room quieted quickly, wanting to hear his suggestion. 

“We’ll target captain Moral’s vessel,” he said calmly but firmly, drawing audible gasps from nearly half of the men gathered. 

An uproar of rambling soon took over the tavern, but it quickly died down as his crew realized that the suggestion really was  likely their best bet. 

Moral would come after them more than anyone else, and especially after losing some of his men recently. 

“I agree, captain,” one of his men said as he pounded a fist against the old worn tabletop, making their glasses of nearly-empty blood jump from the hit. 

His words were soon followed by a shout of agreement, then another, and another. 

“Moral won’t expect us to try and steal his ship… because it will be nearly impossible,” Bin said honestly. 

Inkani nodded as Ilio popped his dirty head up from beneath the damaged floorboards to continue listening. 

“Indeed it will be, but I believe I’ve got a pretty good idea,” Inkani replied as he smiled at his heir and second-in-command. 

He truly does treasure you. 

Ilio flicked an ear, determined to make sure that he kept an eye on the sickly vampire as much as possible, as well. 

“Ilio?” 

Ilio looked up and grunted. 

“How well can you swim?” 

It will not end well , Ilio replied, making Inkani actually grin as he chuckled lightly. 

“Alright. Well, I know how fast you are, though,” he said, making Ilio perk up and nod his fuzzy head. 

He was definitely fast. He could do fast. 

“I’m not sure if captain Moral has returned to his ship yet or not, but I need you to carefully sniff out where they have their boats moored.”

Ilio’s nose twitched. 

Turning his attention to his other side, Inkani stared at Bin’s demon. 

“Karalius, are you willing to help us?” he asked, knowing that the demon’s loyalty didn’t belong to him. 

Heck, most of his crew refused to even get close to the guy, but that was likely for the best. Whoever got too  close got a warning hiss, and one had even been swiped at by long, sharp black claws. 

When the demon straightened in his chair and brought his narrowed eyes to meet Inkani’s, the room fell nervously silent. 

“I will do whatever it takes to keep master Binan by my side,” he stated firmly, silently adding a warning to Inkani about trying to separate them. 

Inkani read that warning loud and clear, but…

“Can you fly with your new wings yet? They were damaged earlier, too, weren’t they?” he asked, instead. 

Karalius narrowed his eyes further but replied in a calm, deep tone. 

“I will be able to fly again shortly.” 

Ilio had no doubt that at that time, he might just try to take Bin away from this situation entirely… whether the man wished to leave or not. 

“I am able to get to any ship I wish out there, but I will need help. I am not a one-man army, but you…” he said, leaving his sentence open as all eyes turned back to Karalius. 

The man was far from invincible, they’ve learned, but he was also the closest thing they had to  invincible. 

Karalius looked at the man sitting beside him, his face extremely hard to read. 

To Ilio’s surprise, Bin’s face was the exact opposite. He seemed stressed and quite honestly torn by what his captain was asking of his demon. 

Hmm? 

“You’ll look out for him, captain?” Bin asked after a few moments of tense silence, surprising just about everyone in the room. 

Inkani was the only one that didn’t seem shocked. 

“Of course,” he replied without hesitation, making Bin’s stiff shoulders relax slightly. 

Turning his attention back to Ilio, Inkani gave him a half smile, half smirk. 

“Ilio, when you find their boats, can you make sure that they can’t use them again in one way or another?” 

That would be easy enough… as long as captain Moral didn’t show up. 

Honestly, that was what their plan revolved around.

 Someone was going to be going up against the navy captain, but it was a toss-up who that would be. Inkani was likely thinking to bring Karalius with him to the man’s ship figuring that the captain was more than likely back on board, but at the same time, there was also a fair chance that he was at the moored boats, but he also  could currently be heading toward the seaside town to attack right at that moment. 

Inkani and Karalius at the most likely point of combat, Ilio at the second, and Bin and the crew at the third. 

Hopping out of his hole in the floor, Ilio shook off some of the dirt that had gathered on his coat, then walked up to settle his dirty chin on Inkani’s thigh. 

He got a scratch behind his ears for his effort, but then Inkani slowly stood up, making his crew rise before him. 

“I apologize for not being able to allow for much of a rest between our actions, but I believe now is our best, and possibly only, chance to utilize this plan.” 

 Ilio swished his tail excitedly and headed toward the back door without any hesitation, but was stopped by a faint pressure in the back of his mind. 

Be careful, my Ilio. You best come back to me in one piece, Inkani thought to him, making Ilio glance over his shoulder, his tongue lulled out the other side of his mouth. 

I will be back for my mate, he returned simply before turning back to nudge the old door open with his nose. 

If you find Moral, don’t engage him, alright? Inkani said as Ilio quickly darted into the dark forest behind the tavern. 

He could sense Inkani waiting for his response, but as he moved farther and farther into the dense greenery and their bond grew thinner, Ilio didn’t respond again, leaving his silence as his answer.

Chapter 25

His large paws were silent in the damp leaf litter. 

Ilio quickly but cautiously approached the beach from downwind, keeping low to the ground as he wove through the forest. He came across several vampires as he made his trek. The first was clearly a pirate, but Ilio decided to spook him anyways with a lunge and a snarl because he was likely a lookout and hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings at such important times. 

Needless to say, he high-tailed it back to the little port town, whimpering the entire way. 

How brave. 

The next one he came across, he handled much more carefully as to not alert any other vampires in the area. This man was clearly from one of captain Moral’s crew, as he could faintly smell the man’s scent coming from him. 

He was also dressed decently well, making him seem like someone of importance. Well, Ilio would just have to prove him wrong on that account. 

After stalking him on his evident perimeter walk for a few minutes, Ilio settled behind a large clump of thorn bushes, then waited until the man had turned back to retrace his steps before licking his jowls and inching closer. 

He counted each step with a flick of his ear until, finally, he forgot what number came next and simply decided to attack at that moment! 

The man was slow to respond, making Ilio think that he might have been a little drunk. Either way, he took advantage of his poor planning and after only a brief struggle, snapped his neck between his jaws. 

Ew…

Yep, definitely had been drinking but probably had a decent tolerance because they were a vampire. 

It didn’t help, he thought to himself, slightly bored with the lack of challenges so far. 

The last vampire he encountered on his way, or really, vampires , were lounging about a few paces from the edge of the cliffs leading down to the beach. There were about five of them in total, and not a single one smelled any better than the pirate’s on his mate’s ship. 

He’d intended to simply charge at them and take them down in tandem, but the moment he’d darted from the bushes the group had all squealed like startled hogs and jumped right off the cliff!

That left him in his current predicament as he watched the vampires, now a good thirty meters below him, scrambling around like wiggling ants. A few appeared to have broken some part of their body from the abrupt fall, but the majority were scurrying about easily enough.   

He had no doubt that captain Morel was going to show up at any moment now, but there was nothing else he could do. Besides, it wasn’t like he’d expected to make it to the boats without being spotted. 

Turning his head toward the ocean, he took in a calming breath of sea air, then tilted his head back and howled as loudly as he could. 

He knew that it wasn’t what Inkani had wanted him to do. In fact, it was the exact opposite, but as he lowered his eyes back down to the boats moored by the shore, he knew that it had been the right decision. 

There were a lot more ants scrambling around now, too. His jaws yearned to start massacring them one by one, but for once, he didn’t act on impulse. 

He wants me to come back to him now. I won’t let him down. 

It had taken too long to get his man’s attention as something more than a possible fur coat. He wasn’t going to die now. 

Twitching an ear as it picked up the sound of people approaching from nearly all sides, Ilio bared his teeth at nothing in particular, then turned, took a step forward… and jumped! 

The majority of vampires that had started coming after him had used the easiest pathways, thus, they had been approaching from the left and right, with a minimal few taking the longest route through the forest directly behind him, but none had bothered to even try to scale the cliff in front.

Ilio easily began descending to the sounds of a few gunshots, though the majority of things being propelled at him were arrows. 

They are running low on silver bullets. 

That was no surprise. Who would have thought that it would take so many to take him down? Not to mention their bad aim when coupled with his incredible speed. 

They had underestimated the gangly alpha…

Easily leaping from ledge to ledge, Ilio smoothly managed to traverse the cliff without needing to stop even once. His attention was focused in all directions as his ears twisted and turned, picking up every minute sound from all around him.  

The vampires that had remained on the beach were running forward to meet him at the bottom of the cliff, though Ilio couldn’t see a single gun amongst them. They must have sent the few vampires who still had the stronger weapons up the cliff already. 

As a bullet whizzed past his ear, his wolfish lips smirked. He’d been correct in his assumption, but that didn’t mean that the arrows now flying towards him from both above and  below weren’t made with silver, too.

The men at the bottom of the cliff began to gather around the area he was most likely to land now, but Ilio had other plans. 

He finished descending about ninety percent of the way before suddenly leaping from a little ledge straight out over their heads! 

After landing in a massive dead tree, he hurried along its reaching branches before jumping again, then finally descending onto the warming sand. 

Two arrows landed to the left of his right paw, one coming within an inch of hitting him, but Ilio disregarded them as he lunged forward, kicking up a massive wall of sand as he bolted across the beach, trampling weeds, shells, and a startled vampire that hadn’t be able to move out the way fast enough to avoid being plowed over. 

He’s still not here…

He wasn’t complaining, but as he began yanking boat tethers from the sand one by one, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. 

As the attacking vampires got closer and closer he used their own weapons against them and began to dart between the boats now rocking freely in the shallow water. 

A swift dodge to the left saw a bullet going through the bottom of one boat while three arrows got lodged inside it, making Ilio’s nose twitch a few inches from them before he quickly romped through the water, splashing about he ran between boats, dancing with several vampires that had finally dared try to get close to him. 

Unfortunately for them, they didn’t have claws on the bottom of their boots, and from the looks of it, not very much traction in general, either. The men fumbled and slipped more than they ran, making Ilio a little annoyed at how easy they were to pick off with a well-placed bite or swipe of his paw. 

He was actually just about to take a bite out of a scrawny leg, intending to snap it in two, when his ears flicked backwards, then tilted slightly towards the ocean, giving him just enough of a warning to allow him to dart beneath the waves before a massive blast of fire roared through the spot he had just been standing! 

He could feel the water heat against his back, but didn’t dare swim any deeper. In fact, as he waited for the blaze to die down, he paddled along beneath the crashing waves, doing his best to use them for cover while at the same time hoping to inch his way out of the line of fire. 

Of course, he knew that was unlikely to happen, and as he finally surfaced a minute later, needing to breathe, he could already sense eyes on him. 

He just-barely managed to duck back beneath the surface before a second blast of flames scorched the tips of the waves where he’d just been! 

Need to get back to land. 

He wasn’t worried about the man’s underlings, but if he kept having to swim around, only to be given enough time for one gulp of air here and there, he was going to run out of energy rather quickly. 

With his paws scraping against the sand beneath him, Ilio did his best to put some distance between himself and captain Moral, but each time he came up for a brief breath, he immediately had to duck back beneath the waves to save himself from being cooked alive. 

He was in, quite literally, over his head. 

…current. 

Ilio blinked his burning eyes as he was pushed and pulled by the waves. 

Inka? 

The roar of the water was so loud in his ears that it was hard to tell if he’d heard the man’s voice in his mind, or if he was just hearing things because of the excessive sound around him. 

He was just about to try and send another thought to his vampire when he suddenly felt something constrict around his body, then abruptly drag him downward and out, forcing him into much deeper waters! 

Panic quickly set in, but as he flailed around, trying to fight the pull, it only seemed to grow stronger. 

Why can’t I get free? 

No matter how hard he swam, the current kept pulling him farther and father!

Gotcha! 

The thought came right as he felt himself suddenly being yanked up towards the surface! Within seconds his head not only breached it, but his entire body literally shot completely out of the water! 

Once free of its surface, he quickly gulped in several mouthfuls of air as he felt the feeling that had propelled him upward compress against his soaked fur. 

Inkani? 

Now that he wasn’t struggling beneath the waves, he realized that he could feel the man’s water manipulating ability pressing against his body. It was an odd but welcome sensation. Even as he dropped back down towards the water he could sense it moving along his fur, wrapping around him like a patchwork quilt. It reached all the way down to his damp toes and, as he landed atop the waves, Ilio couldn’t help but whimper a little in shock when he didn’t  sink back below the surface! 

I can’t come help you yet, but I’m with you , he finally heard Inkani say inside his mind, making him wiggle a little even as he tried to figure out how to balance atop the churning ocean waters. 

It took a lot of effort and focus, but he eventually managed to lift his fuzzy head and look around as his legs automatically began adjusting to the rhythmic rising and falling of the water beneath his paws. 

It was a good thing, too, because there were several small boats heading towards him from shore and, of course, his good friend captain Moral was standing at the very front of the closest one. 

I can run here now and don’t have to swim.

The idea made his wolfish lips smirk as he adjusted his weight, subtly testing his ability to move. 

Just keep them busy for a little while longer. 

He heard Inkani’s request loud and clear and, as arrows began descending into the water around him, he couldn’t help but give an excited whine as he wagged his fluffy tail. 

His initial sprint towards the boats ended in a simple bluff as he veered off to the left, dodging all but one arrow that managed to strike him in his right flank. There was no burning sensation after the initial sting, so Ilio didn’t bother removing it as he darted in a long arc, leaping over tall waves that swallowed the majority of projectiles still aiming for him. 

Realizing that he could use the larger waves as an extra form of defense, Ilio quickly darted toward deeper water, then circled back, taunting the group with excited growls and sneering barks. 

Moral, of course, was the one getting the most frustrated, but no matter how many blasts of fire he loosed from his fists, not a single one did more than warm Ilio’s coat as he dodged with practiced ease. 

Nearly ten minutes passed before he felt a nudge at the back of his mind, drawing him to a halt at the same time captain Moral seemed to notice something farther out to sea. 

“My ship…” 

Ilio turned to look, too, while his tongue panted quickly out the left side of his mouth.   

The largest ship in the fleet slowly began turning towards them, but as Ilio narrowed his eyes to get a better look, he could tell that something was different. 

You got it? he thought to his mate, then whimpered a little as he danced atop the waves. 

You guys really got it?! 

The ship continued to smoothly sail towards him and, after an intense moment of staring, Ilio felt his entire body wiggle with excitement as his eyes landed on his Inka at the helm! 

They got it! 

He was just about to hurry forward to meet the ship, but right before he could complete his decision a loud screech met his ears, forcing them to swivel abruptly as they tried to relay the warning to his brain in order for him to be able to react in time. 

Unfortunately, he’d let himself get distracted, but as he felt a wave of heat fall upon him he was suddenly sucked back beneath the water so abruptly that it shot up his nose and burned his mind! 

His body was pulled through the water faster than any current before it was suddenly thrust upward again and right out of the water… and as his wolf form fell away, replaced by his sputtering human one, he was caught in strong, firm arms. 

Inkani’s scent immediately drifted into his burning nose, soothing the pain with his presence and drawing Ilio’s eyes all the way up to the man’s stoic face. 

When Inkani finally looked down at him after a few seconds, Ilio couldn’t help but swish his retained tail excitedly as he leaned up just enough to lick the man’s face once. 

“Acting like a pup in your human form?” the man tsked, even though he was smiling.  

Ilio gave him the dorkiest grin he could muster as he nodded, still overjoyed that his vampire had come to retrieve him. Stretching his body upward to lick at the man’s face had reminded him of the arrow in his thigh, though, making Ilio calmly reach down and tug it out without so much as a flinch. 

Unfortunately, however, their tearful reunion would have to wait, because Inkani was soon forced to jerk his free hand across his front, bringing up a curtain of water just in time to block a jet of fire from Moral! 

The majority of the water evaporated as it was heated, but it had done its job and as the remaining droplets danced downward around them to return to the ocean, Ilio and Inkani locked eyes with the captain before them. 

The man seemed ready to loose another blast at any second, but Inkani didn’t seem worried in the least. In fact, he easily deflected whatever miniscule attacks the man’s crew tried to aim at them with a wave of his hand this way and that. 

That was the moment the other captain seemed to realize his mistake. 

The fire that had lit his fists in a radiant glow for what couldn’t have been less than half an hour, at least, now slowly faded into nothing. 

 Ilio glanced around at the other ships in the fleet nearby, but none had moved more than a short distance closer. 

He controls them, too? 

If that were true, though, then why hadn’t he signaled them to help? 

“I got too cocky this time, elder Inkani,” captain Moral said, drawing Ilio’s attention back to him.

He didn’t trust the other man, but when his Inka just smirked and held him a little closer, Ilio calmed down more. 

“To think that the infamous werewolf hunting pirate would eventually stand with an alpha at his side,” captain Moral said, his words peppered with hints of laughter. 

It was truly a confusing thing to behold. 

Ilio wasn’t sure if he should bare his teeth or laugh along with him. 

He knows he’s lost. He followed you out into my territory, the ocean, and with his ship no longer under his command, and a large portion of his remaining crew floating on the tiny boats behind him, it would be suicide to try anything else.

That made sense.

But why didn’t he have the other ships help him? At least with me? 

Inkani’s grin widened slightly, revealing a sharp fang. 

Pride and stubbornness. 

“Your conditions, pirate lord Inkani?” captain Moral asked, making Ilio tilt his head. 

This… almost sounds like it has happened before. 

Inkani gave a quiet, deep chuckle. 

“We always swore that we’d end each other the next time we fought, and yet time and time again we find ourselves at stalemates,” Inkani said, then continued, “and my conditions are quite simple this time. I want your ship, since you were so kind as to sink mine, and for you to leave us be for at least three days.” 

Captain Moral considered his words, then replied calmly. 

“And what of my men still remaining on board? I don’t suppose that you’ve killed them all, have you?” 

Inkani shook his head. 

“No, only a few that were too stubborn for their own good. My crew is likely to be quite hungry on our journey, however, so I’d like your permission to have them accompany us to our next destination. We will release them then.” 

The other man didn’t look too happy with his response, but he soon ended up nodding anyways. 

“I understand your terms and agree… and now that that is out of the way, I must say that you have found yourself quite an impressive husband.”  

Ilio perked up, his wolfish ears standing at pinpoints as a smile found its way onto his face at the praise. 

Inkani, however, didn’t seem nearly as impressed and, with an abrupt wave of his arm as he turned back toward their newly commandeered ship, he sent a wave towards the group of small boats just large enough to capsize half of them…

Ilio hunched closer to Inkani’s shoulders as he tried to hide his grin. His mate seemed to let him off the hook concerning his previous reaction, however, because they were soon up on the deck of their new vessel and Inkani was shouting orders left and right! 

After being carried around for a few minutes and having his simple wound treated, Ilio found himself a pair of trousers and tugged them on after making a hole for his tail, then got busy, himself. 

The ship was new to the crew, but with Inkani in command and Bin backing him up, things quickly fell into place as they swiftly sailed out of the harbor. 

Ilio briefly wondered what would happen to the other pirates that had been sheltering in the town, but he quickly disregarded the fleeting concern. 

They were all pirates, and in the end, the only thing that mattered to them at the end of the day was their own tail. 

I like my tail. I wouldn’t risk it for anyone besides my Inka and his Bin. 

Ilio grinned at the thought, rather proud of his day’s work, to be honest. 

He was just finishing tying off one final rope with Karalius’s help when he was abruptly lifted back into familiar arms. 

“I’m starting to like that tail quite a bit, too.” 

Ilio wiggled excitedly and eagerly wrapped his arms around his vampire as he carried him into what appeared to be the captain’s cabin a few steps below deck. 

“I apologize, it might not be up to snuff compared to the accommodations on my old ship,” Inkani said jokingly as they looked around the lavishly decorated room. 

Ilio grinned as Inkani kicked the door shut, then gently set him down before nudging off his shoes, then dropping down onto the bed with a long, exhausted groan. 

It only took Ilio a literal second to join him, and Inkani didn’t even bother to chastise him as he snuggled in as close as possible, then began lapping at his neck with his warm tongue where something sharp had cut a small line across his skin. 

 They remained that way for a long while, simply relaxing in the darkness. 

Perhaps an hour later, or possibly even two, Ilio finally relented showing his affections and settled down. He was immediately rewarded as Inkani turned onto his side and pulled him calmly against his cool chest. 

“You stubborn dog… I was actually worried about you.” 

Ilio grinned, then yawned wide. Before he could finish the action by closing his mouth, however, rough lips had settled over his own. 

He blinked a few times in response, stunned, but then quickly came around as Inkani began to kiss him. They were both clearly tired, but their exhaustion seemed to drift away like a little boat on the ocean tide as their kisses became more heated and Ilio maneuvered himself overtop his vampire after tugging his trousers off. 

Inkani growled in response, but there was no malice behind the sound. 

Soon they were both naked in the darkness, and for all of his grumbles and nips to Ilio’s lips and neck, Inkani didn’t hesitate to finally open his heart to him… or spread his legs for him. 

Their bout of sex seemed more like a battle, and once they were finally done, Ilio lay panting beside a continuously-grumbling Inkani. His body was littered with a multitude of bites and claw marks, making him realize that the man beside him had done far more damage to him than all  of captain Moral’s men, including the man himself. 

Mm… again. 

Ilio attempted to roll back on top of Inkani, but the man immediately pinned him down against the mussed sheets with a loud warning snarl. Ilio swallowed down his remaining lust and quickly began to apologize for being greedy when he felt Inkani settle against his side with a quiet exhale. 

Uh? 

Unsure of what to do since he was the one who normally snuggled up to Inkani, Ilio slowly, nervously, turned onto his side and gently tugged the man into his arms. 

While Inkani had a bit more muscle on his human form than he, himself, did, he surprisingly fit rather well into his arms. 

Smiling down at the man in the darkness, Ilio couldn’t help but lean forward just enough to nuzzle his nose against Inkani’s soft hair. 

“Inka?” 

Ilio waited so long for a response that he thought Inkani might have drifted off to sleep, but then the man finally replied in the quietest, raspy whisper. 

“…yeah?”

Ilio hugged him closer, eliciting a sleepy grumble from his man. 

“I really like you.” 

Silence stretched between them for several minutes before Inkani heaved a tired sigh and snuggled in a little more. 

“It’s called love, little Ilio. You love me.” 

Ilio licked his lips, feeling the sting from several of Inkani’s nibbles while they’d shared each other’s bodies. 

Love…

Grinning, he hugged his man a little too tightly, earning a much louder growl… that he simply disregarded in his excitement. 

“I love you, my Inkani!” 

End- (Don’t worry, there will definitely be some Kara and Bin in the big Epi, maybe another fight, too, since they didn’t get the spotlight on this one and Moral is a sore loser lol)