Leaning forward against the table, she crossed her arms on the surface and dropped her face onto them, watching as little black spots of liquid fell onto the white surface.
It had hurt to have him say that to her, but it was true. She couldn't even deny it at that point, she was one. Selene had been right all along.
A brush against her legs had her looking down, and she smiled as those big dark eyes found her. The tiny kitten gave the longest, angriest sounding little growling meow she had ever heard, and she made an odd squealing whimper that had him perking up his ears, his mouth hanging open and big pink tongue sticking out a little as he panted at her.
She had never made that sound before, but she was passionately in love with the little fuzzball, and he didn't seem to care what weird sounds she made.
A movement caught his attention, and he was off to chase a leaf that had shifted in the breeze, all tiny ferociousness and squeaky growls.
She had no idea what to feed him, she would have to ask Jagum and Bast if they had any idea when she went back up there, but she wasn't in any hurry.
Sliding off the bench, she picked up a stick that had fallen out of the nearby tree and sat down on the path, dragging the stick along the stones, though she wasn't sure where he had run off to.
He came bounding out of the bushes and skidded, turning himself sideways with his tail puffed up like a feather and he hissed at her.
Smiling, she gently nudged him, and he fell over, giving her the most indignant look he could muster before the stick distracted him and he was after it.
"Cute cat," a voice said, and she looked up, finding Vincent leaning against the wall of the castle and watching curiously, his eyes laughing though she couldn't see his smile.
"You're early," she said, dropping her head so he couldn't see that she had been crying.
"I'm not ready for you yet, but I wanted to check in to make sure you hadn't got yourself killed. Where'd you get it? I don't think I've seen anything like it before."
"Uzo got him for me. The humans call him an ocelot."
Vincent nodded slowly and crossed to her, sitting down, and snorting when Cat turned on him, yowling angrily.
"Feisty little thing. Got a name?"
"Cat," she said gently, offering the Hunter the stick.
He dragged it across the rocks, seeming delighted when Cat went after it, and cursing as the kitten swiped it out of his hand and ran off with it in his mouth.
"Cat the cat," he said, laughing. "I like it."
She was watching Cat gnawing on the stick when Vincent grabbed her hand and jerked her forward, staring down at the gold on her wrist.
"What is that, Etani?" he demanded, ignoring her attempts to pull back from him.
"Sobek made sure I can't use my magic. Any magic," she said, wincing as his hand tightened on hers, though she didn't think he was intending to hurt her.
"Fucking Gods…" he snarled, and much like her and Uzo, he tested her skin to see if it was actual metal or just colour. "This puts a snag in my plans…"
"What plans are those?" she asked, looking around as Cat fell after trying to catch a bee, flipping himself back onto his feet and bounding after it. "Don't eat the bee…" she sighed, but Cat ignored her.
"I don't think he understands common…" Vincent said thoughtfully. "My plans are my own for now."
Frowning at the animal, she looked back at the Hunter and found him watching her intently.
"You look different without your magic…"
"How so?" she asked, watching as Cat got distracted from the bee by the tree leaves rustling.
"Before, every movement you made screamed 'fuck me' but now every move you make screams 'fuck me and then die for my pleasure.'" he said thoughtfully and she snorted, amused.
"Is that right?"
"Mm, that's not fully correct. More like… 'Die while fucking me' maybe… It's more carnal, primitive, and dangerous. It's hard to resist," he sighed, staring at her almost longingly.
"So far everyone has just wanted to run, or in the case of Epharis, set me on fire," she said dryly, making the man bark out a laugh.
"How is it you're alone?" he asked, glancing at Cat. "Except for the bodyguard."
"I couldn't be around anyone."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Vincent," she sighed.
"Come on, you're going to have to be around me a lot soon, you might as well tell me."
She frowned at him, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "Daemon just told me something I've suspected for a long time but never wanted to admit," she said, looking away from him and watching Cat.
"What did he tell you?"
"That I'm a whore," she spoke softly, picking up one of the rocks from the path and tossing it, watching sadly as the kitten streaked after it.
"Isn't he an incubus?" he asked, sounding offended.
"Yes," she said, standing to go after Cat as he chewed on the rock, but the cat bolted at her approach, rock still in his mouth.
"Come here, you little monster," she growled.
"Have you ever even had consensual sex?" Vincent asked, and she blushed.
"Why would you ask that?" she demanded.
"Most women who are experienced in sex know better than to touch a man's erection with cold hands," he said,
She blinked up at him as he stood and approached to help her catch the little beast, and she pried his mouth open, the rock falling out. He bit her again, drawing two little spots of blood as she set the squirming beast down.
"I didn't think of that…" she said slowly, embarrassed that Vincent had seen her failures.
"It made me think that dragon was likely going to be the first man you had ever wanted to be with. Seems to me that being a whore is impossible if you don't agree to it. Marital rape is a debated subject on consent, so they don't count." He spoke so frankly that she found herself watching him, a small frown on her lips.
"Why do you care?" she asked.
"Because you're valuable, and it's better for me if you don't hate me. Plus, I find you fascinating."
She turned away to watch the feline bounding along, tripping over his own feet and tumbling only to get back up onto his feet and bound off again.
"I don't know if I should be flattered or not," she said, and he laughed gently.
"Be flattered, you're the first woman I've ever come across that has made me aroused and scared at the same time. I didn't think it was possible to feel both at the same time but there it is."
"Well, thank you," she said, a little confused. "What was that weapon, the one that shot the spikes?"
"Crossbow," he said, his eyes on Cat.
"Crossbow?" she asked, frowning at the name.
"They are a lot more powerful, and shoot faster than a standard bow, plus they make using grapples easier. We wouldn't have caught you without them," he said, scratching at his jaw through his mask.
"Could you get me one?" she asked, and he blinked, looking at her curiously.
"I suppose. For a price."
"What price is that?" She eyed him warily, unsure what the man who already owned her could possibly want.
"A kiss, now that you can't kill me."
She laughed, amused at the assumption. "I can still kill you without my kiss."
"True, but that's my price."
Looking at him, she chewed on her lower lip for a second, and then shrugged.
He seemed surprised but pleased by her agreement and she moved closer to him, studying his visible eye for a moment before she reached around behind him to undo the first clasp, then the second that held his mask in place.
Peeling it down and away from his oddly large mouth, she studied his face, and then she cupped his face in her palms, a shiver going through him at her cold touch.
Her lips met his in a tender brush, the taste of him a mixture of blood, and something she didn't recognise, earthy and rich.
He was frozen, his eyes huge as hers slid shut, and then his arms snaked around her, and he was kissing her back greedily.
She drew back after only a moment longer, and he frowned, disappointed that she had moved away.
"That's not long enough," he complained.
"You didn't specify how long it had to be," she said, and he squinted at her.
"Sneaky Fae," he growled.
She smiled, tapping him on the nose, but when she turned away, he refused to let her go.
"Vincent?" she asked warily, and his face was intent on her when she looked back at him.
"I'll find a way to get your magic back," he promised, and she sucked in a breath, wanting it badly, but not wanting to be disappointed.
"How?" she whispered.
"I don't know yet, but I will."
He let her go and stepped back from her just as a voice rang out and they turned, Cat bolting to her and hiding behind her legs with a pitiful yowl.
Vincent scooped the cat up and she flinched as Daemon appeared at the end of the path. He took one look at them and his face darkened, stalking forward.
"What are you doing here?" Daemon snarled.
"Just checking on my assets. Making sure you and your band of idiots didn't get her killed," Vincent said cheerfully, not bothering to cover his face again as the demon approached.
"You've done so, now leave," Daemon growled, reaching for her, but she stepped back from him.
"I haven't finished talking to her yet," Vincent said, offering her the very content looking Cat who had nestled into his arms.
"We can talk again soon when you bring me my weapon," she said.
He grunted, still sore about his loss. "Next time I will get the better end of the deal," he said grumpily.
"What deal?" Daemon demanded.
"A kiss," Vincent said with a wicked grin, and with that, he left her to face the demon alone, Cat nestled against her side.
"What are you doing?" Daemon exploded, and Cat yowled at him, angry at the shouting.
"It's none of your business, Daemon," she snapped, turning away from him only to have him jerk her back roughly.
"Stop being so reckless. Any number of monsters out there would kill to get their hands on you and what you can do."
"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have to be so careful."
He growled, and she jerked her arm free. "If you hurt Cat, I will kill you every day for the next century," she growled, but he only looked down at the kitten.
Snatching the cat out of her hands, he thrust the little creature through the air, and she shrieked, terrified for the little ball.
"Give him back!" she cried, panicked.
"Kai has him, and you'll have a hard time getting him back. Now you and I can talk," he growled dangerously.
"No," she said simply, but he wasn't having any of it.
"Yes," he demanded even as she backed away from him, angry.
"Don't touch me again," she demanded, but he ignored her, grabbing her arm and dragging her back to him.
"Listen to me, idiot woman…"
She didn't want to listen to him, she didn't want to listen to any of them.
"Don't you mean 'whore' Daemon?" she asked darkly, and he growled.
"You know I didn't mean that."
"Yes, you did, or you wouldn't have said it."
"I was angry."
"Is that not when the truth comes out?" she was getting angry at him, but something behind her had caught his attention and he looked up, frowning and a second after his eyes widened, lighting hit them, and they knew no more.