What does marriage have to do with love? I love whoever I want. The only way a man proposes to me and doesn’t die in the exchange is if I’m already dead. Hell, the vengeance in my heart will probably animate my corpse and kill the bastard that dared proposition my dead body.

~Aine, Goddess of Love and Vengeance

Any distraction was good. Crow chuckled as he thought about the fight and wondered where half the things he said came from. Every word he spewed out had no conscionable thought behind it and came out during the heat of the battle. Recalling the fight allowed him to laugh along with Otto and put his nightmare behind him, even if all the shaking hurt his bruised body.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Three days. Let’s fight.”

“W-what? I fight again today!” Crow’s panic-stricken face caused Otto to burst out laughing. “Damn you, that wasn’t funny.”

“And you call me evil? You damned fatty.”

Song Xue said as she entered the room, and she walked right up to Crow.

“It’s the next morning, and you don’t fight today,” she said in a cold, emotionless voice. “Why?”

“Huh? Why what?”

“Why!? Why did you fight? Why did you provoke that kid? Why!? You damned fool!”

Smack!

Song Xue’s hand stung as she put as much force into it without using her Source. It was enough. Crow’s head snapped to the side, and his cheek stung enough that it brought tears to his eyes. The slap stunned him into near stupidity, unable to act while Song Xue stormed out of the room. Her shoulders shook so severely that Crow wasn’t sure if it was because of anger or pain.

“W-what the hell was that?” Crow asked, shaken by her actions.

“She love you. Fight. Not tell her. Bad hurt.”

“She was angry because I fought? Or angry because I didn’t give up? That’s stupid.”

“Is it, little bird?” She called from the doorway, her guilt-ridden face turned red with anger again. “Then why did you hide it from me? What did you gain by provoking that bastard? I thought we were friends. I’m allowed to be angry when my friend actively seeks his death. Next time you hide something from me, I’ll kill you myself!”

Thunk!

A dagger struck the wall above Crow’s head, close enough that he could feel the coldness of the blade against his forehead.

“B-b-but you’ve seen me naked, what more can I hide from you?” Crow said in exasperation, a little disturbed by the smack and the knife, so he wasn’t even sure what he was saying until Otto and Song Xue both laughed.

Song Xue approached and leaned over him. Her body twisted in a way that pulled her white robe taught, and Crow could see her womanly curves as if she wasn’t wearing anything. Even the slightly raised bump on her breast left nothing to the imagination. The silky fabric brushed against his face as she removed the dagger from the wall. Crow barely breathed, afraid if he moved, she’d take it the wrong way.

“Faelan… I’m sorry,” Crow said, and she looked down into his eyes from her superior position over him. “I can’t back down. This is… my path, I think.”

“Your Dao?”

“Yes, Dao. This is mine. I’m embarrassed by my weakness and refused to let you see me get beaten and toyed with. I refused to let you see me as weak, as someone that will back down when the world against me. We both know you don’t like weak people, and if I want to protect what’s mine, I have to be stronger. I can’t beat them with fists, so I will destroy them with words and intellect. It’s the only weapon I have.”

“Damn you, who are you calling yours? No one claims this innocent flower.”

“Fuck! You dare call yourself innocent?” Crow grumbled and tried not to think about the breast still pressed against him. That became much easier when her knife pressed against his cheek.

“I dare you to keep speaking!”

Crow’s mouth snapped shut.

“What fool would ever think you are weak?” She whispered, and faster than he could react, she climbed on top of him. Her arms went under his shoulders as she hugged him. She wrapped herself around him tightly and refused to let go. Crow stroked her long black hair—a gesture he found soothing. After a few minutes, her hand slid up and twisted his ear—hard. Her harsh voice rasped. “Now tell me the other reason…”

“Ow! What other reason? You are so damned crazy. Let me go. What are you going on about?”

“Don’t lie to me. Why do I feel you are trying to keep me at a distance? Tell me, or I will stab you.”

“Otto? Brother? Help me!”

“Otto hungry. Be back,” Otto said and walked out the door. Crow stared at the door in shock.

“Y-y-you, dammit, some brother you are!” Crow sputtered.

“You going to tell me, or am I going to carve your flesh? I hear it’s a favorite pastime of yours.”

“I’m not trying to get rid of you.”

“Tell m—”

Crow did the only thing he could think of to silence her—he pressed his lips to hers. Her lips were soft and sweet, but the real shock was her reaction. Her hand slid to the back of his head, and her fingers grabbed onto his hair. She pressed her lips against his, and her lips parted so she could slide her tongue into his mouth. He had no idea how long the kiss lasted—seconds or hours or an eternity. It was the first moment in his life that he had a clear mind, but his perfect memory would fail him. No matter how much he thought about this kiss in the future, he’d never be able to tell how long the moment lasted.

As they pulled away, she wouldn’t look at him and tucked her red face down next to his neck. A sharp stinging sensation stabbed into his shoulder as she bit him. It was hard enough that each tooth broke the skin and a drop of blood oozed out of each one.

“Dammit. Can’t you do anything normal?” Crow asked without any heat. He was still breathless from the kiss and wanted to do it again.

“That scar better remain there forever,” she said possessively. Crow just nodded, hearing her steely resolve.

“What did I do to deserve you?”

“That better not be a curse,” she growled. Something cold and sharp pressed against Crow’s side, and he laughed. “Do you know why I let you call me your little wolf?”

“If this is a trick question, I’m not answering.”

She snorted as her body shook with laughter. “Idiot. My father’s name was Xuelan which means Snow Wolf. My name is also Song Xuelan, but no one knows. My sister insisted that it must remain a secret, for now. That’s why I was shocked when you called me Faelan, and why I will let you, and only you, call me that. Now tell me, are you leaving me?” Tears leaked out of her eyes and seeped into his chest. They burned him more fiercely than Soul Burn ever could.

Crow pulled her into a tight hug, unsure what he was feeling right now. He’d always been protective of his little wolf, ever since they were little kids. She beat on his chest, but he didn’t let go. “Pervert, let go.”

“Listen, my fierce wolf. A lot of opportunities are arriving in a short time. The next Shield trials are in two years because this year’s trial is already almost over. I’ve reached bottlenecks in most of my abilities, ones that only time and experience can unravel.”

“Why does it feel like you are sending me away?”

“Relax a moment, let me speak,” Crow commanded, and Song Xue shivered but curled into his body and listened. “We will most likely split apart for some time after the Trial of Tur Briste. Not because I want to, but because for a time, you need fate’s guidance. I don’t know, nor will I pretend to know, what that means.”

“You can see fate?”

“No. Maybe. My nightmares are changing me, and I’m sensitive to those who are around me. I do know if you stay near me, you’ll become unfated like me. It feels like the wrong time to do that. This is temporary, two years at the maximum. We’ll meet again during the Shield trials, and Otto needs to go with you. Will you take care of him for me?”

“I will, but—”

“Wait, I want to say something else. You are my Faelan. Anyone that harms you or tries to take you away from me, no matter the numbers or power—I’ll kill them all. This I promise you.”

“Well, good. You should have said that first,” Faelan said before she kissed him again. Her finger rubbed against her bite mark on Crow’s chest. Pleasure mixed with pain nearly overwhelmed his senses and awakened the beast inside him that wanted to take her here and now.

Crow pulled away, gasping and trying to regain his focus before things went too far.

“A weaker man would have caved,” Song Xue whispered in his ear, causing him to shake uncontrollably.

“Ah, you are a vixen hidden in that snow-like purity,” Crow growled, trying to shift as he realized how much pain he was in. “You are hurting my broken body.”

“Who cares? I didn’t grant you permission to get pummeled. That’s your fault for not listening.”

“Damn, maybe you are my curse—”

“Finish that thought.” Song Xue didn’t even look up, and a knife pressed into the underside of his jaw.

“So fierce,” he whispered.

“Okay, you dummy. Time to get up. That meany elder of yours told me I only had fifteen minutes of privacy with you.”

“Uh, we’ve been laying here for much longer than that,” Crow laughed.

“It was originally fifteen minutes. I renegotiated with my knives, and he gave me better terms.”

Crow burst out laughing and didn’t care if it hurt. This little girl was insane, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” She asked and sat up so she could look him in the eyes.

“For not abandoning me.”

She put her hands on his cheeks and growled into his face.

“You think I’m a weak hussy like that Esme girl? Want to scare me off? It’s going to take a lot more crazy than your arena fights and a lot more idiocy than becoming a punching dummy for all the Druid clans!”

“What?” Crow’s voice rose an octave or two. “I’m not a punching dummy!”

“Oh? What do you call it? You run around, let them pummel you, end up bedridden, and then do it again a few days later. Sounds like a punching dummy to me. Don’t worry, I need the practice too. So even on your off days, you’ll get beaten until you crawl away whimpering. Either that or you learn to dodge everything I throw at you.” She smiled and hopped out of his bed. “Oh… and I’ll be using my knives.”

A sound escaped his mouth that was something between a gasp, a laugh, and a mewl. Caught between all of them, it sounded like the howl of a dying cat. “Why? What did I ever do to you to deserve that?”

“Shall we rehash our previous conversations? No? Good. Take these pills, then circulate your Qi. They won’t be as good as normal recovery pills, but they’ll speed up your healing process. We start training shortly. I only have to watch out for the broken bones, but those should be healed in another day or two.”

“Alright, mom,” Crow mumbled as he climbed out of bed.

“Mom? Damn your face! Mom!? You want to push it, remember I have knives and my Source…”

“Damn, that’s a low blow,” Crow muttered under his breath.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. And I wasn’t kidding about the training either. Even Otto and Mara are eager to help.”

Crow groaned and once more wondered why his luck was so damned bad.

Mara stood in the doorway, grinning at us. “Hey little bro, you are famous. They are calling you Lengendary Mouth, Golden Jaw, Silver-Tongued—take your pick. They are saying every word out of your mouth is a priceless treasure and sharper than a thousand blades!”

Crow groaned, Song Xue glared, and Mara laughed.

“This mommy—”

“No, you stop. Keep it up, and this daddy will show you how a real maid serves their master…” Crow couldn’t stop the words once they tumbled out, and once said, he refused to show shock or embarrassment. Even Song Xue’s eyes went wide.

Mara just laughed. “Oh, now this is interesting. I’ll see you tonight, daddy, and we’ll see if you are all bluster or a man of action.”

Mara practically skipped out the door laughing while Song Xue stared daggers at him.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Crow growled. “Damn her! Why does every interaction end up like that? I can’t win a verbal spar against her ever, and nothing I say gets to her. Arrghh, both of you are so damn infuriating.”

Song Xue’s anger-filled eyes turned into mirth. She couldn’t entirely stop the giggles that bubbled out of her. “Idiot.”

“Why am I an idiot?”

“She obviously likes you. She is teasing you because you are an adorable idiot.”

“Wait, why aren’t you mad at her?”

“Why would I be?”

“You aren’t jealous?” Crow asked, rubbing the back of his head, not sure if he should be happy or mad at her reaction.

“My father had three wives, your grandpa had two, and that Belgae lady has four husbands. Cultivators live long lives and often go many years without seeing each other. It isn’t uncommon for them to have multiple spouses.”

“Yeah, but if you ever have two husbands, I’ll make sure I’m the only one who survives.”

Song Xue laughed. “In our culture, a man rarely marries impure women. Eastern women only ever marry one man.”

“How do you know that? You didn’t even grow up there, nor do I feel you believe that.”

“I don’t believe it, but I know in my heart I’m only fated for one lover. If you say something stupid like a woman needs a man to protect her, I’ll castrate you!” Song Xue glared at Crow, who raised an eyebrow in response. “Let’s be clear about one thing. You are mine. I’m the first wife, first in your heart, first always. If there ever comes a time this is not true, I’ll kill all your wives before I take out your eyes. You’ll still be mine but will lack the ability to stare at other women…”

“Dammit, can’t you talk normal, you maniac? Besides, I never said I wanted multiple wives. I’m not even married, and you and Mara already give me a headache—”

“You should stop talking.”

“Uh, sure. So… training, right?”

“Whatever, little bird. Gavin said you can train until noon. You got five minutes to get to our training area.” Song Xue said sweetly, but Crow shivered, knowing that if he failed to arrive on time, he’d regret it.