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“Okay,” Reia started, stealing everyone’s attention. “So, I’m guessing the plan is that Emerie will stay here so she can use Delora and Magnar’s bath, while we go back to our place to fetch her some clothes and new shoes.”

“While you’re all doing that, Faunus and I will go back to ours and set up the tent and give you guys time.” Mayumi placed her hands on her hips and nodded. “We’ll reconvene with you all back here in a few hours. Say... just after the sun finishes setting?”

“Sounds good to me,” Delora piped up. “I can cook us all some dinner.”

Just as one of Mayumi’s feet backed up half a step, Emerie tried to reach out to her.

“Hey,” she grumbled, finding anywhere to look that wasn’t either a set of orbs or eyes. “I just wanted to say thank you, to all of you. You don’t know me, so I really appreciate you all for being so accommodating. It’s not often you find such kindness in the world.”

“We know that better than most,” Delora stated with her already sweet gaze softening.

Reia snorted a laugh. “Ain’t that the truth!”

One side of Mayumi’s lips pulled up into a slight smile before she placed her hand on the pommel of her sword and turned. She headed off into the forest, and just before she could fade from view between a pair of trees, the feline-skulled Mavka intercepted to join her.

He’d been watching and waiting for her.

“See you in, like... an hour or something?” Reia stated.

Before any of them could respond, Orpheus had spun to take her away. His deer tail flickered in obvious joy at being able to leave, and Ingram watched as he licked her high, arching cheekbone as he walked off with her.

That left them alone with Delora and Magnar.

His orbs returned to their normal purple.

For some reason, that caused Magnar to lift his hand to cover Delora’s face, as though to hide it from Ingram’s view. His orbs darkened in their green hue, and the tiniest growl echoed through his fangs.

He flinched when Delora smacked him in the stomach with the back of her hand before she said, “I’ll give you both some time before you bathe, since it’ll be a while before we can change your clothes. I’ll bring you more food and some water in the meantime.”

“Thanks,” Emerie grumbled as they went inside, then she lifted her face to Ingram. She gently brushed her fingertips against the corded muscle of his throat. “Areyouokay? That octopus Demon sure did a number on you.”

“I am fine, Emerie,” he reassured as he tightened his arms around her. Somewhere in the murky, fast pace of his memories, he remembered chasing this female through the forest with the vile desire to tear her to shreds. How close he’d come to that... he shuddered at the thought. “You are alive, and that is all that matters.”

“Why didn’t you tell me there were humans here?” She lightly shook her head with her brows knotting. “It would have been really useful to share that with me. I could have been better prepared.”

“I did not know the other females would still be here,” he stated honestly.

He finally sat back so he could cross his legs and bring her into his lap. He curled his tail around his body so the tip lay near his feet.

“We thought they would eventually eat these humans.” He lifted his raven skull to the green door and then the long, open shelter of the house in front of him. “It has been some time since my kindred and I were on this side of the Veil.”

Emerie’s pretty lips pursed, and she squinted up at him.

“Fine. You’re forgiven, only because you did actually save me today.”

Emerie lurched in the bathtub at the knock on the door, followed by someone asking if they could enter.

“Ah, no! Give me a second,” she shouted, holding the wooden tub’s edge so she could safely shove to her feet.

Her foot slipped out from under her just as she placed it on the ground. Her squeal was accompanied by her righting herself before she almost went arse over head. The door handle moved as though the person didn’t care about her rejection in light of the alarming sound she made.

Emerie grabbed the handle with both hands to stop them. Then she was the one to push it down and poke her head through.

A set of forest-green eyes blinked at her. Reia’s pale, yet sharp features were twisted with worry, so Emerie flashed her a grin.

“You’re back,” she said with a sigh.

“Yeah,” she confirmed before shoving a blue gown through the small crack Emerie had made. She was unwilling to allow anyone even a slight chance of seeing anything other than her right shoulder. “Here.”