Zevran tilted his chair back from the desk, balancing deftly on its legs. The fireplace lit the room with a flickering light; when he glanced out of the corner of his eyes, he fancied that the flames were lovers dancing. He snickered to himself; everything really was about sex with him. But the flames did look sensual; surely he could not be blamed for seeing what was obvious.

The door to his room flew open, crashing against the wall with a loud bang. He almost fell backward, but just barely managed to catch himself on the desk. He faced the door, daggers in hand, then immediately sheathed them. Katherine stood in the doorway. Her chocolate hair was far from its immaculate state; long strands had fallen from her chignon to frame her face. A face, which he noticed, was a terrible mask of pain and anger. There were no tear stains on her cheeks, but her grey eyes were red-rimmed and swollen.

"Ah...bad night?"

The air around her crackled with electricity and he couldn't contain a shiver of worry. Upset mages were dangerous mages. Katherine laughed hollowly and quietly shut the door behind her.

"Actually, things have gone perfectly. According to my plan, anyway. Alistair has broken off our little romance. I have a guilt-ridden future king desperate to make me happy." She leaned against the closed door and gazed up at the rafters with glassy eyes. "So tell me, Zevran, why does this hurt?"

"Perhaps you were so convincing in your love that even you believed it, no?"

Her lips twitched into a bitter little smile.

"I'm quite the liar, then. Such a shame it's not working in my favor at the moment," She took a shuddering breath and pushed herself away from the door. "I think I might have been a fool to play this game. But I suppose I shall at least be a free and surviving fool, at the end of all this."

He grinned, though it was more meant to reassure her than any true expression of mirth.

"See? Eternal optimism is a good trait to have. Just as I said."

A shadow of a smile appeared on her face, then just as quickly faded. Katherine approached him slowly and stopped just before him, so close that he could smell the hint of wood smoke in her hair. When she spoke, her voice was husky with desire and raw pain.

"I believe you might also have said something about your bed always being open, should I wish it."

He paused for a moment, conflicted. He did want her, true, but he tried to avoid taking advantage of emotional crises. Most of the time, anyway. Well, sometimes. When he cared about the person.

"I...might have mentioned something about it. But-" Her lips met his, cutting his words short. The kiss was uncertain at first, her hands resting hesitantly on his chest, but she quickly grew bolder as he dismissed his doubts in favor of the woman in his arms and returned her ardor. Katherine deepened the kiss and linked her arms around his neck, then roughly pushed him down to the bed and straddled his waist. She pulled the remaining pins from her hair and let it fall around her shoulders, then began to unlace her shirt.

"Good."


Zevran groaned softly as her fingernails lightly scratched the tattoos on his back, playing with the black lines that traced over shoulder blades and down his spine.

"You weren't lying when you said you had these...," He smiled into the pillow. He could almost hear the frown in her voice as she searched for the word.

"Tattoos."

"These tattoos everywhere, were you?"

"Mm. No. And I do not believe you have even found them all yet."

Katherine laughed with surprise, and laid back down from her sitting position, tilting her face so that she could better see him.

"Truly? I thought I was quite thorough in my search."

He chuckled, and reached over to brush a tendril of hair from her eyes.

"Oh, you were. But I am good at hiding things, am I not?"

She gazed at him for a long moment, then leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

"I simply must look a bit harder next time, then."


AN: I don't write for reviews, but they are appreciated.