The bath had led to something that started something else. All according to what they both had hoped.

"I love you." Yennefer's voice sounded spent. She rested her hand against Geralt's jaw, stroking his jawline with her thumb. "I really like the beard. It took a while getting used to, but it suits you. You might need to trim it a little, eventually."

Geralt, with his eyes closed and his hands behind his head, made a deep sound in his throat. Just to let Yennefer know that he'd heard her. He was tired too. If all his coming days in Toussaint were to be like this, he doubted he would make it to the new year.

He opened his eyes and rolled over on top of her, pinning Yennefer down slightly with his weight. Those lovely violet eyes were full of feelings he couldn't describe. He hoped that she felt even a fraction of what what he kept inside. It was still hard for him, but he tried to convey his feelings towards her with words every now and then.

He kissed her deeply, hoping that his actions spoke more than what he could actually express. Yennefer's eyes told him that he did. He trailed kisses along her collarbones, wanting to go slightly lower. Yennefer stopped him with a smile.

"I think we've had enough. Just for now, Wolf."

"Tsk-tsk". Geralt rolled over, taking Yennefer with him in the motion, embracing her as she rested on top of him. Feeling her against him gave him a peace he couldn't find anywhere else. Oh, how he loved her.

"Don't fret. I know you do," she whispered in his ear.


The evening was mostly spent in silence. Yennefer, always travelling with an abundance of books, was immersed in a brick of a tome named Oneiromancy and its practises; Be the Master of what you see. A first edition, Geralt was told, written by 'some hag hailing from Ard Carraigh'.

Geralt, on the other hand, spent his evening by catching up on Corvo Bianco's correspondence. Invitations to different gatherings, business offers... nothing that really amused the witcher.

Yennefer came out to join him after a while, carrying a wine glass instead of the hefty tome.

"Geralt," she asked him with just a hint of restrained laughter in her voice, "please don't tell me that you actually posed like that for that painting."

Geralt scoffed. "Of course not," he replied sourly. Shit, he tought to himself.

"Don't you like it? You look very... regal. Good choice of fabric too, it looks really expensive. Covering just enough of..."

"Yen, honestly..." Geralt had only bought the painting to prevent others from seeing it. Having it in his house had apparently made him accustomed to it, and he deeply wished that he'd taken it down after Yennefer's arrival.

"I think you look handsome," Yennefer replied, touching Geralt's shoulder as she passed him.

Geralt, being as quick as witchers tend to be, stood up, grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him. With his hands placed on the back of her head, buried in her hair, he gave her a deep kiss. As they parted, Yennefer gave him a little smile.

"Point taken, Wolf."

"I sat fully clothed on that damn horse."

In an obvious attemt to make Geralt think about something, anything, else than the horrid painting, Yennefer fetched some cheese and ham. As she sat down next to him the the great hall, putting the plates on the table together with the knives and a wine glass for Geralt, she asked "Are we done with the cat you told me about?"


~ The free city of Novigrad ~

After a cloak and dagger-operation, resulting in freeing the sorceress Margarita Laux-Antille, Geralt had been summoned to The Rosemary and Thyme. The place was packed, as always, with patrons and girls tending to them.

As Geralt walked up the stairs, barely noticing the noise from downstairs growing weaker, he ran into a somewhat agitated Ciri. It would appear that Ciri had been asked to join Margarita and Philippa Eilhart for a chat, something that made her anxious.

Knowing the Lodge's past efforts in getting Ciri to join their ranks, Geralt decided to come with her. He was sure that Ciri could stand her own, but as he put it, "Two heads are better than one."

As they entered the chamber where the two sorceresses resided, they were met by Philippa almost at the door. Philippa wasn't shy to voice her opinions about Geralt being there, supporting his protegé. Margarita sat further in, and on the desk in front of her sat a very relaxed grey tabby, licking itself with not a care in the world. Which it continued to do, even after Geralt came close as he walked past.


Yennefer's eyebrows was raised. Geralt could tell that she was intrigued. Finally.

"You say that the cat was there, when Phil and Margarita planned to make Ciri join the Lodge? Or let me correct myself before you say anything, Geralt. A cat was there?"

"Mhm." Geralt gave her a confirming hum.

"Interesting. So, as I see it, there are several possible explanations to this. One," she held up a finger, "the cat is nothing special and you probably have to reconsider that all cats hate you. Two," she raised a second finger, "one the girls have been shapeshifting and someone we don't know for the time being is actually this elusive kitty. Three," a third finger was raised, "they possessed the cat or have it attached to them as a familiar or something of the sort."

Geralt loved her quick wit, it was definitely one of her best traits. But this time, he would have to tell her that she was probably wrong. He believed that the cat had nothing to do with the Lodge. Before he managed to tell her what was on his mind, however, Yennefer spoke again.

"Four, could the sorceresses of the Lodge be used? It's definitely something that has got to do with Ciri, wouldn't you say? Most importantly, Geralt," she added with four of her fingers still sticking up in the air. "Did you medallion react as you came close?"

"No. No humming," he replied.

"So no magic involved, then. I'm officially intrigued, although I remain a sceptic," she nodded.

"Yen, I don't think the Lodge is involved. I've seen the cat since then too, even after we fought the Hunt. I doubt it has something to do with Ciri."

"After we fought the Hunt?" Yennefer paused, her brow furrowed. "Is it possible that it's linked to something else? Like O'Dimm?"

"I've thought of that too, but something doesn't add up. Strange. I once saw the cat when I was meeting Olgierd..."


~ Garin Estate ~

Geralt felt a bubbling anger within him. It was obvious that he'd been used, a feeling he despised. Olgierd von Everec had set him up in a cunning way since the very start, making Geralt kill an Ofieri prince that the Redanian ataman had some... differences with. It all culminated in a not so comfortable boat-ride for the witcher, who almost ended up in the dark depths of the thrashing sea, en route to Ofier. He really had a thing or two to discuss with Olgierd von Everec.

When Geralt finally seeked the vagrant officer out, the estate where Olgierd had holed himself up in was set ablaze. As Geralt spoke to one of the ataman's henchmen, a tabby cat made Geralt step out of its way. It was certainly on a mission to be seen.


Geralt caught Yennefer's gaze. He could tell that she was desperately trying to add things up in her mind, although he knew that she as spending almost as much time, if not more, to discredit the facts she had been told about the cat.

Geralt stood up and gathered the plate and their wineglasses, carrying them off to the kitchen. When he returned, Yennefer remained in her chair, deep in thought. He whisked her up in his arms as he passed her by, which took her by surprise as she laughed and yelped. Now was not the time for brooding. Geralt felt her smell, the wonderful and familiar scent of lilac and gooseberries. It was indeed intoxicating, and made his body react to the unspoken promises it conveyed.

As he buried his face in her hair, he felt the chain of his wolf medallion dig into the back of his neck by Yennefer's steady pull. They both united in a kiss that promised much, as he carried her to his bedroom.