The Neutral leader was currently sitting at her table, staring into a glass of something and frowning. She could practically see the gloom and doom radiating off him.

,,What's the matter?"

She was on the leave, but seeing him she sat across the table.

,,Something with the animals?"

,,Nah, personal trouble..." he drank it up.

,,Mate?" ,,Yes."

,,Well, I did sense something was amiss... so what's the deal?"

,,It's a lot. We had a few arguments before, but this, well- can I stay here tonight? I can't go home."

She wanted to suggest him to go to a hotel in the Black forest, but then kicked herself mentally. She wouldn't throw out her best friend!

,,What was it about?"

,,I don't wanna talk about it," he turned away, completely miserable. ,,goddamn that woman. We have -how many? EIGHT or seven kits together and she's surprised I can't get it up for her!"

,,Only for her?" she asked carefully, lifting a eyebrow

,,Of course!" he snapped, hissing, ears laying flat. ,,I'm healthy!"

,,Alright alright alright," she waved hands quickly. ,,I believe you."

He sat again, shoulders down, ears as well.

,,She wants a divorce."

She stayed speechless for a moment, staring on the bunch of sadness in front of her, and wanted to hug him.

,,What... are you going to do?" she frowned, watching him.

,,I don't know... I'll probably agree, but I-I... don't know how we'll handle it officially and all..."

He smashed head on the table carefully, hands on face, and seemed on the brink of tears.

Now she did hug him, waiting until he calmed down and stopped sniffing in silence.

,,Can I sleep on your bed?" he murmured.

,,Well..." she turned to see her mate. ,,can he?"

,,Yes, of course. I didn't want to tell you, but I'll be out all night anyway, so this solves it for me."

It took her a bit by surprise he agreed without any fuss, but she didn't complain.

Savio went straight to lie down after, she knelt by him until he dozed off.

…...

She crawled into bed an hour and a few minutes later, after cleaning around thoroughly and letting some night air in by the open window.

She didn't want him to sniff too much of her own or her mate's scent, he seemed slightly uncomfortable and was anyway a bit high on all the pheromones already.

He watched intently all the time, but stayed lying, not wiggling much. She got in under covers near him, very carefully as to not wave her scent around, and wrapped legs around the cover too.

Feeling a bit weird, she only wished good night and turned her back to him, covered up to her neck.

She still felt a stare on her neck.

,,Can I wrap a arm around you?"

,,Uh, yes," she looked on him sideways as he immediately moved near her, resting head against her upper back and a hand on her waist.

It didn't feel too bad, but she was cautious nevertheless. The remains of Lust energy caused her trouble before, they could now.

He nuzzled in, at what she chuckled. She was slightly ticklish there.

,,Savio, don't do that, please," she breathed.

,,Sorry,"he murmured against her skin, at what she jumped again, every muscle tensed when he unconsciously licked lips and the slit where one wing was along. The jolt went down.

Before she realized she sprang out of bed, murmuring apologies while stumbling to get a -shirt and panties on.

,,I forgot I have a Tvshow now on, have a nicesleepbye," she got out in one breath and was out of the door.

,,Okay,"he scorned, confused and slightly disappointed.

She breathed through it in the living room, then in the bathroom (blessing Slovakia waters for being cold even in summer and cursing the mating season).

Hell no, not today. You're gonna be calm today! she told her groins strictly, splashing more water on herself.

Not him. EVER. He's like my brother for Go'ds sake!

Well, not entirely. It wasn't like she couldn't imagine it... but this was Savio. Her near-pet. Her best friend... who was just getting divorced.

Not, this really wasn't the time. She'd have to push him a bit away, but she'd handle it. It wasn't like with Wrath or Cassius – she valued him far more than some one-night stand.

…...

She got back in some half a hour later and this time lied down facing him, legs ready to push away (but not kick; she didn't kick even enemies).

He was resting at peace now, breath even. So he did fall asleep- phew . Staying tensed she watched him twitch slightly, eyes closed, and when he sniffed at the fallen hair into his face, she just melted. He looked really cute sleeping.

She reached out to put the hair away, then closed eyes finally too, relaxing. At what she felt gaze on herself again, but stayed still.

After some minutes her breath calmed enough to start drifting asleep too, so she moved from the uptight position to a more comfortable one (she was becoming hot undercovers).

That was when he moved, seeming to shift to lean on his elbows by what she heard – and felt. A stray hair that wasn't hers tickled her cheek.

He was very quiet, but other senses worked very well. She could feel his breath on her face. And smell... he smelled like needles, sweat and a cat. And heat of a man.

Shit. Not this again.

Breath hitched in her throat when he leaned down, closer to her face, and seemed to study her. One part of her wanted to squeak, roll him away and accuse him of something... and the other itched to know, what he's up to. Maybe was even a bit excited to know... he's never done it before, afterall. Maybe he was curious...

She nearly didn't breath at all when his nose touched her cheek and he inhaled, mouth an inch from her own. He wasn't going to do it, was he?

She hoped he didn't hear her heart. It jumped like crazy. She WAS getting it, that was clear when he took the first whiff of the pheromones-

Instead he sighed heavily, then moved up and gave her a soft peck on her forehead, stroking her hair with one hand.

He didn't… that man had self-control.

She thanked every entity for that, blessed him, and in the same time itched unbearably to bring fingers to her forehead, touch the place and then bring it down to her lips. She wanted to feel it. It gnawed at her conscience, but she WANTED to feel that kiss. At least once. Or once more…

He had to at least subconsciously catch up on it, because after a while of hesitation he leaned back, this time to her neck to nuzzle it.

Now she prayed to everyone she knew, since she was sure her heartbeat could be heard even outside the door despite how careful he was.

Then he moved up to her cheek for a second, and after another (very long) one pressed lips against hers.

She truly felt at that spot and moment like a little girl getting her first kiss from a crush. And how. Sort of like in movies, she thought. She had a blank head like it was in clouds, her cheeks got completely hot

And red, and she barely remembered to breath evenly. And when he stuck a tongue out to lick between, she forgot to.

He very quickly pulled back and lied back down with another, shorter sigh.

Then she lost it; she rolled over, back to him, stuck nose undercovers to hide the blush and touched tips of fingers to her lips (then the whole palm).

,,Wha- you… you're awake?" he stuttered out.

,,Yep," she mumbled, trying to supress a grin.

She heard him mumble a ,aw, shit' under his breath. ,,I-I'm sorry, Kate, I shouldn't have."

,,It's alright," she said, head undercovers, still blushing wildly. He rested head on her back again, whining.

,,Are you mad?"

,,No," was a sincere response.

After a while of silence he kissed her between shoulder blades, then on one wing.

,,Savio," she said in a warning tone, at what she got a lick at the wing. After a few low ones near her neck.

,,SAVIO, don't do it," she gasped at the following sucking there.

,,Why?" At least he had the modesty to stop while asking, allowing her to take a breath.

,,You're going to regret it."

,,No," he countered quietly, burrying nose in her hair. ,,I'm not. You will?"

She didn't have anymore arguments to pass, and from that it went very quickly. Very soon she could feel that no, he did not have ANY trouble to get it up. Only to stop. The demoness couldn't even remember, when was the last time someone had that self control… when she was out of breath, he only stopped to let her catch it.

,,What the Hell am I doing," he sighed then, but didn't bother to think it over. After a few more movements she felt the familiar erratic ones, gripping at her waist and heard ragged breath, and a bit too late remembered, what will that mean.

She opened eyes wide when she felt the pool of heat, and immediately held breath, fighting every goddamn instinct for receiving all the energy and more, for sucking the life out. There wasn't much of it anyway, and if she went deeper…

For her own relief he pulled out right after, so she could take a big gulp of the precious oxigen without fear.

He bit his lip above her, looking guilty.

,,Now I messed up, didn't I."

She stared back in silence, forcing air out of her lungs. And his energy out of her body.

It went harshly and was not in the least pleasant, she nearly twitched in pain. She wasn't built to do that. She could give her own ebergy to someone, easily, but getting out something she felt she worked for – well, the body rebelled and rebelled hard. She could hear the inner demon screaming at her, what is she doing, is she giving it up? She wants to let go of such a delicious treat?

But it went out. And back up to it's owner.

,,What were you thinking."

,,I- needed to get the stress out, and the- we haven't slept wirh my mate for two months… I'm so sorry…"

She waved that off. ,,Why didn't you go to someone in the Black Forest?"

,,I doubt anyone would want to bear with a gloomy Neutral ruler."

,,You'd be surprised. And that would be safer. Do you have any idea, what could have happened?! My own mate doesn't handle as much as two full shots, and he has hundreds of years of practice! And that when I am not starved! And you- I could have KILLED you, you fool!"

He was taken aback by her outburst – and also tears.

,,I- I could have…" she curled up at his chest, sobbing, the whole weight of the situation falling down at her. She was a hair away from killing him. If he had even less, or if she didn't control herself well enough… sometimes people forgot, who she was. WHAT. She even sometimes forgot herself, what it brings.

,,You-you were just afraid for me?" he seemed relieved, but still hugged her.

,,Of course I was," she laughed through tears nearly hysterically. ,,don't ever, EVER do something so reckless again. I-I wouldn't be able live with that."

He stayed leaning against heer, then pushed her away to look at her face, at which she was furiously wiping.

,,I won't," he said without any traces of sarcasm. ,,I won't make you worry again."

,,Promise?"

,,Promise," he kissed her forehead again softly.

,,Savio?" ,,Mhm?" ,,I love you."

It sounded both startling and like a ridiculous understatement at once. She felt it was true, FAR more than it sounded, and was far deeper in.

Nevertheless he stayed utterly shocked at it.

,,-You do? Really?" another smile that could melt.

,,Of course I do, always did! I thought you knew."

,,Well I… did hope so," he grinned shyly, looking away. ,,I do too." After a second of silence, he added thoughtfully-

,,I even wanted you as my mate."

,,When?" she blinked, stomach flipping.

,,Once. Long ago," he waved it off melancholically..

,,Why… why have you never told me?"

He smiled. ,,You already were in love." Then he shrugged it off. ,,I learned to live with it. I still was always near you, anyway." A pit of pain was underneath. She was speechless for a moment, staring on him.

,,If I knew you were a shapeshifter, maybe I would consider it…"

,,Oh, really?" He didn't seem to believe it much.

,,We… share everything any pair does. Apart from one thing." She smacked her lap. ,,You know you're the first one for me."

,,Well, you did defend me that one time," he stated in a more cheerful mood. ,,So that means I'm higher?"

Silence spoke loud and clear, even if she didn't admit it.

,,You were always the closest person I had."

,,So were you to me, mistress," he took one of her hands and kissed it.

,,Don't call me that!" she flushed.

,,Why not? I never did, so it was about time I did at least once," he purred, her hand still under his head as a pillow.

,,You never had to. Besides… you're higher now. You're not my familiar anymore and you deserve it."

,,I miss it a bit," he admitted, what she hoped nobody heard. He then frowned, also thinking of what would that imply. Neutral leader as a pawn of the queen of Darkness? People would REALLY dislike that, that never could be a public affair.

,,You'll always be close like a familiar, kitty."

,,One favor, kate."

,,Yes?"

,,Just don't call me that in public," he still was purring. She grinned at that, lying down beside him.