Lidka lay at Geralt's side, propped up on her elbow, tracing her finger along the scars on his torso. He waited for the usual questions. They always wanted to hear the stories now, thanks to the damned bard. Sometimes he obliged. Sometimes he simply got up and left.

Lidka, however, was silent as she explored his body, until she traced over a long scar beneath his right pec.

"This is from the wraith," she whispered.

Geralt turned his head to face her. "How did you know?"

"I remember. When it hurt you, you dropped to your knee and grabbed here. I thought you might not make it then… that we would both die."

He sighed. "Wraiths are usually easier to take down when they're alone, but that one put up a fight. Stronger. Angrier."

"I was so afraid."

"I remember you being very brave. Calm."

"I was petrified."

"You were badly hurt, if I remember."

"I was. I blacked out."

"You lasted longer than some grown men I've witnessed face a wraith."

She brushed her thumb over the scar, then trailed her fingers down his side.

"When I woke, you were gone. I wanted to thank you, but they told me you'd left as soon as it was dead."

"The townspeople like my services, but don't like when I stick around."

She stared into his eyes.

"I would have liked you to stick around."

A small smirk pulled at Geralt's lips. He brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear with the tip of his finger.

"I learned to heal because of you," she said. "They told me you'd left without anyone even looking at you, and I—" She lowered her eyes. "I never wanted anyone who risked their life for others to succumb to treatable injuries. Not if I can help it."

"You make me sound nobler than I am. I was paid to put my life at risk."

Lidka sat up, and the sheet fell around her waist. Geralt glanced down at her breasts, covered in a light sheen of sweat from their recent exertion, but looked back into her eyes.

"Are you telling me that if you had found me there with that wraith, just traveling, not paid, you would have let me die?"

He searched for anger, but there was none in her. Not her tone. Not her face. She already knew the answer to the question.

"No," he said. "I wouldn't have left you to die."

"So, you are noble."

Geralt grunted, and took her hand from his chest.

"You think too much of me."

"You think too little of yourself."

Lidka moved to lay on top of him. Her legs straddled his waist, her chest against his, as she supported herself on her forearms.

"Tell me, Witcher… do you take travel companions?"

"No."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Sounds lonely."

"That's how I like it."

"Hmmm. I don't believe you." She kissed his chin and rolled her hips. "You've seemed very pleased with my companionship."

Geralt grunted and grabbed her hips.

"We're not exactly traveling."

"No? So, the riding I was doing before isn't for traveling?"

Geralt laughed deep in his chest. "If only."

She kissed his jaw from one side to the other.

"Take me with you."

"You're safe here."

"So are you, but you won't stay."

"Because I can't. You can."

"But I could be your own personal healer."

"No."

"Geralt, you could—"

He flipped her onto her back and covered her mouth with his. She whimpered and tugged at his long hair until he pulled away with a grunt.

"That's not fair," she said, breathless.

"Neither is life on the road. Especially the places I travel." Geralt trailed his lips down her neck to her breasts. "The path isn't as pleasant as this one." Lower still, until she writhed and fisted the sheets.

Her body went limp, and he kissed his way back up to her neck.

"But you could have me whenever you please," she whispered.

Geralt lifted himself to hover over her. He stared into her eyes.

"You deserve better than the life of a concubine."

The fight faded from her eyes. "Is that what you think of me?"

"No… that's not…" He rolled onto his back. "Ah, fuck." He rubbed a hand over his face. "This is why I avoid conversations. I'm horrible at them."

Lidka pulled the covers up to her chin and turned her back to him, lying on her side.

"Lidka?"

She didn't answer. She didn't move.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No," she said.

Geralt put an arm behind his head and sighed. The silence stretched on until he thought she might have fallen asleep. He reached out and touched her hip, and she recoiled. Geralt grunted, but wouldn't retreat. He pressed his body into hers, curling around her. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

"You're safer here," he whispered against her ear.

"Safety is overrated."

"You want to be my healer… who heals you when you're hurt?"

"It's not as if I'll be riding into battle with you, Geralt."

"Sometimes the battles come to me."

Lidka turned her head to look at him, so he loosened his grip a bit.

"Haven't you ever been willing to risk your life for something you wanted? Something you felt meant for?"

He didn't respond. He wasn't sure he could.

"Geralt…" She turned completely in his arms and ran her fingers through the hair on his chest. "When I woke after the wraith, and you were gone, I felt like something was incomplete. As if I missed something I wasn't supposed to miss." She buried her face in his neck. "When I realized it was you today at the bathhouse, I knew this was a second chance."

"For what?"

"For whatever is destined for us."

He grunted. "It's a bad idea."

"But I haven't heard the one thing from you that would make me think you really believe that."

"And what's that?"

She pulled back and looked into his eyes.

"That you don't want me to go with you."

His eyes flicked across her face.

"I can't say that."

A smile pulled at her lips. "You feel it, don't you? A pull between us?"

"I don't know what it is."

"Did you think about me after the wraith? Ever?"

Geralt gave a sharp nod.

"Don't you see? I'm meant for you."

She trailed her fingers down his torso and along his member. He hissed and closed his eyes.

"It's why we fit so well," she said.

Geralt grabbed her chin and turned her head to lick and kiss at her neck.

"Take me, Geralt. Take me now, and then take me with you."

He rolled onto his back and pulled her onto him, making her cry out with the thrust.

"Who am I to fight destiny?"