Surr was cursing in her thoughts something fierce while they struggled to get through the snowstorm on the long bridge leading to Ishgard.

She clung to her mate's side as the mighty wind tried to sweep her away, and she cursed her tiny stature.

She cursed all the circumstances that led to them needing to get to that city in the first place. She cursed the cold, the snow, everything.

But most of all, she cursed herself and her stupidity.

At the time, when she and Raha first arrived in Coerthas and met Haurchefaunt, she thought she was being hilarious by playing to her Warrior persona to perfection. A brave, innocent adventurer bent on helping anyone in need. She loved how that made Raha roll his eyes at her or toss her dead-pan stares behind everyone's back.

Back at home, barely anyone was fooled by her innocent expressions anymore, so she was having fun fluttering her lashes at the dazed knights and playing fair maiden to perfection. While no one was watching, she tossed smug, mischievous smirks at her mate. She was enjoying his occasional spikes of jealousy over their bond.

Enjoying how it would rile him up to the point when he would be nearly blinded by lust and need to re-establish his claim, getting especially rough as he fucked her later. She couldn't help herself, he was so hot when riled up, and she liked it rough.

She thought then that it was funny and exciting, because between Scions and anyone else, really… only her lover really knew her.

But like so many times before… now she was paying for her stupidity.

She knew what meant the gaze he tossed her the other day in the repository of Camp Dragonhead. Her mate was brilliant and a fast-thinker, not to mention, unlike her, he could calculate the situation under pressure on the fly. It saved her scrawny hide more than once since they joined Scions.

She was wild and impulsive, near volatile sometimes, and quick to fall in rage… so her mate balanced her perfectly. On the other hand, Raha was calm and collected and knew her enough to know when to reel her in. She knew that, and she trusted his judgment without a doubt.

Without him, she would be so lost.

But now, despite their plans, their hopes… they were back to playing siblings and hiding… and it was all her fault, too! Her and her stupid games.

Surr heard enough about the rigid attitude of the people of Ishgard to believe they wouldn't take it in stride to learn of the famed Warrior siblings' illicit affair. And now they were on their mercy… baned from their home, with poor, teenage Alphinaud along for the ride.

She wasn't the biggest fan of the smug prodigy before but still couldn't help but feel responsible for him. After the hell that went down in Ul'dah and how his people betrayed him, Alphinaud seemed quite broken-hearted, too… And more than guilty over the fate of their friends. Yet, she didn't lose hope that somehow they'll find missing Scions… she couldn't let herself lose that hope.

She couldn't let herself believe that they were indeed… gone. Not after everything they went through together while fighting the Empire.

So she clung to her mate's side and cursed in thoughts… because it was better than letting herself drown in doubts swarming her mind.


Raha was seething.

Fortemps Manor was a beautiful, big house. Lord Edmond and his sons welcomed them more than warmly, each of them even was given their own luxury bedroom… and that was the reason for his annoyance.

At Waking Sands, space was scarce with so many Scions to accommodate, so Tataru was almost grateful to find out that they 'didn't mind' sharing a bedroom. After all… they were used to it, they claimed. Later at the Rising Stones, she tried to offer them separate rooms, but they blew her off, claiming it was a habit they enjoyed by then.

But in Ishgard and with its people's rigid standards of morality and proper manners, asking for a shared room could be taken as suspicious at best… so they didn't dare, even though he saw Surr's dismal at the arrangement. And with servants milling about the corridors near constantly… it was hell.

Frozen, rigid hell, in his opinion, with men of the Fortemps family fawning over his mate's Warrior persona like a pack of hungry wolves.

So he was seething, glaring daggers at the ceiling of his too-big luxury bedroom after settling between cold sheets, painfully missing his mate's warm body.

He was feeling her misery at the separation across their bond. Same as his own.

It was hell.


Over breakfast at the Manor the next day after their arrival, Surr struggled to keep up the pretense of good manners and innocence while nearly drowning in misery… her own and her mate's.

She spent the night tossing from side to side in a too big, empty bed, missing the insane heat of Raha's body under her. She always got cold quickly while he ran at a nearly unnaturally high temperature. She was used to falling asleep on top of his chest, listening to his even heartbeat and quiet, content purrs as he ran his fingers through her hair, lulling her to sleep. She was drifting off surrounded by his delicious scent of cinnamon and almonds, now with a tang of citrus mixed in.

In the end, she couldn't fall asleep at all, so she was exhausted and miserable, not to mention nearly sore with need.

With everything that transpired and their need to play their roles, it's been days since they could mate. It was the longest time she had to go without him fucking her in years. Her whole body nearly throbbed painfully along the mark on her shoulder, carefully hidden by her thick sweater. By the time she excused herself politely from the company of Fortemps men, Alphinaud and Tataru, and under her mate's narrowed, crimson stare citing a headache and heading back to her room, she was nearly delirious with need.

Still, she gasped when he caught up to her and nearly shoved her behind the nearest door, shutting it behind them near violently before pushing her against it face-first as he pinned her to the wooden surface with his hot, hard body.

"Raha…" she whimpered when he rubbed his whole body against her back, pulling roughly on her collar, revealing her mark, and biting her with a snarl.

She arched with a barely stifled, desperate whine when a shock of pleasure-pain shot down her spine and writhed between him and the hard surface, the emptiness between her legs growing painful while his low, dangerous growl vibrated around her skin.

She nearly died when without breaking his bite, he shoved his hand behind the waistband of her pants, soon pushing his fingers inside her roughly. She lifted her hand and bit on it to stifle her whimpers. She rocked her hips eagerly into his touch, heat in her belly near-instantly growing unbearable.

"Are you still enjoying it, my mate?" he growled after lifting his head slightly, nibbling at her throat as to her dismal his fingers slowed down, his other hand clenching around her hip and holding her tight against him as he rutted against her backside, grinding his hard cock into her ass. "Is it still fun to play, my Surr? Fooling them into thinking you're an innocent maiden. But, at the same time, it's enough for me to crook my finger to have you beg for my dick?" he hissed aggressively, curling his fingers inside her and tearing a breathless moan from her throat. "To have you beg me to fuck you till you can't move without feeling my cock in your tight cunt?"

Oh… He was riled up, alright… He always got such a filthy mouth on him when it happened… and he knew she loved it. Her polite, soft-spoken Raha growling obscenities into her ears always had her blush and nearly choke on her needy purrs and whimpers… like right now.

"No, Raha, please fuck me…" she whined desperately, trying to rock against him harder; lure him in as she purred loudly and insistently, bracing her arms against the door for the leverage and coiling her tail around him possessively. "Please, pleeeease, fuck me, Raha, I'm yours…"

"You are!" he snarled, then bit her again, making her arch against him with a choked shout, barely stifled on time by his big hand shooting up from her hip. She nearly expired when his hand moved and wrapped around her throat, her heart pounding so loud between her ears when he purred against her skin. "Only mine, to do with as I please, aren't you, Surr?"

"I am," she said breathlessly, shaking violently as her inner muscles quivered around his fingers. "Only yours, Raha, always and for… forever," Twelve, she's going to die if he doesn't fuck her soon… She'll burn to ash. She will…

"Good," he growled, leaning away and pushing her pants down her thighs roughly; she heard the rustle of material when he did the same with his own, then pulled back her hips, bending her forward and kicking her legs apart. She nearly died feeling the head of his cock against her dripping entrance, whimpering breathlessly when he rubbed it against her instead of shoving in as she craved, needed… "You can play your games, my Surr," he hissed, leaning over her back and nuzzling against her neck. She swallowed thickly, her throat bobbing under his palm. Her breath stuttered at the velvety, dangerous quality his low, soothing voice took on. "So long you remember who this hot cunt belongs to," and he shoved inside her brutally, his hand shooting up again to cover her mouth as she lost her mind, wailing as he filled her in one, hard thrust.

Twelve… so good, sooo good… She was writhing and squirming, pressing against him harder, whimpering under his palm when he set a rough, demanding rhythm, her cunt spasming around his cock at each hard stroke. Her mind spun as his choked, near painful grunts and whines filled and rang in her ears.

"Come for… me, my mate," he choked out between ragged breaths as his hand moved between her legs, his fingers rubbing her clit in the rhythm of his rough thrusts had her scream into his other palm… scream and cry out as she snapped, shaking violently as waves of heat rolled through her body. Her orgasm extended into a second one when he bit her with a choked groan, fucking her through it with furious, brutal snaps of his hips. His pleasure exploded in her mind and under her skin as he pumped her full of his seed, whimpering and gasping into her skin.

She mewled breathlessly when they sagged against the door, relishing in the heat of his hard body against her back... purring as her mind reeled in the afterglow while he nuzzled against her neck with his own, sated purr rumbling in the back of his throat.

Then a tired yawn stretched her jaw, and she wilted as her mind crashed back into reality.

"I hate sleeping alone," she whispered miserably when he pulled his hand back from her mouth, lowering it to smooth it soothingly across her belly.

"I know," he sighed against her neck. "Me too."

"No, Raha, I can't sleep without you," she said with a humorless chuckle, turning her head and rubbing it against his. "It's too cold and lonely," she yawned again, struggling to keep her eyes open as his scent and heat surrounded her.

He sighed again, straightened, and pulled her back against his chest, tightly wrapping his arm around her. She leaned against him with a quiet, content purr, blearily watching as he stretched his free hand toward the door handle and bright light flashed as she felt a surge of aether in his soul across their bond. Then he fixed their clothes and picked her up in his arms, heading deeper inside the room.

Surr looked around curiously over his shoulder, realizing that they were in a music room as she spotted a big, black piano and other instruments around the area. There were also a few couches there, to her delight, and Raha was heading toward one. He put her down on the ground before setting himself on it and petting his chest with a small, meaningful smile. She immediately crawled on top of him, sighing with bliss when he wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose in her hair, taking a deep breath.

"I can't sleep without you either," he admitted in a whisper.

"We have to think of something," she sighed, rubbing her cheek against his chest and fighting her exhaustion, trying to collect her thoughts.

"We will," he said slowly, sleepily, then yawned loudly. "We always do. Love you, Surr," he murmured as his arms started to go limp around her, and a quiet, content purr rumbled under her cheek.

"Love you too, my Raha," she smiled softly, then drifted off with her own blissful purr.


Alphinaud backed away from the closed door with his eyes open so wide they were nearly ready to pop out of his head.

He was worried when he followed Raha out of the Manor's dining room, not to mention surprised at the normally calm Scion's angry expression as he followed after his sister. He had no idea if they fought for some reason, or maybe Raha was worried when Surr complained about a headache. As a healer, Alphinaud wished to offer his assistance to the sweet, delicate Miqo'te, knowing she didn't have any practice in healing herself.

Then he was stunned to see Raha shove his sister inside one of the rooms… and beyond, shocked at the following noises. They might have tried to keep it quiet, but it wasn't enough to stop him from realizing what they were up to.

And it blew his mind completely.

His face was on fire as he headed toward his room, trying to understand and failing.

They were siblings! Like he and Alisaie!

This was just… wrong! So wrong! And didn't they realize what kind of reaction something… like this would erect in Ishgard of all places?! Most probably, they would be branded heretics and put to death! Scions didn't hold influence here to prevent that!

And how long were they…? Twelve made so much more sense now why they were always so inseparable.

Should he… say something? Gods, no! His head almost exploded at the thought of that conversation! He also refused to endanger any more of the Scions after his stupidity and naivete had already wrought!

He tightened his jaw with determination as he entered his room and closed the door behind him. Even if he… disagreed with what they were doing, he had to help them cover it up without them realizing that he knew.

What has his life turned into…?


After they returned to Ishgard after their adventures in Sea of Clouds and Coerthas Western Highlands, Raha was fed up with Fortemps's sons and quite glad when his mate dragged him to Forgotten Knight, a tavern and an inn in the frost-covered city.

To keep up the pretense, they rented two rooms, then closed themselves in one of them and proceeded to fuck furiously for bells, trying to make up for the fact of what their play was denying them.

Twelve was hard enough before, but now it was getting beyond ridiculous! At least before they left for their assignments with Scions alone, without everyone seemingly watching them constantly! Not to mention he was forced to watch knights and nobles fawn over his mate constantly as if her delicate features made her any less formidable than Warrior she was!

Honestly, he was nearly embarrassed at their stupidity!

They acted with a respectful, polite air toward him while trying to pamper his beautiful mate… or protect her! Inadvertently raising his hackles in the process, too!

She was HIS! …his, his, his… to protect, love, and cherish… His, and his alone! And he was not one to share her, ever, in any way.

Twelve, his possessiveness sometimes nearly scared him. He was beyond lucky that his mate enjoyed it, riled him up even when she was feeling feisty… which was most of the time, anyway. That she was as possessive, too!

He basked in it as she rode his cock, clawing on his back and shoulders with her long nails, biting him with low, possessive hisses and growls, drawing blood.

He was almost glad for the cold weather in the city, remembering how uncomfortable was hot weather in Thanalan when he could not take his shirt off because of scratches and bite marks covering his back and shoulders. Not that he minded or even thought to complain, relishing in her wild side.

Side only he knew. The side that belonged only to him.

And it's not like she didn't carry her share of bites and bruises, unavoidable even as much as he lamented, marking her beautiful, pale skin. Like right now, he couldn't help but clench his fingers on her hips, growling wildly as he pulled her harder on his dick, knowing he was too rough again but unable to stop himself anyway.

She always brought out the best and the worst in him, his beloved, beautiful star. For her, he always strived to be the best he could be in anything she struggled with. To be as calm and collected as she was wild and impulsive. But in bed…? Oh, there, he couldn't help but relieve his frustration with being unable to love her freely, openly, in nearly brutal touches, devouring kisses, and rough bites. He couldn't help but fuck her furiously, time after time, till she writhed, mewling and begging for more.

Ever insatiable, his mate. His beloved, beautiful Surr. His greatest weakness and obsession. So even as he pumped her full of his seed, growling and groaning around his bite. At the same time, her whines and whimpers filled and rang in his ears; he was ready to go again near-instantly, tossing her down onto the mattress face first as she mewled breathlessly, shaking in the aftershocks of her last orgasm. But, at the same time, he slammed into her from behind, mounting her with a possessive snarl, fucking her from one peak right into another as she clawed at the sheets, wailing under his palm as, out of hated habit, he covered her mouth.

He was dying to have her scream his name repeatedly, as he chanted hers breathlessly into her neck; when he took her time after time, till he collapsed into her arms with an exhausted, tired whine a few bells later.

Closing his eyes and purring with bliss while she smoothed her hands affectionately across his back, nuzzling against his shoulder and whispering her love and devotion as she soothed his bruised heart.

His tired heart yearned to have her in every way possible. It longed for him to be able to hold and kiss her without a care about who was watching. To openly call her his love, his mate… his wife.


Surr sighed heavily as she settled down on her bed inside Fortemps Manor later that evening, getting ready for another sleepless night. She summoned her carbuncle for at least a bit of warmth and company as it settled in her lap, chirping happily. At the same time, she petted its stripped back for distraction.

At least while they've been away from Ishgard, they could have snuggled together with Raha by the campfire, using the cold as an excuse. It caused some raised eyebrows, true, but nothing more than that. At least that her innocent persona allowed, letting her fall asleep in his warm embrace.

Back at the Manor, she felt even more cold and lonely, feeling his reflecting feelings only making her more miserable.

Then she startled at the soft knock at her bedroom door, frowning with confusion. Her carbuncle jumped off her lap as she headed for the door, settling in the middle of the bed and swishing its three tails with agitation.

She opened the door just a bit and blinked at Alphinaud, who looked very uncomfortable, blushing up to his hairline and staring at the floor.

"Alphinaud?" she said softly, raising her eyebrows. "Did something happen?"

"I…" he cleared his throat, then finally looked up at her. Her frown deepened at the sight of unusual determination in his blue eyes. "I need to talk to you, Surr. May I come in?"

She blinked hard, then, even though she was only in her nightclothes, opened the door further, letting him in, just too curious now… and not like she ever cared about modesty anyway. Maybe she was breaking her character… but she was honestly too miserable to care at the moment.

"Please, come in," she said with sight, then headed back to her bed, climbing on it and petting her carbuncle as it jumped in her lap again. Her eyebrows twitched when Alphinaud closed the door behind him and neared her with uncertainty, looking anywhere but at her, with such a dark blush on his pale face. It seemed nearly hilarious. "Something's wrong?"

"I know, it's not my place…" he started, then cleared his throat, clearly very uncomfortable with what he wanted to say… which only spiked her feline curiosity more. Then she frowned slightly, feeling Raha's agitation spike across their bond as he sensed her feelings, clearly realizing something was up. Knowing him as she did… and feeling him get closer, she hoped Alphinaud would be fast. Her mate was usually calm and collected, true… but their situation was straining the leash of his control over his most primal instincts. And Alphinaud might be young… but he was still male and inside her bedroom. If he doesn't leave before her possessive mate snaps enough to see him as a potential rival… it won't be pretty. "But you're getting sloppy," he continued before she could open her mouth to warn him. Though… what she could say, really…?

"Sloppy?" she frowned with confusion, tilting her head curiously.

"You've been… ah, seen…" he stammered nervously, staring at the floor. "Leaving one room in Forgotten Knight… after bells…"

She blinked hard again, trying to get his meaning… then blushed furiously and gasped, staring at him with wide-open eyes as her ears fell flat against her head.

"You… know…?" she gasped, staring at him with astonishment, nearly missing how the door to her room opened silently. A familiar figure sneaked in, closing it behind him as quiet. Her eyes grew even more when she saw crimson eyes grow dazed and glassy, his beautiful lips parting around a silent snarl.

Oh, fuck! Forget snapping… he was going straight into feral!

Before she could think of it better, she jumped off the bed and pushed the teenager behind her as she faced off against her mate with bared teeth and a hiss. Alphinaud started badly, gasping, at the sight of Raha. He neared them with a low growl and narrowed, predatory stare that missed consciousness, filled only with fiery fury.

"Back off," she hissed dangerously, leaning in slightly as her tail whipped behind her, smacking the teenager's legs. "He's not your rival, Raha, so back the hell away," she knew what chances she had of reaching him in that state… but she had to try at least, before…

"Mine," he snarled viciously, baring his teeth at her, though his predatory stare narrowed behind her.

She almost sighed… it wasn't the first time she had to deal with this, but usually, an especially rough tumble in the sheets to allow him to re-establish his claim was enough to snap him out of it… but with Alphinaud in the room…? Even if he really knew about them, she didn't think he would enjoy a first-hand view… especially before she could explain that they weren't really related!

"Alphy," she tossed over her shoulder, not breaking the eye contact with her mate. "If you want to get out of this… in one piece, move to the other side of the bed and don't move no matter what."

"What's happening?" he gasped. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's feral," she said, then hissed viciously when her mate leaned in, clearly getting ready to pounce. "Move!" she screamed, then lunged first, growling as she tackled Raha to the floor, pinning him down and thanking Mothercrystal for her unnatural strength. She knew she had barely a few seconds bought by surprise before he'll overpower her; since sharing her gifts equally, he still had more significant muscle mass working for him. But a few seconds was all she needed to fist her hand in his hair, pulling on his collar with the other, to bite him with a snarl while drawing on his soul near brutally.

He went utterly rigid under her, then pliant with a quiet, submissive whine. She growled with satisfaction into his skin, rewarding him with tightening her grip on his soul… knowing how he loved it, feeling how his dick went completely hard under her instantly. He started purring, loud and insistent, undulating under her with a clear invitation and demand to claim him.

Twelve, she would love to, she thought in a daze, feeling as his lust swamped her senses. But Alphinaud…

She lifted carefully, bracing her hands around his head, and cooed soothingly into dazed crimson eyes.

"It's okay, Raha," she purred softly, then sat astride him, smoothing her hands across his chest as she looked toward the clearly stunned teenager, watching the display with his mouth hanging open as his back hugged the wall on the other side of her bed. "You have to leave, Alphinaud," she whispered. "Just don't make any sudden moves, okay? Like this, he shouldn't even remember you're here, but if he realizes… it won't be pretty."

"What the…?" his eyes grew even bigger when Raha moved, getting impatient and rolling them around, pushing her to the floor with a loud growl. "This is… wrong!"

"Just go, Alphy, if you don't want to have a show," she giggled madly, completely breaking her character when she tossed him a wide, mischievous grin and wiggled her eyebrows meaningfully. At the same time, her mate started to nuzzle at her throat, his purr growing louder. "I'll explain everything in the morning. And I swear, it's not as bad as it looks."

He clearly didn't believe her but headed toward the door while hugging the wall, speeding up with it with such a dark blush when she started purring as loud and insistent, wrapping her arms and legs tight around Raha, to his evident pleasure as he began to rock against her while nipping on her shoulder.

When he finally left, at least aware enough to close the door behind him silently, she sighed with relief, focusing on her mate.

"I think…" she giggled, smoothing her hands over his back. "…we just scarred him for life, my love."

"Mine," he purred in answer, clearly still out of it.

She sighed softly, then bit back a laugh when he tore her clothes with an impatient growl and set to re-establish his claim with that unyielding enthusiasm she adored.

And even as she moaned and writhed under him when he took her, she had to almost snicker at how utterly embarrassed he's going to be later!

Maybe she was evil… but she couldn't wait!