Though Surr quite expected it, a furious growl still made her twitch, then giggle.

"Guess that's quite far enough," Thancred chuckled, clearly ungodly amused as he backed away from her.

"Sorry," Raha sighed, running his hand through his hair as his mismatched eyes lost slightly glassy look they took a moment ago. He sat on the edge of the bed, while they conducted this experiment. To Thancred's amusement, she asked him to help Raha get used to males approaching her. "It's… I'm sorry."

She crossed the room, jumped on the bed with a giggle and coiled around her mate's back, resting her chin on his shoulder and regarding her best friend with a tiny grin.

"Don't worry, G'raha. Think it was step closer than yesterday," Thancred chuckled, leaning against back of the couch and crossing his arms over his chest. "Soon enough I'll be able to ruffle her hair again," he smirked at her.

She poked out her tongue at him, then sighed with content, nuzzling against Raha's neck, his smell filling her head… sooo tasty… She couldn't help herself but nibble at his skin gently, because he was hers… and he smelled so good…

"Think that's my que," Thancred laughed out loud, straightening when her mate uttered absolutely delicious, breathless whimper, tilting his head under her ministrations and blushing furiously. "Do let me know if you need anything else. Otherwise… enjoy," he laughed again when she lifted her head to send him a glare, then left, closing door of her room behind him.

"I do like him," Raha sighed when she immediately moved into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and trailing her lips along his jaw. He tilted his head back slightly, his hands smoothing up and down her back gently.

"Mhmm, he's the best," she hummed with distraction, leaning away to quickly unfasten his vest and pull it off his shoulders. She giggled when he growled with warning, his eyes narrowed. "But I want only you, my beautiful," she assured, placing a quick kiss on his pretty lips before she pulled her shirt over her head. She framed his face with her palms, pulling him in a soft, loving kiss; then she giggled maniacally when he twisted around in a flash, pushing her into the mattress and pushing her skirt up… she didn't bother with underwear, because what's the point, really?... then his pants down and entering her with a quiet groan.

"So good…" he hummed with content, nipping at her throat delicately, his hands moving up and down her thighs when she coiled her legs around him with a whimper, sinking both of her hands in his hair and pulling him in another kiss, this quickly turning devouring as he braced his elbows around her and started to pump into her roughly.

"Raha…" she gasped when they broke for air, rocking against his thrusts desperately. Gods… she'll never get enough of feeling him… in her body and mind, both… "Raha, please… harder," she finished with a growl, using her grip in his hair to pull his head against her shoulder meaningfully.

"Twelve… you're perfect…" he uttered, sounding absolutely awed, then complied, his rhythm growing brutal as he bit her. She came with a scream, shuddering violently and clawing at his back. "So… perfect… so mine…" he growled, then went rigid with a groan, soon sagging on top of her, panting roughly.

Dazed, she run her hands across his back, purring with satisfaction and nuzzling at his throat. She smiled tenderly when he returned the affectionate gesture, his own purr deep and sated.

It's been about four days since they… mated properly and though her mate would still occasionally get flustered when she showered him with affection during and between their lovemaking, she could feel him grow more confident with each passing bell. That they could feel each other's feelings so clear now was helping a lot.

She sighed softly, lifting her hands and sinking them again in his hair, scratching at the back of his ears, then giggled when he bit her throat delicately.

"But as much as I enjoy this…" he hummed, lifting over her on his arms, his smile a bit bashful. "I should really… get to reviewing my notes," he leaned in, placing soft kiss on top of her nose. "With exam tomorrow… and all…" he sighed, then slid his arms under her back, picking her up gently. Surr grinned, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and tightening her legs around his waist as he carried her toward the bathroom. "Let's wash, and then… watch it," he hissed, when she licked mark at his shoulder, then giggled again at his glare and pout.

Twelve… He was so silly… and adorable… she loved it…

"You're so cute, my Raha," she gushed and didn't even mind when that earned her a delicate slap on the bottom; she was too busy cackling at his dark blush.

"You, my mate, are impossible…" he sighed patiently, but with clear fondness. She grinned, giving him a quick kiss before she untangled from his arms, dropping on the floor. She discarded her skirt that was still rolled around her waist and turned on the shower, soon stepping under the stream with a content hum when he joined her, wrapping his arms around her waist loosely. She leaned her back against his chest, closing her eyes and purring happily; her sound only growing in intensity when he soaped his hands, soon sliding them over her skin gently. "Though…" he said with humor after a moment. "I have no idea how I'm supposed to study with you being so… distracting."

"I'll be nice, my Raha," she promised with another sigh, too content to even open her eyes. "I do care that you pass… since it's important to you."

"It is…" he admitted softly, nuzzling at her shoulder. "I… it took a lot… to finish this. Leaving without it would feel…" he quieted.

She tried not to clench her teeth… and not to stiffen against him. 'It took a lot'… yeah… she noticed the careful pause and could guess the reason. By now he understood that even the… thought about the abuse her soulmate experienced in this infernal city made her furious.

But it was over now. It was. She promised herself she will never, ever allow anyone to hurt her beautiful mate again. No one, not ever. He was hers to protect, cherish and love. He was, and she'll gladly spend rest of her life showering him with her love and affection to make up for how much his childhood missed that.

"Surr? You're okay?" he hummed, noticing her distraction.

"I am," she smiled at him tenderly over her shoulder, then turned around in his arms, lifting on her toes and kissed him gently. "I love you, Raha," she sighed against his lips. "So much."

He framed her face with his palms and she almost wept at the sight of something infinitely raw and vulnerable in his beautiful eyes before he closed them, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I love you too, Surr," he whispered softly, making her heart squeeze painfully. She wrapped her arms around him, just holding him tightly.

Yes, he was hers… And woe on anyone who will ever attempt to hurt him again…


Next day, Surr quickly realized her mistake. Though Tancred was kind and amused by it enough to help Raha practice his… self-control, she didn't consider the fact that she… was really bad at it normally. And staying last few days at Alphinaud's mansion spoiled her into thinking that somehow she was not as bothered by possessiveness… since there weren't any females around to bother her with their smell around her soulmate.

Which led to her… self-control being nearly non existent after she and Thancred walked with Raha to the Studium, where his exam was supposed to take place… where was a lot females. Like… a LOT. She never really noticed before… how many… Now she did and it was setting her teeth on the edge… bad. But she tried… hard… to curb in her growing aggression not to distract her mate when this exam was so important to him. She did. She put on a gentle, sweet kiss on his lips after walking with him to the doors of the classroom where test was supposed to take place, she wished him good luck and stayed outside with her best friend, trying not to grind her teeth or growl at every female that even got close.

By Thancred amused smirk, she was failing miserably.

"Distract me, Than," she sighed, leaning against the wall next to the door that separated her from her mate… She took few, quick breaths, trying to calm down when she started to feel feral haze clawing at the edges of her consciousness.

He was fine… He was. It was okay. Okay. Just… three bells, he said?... Gods… so long… But he was fine, he was safe… It was okay.

She blinked, realizing that Thancred was talking to her. She focused with effort, swallowing hard.

"…Alphinaud told me that he was quite surprised at Students of Baldesion's reaction when he went over there to announce G'raha's transfer into Scions," he mused, also leaning against the wall, though in respectful distance from her. "The person he was talking with was trying to make it quite… difficult."

"How so?" she frowned, tilting her head to look at him carefully. "Considering how they treated him…" she grind her teeth, her voice more of a growl than anything else as her ears fell flat against her head. She licked her lips, tilting her head back and banging it slightly against the wall.

He was okay. He was fine. And soon she will take him away from this city and she will never let anyone hurt him again.

"That's the thing…" he friend sighed and she focused on him again, narrowing her eyes at his frown. "Even with that… They only agreed after calling that… Gulaf, it was? On one side, it make sense since he was your boy's guardian… But Alphinaud said that there was something extremely… suspicious about whole thing. Why dump G'raha here and leave him be for years basically, then get near offended when we want to take him… off their hands so to say?"

She sighed, closing her eyes.

"This whole thing reeks…" she pursed her lips, gears in her head turning furiously as she regarded her friend. "Didn't mention it to you yet, but after I read your… report… I called papa, hoping he will help me make sense of this."

"And?" he raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"It didn't make sense for him either," she shrugged helplessly and then folded her arms over her chest. "He said that no matter the circumstances, tribe sending away a kit, alone, is… strange. Now with what you say… Well, I'm quite happy we're taking him away from here… Even if he wasn't my mate… I don't know, this just reeks…" she grimaced, closing her eyes again.

"Do you want me to look a… bit more carefully into this?" he said in a low voice and she frowned, biting her lip. She knew what he meant. Thancred was basically a spy for Scions, with unique set of skills. Ealier having only her in consideration, he wouldn't dig deep into Raha's past. But if she specifically requested it…

"Let's ask Raha when he's done," she finally sighed, dropping her arms to her sides. "It's his life, after all."

"Okay," he nodded easily, relaxing visibly. Then he looked around carefully and smiled at her sheepishly. "I'm hungry. You mind if I leave you for a bit and grab us some snack? Cause I guess you don't feel like leaving here…?"

Surr laughed sharply.

"It takes everything in me to stay this far from him," she sighed, pursing her lips again then waved her hand. "Just go, I'll be fine. And grab me something sweet," she grinned, though she knew there was slightly sharp edge to it.

Thancred regarded her for a long moment, then sighed pushing off the wall.

"I'll be quick. Just try to… relax," he smirked, winking at her.

She watched him leave with a slight frown. Of course he found her predicament amusing. He had no idea how awful it felt to be even this far from her mate when the bond was still so fresh… she sighed, closing her eyes again and leaning her head back against the wall.

She did hope that her agitation won't affect Raha's test… She smiled slightly, remembering his focus when he reviewed his notes… It was so cute… She spent bells trying to control her need to not disturb him… much. It mostly worked… she hoped. But he looked so… hot when studying… She sighed dreamily.

Who was she kidding? He looked hot no matter what he did, really… She was obsessed. And she really didn't mind that…

"…I heard the freak is taking test for the Archon marks today…" she heard someone say and her eyes shoot wide open, looking toward the voice.

She saw a group of four Hyur girls standing nearby, giggling at the comment, all dressed in student's uniforms and looking to be older than her. Probably close to Raha's age, maybe bit older, if she was inclined to guess.

Not that she cared… choking down a furious hiss.

She forced herself to relax and ignore it, really not wanting her feelings to affect his test.

He was fine. He was safe. And as soon as he is done, she will track down this girl who said that and… She didn't manage to choke down another growl, earning girls attention. They looked over at her, surely noticing her glare, judging by their raised eyebrows.

Seemingly most confident of them, a quite pretty one with black hair and green eyes, stepped toward her with haughty expression. Rest of them followed behind her, spreading behind the first girl in half-circle. So she was a leader… Surr smirked mockingly, narrowing her purple eyes. She saw this sort of thing so many times in Limsa… If they thought they can intimidate her by their number, they had another thing coming…

"And who are you?" leader asked, regarding her with a frown and pursed lips. "Didn't saw you around Studium before."

"None of your business," she showed her teeth in a sharp grin, pushing off the wall and straightening. She maybe was tiny in comparison to most… but she grew up in a pirate's city and brawls wasn't anything new or scary for her. She dealt with her share of bullies already, she refused to let some haughty bitches think they can scare her. "You can just move on, before I make you."

"Wait, Kaia, I saw her," one of the others gasped, then giggled. "Few days ago saw her drag the freak through Aetheryte plaza."

Surr focused her glare on the girl, recognizing the first voice that broke her out of her musings. Her grin hardened, eyes narrowed into slits, tail swung slowly, predatory. So this one goes down first. Girl twitched, moving slightly back.

"Truly?" leader smirked, drawing her attention. "You're here with G'raha?"

"That I am, though as I said…" Surr drawled. "None of your business."

The leader, Kaia if she heard correctly, laughed then leaned in.

"He is quite good in bed, isn't he?" she whispered with nasty look in her green eyes. "Too bad…"

Whatever she wanted to add, she never got a chance as Surr grinned with a real glee, finally finding a target for her fury, in a blink of an eye and without a warning slamming her fist in girl's stomach. When she folded in half with a gasp, Miqo'te fisted her hand in her hair and brought leader's head against her knee; crack of her nose breaking so satisfying…

Rest of the girls backed away with gasps of shock, one running off probably to bring security or a professor… not that she cared, cheerful grin on her lips as she pulled leader's head up when she fallen on her knees, watching her bloodied face with satisfaction.

"I never thought…" she mused, lifting her free hand to tap at her chin. "That any of his previous lovers would be stupid enough to approach me…" she pursed her lips, then send the sobbing girl a sweet, cold smile. Keeping a tight leash on her emotions was hard, feral haze clawing at her mind… but her mate was busy, and this bitch wasn't worth spoiling his exam. "I thank you, I do," she tapped her victim's cheek gently. "I was already worried that I'll leave this infernal city without a chance to… express my displeasure with how you people treated my soulmate. Now to fully express my… gratitude…" she smashed her head against her knee again, then let go of her hair, letting her drop to the ground, sniveling.

Surr clapped her hands cheerfully, turning her gaze toward first girl who spoke, calling her mate a freak.

"Now… about what you said…" she showed her teeth in another grin, stepping over her first victim. "I take some issue…" she pursed her lips when girl screamed and bolted. She tossed quick look between the door of the classroom and the direction of girl's escape, tapping her chin in consideration, her tail waving behind her with indecision. Then she sighed and blew a kiss toward the door. "I'll be right back, my love," she smirked and winked at the only girl that was left, hugging the wall with terrified expression; then sprinted down the hall, starting the hunt.


Though he felt Surr leave some time ago, G'raha was still surprised when he left the classroom and found only Thancred waiting for him, Scions expression ungodly amused.

"Where is Surr?" he frowned, because he could still feel her, but from quite a distance.

"How did it go?" asked Scion easily, pushing off the wall.

"I passed. Where is Surr?" he repeated, growing slightly agitated. He realized he wanted her to wait for him… but maybe something came up?

"She was detained," Thancred chuckled, heading down the corridor and motioning for him to follow. "Alphinaud is getting her out as we speak."

"Detained?" G'raha gasped, falling in step with the man and pointedly ignoring curious stares of the students. "What happened? Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Huyr laughed, waving off his instant worry. "Wouldn't say the same about her victims, though…"

"Victims…?" his jaw dropped, feeling his eyes grow huge as he regarded the man with shock. "What victims?"

"Some girls," Thancred shrugged easily, tossing him a smirk. "I know she doesn't really look it, but Surr can pack quite a punch if she's so inclined."

G'raha chuckled involuntary, remembering her unusual strength as she coiled around him… which made him blush to his mortification and caused Thancred to laugh again.

He coughed lightly, trying to cover his embarrassment.

"She beat up some girls? Why?" This made no sense. She was always so sweet and loving, imagining her taking part in a brawl was… hard.

Scion shrugged again, leading the way as they left Studium.

"No idea. I left her just for a moment to grab us some snacks and when I came back, there was security picking up pretty bloodied girl off the floor; another screeching something about 'insane, white-haired Miqo'te' who went on a rampage. It took some time to find her, in a jail already, but she refused to say anything, only cackling madly. A guard I asked said they caught her beating up another girl into a pulp in a clearing in Tranquility after some panicked students called them. I asked Alphinaud to sort it out and came back to get you," he finished with another shrug.

Thancred was really suspiciously fine with whole thing, thought G'raha with a frown.

"Does that… happen often?" he asked carefully.

"Naw," man chuckled. "Surr is really sweet girl. She wouldn't attack someone without a good reason. And by the sound of it, she was the one attacking so…" he chuckled again. "I choose to believe she did had good reason. I'm sure she'll be more inclined to tell you what the whole thing was about."

G'raha sighed patiently, then in silence followed the man toward where he felt his mate's presence. They arrived just as she was leaving the building of the jail with Alphinaud, young Elzen clearly scolding her with a frown on his face as she rolled her eyes with a pout.

Surr beamed instantly when she spotted him, and rushed toward him, soon wounding her arms tightly around his waist.

"Raha, how did your exam went?" she grinned, like nothing unusual happened at all.

He sighed, framing her face with his hands and looking at her carefully.

"It went good," he leaned it, brushing his lips against hers. She purred with pleasure, her arms around him tightening. "But I hear you had some… fun?" he added, earning a scowl from teenager who stood way off, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yup, a bit," she beamed at him, showing her teeth in a cheeky grin, her eyes full of laughter. So cute…

"Will you tell me what brought it about?" he couldn't stop a slightly grin at her cheerful expression.

"Just some… girl stuff," she pouted playfully, rolling her eyes. "Nothing to worry about, my Raha," she assured with innocent expression, blinking at him her dark lashes. "I'm quite hungry, can we go back to the mansion?" he could clearly see that she tried to change the topic.

"Whatever you wish, my love," he said slowly, resigning himself to get it out of her when they're alone.

She sent him another cheerful grin, making his heart vault wildly, then climbed her toes to give him a quick kiss.

He looked up, meeting Thancred's amused gaze and rolled his eyes, making the man grin. Surr giggled, wrapping her hands around his arm and leaning her cheek against his shoulder as they followed Alphinaud back, teen being quite nonplussed… though watching him carefully, G'raha could almost swear he was fighting a smirk.

Scions of the Seventh Dawn certainly are quite a surprising bunch.