Author's Note:
Heads up that while usually I have the next (or next two) chapters written by the time I post one, I do not have chapter nine done. I haven't even started it. School has been kicking my ass this semester, so I apologize if there's a bit of a delay between this chapter and the next. Finals are over after this week though, so as long as my two jobs don't choke the life out of me with scheduling, I'll have a bit of time to actually devote to writing. Finally. Ugh.

VIII.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Triss pursed her lips. For such a simple question, it had such a complicated answer. Yennefer's image in the megascope furrowed her brow, but then amusement pulled at the corner of her lips at Triss' noticeable hesitation. "I see your hero-worship has finally begun to fade. Good. If you don't blindly trust her, you might actually learn something."

Triss exhaled a long breath as she leaned against the wall of the observatory. Truth be told, this room of the castle had always made her feel a little uncomfortable. While Triss was a fairly organized individual, she tended to be a little all over the place when she found herself deep in her studies. Philippa's observatory, despite being a place where one would usually study, experiment, or otherwise improve and create magics, was much too organized. It was as though everything was merely there for display, yet Triss knew how often Philippa spent time in this room. Even still, absolutely nothing was out of place. It unnerved Triss a little, as she felt like one misplaced step would disturb something.

Yennefer, however, was completely the opposite. Through the megascope, Triss could see the clutter behind the other woman. It wasn't that she was messy, per say, but Yennefer had more possessions than she probably should, and no place to put them. That wasn't a room Triss would be comfortable in either, as she would feel like she had no space of her own. It was then that Triss realized that perhaps she should be less concerned about fitting herself into other people's spaces, and start claiming some of her own.

"Why are you both so keen on having me learn to distrust everyone? It sounds cynical and lonely, and that's not what I want for myself."

Triss moved from the corner and collapsed heavily into a chair as she spoke. She had all the grace of a bull in a china shop and her knee hit the desk, causing it to wobble. A crystal that had been neatly placed in the corner nearly rolled off the surface, but with quick reflexes, Triss managed to catch it just before it shattered on the ground. She exhaled through her nose, trying to curb her anxiety and her irritation.

Perhaps she should just learn to build a megascope of her own, then she could make calls within the comfort of her own space. It couldn't be that hard, could it?

"I won't speak for Philippa, but I'm not trying to make you cynical and distrusting of others," Yennefer responded. "I'm merely suggesting that if you don't immediately accept what people offer you at face-value, you will not be easily manipulated. That is not to say that in time you can't learn to trust someone, but they have to give you a reason to first. Do not give someone that which they have not earned."

Triss' expression clouded in exasperation. Sometimes, she could sound just like Philippa.

"She's supposed to be my mentor," Triss stressed, turning the crystal over in her palm as she looked at the projected image of her friend. "Shouldn't that kind of relationship include a baseline of trust?"

"Yes. You can trust that she will educate you," Yennefer answered. Triss' lips pursed into a thin line. "How she will, however, is another matter entirely. I know she is not traditional in any sense of the word, and I know she has the capability of becoming emotionally dangerous for you, but I suggested her tutelage for a reason. And that is not just a reminder to you, but for myself as well. I've been far too overprotective of you, and that is no way for you to learn."

Well, that was true at least. Triss knew Yennefer cared about her, but it was as though she sent her off to Philippa with a leash around her neck, and the constant tugging on it was hindering Triss' ability to stand on her own two feet. She understood Yennefer's concerns, especially after knowing her own history with the woman, but it had been rather disorienting to be pulled back from the person she had been pushed towards in the first place.

"However, I suggested Philippa because, like her, you have the ability to think outside the box. You are intelligent enough not just to perform magic, but to architect brand new spell-work that the world has yet to see," Yennefer continued, her tone prideful as she spoke about her friend's abilities. It made Triss' chest swell, she did not expect such a compliment. But like every blooming rose, Yennefer's words held thorns beneath. "You have incredible potential and are very ambitious, but you lack the social finesse needed to navigate the higher ranks of our world. Philippa can teach you more than just magic, and that was why I thought it was important that your apprenticeship be with her. You already have all the tools to be a great sorceress, Triss, but you are naive and are easily manipulated. That is a dangerous combination."

Triss' face fell, her chest deflating like a popped balloon.

"I'm not saying this to upset you."

"I'm not upset," Triss lied through her teeth. The crystal turned over faster in her palm, the movement rhythmic and distracting. She was so tired of being thought of as this young, innocent sorceress who must lack proper judgment and the ability to take care of herself. "I just think you're both too quick to label me, when neither of you know what I'm capable of."

Yennefer's brow rose. "Oh?"

"Don't patronize me, Yenna."

"I'm not. I was genuinely impressed by the conviction in your answer. I'm glad you believe that."

Triss pursed her lips, her fingers closing around the crystal in her palm. She squeezed. "I'm bound to her," she finally revealed. Now that Yennefer had stopped hovering over her, Triss wanted to share her experiences. In all honesty, she needed someone to talk to, and Yennefer was her only real friend. "She leashed me while we were in Aretuza. That was why my magic was amplified when I created the witcher's glyphs. It was not only my own that I was using, but hers."

Yennefer said nothing, but how she felt about the situation was etched into every line on her face.

"You disapprove."

"I've always disapproved of Philippa's methods," her friend responded, her voice echoing through the megascope's connection. "I generally do not argue with her results, however. So long as she isn't using it to take advantage of you in any way, I will keep my personal feelings away from this conversation."

"She's not," Triss assured her. She exhaled a small sigh and placed the crystal back on the desk. "We have an agreement that we will not go searching inside the other's mind, and as far as I can tell, she has upheld it. Our empathetic connection is different, but I think I'm too much in my own head to feel anything from her other than very strong emotions, which she doesn't have often. I think she always knows what I'm feeling though, and I… kind of hate that. I feel like I don't have any more secrets. And I know that isn't her fault as both leashing and empathetic connections are not well-known to mages and we don't yet know how to block them, but I just wish we were on more even ground in that regard."

"I do hope you aren't expecting advice when you already know and voiced your answer, so I'm unsure why you're telling me this."

If this had been a month or two ago, Triss would have mumbled an apology as she faded into the shadows. Instead, her expression leveled as she stared directly into the eyes of the other woman's image. "Can we not have a conversation? You said we were friends and that's— that's what friends do, don't they?" Sometimes Triss wondered if she even knew. It wasn't as though she had many real friends to speak of, but she… she just wanted to talk to someone. No, she wanted someone to listen. She wanted to be heard, and she thought Yennefer would have wanted to hear to what she had to say.

The older sorceress at least had the decency to look a little ashamed of herself. "Go on," she encouraged, trying to rectify her previous dismissal.

"Yes, I'm already aware of my own shortcomings, but getting out of my head is easier said than done," Triss told her, feeling frustrated with herself. "Besides, I feel like she keeps me in there on purpose. She's always making me second-guess myself, and just… obsess over everything. One minute she's lecturing me, the next she's hitting on me, I don't— I can't figure what she wants from me, and it's keeping me trapped in an endless loop."

Yennefer was silent.

"Okay, now I want advice. Please."

"You are right – she is toying with you on purpose. It's good that you recognize that, but that is not enough. I'm sure she means for you to figure this out on your own, but if you're intelligent enough to ask for help when you are stuck, you are worthy of an answer," Yennefer decreed and, well, Triss was thankful about that at least. "Your problem, Triss, is that you care what she thinks of you. Your desire to please her is what's making you vulnerable. Focus less on what you think she wants of you, and more on what it is you desire from her. This is meant to be a learning experience for you, is it not? You are the one who's supposed to benefit from this, not her. So why are you spending so much time making sure that she's the one who gets what she wants?"

And just like that, something clicked in her mind. Triss realized that she had been viewing this entire apprenticeship from the wrong side. She hadn't even realized that there was another way to approach this, but now that she knew, she felt like the entire world had opened up to her.

Yennefer smiled, noticing the immediate change in her friend's demeanor. "I look forward to seeing your progress during the harvest banquet."

That snapped Triss out of her thoughts as she looked at the image of her friend from the megascope. "You're coming?"

"Of course I'm coming. All prominent mages are invited to the gathering," Yennefer informed her before a small smirk tugged at the edges of her lips, seeing the excitement in her friend's eyes. "Are you pleased?"

"Yes!" Triss exclaimed, practically jumping out of her seat. She knocked the desk again and something fell, but Triss didn't care. "Oh, Yenna, we're going to have so much fun! I know I've been a little on edge lately and that's made me…" But Triss didn't have the words, and instead waved her hand around. Yennefer knew what she meant anyway. "But I've missed you terribly. I really have."

And Yennefer knew that, she did. Triss had to tell her anyway, needing to solidify the first real friendship she had ever had with words. Having Yennefer in her life was something she started to value very much, and as such, she took the woman's advice very seriously. Triss knew it would not be easy, but she knew she had to try, which was why she chose to do what she wanted the next morning without even checking with Philippa first if that was okay.

As Triss did not feel comfortable in the observatory, she carved out a space of her own in the drawing room to spend some time finishing her thesis. While she knew she probably would not be back by the time it was due, she didn't wish to postpone it any longer. Her apprenticeship with Philippa may have allotted her an extension, but Triss was nothing if not punctual and did not want to take advantage of the extra time. It was important to Triss that when she returned to Aretuza she would have the finished product in hand.

She had already disappointed Tissaia once. The last thing she wanted to do was give a repeat performance.

Philippa had a beautiful glass table that was low to the ground in the center of the room. An endless amount of parchment was now strewn all over it, Triss' quill quickly scribbling words across their surface. The young woman sat on her knees on the floor, taking up more space than just the table as she was surrounded by her research and a pile of glyphs. Philippa's heels clicked lightly against the mahogany floor, but Triss barely heard as she continued to jot down her thoughts.

"I've been looking for you."

Triss looked up at her, some stray hairs falling in front of her eyes as they came loose from her messy ponytail. She quickly pushed them out of her face.

"I needed a break today," she told her, although a small flutter resided in the base of her stomach from the gall it took not to ask permission first. This was entirely new territory for Triss, but she knew she needed to start focusing more on herself if she ever wished to lead instead of trail dutifully behind others. "I know I have an extension on my thesis, but that isn't an excuse for me to slack off. If I don't finish this on time, I'll be disappointed in myself. I'm better than that."

"You are," Philippa agreed, which took Triss by surprise. A part of her expected Philippa to remind her that she dictated their schedule while they were here, not Triss.

Philippa's eyes took in the scene in front of her, her brow rising at the scattered papers and complete lack of organization. "You're aware I have an observatory, and yet you chose to make a mess of my drawing room."

Triss' cheeks flushed a light pink, but she did not retreat into herself as she would have before. Instead, she reminded herself that she deserved to take up space and to be comfortable. "Your observatory is too neat. It puts me on edge. Besides, this room has a lot of natural light; I find it helps my concentration."

"Then I'll send a servant to fetch you a desk. I understand your need to have a place of your own, pet, but you should not be made to sit on the floor."

Triss pursed her lips as she looked up at the other woman. Philippa was being awfully accommodating. Triss wondered if she should trust it, and Yennefer's reminder to not take anything at face-value echoed in the back of her mind. "No," she politely refused. Even if she was being needlessly paranoid, Triss found that preferable than failing yet another one of Philippa's strange tests. "I'm comfortable here, and I wouldn't want you to go out of your way."

Philippa looked a little amused by her insistence to stay on the floor, but did not argue her decision. "It's nearly midday. How long have you been working on this? Have you eaten?"

Oh, now that Philippa mentioned it, it had been quite awhile. She had woken up at sunrise and had immediately gotten to work. As if on cue, her stomach growled. Triss couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. Yesterday afternoon, perhaps?

"Come," Philippa beckoned, taking the noise that Triss' stomach made as an answer.

Triss hesitated, her bottom lip trapped beneath her teeth. She still had so much work left to do and if she left now, she was afraid she would find it hard to return to it.

Philippa, however, did not plan to take 'no' for an answer. "If you need a break, pet, then take a proper one. We have worked tirelessly for the past few weeks, and you still have plenty of time left here. I will give you the weekends to work on your thesis until you complete it. Does that sound agreeable? That way you do not have to feel pressured to get it done as fast as you can. You will have time, Triss, I assure you."

Well… perhaps a real break wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Still, something felt off about Philippa wanting her to relax. She had been here for weeks and the other woman barely allowed her time to breathe, let alone do anything else. The only reprieves Triss had were when Philippa was otherwise engaged with the king, or a woman, or that slimy little man she called "Siggy". However, Philippa was unoccupied at the moment and, even stranger than that, seemed as though she wished to spend time with her, holding out her hand in offering.

It took about three seconds until Triss slipped her hand into Philippa's, allowing the other woman to help her to her feet.

Maybe this was another test, or just another way to get inside of Triss' head, but maybe it wasn't. Maybe Philippa actually wanted to spend time with her. She had chosen her as an apprentice for a reason, hadn't she? She must find something intriguing about her, at the very least. Either way, Triss resolved not to worry about it. Obsessing over why Philippa did what she did, or said what she said, had done nothing but drive Triss absolutely mental, and she needed… she needed to stop caring. That's what Yennefer said was her problem, right? So she would just… stop.

Easy as that.

(It was not, in fact, as easy as that.)

It did make it easier, however, to focus on what Triss wanted for herself. If she was too busy trying to relax and enjoy her time away from her studies, then she had less time that would undoubtedly be dedicated to internally freaking out over whether or not this was yet another lesson that she was going to fail. But it was after their late lunch, when the two women decided to get some fresh air, that Triss realized that her greatest weapon in combating her newfound distrust of Philippa's intentions was a distraction.

And not one for Triss.

The air was beginning to cool as autumn drew nearer. A light breeze rustled through the trees, the movement of the colorful leaves making them look even more dazzling. Triss smiled as she looked up at them, before turning completely on her heel as she surveyed the landscape around her. The bright greens and yellows had begun to fade into into their fall colors, and soon the world would be awash in deep ambers and golds.

Triss loved it. Even though being here could be difficult at times, she was glad she had come. She was genuinely, unapologetically happy, and it showed. However, it was not the only thing that was apparent in that moment, and if Triss had continued to be trapped inside of her own head, she certainly would have never noticed.

It was only a feeling at first, a feeling that was dim and hard to name, but Triss knew instantly that it did not come from her. She looked over at Philippa, and though the woman's face did not reveal anything, the tight warmth in Triss' abdomen spread the second their eyes met. It startled Triss so much that she flushed, pulling her deep red cloak tighter around her shoulders as she gently broke eye contact. "What?" she asked, suddenly a little self-conscious, despite the fact that whatever she felt from Philippa was not unpleasant in the slightest. If anything, it was the exact opposite.

Maybe it wasn't in that way though. Maybe Philippa just found her joy endearing, and because Triss hadn't been able to feel anything minor from Philippa until now, she was merely reading her wrong. But for a second there, it was almost like…

"If I had known how much you would enjoy a simple walk, I would have accompanied you on one weeks ago."

Philippa almost sounded appreciative – as though the simple joy that the outdoors brought Triss was special to bear witness to in some way. But that was stupid, wasn't it? Triss' stomach clenched tightly in her gut. The warmth in the pit of her stomach was no longer from her mentor, but born of her own emotion. Philippa had admitted that she could get utterly distracted by a beautiful woman, but… could that kind of woman really be her? Could Triss really be so beautiful that she made a woman of such prestige, of such caliber look at her in that kind of way?

Triss reasoned that it had to be due to a favorable combination of circumstance, because it couldn't just be her. No, it was the gentle breeze, the sunlight that turned her hair amber and golden. It was because of stupid, simple things like how the reds in her cloak complimented the warm colors in the landscape, or because her effortless, casual appearance became enrapturing the moment she smiled. Triss had been told before that her happiness could light up a room, but she had never really believed it until she saw her own image reflected in Philippa's eyes.

Because this, at least, was not a some kind of trick or a manipulation. This wasn't one of Philippa's lessons, Triss could feel that much. She knew the sorceress could do a lot, but manufacture emotions? Even she wasn't that good. Acting was one thing, but feeling was quite another, and now that Triss was able to step outside of her own mind, she was able to see and feel things that would have otherwise been lost on her.

It was then that Triss realized she had an advantage.

Instead of wondering what Philippa's intentions were with this little outing, Triss knew they would not matter so long as she caused the other woman to forget all about whatever it was that she planned. If she played on Philippa's attraction to her in this moment, if she allowed herself to turn this around and somehow wield the power, then nothing else would matter. So long as she controlled the game, Triss knew what would come next. She wouldn't have to obsess, she wouldn't have to second-guess or over analyze. She could finally be free to just enjoy herself.

Of course, that was easier said than done. Triss wasn't even sure she could muster enough self-confidence to pull something like this off, but she knew she had to try. This was what Philippa and Yennefer wanted of her anyway, right? They wanted her to learn how to control social situations, so that she would not end up becoming the one who was manipulated or influenced by others.

There were only two types of people in this world after all, and because Triss no longer wished to be someone's prey, she gathered up all the weapons she held within her, and attempted to go hunting.

The young woman glanced over at Philippa, trying to get a read on her. The strongest feeling she experienced from her was when she was practically skipping around and enjoying herself, so Triss tried to force all of her anxieties and her doubts from her mind as she allowed her lips to stretch into another wide smile. "I love the outdoors," she told her, keeping her tone light. "All we're surrounded by on Thanedd is rocks and beaches, but this is… more than that. The colors are different. The smells. I didn't realize how little I had seen of the world until I left Aretuza."

"It can be rather isolating," Philippa agreed, but Triss' attention went elsewhere the moment they rounded the corner of the castle.

"Oh, wow," she breathed as they were confronted by miles upon miles of wheat. It seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, and the stalks swayed slightly in the breeze. "Is this still your land?" Triss asked, turning to face the other woman with an excited look on her face.

Philippa's lips quirked in gentle amusement, and the warmth in the pit of Triss' stomach grew. She liked that she was endearing, apparently. And it was strange, as Triss always assumed Philippa would like women who were seductive in a more obvious way - stockings, dark makeup, the like. Perhaps she did like those things – who wouldn't – but Triss might have been stupid to have assumed anything at all about Philippa Eilhart, when the woman had always been an enigma.

"It is," Philippa confirmed as she watched Triss stray from the path, down towards the edge of the wheat. "As I said before, grain is Redania's biggest export. I would have been a fool if I acquired land that could not turn a profit."

"The stalks are taller than I am," Triss noted in amazement before she stood right next to them to accurately measure. She looked back at Philippa, tightening her cloak around her shoulders. "You know, when I was young, I thought it would be fun to get lost in a field like this. Of course in Temeria the tallest foliage we had was grass, and I know I would have come out covered in ticks. But it just seemed… comforting, to be surrounded on all sides by something, don't you think? Almost as though the earth was protecting you."

"And do you believe you still need protecting?"

Triss looked over at her, the question weighing heavy on her mind as she considered it. "I think everyone does, at times," she concluded, making her way back over to the other woman. The grass crunched beneath her feet, her ponytail hit the side of her face as a gust of wind blew through the fields. "No matter how many defenses we've put up, we cannot prepare for everything. But… in a more general sense, no, I don't think I do."

Everything inside of Triss tightened with nerves, but she pushed past it as she gently slipped her arm into Philippa's, her expression a little shy as she amended, "Although I guess I wouldn't mind if someone wanted to anyway."

Thankfully, Philippa did not pull away. Instead, she took it in stride and began to properly escort Triss down the dirt path, a smirk beginning to pull at the edges of her lips. "Do you have a damsel-in-distress fetish, Triss Merigold?" she lightly teased, and Triss flushed a little as she held on to her mentor's arm a little tighter.

"No, but I would not be adverse if someone wished to play the hero."

Philippa laughed, her amusement making her eyes shine. "I've been called many things, pet, but never a hero."

Triss lightly shrugged before she tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. She wished she could be more confident about this, but her heart was pounding a million miles and hour and she was sure if Philippa could not hear it, then she could definitely feel it. "There's a first time for everything."

"So it would seem," Philippa murmured, her eyes never leaving the young woman's face. Triss couldn't keep eye contact with her; she felt like her stomach was in her throat. She could feel Philippa's growing interest in her, but she couldn't tell if it was even sexual or not. She might just be intrigued by her flimsy attempt at seduction - if one could even call it that. Really, at best this was mild flirting, and Triss did not feel confident enough to be blatant about it. Maybe one day, but for now… baby steps.

At the very least, she did succeed in distracting Philippa. She'd take that win.

The two women walked in silence back to the castle, Triss' body pressing a little closer to Philippa's when a chill ran through her from the breeze. When they returned to the doors of Montecalvo, Triss finally untangled herself from the other woman and stepped back. "Thank you for accompanying me," she said with a shy smile. "You were right, I did need a real break. I didn't realize how much until now."

"You are very welcome," Philippa responded with a kind smile. Triss' stomach fluttered in her gut, a simple gesture like that sending warmth through her veins. Sometimes, Philippa could drive her completely mental with frustration, but other times… well, she could drive Triss mental in an all together different way. She was absolutely beautiful when she genuinely smiled, and Gods, it… it did things to Triss.

Maybe Philippa wasn't the only one getting distracted after all.

"I think that perhaps I have put too much emphasis on your studies while you've been here," Philippa admitted as she opened the door for Triss, rendering the servant who had rushed over to do it useless. Philippa did not even acknowledge him, continuing to look only at Triss as the woman walked past her into the grand foyer. "While they are important, it isn't as though we are under any time constraints. We have time to enjoy ourselves every now and then, and I think we might find that vital to our… academic relationship, don't you?"

Right. Their 'academic' relationship, because that's what Triss was concerned about. But by Philippa's tone, she already knew that. She almost sounded as though she were teasing her, but Triss refused to get embarrassed about it. She had flirted with her for a reason, and whatever the outcome, she was proud of herself for even having the gall to try.

"You never told me… how long will we be here?" Triss asked, noting that Philippa said that they were not under any time constraints. "How long will I study under you? You never specified."

"As long as it is beneficial to the both of us," Philippa answered, moving behind Triss to take her cloak. The younger woman pursed her lips shyly and dipped down to help Philippa ease it off of her shoulders. She hadn't expected that kind of chivalry, but perhaps she had been foolish not to, especially after Philippa made certain to hold the door for her, instead of letting her servant do it. "Some apprentice for me for months, others years. You, of course, also have your education at Aretuza to finish. You have a year left?"

"Two," Triss admitted, trying not to shudder at the light touch of Philippa's fingers on the back of her neck as the woman swept her hair to the side. Triss knew it was so that it would not get it caught in the clasp, but it felt as though the other woman's fingers lingered just a little too long. Philippa knew what she was doing, that much was abundantly clear. She knew what game Triss was playing, and was playing it right back at the same level. It wasn't an overt seduction, but it was the same kind of subtle flirtatious behavior that made Triss wonder if she would ever, truly, get the upper hand.

Probably not.

"Tissaia granted me an early apprenticeship because of my accomplishments, but an early graduation is dependent on my thesis, which is why I've been so obsessive," Triss explained softly as she glanced over her shoulder at Philippa before turning completely to face her. Philippa watched her intently, and Triss looked at her from under her lashes. "I understand if you can't wait for me though. I'd be disappointed, but I know my situation is… a little unorthodox."

Philippa moved to return the cloak back to Triss, but instead of simply passing it off, she stepped closer to her. Triss' breath caught in her throat as the other woman leaned in while the fabric exchanged hands. "Something tells me you will be worth the wait, pet," she breathed next to her ear, and it felt as though something burst inside of Triss. She was overcome with a rush of desire that she knew Philippa could feel, and in turn that just made her exhale a frustrated groan.

"Why do you always have to win?"

Philippa chuckled, but did not move away so that Triss could wallow in her defeat. No, she stayed impossibly close to her, her fingers gently toying with a strand that had come loose from her ponytail. "A loss is not a defeat, pet, merely a setback. You did well today, I am proud of you." She gently tucked the piece of hair behind Triss' ear, her gaze meeting her protégée's. Triss exhaled a small breath and did not look away, refusing to play shy any longer, despite every cell in her body screaming for her to retreat into the familiar.

"Did I pass your little test?" Triss tried not to sound bitter, but she was. Just a little bit. She just wished she hadn't lost her footing the moment Philippa upped the ante. It made her feel childish. Was all she was good for innocent flirting? She needed to do better than that. She should be able to do better than that.

"I never intended to test you, not today," Philippa responded softly, the pads of her fingers gently brushing the young sorceress' jaw before she allowed her hand to drop, and to finally take a step back. "You demanded a break from me, and for that you deserved one. You may be my apprentice but I do not own you, Triss, and I am glad you are finally beginning to recognize that."

Triss' brow furrowed. "That's why you're proud of me?"

"That, and because you took what I've been trying to teach you, and chose to practice it of your own volition, on your own time," Philippa answered with a satisfied smile. "You read me quite well, and you played to that. No matter the outcome, you should be proud of yourself for your efforts."

Maybe she should be. After all, it was unreasonable to assume that she would be successful on her first attempt. Besides, Triss was beginning to realize that Philippa got a little too much enjoyment from teaching her little lessons. She liked it when Triss flirted with her, she liked watching her attempt to gain control of their relationship. A month ago, Triss would have found it unfathomable, but Philippa was obviously attracted to her. Even if it was merely on a physical level, it still gave Triss a clear advantage. Sex may not be in the cards, but that didn't mean that Triss could not benefit from the woman's lingering gazes, and as she watched Philippa nearly drink her up with her eyes before she turned away, Triss bit her bottom lip and vowed that she would not let this opportunity pass her by.

Even if it took weeks, even if it took months, eventually, Triss would hold Philippa Eilhart in the palm of her hand, and prove that the world isn't just made up of predators and prey after all… but those who could tame them both.

TBC…