A/N: so to the Sanctuary we return! This is where we get more toward the plot, so... Uh, enjoy!

...

We were back in Cheydinhal in a week, after numerous conquests of forts and Ayeleid ruins along the way. The gold and jewels and precious items we carried almost been to much for our horses to bear, and we had to stop in the Imperial City to sell it. Then we found more sites on the way back to the Sanctuary.

At first Aerius hadn't planned on taking me into any other dungeons, lest I be hurt again, but I told him that if he had to heal me again it would only end like the last time, so where was the harm? Unfortunately I made it through the whole endeavor unscathed.

So we left Shadowmere and Crue at the Cheydinhal stables, shouldered our bags, and headed into town. Aerius had a key to the secret well entrance behind the abandoned house, so it was quicker access than normal.

"Welcome back, Listener," Arquen piped cheerily as usual, "Do you bring words from the Night Mother?"

"No, Arquen," he sighed, as if tired of her presence. "Though I think I'll stay a while, assist the murderers in their training."

I hid a smile. This was going to be fun. "Aerius, I'll be back, I'm going to sell-"

"How dare you call the Listener by his name?" Arquen interrupted furiously. "You are but a murderer, you have no right-"

It was the Listener's turn to intercede. "Arquen, he calls me by name because I have given him permission to. He has every right."

She looked hurt, and his frown spread into an evil grin. "Besides, he has shown himself worthy. Therefore, I promote you to the rank of Slayer."

"Thank you, Listener," what could I say, it was force of habit.

"I'm sure you're tired," he said, "Go unpack your things."

So I went down to the living quarters and changed into a pair of laced leather pants and a linen shirt. Then I put my new items in the chest by my bed, making sure to lock it behind me, and was about to leave when something pushed me against the wall. Far faster than I could draw the dagger at my hip.

"You should have better reflexes than that," a familiar voice breathed in my ear.

I sighed. "Sithis, you're fast."

"Be that as it may, you should have heard me coming."

"Not all of us are gifted with vampire hearing," I countered.

"... Touché."

I smiled at my victory while he mused aloud, "Let's see, what can I... Aha!"

I was going to ask what he was looking for on me when his cold hand shot up my shirt and left an icy trail across each of my ribs. A surprised sound left my lips and my heart rate doubled.

"Beautiful," he purred, nudging my chin up with his nose so he had easy access to the steadily-throbbing vein in my neck. His lips parted against my skin and the throbbing paused for a moment.

"I told you I wouldn't bite you," he murmured, and waited until I began to breathe again to continue. He took my skin between his lips and sucked gently, enticing a soft moan from me.

The teeth that weren't fangs nipped at the captured skin and I leaned my head back, allowing him more space. My fingers clenched in his robes in a vain attempt to pull him closer and vibrations spread through my entire body, courtesy of his low chuckle.

But then he bit down hard and I jerked away with a short, indignant cry. "What was that?" I demanded, touching a few fingers to the aching spot. I was surprised I wasn't bleeding.

"You'll see." he smiled cryptically, leaning in to meet my lips with his own.

The kiss was such a contrast to the savage bite mark he was sure to leave. I met his cool tongue with my own and we shared a sweet, deep kiss before the sound of the door opening broke us apart. Arquen gave us both an odd look before going over to the table, grabbing an apple, and leaving. Aerius followed her with an apologetic glance.

After he was gone, I retrieved a steel helmet from my chest and angled it so I had a perfect view of the bright red hickey on my neck.

"... Dammit."

...

Later that evening, after I returned from selling most of my things, the Murderers and I relaxed in the living quarters after dinner. Aerius had gone out on a 'stroll', as if I didn't know what that meant.

T'rajji had been asking me questions about my trip with Aerius from his bed, which was between mine and Emilia's.

I bit into the hard flesh of an apple. "It's a Necromancer lair in county Anvil called Fort Supernatural. The place was empty by the time we finished with it."

"Was it difficult?" Emilia asked in her small voice.

I shrugged, and unwittingly opened myself to another conversation.

"What's that?" Emilia piped up, rushing over to me.

"What's what?" I asked, panicking as she seemed to be trying to push my head off my shoulders.

"This," she said, giving me little warning before jamming her finger into the red bruise on my neck.

I howled in pain and scrambled backwards, falling over the other end of the bed. "Don't ever do that again," I hissed, protecting the spot with my palm.

T'rajji got up and moved over to stand beside her, then forced my head to turn. I gave up; they had seen it already, what was the point of hiding it anymore?

"You were doing a little more than killing Necromancers, weren't you, Domitius?" he laughed, finally letting my head go.

A light blush spread across my cheeks. "It actually happened, uh, today."

Emilia gasped. "Who? Was it someone at the inn you stayed in?"

T'rajji shook his head, a low laugh rumbling in his chest. "Emilia, don't be ridiculous. He's got the Listener pining for him."

I tried rectifying the situation, "Well, I wouldn't say pining, exactly..."

But Emilia was already sucked in. "How, Domitius? I want to hear every detail."

Okay, I liked men. They knew that. But that didn't make me a gossiping woman. Nevertheless I launched headfirst into an account of what happened at and after Fort Supernatural, only because Emilia had become like a sister to me.

They both listened intently, T'rajji so he could tease me at the end, and Emilia so she could bombard me with questions afterwards. She was laying on her stomach, her fingers interlaced under her chin, ankles crossed and eyes gleaming.

"So did you lay him?" she asked when I finished.

I may have liked the idea, but the answer remained the same. "Of course not."

T'rajji arched a fuzzy eyebrow. "Did he lay you?"

"There was no laying involved," I hissed, narrowing my eyes. "Now get me another apple!"

...

A/N: well, the point here was that the Brotherhood is just that, and Emilia and T'rajji are just like siblings to Domitius. Emilia is the little sister who is way too interested in Domitius' love life, and T'rajji is the older brother who finds joy in annoying his younger.