Chapter 13

"Can you forgive me again? I don't know what I said, but I didn't mean to hurt you
I heard the words come out, I felt that I would die, it hurt so much to hurt you

Then you look at me, you're not shouting anymore, you're silently broken
I'd give anything now to kill those words for you
Each time I say something I regret I cry "I don't want to lose you."
But somehow I know that you will never leave me, yeah.

'Cause you were made for me, somehow I'll make you see
How happy you make me, I can't live this life
Without you by my side, I need you to survive, so stay with me
You look in my eyes and I'm screaming inside that I'm sorry"

Forgive Me by Evanescence

Much to Anders dismay, when they disembarked, Isabela went with them to the Crown and Lion. The pirate wench shot him dirty looks the entire way, but Anders continued to ignore her. When they entered the tavern, Rylee made her way to the barkeep. She gave the man her most radiant smile that would melt the heart of any man.

"Hello my sweet, what can I do for you?"

"A friend sent me here and told me to ask for Wimarc Forwin," Rylee stated.

The old barkeep's brows furrowed. "Not many people know to ask for me by that name. You must be the friend Varric wrote me about."

Rylee smiled, "Yes, I am Leigh L'Ombre."

Anders grinned as he whispered, "The Shadow, nice last name."

"Glad you approve. I thought it was appropriate."

"I have two rooms reserved for you and a package that I am suppose to give you," Wimarc said as he handed Rylee the keys to their rooms and a large parcel. Rylee generously tipped the man, requested a bath, a bottle of wine and a food tray be brought up to both rooms, then the three of them headed up the stairs.

"So Kitten, what are the sleeping arrangements?" Isabela asked as she eyed Anders distrustfully as if he might grab for a dagger and slice Rylee's throat open.

Rylee handed Isabela her key, "Anders and I will stay in room four since it is the larger of the rooms."

Clearly disappointed in the arrangements, Isabela glared at him one last time as she grabbed the key from her hand. "Fine!"

Once behind closed doors, Anders said, "I see that Isabela was clearly hoping that you would have ended our relationship so that she could pick up where the two of you left off."

"Isabela is a good friend… nothing more, nothing less," Rylee said briskly, clearly not wanting the conversation to head in that direction. Rylee sat on the bed and began to open the package.

"Who is the parcel from?"

"Varric. He said he would forward all of my documents and papers when he knew it was safe to enter the estate." Anders just nodded. They had left in such a rush that he and Rylee barely had time to throw a few items into a bag and collect the money and jewels from the safe. The packet had arrived before them because Varric would have sent it on a more direct route whereas Isabela wanted to create a false trail by docking in numerous ports to through anyone following them off their trail. As much as Varric wanted to leave with Rylee, he had remained in Kirkwall to spin elaborate tales of where the Champion of Kirkwall was heading, hopefully sending those now hunting them in the opposite direction.

Rylee quickly sorted through the papers and pulled out a letter that Anders recognized as Varric's handwriting. She scanned the letter and as her eyebrows narrowed, Anders knew it wasn't good news. After she had read it several times, she let out a slew of curse words that would have made even Isabela blush as she crumbled up the parchment and threw it into the fire. Anders was about to ask what was wrong when a loud knock came at the door. Anders cautiously answered it, his staff at the ready.

It was just one of the inn's workers bringing in the bath, a bottle of wine and a food tray. Rylee instructed them to set up the bath behind the partition. She then slid behind the screen, Anders heard her get undressed and sigh as she slid into the water. He would have given anything to climb into the tub with her, but he knew such a move would not be welcome, so he poured her a glass of wine and stepped behind the divider to hand it to her. The bubbles that the servant had added, covered most of Rylee's body. However, the tops of her breasts peaked out at him, taunting him. He forced himself to avert his eyes as he pulled a chair up beside the tub.

"What was in Varric's letter?"

She let out a long sigh before she spoke. "Sebastian knows we were headed to Ferelden and has sent scouts to search for us."

"It seems that the choir boy isn't as dumb as he looks, but it will be easy to spot his scouts. We just need to be on the lookout for all men in skirts, and if there is a strong breeze let's hope they actually wear small clothes under those skirts" Anders said as he tried to lighten the mood. The sound of her laughter was music to his ears and the twinkle in her eyes no matter how fleeting gave him reason to hope.

"Maker's breath, Anders, now you have peaked my curiosity. Next time I see a soldier from Starkhaven, I'm going to be forced to lift their skirt to see what they are wearing underneath."

"Well I'm sure having a gorgeous rogue lift their skirts to check out their packages won't draw any attention to us."

"Oh yeah, that's right, I completely forgot that we are suppose to be here incognito. Well, I guess I'll just be forced to knock them on their ass and take a steal-a-little glance as they go ass over tea kettle."

"From what I hear about those Starkhaven boys, little is all you will see."

Rylee chuckled as she took another sip of her wine, "Maybe that is why Sebastian was so uptight. He was trying to deflect attention for his lack of assets."

Anders laughed with her and he honestly couldn't remember the last time they had been this relaxed with each other. He poured them some more wine as they continued to joke about Sebastian's inflexible moral code and the possibility that he was compensating for something. She had been in the bath for almost an hour when sheer exhaustion finally claimed her; her head rested against the rim of the tub, her eyes were closed and as the wine glass slipped from her fingers, Anders cast a levitation spell to keep it from crashing to the floor.

The bubbles had nearly all evaporated; Anders started at her tiny, naked frame and realized just how thin she had become. Long term stress, he knew, could take its toll on the body and over the past several years, he knew that he had provided a lifetime of stress for her. Guilt ate at him as he raised his hands to scan her body to make sure that she was physically okay, but before he could begin, there was a knock at the door. He slipped his hand into the water. It had cooled, but it was still warm enough to keep her from catching a chill.

Ander quietly opened the door to see a very tipsy Isabela, wobbling before him. It probably wasn't a good idea to send a bottle of wine to her room. He stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him. He was sure this wasn't going to be a calm discussion.

"Where is Rylee?" She demanded.

"She is resting. What can I do for you, Isabela?"

"You… you can go to the Void and die. I don't want anything from you."

"I know you hate me, and you have every right to. But I am trying to be civil and you're just trying to piss me off, so I'll ask one last time. What can I do for you?"

She started at him for a long time before she spoke. "I've read that bonded souls can feel when their mate is in distress or in pain, through their connection. I need to know how you could claim you loved her and laid beside her night after night, month after month, year after year and not feel the anguish you were putting her through? Or did you feel it and just not care? Cause you see, I loved her... I still do and even though we don't have some cosmic connection, I could feel you ripping her apart."

Anders felt a piece of his heart rip once again as another piece tore away. Yes, he had known he was hurting her and not just because he felt her pain, but because she felt his. As he slipped into the dark hole, she went over the edge with him. It was her strength as she gripped the edge of the cliff with one hand and clung to him with the other that kept both of them from falling into the darkness. She had felt his mental decline and that is why she had fought so valiantly to save him and he had felt her desperation, but was helpless to offer her comfort.

In the days that followed the fall of the Chantry, Justice had receded to the lowest recesses of his mind and had remained silent. Anders still felt the Spirit's presence, but Justice was not trying to communicate at all and that was perfectly fine with him. With the absence of Justice's rants in his head, the events that had led up to the fall had become clearer. It was as if the months that preceded the incident had been obscured from full view and could now only be seen clearly. As the clarity had come and the full realization of the hell that he had put Rylee through hit him, he had prayed for death then he had damned the Maker for ever letting him be born and finally he had cursed himself for not having had the courage to walk away from her when he could have saved her from all of this grief.

Now for reasons that he felt he would never truly understand, she wanted him to stay with her. He was so unworthy of her and his treatment of the woman that he claimed was his bonded soulmate was disgraceful, but somehow she still loved him, she still wanted him. So he would spend the rest of his days bringing joy back into her life and making these last few miserable years a dim memory. She deserved that and so much more.

He looked up at Isabela with a new resolve in his eyes. "It's none of your business. What happened between Rylee and I, will remain between Rylee and I. But know this Isabela, I do love her. I love her with every fiber of my being. I don't deserve her and if she were to tell me to leave tomorrow, I would go without a fight or argument, but from this point on as long as she will have me by her side, I will spend the rest of my life honoring her, loving her, adoring her and w-worshiping her." His voice broke and he paused to collect himself. "S-she is my salvation, my sanctuary, she is my reason for living and I will not ever fail her again."

Something that looked like respect flickered across the pirate's face as she gave a curt nod. "I'm glad to hear that, Blondie, and I want to believe you, but that Spirit in your head may have very different plans, so be warned. I will be watching you and if I so much as catch a glimpse of ole' blue eyes, I have a couple of good friends that will make your death look very much like an accident. Are we clear?"

"If I begin to lose control again, I will beg you to take my life. I cannot… I will not ever do that to her again."

Isabela smiled a sinister grin at him. "I will be glad to honor your request."

"Are we through here?" Anders asked coldly.

"Yes, I do believe our business is concluded," Isabela said as she spun on her heels and headed back to her room.

Anders calmed himself as he closed the door behind him and made his way over to the tub. He slipped his hand into the water to feel the temperature. The water had rapidly cooled in a short period of time and he needed to get her out before she caught a chill. He grabbed a towel and gently shook her awake. Through veiled, tired lids, she looked up at him. She was so incredibly beautiful and it amazed him that she was still able to steal his breath away with a mere glance.

"Love, the water is cold, you need to get out before you get sick," Anders stated as he held the towel wide for her. She climbed out of the tub, turned her back to him and he wrapped it around her. He quickly dried her off, slid her night shirt over her head, led her over to the bed and eased her under the covers. He sat beside her and watched her sleep for the longest time. She was everything good in his life and without her, he was nothing. Eventually, he pulled out his bedroll and spread it out on the floor beside her. He reached up and clasped her hand as he drifted off to sleep.

During the night, a terrible storm rolled in from the sea and as a loud clap of thunder broke the silence, Anders felt Rylee jump in bed as she sat up startled. He sat up and gently stroked her cheek. "It's okay, Love, it was just thunder."

"Anders, why are you sleeping on the floor?"

"I-I didn't want to presume…" his voice trailed off.

Her hand came up and tenderly squeezed his. "I'm cold, so you must be freezing. Please join me and keep me warm."

She didn't have to ask him twice. He slid in behind her and pulled her against his chest. She was so soft and she smelled wonderful. Maker, he missed just taking comfort in the feel of her against him.

"Anders?"

"Yes."

"Is Justice still with you?"

"Yes."

"Does he regret what he did?"

Anders was quiet for a long moment before he answered, "I haven't heard from Justice since you refused to kill us, but he believes what was done was justice for what had been done to the mages, so I doubt he regrets it."

"And what about justice for the innocent lives that were lost that day?"

"They were supposed to receive their justice and vengeance at your hand."

"What?"

"I was supposed to die that day. That was Justice's plan. The Chantry was for the mages, my death for the innocent lives that were lost."

She was quiet for a long time before she spoke again. "That's fucked up, Anders. Please tell me you see how fucked up that is."

"Ry, the months leading up to the fall of the Chantry are very hazy to me. At that point, Justice had almost completely taken control of me most of the time, so the lines between what was real and what wasn't, what was my thoughts and what was Justice's, had completely blurred. Now that he has retreated to the back of my mind, things have become much clearer. I disagree with a lot of what we did, Rylee, but I do agree with Justice on some points. Something drastic needed to happen to make people see that all man deserve basic civil rights and that fear and prejudice are not reasons to be inhuman or to enslave humans or elves. If I had been completely myself, killing a bunch of innocent people would not have been my first choice, but I can't change what we have done. I can only learn to live with it and somehow figure out a way to make things better for mages."

Anders could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she asked her next question. "The last time we made love, who was I with?"

Anders slid his hand underneath her chin and titled her head back so that she could look into his eyes. "When we have been with each other intimately, it has only been me that has been with you. I have always fought to make sure that it was only me with you. Ry, please know how much I love you and how much it kills me to know the pain that I have caused you. I promise you with my very life that I will make it up to you. I will bring joy and happiness back into your life, if you only give me the chance."

She turned in his arms to face him, her hands clasped his face, "I never doubted your love for me, Anders. I doubted your will to live. I could feel your despair and hopelessness because you were losing yourself to that Spirit, and you lacked the strength to fight him. The only thing I could think to do was reach out to you and try to make you feel how much I loved you… to give you something to hold onto… to give you hope."

Anders crushed his lips to hers and greedily drank in the sweet honey taste of her lips. Her hands slid through his hair to the nape of his neck as she generously opened herself up to him. "Oh Ry," he moaned against her lips. "It's only because of you, that I was able to hold on and not let the darkness completely consume me." His lips moved across her cheek to her ear, he nibbled and sucked as he whispered. "Love, you saved… not just my life. You saved my mind… my soul." His lips trailed down her neck. "You're my refuge…" Through the thin material of her night shirt his lips clasped over her taut nipple. She arched into him and moaned. "You're my safe haven." He slid his hand up under her shirt and cupped her supple mounds in his palms. He ran his thumb over the peeked nub, played and twirled them with his fingers. "Ry, I love you so much," he groaned as his lips captured hers again and he was lost in the taste of her, in the feel of her, the heat that radiated off of her, but he also sensed in her a hesitation… an uncertainty.

Anders pulled back, cupped her face and whispered, "Love, I have put you through so much lately. I don't want to rush this. I love you and I want you, but I want you to want this too, without any reservations about me or us."

She leaned in tenderly kissed him, "Thank you, Anders. I do love you and I want to be with you. I just need…"

"You need time and I am willing to give you all the time you need," Anders said as he kissed her forehead. She snuggled underneath his chin and drifted back to sleep.

The following day, the storm continued to rage outside, making travel to Vigil's Keep impossible, but after being on ship for six weeks, both Rylee and Anders had cabin fever, so with the hoods of their travel cloaks pulled up to conceal their faces, they ventured out into the streets. For the most part, the market was closed due to the storm and most citizens with a lick of common sense were indoors, but despite the rain, it felt good to both of them to get out and stretch their legs. They had been walking around for about an hour when the steady rain turned into a torrential down pour. Anders recognized the passage door to the old smuggler's hideout. He hoped that their lair remained abandoned. He pulled Rylee by the arm toward the door and explained that it lead to a storage room in the Crown and Lion. Looking like a drowned rat, Rylee eagerly agreed to give it a try.

They eased their way down the dark passageway to the open underground dock. Rylee drew her daggers as she slipped into the shadows beside Anders. They eased their way into the room, Anders sensed magic in the area, but he couldn't tell if it had been recently used or if it was flowing from someone until he felt the veil open, he immediately cast a repulsion spell just before the stonefist spell would have hit him square in the chest. He staggered a little, but remained on his feet.

His staff at the ready, he yelled, "Stop being a pussy, show yourself and fight like a man."

"But I'm not a man," said a cool, crisp feminine voice.

"Well at least I got the pussy part right," Anders said smugly and he heard the unmistakable giggle of Rylee to his right.

"Vulgar and cocky as ever I see, Sparkle Fingers," Oghren said as he emerged from behind several crates with a beautiful elf mage that Anders immediately recognized as Neria Surana from the Ferelden Circle. Anders relaxed his stance and as he did so, Rylee slipped out of the shadows by his side.

"Well, if it isn't my drunken midget friend, what brings you to this part of the Amaranthine?" Anders asked.

"Oh some damn, dumbass, fool, Warden apostate, went and blew up the Kirkwall chantry. Maybe you heard about it. Now we are stuck cleaning up his mess," Oghren grunted.

"That is a lot of adjectives for one mage, but you did leave out the most important ones, such as incredibly handsome, extremely charming and amazingly talented," Anders chuckled.

"Well fart me a lullaby, a mage that is humble, you don't see that every day," Oghren replied sarcastically.

"Wow, a dwarf that doesn't smells like a brewery…. Shocker!" Anders exclaimed mockingly.

"Aaah, my lovely Champion," Zevran cooed as he materialized out of the shadows beside Rylee, he took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed her. "It is good to see you again, la mia bellezza mortale."

Rylee smiled her most roguish grin at the assassin. "The pleasure is all mine," she purred.

"It could be, my sweet," Zev mused.

"I see the over-zealous elf never fails to make an appearance either," Anders retorted.

"Over-zealous? That's rich, coming from a jealous mage with twitchy fingers," Zev chortled.

"I have nothing to be jealous of where you're concerned," Anders replied.

"Not to worry. I know I am way out of your league, mage. You would have a much better chance competing against Oghren, but your lovely companion is right up my alley," Zevran said as he ogled Rylee.

"My lovely companion is out of your league, Elf... way out," Anders replied curtly.

"I am sure I have many skills that would appeal to a delicious Goddess such as her," Zevran said as he winked at Ry.

"Why don't you both just whip her over a barrel and get done with it. We came here for a reason, remember?" Oghren grumbled.

"So what exactly is a Warden, a mage and an assassin doing down here?" Rylee asked.

"Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke," Oghren said.

"Or a good one depending on the punch-line," Neira mused.

Anders smiled at the young mage, "I always did like you, Neira."

"Well, it's hard to believe you ever had time to notice me with all that escaping and plotting to escape," Neira said with grin.

"Always had time to notice a pretty girl," Anders chuckled. Rylee cocked an eyebrow at him. Anders just shrugged. "What?"

"Who are you and what have you done with my surly Anders?"

"Oh, that guy? He was depressing the hell out of me, so I knocked him out and took his place when I saw the beauty walking beside him," Anders purred, but Rylee only rolled her eyes.

Now it was Zev's turn to raise an eyebrow and chuckle, "That was smooth, my friend."

"Be ready to take notes, 'cause I'm only getting started," Anders laughed.

"Again with the cocky," Oghren muttered.

Zev threw his arm around Anders' shoulder, "I think I'm going to like you."

"I swear by my ancestors, if I see one more cocky or oh so charming person in this group, I'm gonna put on a dress and start flirting with you," Oghren grunted.

"Stop being such a cocky blocker, dwarf," Rylee replied and both Zev and Anders burst out laughing.

"I agree with Rylee, quit trying to keep a good cocky down," Neria chortled and this time even Oghren began to laugh.

After gaining control of himself, Zev stepped forward, waved an arm toward a campfire and the group made their way over. Once settled, he began, "Well as my stout friend started to say, your little revolution has caused big ripples. The Ferelden Circle has all, but fallen. Mages are running free, templars are hunting them down and killing them. The apostates are turning to the one person that they know has enough power and influence to help them..."

"Lillah," both Anders and Rylee said in unison.

Zev nodded, "Yes, Lillah, but as you know, a Warden must remain politically neutral, so the Commander has set-up a secret organization to help move and hide mages. Lil, uses this area as a safe house and as a way to move mages out of Amaranthine by boat."

Anders grinned, "I always knew Lil would stand up for mages when push came to shove."

"So what brings you and your delizioso trattare here?" Zev asked.

"My delicious treat and I are here to see Lillah," Anders retorted. Zev raised an eyebrow as Anders leaned forward and continued, "Parlo correntemente Antivan. Modo da tenere a mente quando la tua che compongono i nomi carino per lei."

Zev burst out laughing, "You, my friend, are full of surprises."

Rylee's eyes narrowed, "You most certainly are."

"What did he say?" Oghren asked.

"He basically warned me that he speaks Antivan fluently and to be careful with the pet names I give her," Zev chuckled.

Rylee continued to stare at Anders with a stunned expression, "I've known you for seven years and not once did you let on that you could speak Antivan."

"There was never a need for it. What's the big deal?" Anders said defensively.

Rylee threw her hands up in disgust. "Imbécile, si tu m'avais dit des cochonneries en Antivan, je t'aurais laissé te glisser sous mes draps bien plus tôt.."

Zev started to laugh so hard he fell off of the log.

"What did she say?" Neria asked.

Rylee shook her head no and Zev nodded. He leaned over and whispered so that only Oghren and Neria could hear, "In Orlesian, she called him a stupid boy and told him that if he had talked dirty to her in Antivan she would have let him into her pants a lot sooner."

Anders eyes went wide with desire, but his eyes flickered over to their audience so he adjusted what he was going to say to her. "Mon doux amour, si j'avais su que parler une autre langue te faisait tant d'effets, ç'aurait été un plaisir de décrire en détail toutes les délicieuses choses que je souhaite te faire.."

Neria was on the edge of her seat with anticipation. "What did he say?"

Zev smiled with approval. "He said in perfect Orlesian, 'My sweet Love, if I had known that speaking another language made you hot, it would have been my pleasure to describe in detail, all the delicious things I want to do to you'."

"Aaah, that so sweet," Neria cooed.

"I think I just threw up in my mouth," Oghren groaned.

Rylee's eyes met Anders and for the first time in months he saw hunger, yearning and most importantly, love. "Amour, je crois que je te prendrais ici même si nous n'avions pas autant de spectateurs, mais sois sûr que dès que nous rentrerons je compte bien te baiser follement. Et Zev, si tu répètes ça, je te coupe les bourses."

Even though he was incredibly turned on, Anders couldn't help but laugh at her threat to the assassin. Maker, he loved that woman and now his mind was reeling from all the things he wanted to do to her and say to her.

"What did she say?" Neria asked.

Before Zev could reply Anders said, "The first part is between Rylee and myself and unfortunately Zev, but Rylee did mention permanently removing the assassin's balls if he ever repeats what she said."

Both Oghren and Neira burst out laughing. "She's feisty like the Commander. I'm going to like her," Oghren stated.

"So how is that you know how to speak Antivan and Orlesian, Anders?" Neria asked.

"Well, besides practicing spells and making out with pretty girls, there wasn't a lot to do in the Circle. I figured that learning to speak other languages might come in handy during one of my many escapes." Anders turned to Rylee, "Where did you learn?"

"My father and for the same reasons you learned. As apostates, he knew that running from the templars could take us anywhere. He wanted us to be able to fit in wherever our feet landed, so learning Antivan and Orlesian were a part of our education."

Zev looked at Rylee with admiration. "Your father was a very wise man."

She smiled, "Yes, he was."

Anders eyed her suspiciously, "And why in seven years did you never let on that could speak Antivan and Orlesian?"

"Because the fewer people who knew what was I capable of the more they would underestimate. If they knew I was bilingual they would assume I was educated and then conclude that I was well trained," Rylee stated matter-of-factly.

Zev laughed, "Spoken like a true assassin. Are you sure we haven't met before, maybe in some dark seedy alley."

"If we had you wouldn't be here to ask that question," Rylee replied dryly.

Zev burst out laughing. "Wow, Anders you certainly have your hands full with this one. If she ever becomes too much for you to handle, I would be happy to step in."

Anders grinned at the assassin sardonically, "That is very generous, but your services won't be required."

Zev chuckled. "Well, let me know if you change your mind. Now, Anders, if you plan on traveling to Vigil's Keep, then it would be wise if we traveled with you. Besides the fact that there are templars hunting mages, there have been a group of knights with a Starkhaven accent inquiring about you and Rylee," Zev explained.

Rylee nodded in agreement. "I think that would be best. Hopefully the weather will clear up so that we can leave in the morning. In the meantime, Zev, I do believe that there is a certain pirate wench who is staying at the Crown and Lion who would love the pleasure of your company, and it would keep her out of my hair for the night."

"Yes, I do believe you had plans to…" Zev stopped midsentence as Rylee pulled out her dagger, pretended to be grabbing his family jewels with one hand and cutting them off with the other. Zev smiled and cleared his throat, "Let's just say you had plans."

Rylee winked at the assassin. "You're a quick learner."

"Yes, well I like everything exactly where it is," Zev chuckled.

The group quickly broke down camp and began to move through the tunnel toward the tavern. Rylee and Anders were bringing up the rear. She spun to face him and grinned. "Vous fait me baise dans Le port d'Amaranthine ?"

Anders laughed as he remembered the old word game they use to play and his mind went back to a time when things between them were new, no pain had yet to mare their relationship and he would fight with everything he had to get them back to that place. "Tu me prendrais dans le port d'Amaranthine "

Rylee giggle just as Zev appeared behind them. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy traveling with the two of you. You're so much dirtier than the Hero and that stuffy king."

"Keep pulling that sneaking up on me shit and you will find out just how dirty I can be," Rylee said dryly.

"Oooo, I love a naughty rogue," Zev chortled.

"I don't think she means dirty in the good, naughty way. Go back to the image of her cutting off your berries. I'm pretty sure that is what she is referring to," Anders chuckled.

Zev scowled at both of them, "I like my definition better."

Both Anders and Rylee laughed as she took his hand in hers. He looked into her eyes and he saw hope shining back at him. He knew that they still had a long ways to go, but he had enough faith in them that together he knew they could overcome anything and he was willing to do whatever it took make them work.

A/N - La mia bellezza mortale Italian for my deadly beauty

*A huge thank you to Morlanwen for translating the French in this chapter. You rock!

*Rylee's declaration to Anders: Love, I believe that I would take you right here if we did not have preying eyes, but rest assured when I get you back to the room I plan on fucking you silly. And Zev if you repeat that I will cut your balls off.

*Translation for Rylee and Anders word game - Rylee: Would you take me in the Port of Amaranthine? Anders: I have a big boat that needs to be in your dock.

* A huge thank you to those of you, who have favored, alerted and reviewed. You make my day so much brighter. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

*I am about to go on vacation so please be patient for the next update.

*Jinxy Pooh, "thank you" can never be enough for your outstanding insight, snarky wit and putting up with my insane writing schedule. You are a beast! Thank you for all you do.