Chapter 19

Sam locked eyes with Dani. "Just before we started, you said you 'wanted' to go last. Not that you were glad you got to go last. That makes me think that that straw-drawing wasn't one hundred percent honest."

Dani closed her eyes, resting her head against Sam's chest. "Guilty as charged, Sam. You two keep forgetting that this is Haven; nothing is real. It was a piece of cake to rig the straws so we'd go in the order we did."

Sam frowned. "So why did you do that? Why did you feel the need to make things happen the way they did?"

Dani sighed. "I probably shouldn't have, but I was afraid that it would all fall apart if I didn't do it. The first time, we basically used you as a toy. I know you didn't mind it, but it wasn't fair. Letting you go first was to make sure you got what you wanted."

She opened her eyes to look at the sleeping Rahne. "And I knew Rahne wanted something, but she was afraid to ask for it. If someone else went first, she'd feel less self-conscious about asking for what she wanted most of all, and that's why we did all this in the first place – to give her what she most wanted and deserved."

Her eyes caught Sam's again. "And that left me to go last. Like I said, I knew what I wanted, but I hadn't quite worked out how it would happen. I thought having you two go first would buy me time to think it through, but your two wishes showed me how we could do it – I just combined you and me from your wish, and you and Rahne from hers."

She also smiled almost bashfully. "Plus, I was a little jealous. You'd come three times for Rahne, including twice inside her. I wanted to feel that for myself." Her smile grew wickeder. "And it wasn't as good as I thought it was. It was even better."

The smile disappeared again. "So that's why I did that, Sam. Was that wrong of me? Do you forgive me?"

Sam let her hang there for several long seconds. Then he pulled her close and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "Considerin' you weren't doing it out of selfishness, and it all worked out just fine, I think I can forgive it."

Rahne's eyes stayed closed, but her lips parted. "An' I forgive ye, too," she whispered, then gave a shy smile. "Ye do know us better than we know ourselves, and ye were right. This was the best way it could ha' happened – and probably the only way."

Dani reached across Sam and swatted Rahne on the shoulder. "You brat, you were just faking being asleep!"

Rahne winced under the blow, exaggerating the force of Dani's playful slap. Her eyes flew open. "Ye ha nae business, complaining about other people being deceptive, Dani Moonstar. This whole adventure was nae but a scheme to get us alone wi' ye so ye can have yer wicked ways wi' us."

Dani smiled bashfully. "Guilty as charged, and I throw myself on the mercy of the court."

Rahne looked up at Sam, who met her gaze. "So, Sam, what shall we do wi' this lying conniver who tricked us into all this debauchery?"

Sam stifled a yawn. "I say we sleep on it, and decide how to punish her later." A second yawn would not be contained. "I have a couple of ideas, but..."

Rahne considered the idea, then nodded. "Aye, that seems fair. We'll sleep on it and think it over, and she'll just have to fret and wonder just what we will do to her." A contented smile on her lips, she closed her eyes and rested against his chest, this time falling asleep for real.

Sam nodded off a moment later, and Dani last – her mind whirling with the possibilities of just what form her "punishment" would take. Whatever it was, she decided, it would be worth it.

Rahne woke up, several delicious ideas about how to properly chastise Dani. But to her surprise, she was alone, back in her own bedroom in the mansion, dressed in her nightgown.

She blushed. It had all been a dream. A terrible, lustful, wanton, depraved, sinful dream. She had no idea she was even capable of imagining such wicked, wicked things. She ought to be ashamed of herself.

Instead, she smiled. She'd never tell anyone about her dream, but she'd never let herself forget it.

As she settled back in her bed, something on her nightstand caught a glint of moonlight. She flicked on the light, she realized there was something on her nightstand that didn't belong.

She picked up the small item. It was triangular coming to a sharp point, and made of a dusty rock.

It was an arrowhead. An arrowhead made out of coal.

Author's Note: now it's complete. And yes, I re-used my original ending. I liked it so much, I kept it. I think it still works.

Thanks to all who commented and messaged me when I resumed the story. Yes, this followup was prompted by anger, but as the saying goes, living well is the best revenge. And once again I have positive feelings about this story.