"The war within us is raging."

Love Is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar

THE BOYS HAD given her her own bed in a room she didn't know existed but had been a fanfiction legend. Seems it did exist, a fact she was infinitely thankful for. She didn't think she could share a bed with Star and Laddie without losing her ever-loving mind, and the couch? No thanks.

She'd woken up a bit groggy from a mildly uncomfortable night's sleep. No one prepared her for how sleeping in a cave would be. She oscillated between freezing and sweating depending on how many blankets she layered on top of her.

It wasn't the best.

But, oddly enough, she didn't mind it. Sevyn might regret sleeping over later, but she enjoyed herself too much for that feeling to linger. She wouldn't make it a habit of staying here, no, that would grow old on both parties, but she wouldn't mind popping by occasionally.

As it stood, there was still about an hour until sunset, now was a good time to look around. She wouldn't even steal anything.

Probably.

Sevyn blinked into the main cavern and began her snooping – something she was very good at. Immediately her promise to herself not to steal from them was forgotten when she found an earring lying around. Her eyebrows furrowed when she looked it over. It was a thin silver chain with a red gem shaped like a teardrop—or blood, probably blood—dangling from the end. It was simple and delicate, but she loved it. She didn't think it was Star's and definitely not one of the boys', so it was just up for grabs. Hers now.

She dashed over to the couch and grabbed her tiny first aid kit from her bag to clean the earring before putting the jewelry in her left lobe. After putting it on, she dug through her bag for her compact to look at it.

A big grin split her features as she admired the way it looked. She twisted her head to the side to get a better look, the gem swinging like a pendulum. It was like she was meant to wear it. At least, that's how she saw it.

She wondered how long it would take for the boys to notice she stole it from them. Her grin widened. David would get all growly and threaten her, but she had grown immune to his harsh words. He might have hated her at first, but he tolerated her now. They weren't besties by any means, but he wasn't as easily provoked as he used to be. Maybe it was because he knew she was trying to save them. Or maybe because she already knew what they were and still she stayed, allowing them to follow their nature without judgement.

Whatever the reason was, Sevyn wasn't going to question it. Hopefully one day she would be able to get him to actually like her.

It's good to have goals.

After she checked herself out enough in the mirror, she put away her stuff and pilfered more odds and ends, squirreling them away in her bag as well. She had started another little hoard in a shoe box that she dubbed "The Lost Box" where the little things she'd taken from them, that they either didn't notice she took or didn't make her give back, along with some polaroids she had taken with them went in for safe keeping.

Nothing in there was valuable—she doubted they even had anything worth selling—but they meant something to her for reasons only she knew. They would probably think it was weird, but it was just who she was, she always had the overwhelming urge to take whatever she wanted for whatever reason, either to sell or to keep. Hopefully they would understand if they ever found it. Which, with any luck, they never will.

When she was done rummaging around, she began to explore, poking around silently as to not wake any of the vampires up. After a few minutes she stumbled upon a spring-fed pool in a cavern in the back of the cave. Another good find.

Without wasting another moment, she disappeared for a few seconds before reappearing with a towel, some toiletries, and her phone. She stripped her clothes off before timidly lowering herself into the water. When she got acclimated to the cool temperature, she relaxed and put on some music. Bobbing her head to the beat, she let herself drift back and lay flat on the surface of the water.

The sun had just set, and Paul was slowly waking up. It came to no surprise that he was the first one up, he usually was. He hung there for a moment to fully wake up when he heard music playing.

His eyebrows furrowed while he listened carefully, trying to discern where it was coming from. It took him a minute before he remembered Sevyn had slept in the cave last night, she was probably up and waiting for them.

Paul grinned and silently flew down from their perch, heading toward the living area of the cave. He burst in, hoping to surprise Sevyn and make her laugh, but she wasn't there. The sound was coming from deeper inside the cave.

Marko stirred in their bond, and Paul mentally called out to him. It took the other vampire a minute to join him.

"Good morning, brother. Wanna catch a pixie?" Marko, still waking up, gave Paul a half-hearted glare before joining the hunt. He hated how much he was enticed into it by just the mention of hunting Sevyn.

Paul charged ahead, while Marko checked the room they'd lent her. It was empty. He soon caught up with Paul, who was standing at the entrance to their pool.

His mouth was agape. Marko followed his gaze and saw Sevyn naked, floating on the water. They could see everything. After those pictures, they were hoping to see her naked in person, and now they had their chance.

Both of them scanned her toned, hourglass frame, her breasts were a perfect handful. When she stood up, they could see her body was flawless, a symphony of dips and soft swells, her skin smooth and soft shade of pink. Her impossibly turquoise eyes and the dragon tattoos were the only contrast to her perfect form.

"I think pink is my new favorite color," muttered Paul. He couldn't contain himself any longer and stripped, jumping into the pool. Marko followed suit a moment after.

Sevyn was unaware of their company, singing Halloweenie IV by Ashnikko, her body angled to the side. Paul crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. She jumped, squeaked, and turned around. Seeing it was Paul, she hit his shoulder.

Paul threw his head back and laughed with his whole body, his throat exposed. Sevyn admired him; he looked incredibly sexy. He was the center of attention in any crowd he was in, a blazing sun in the darkness, a magnetic force that just drew you in.

"God damn you, Paul, you scared me!" she said after mentally shaking herself free of those thoughts, trying to push him away. He held on tighter. Another body pressed against her back, a nose skimming along her neck.

"Good morning, pixie girl," Marko rumbled, his hands settling on her hips.

She turned her head to tell him off but was interrupted by his kiss. Her eyes widened owlishly before they fluttered closed, her body melting into his. While she was distracted, Paul trailed kisses along her throat, nipping at her soft skin. When his lips met her collarbone, he sucked and bit until he left a purple stain on her pale skin.

Sevyn shivered, unable to stop the moan that escaped her lips from the bite of pain. She slowly came to her senses and broke the kiss. Her chest pressed against Paul's with every heaving breath.

"What the hell, guys? I'm naked. Do you mind?" Sevyn groused, glaring at them.

"It's nothing we haven't seen before," teased Marko, his lips ghosting over her shoulder.

"Marko! You're not supposed to bring that up. I thought we all agreed to forget that happened," Sevyn shrieked, still angry about them looking through her private pictures.

"I don't think we ever made that agreement. I haven't forgotten at all. Have you, Paul?" Marko bit her shoulder, leaving a mark of his own.

"I definitely haven't, Marko," purred Paul, his fingertips tracing her nipped-in waist. He smirked when she trembled beneath their hands.

"Let us help, pixie girl. Paul can wash your back for you, and I can do your hair," Marko said, his voice almost hypnotic.

'Come into my parlor,' said the spider to the fly, she thought to herself.

Sevyn looked between the two, weighing her options before slowly nodding.