Chapter 47

X Marked the Spot


Service crews had cleared much of the roadways still in use in the Northern Continent. Even traveling as far as the outskirts of Modeoheim in their efforts to accommodate the few settlers who had claimed the old remains of ShinRa's housing communities constructed east of the factories. The town's history was fleeting and mysterious. If not for the tales of dead men, the streets would whisper no ghostly secrets.

Roads beyond the housing village had not yet been de-iced and Vincent slipped more than once as he descended into the valley hidden beyond the western mountains. The factory looming in the shadowed valley appeared to be the only building for miles, but Vincent knew otherwise. He'd memorized his map dotted with speculation and Parran's questionable intelligence.

Without warning or trigger, the cells in his sternum surged. Vincent fell to a knee and clutched at his midsection with both hands. His muscles trembled as he fought for any semblance of control, but knew this was a battle he could not win.

He fumbled into his cape pocket with desperation, fishing out his emergency container, dropping it into the snow where the needles scattered into his footprints. Shaky fingers reached for an injector. He cursed at the trembling in his hands, clumsily removing the cap before he plunged the end into his thigh.

Vincent toppled into the snow as the serum relaxed his demons screaming to burst free and as they silenced, his head began to ache before he felt a swell of nausea and retched. The weakness he felt in the hospital returned and before Vincent could grasp the situation, his head just missed the vomit as he fainted on an icy bed.


The smell of sick woke Vincent, faint though at first, the only sense his mind registered. As he sat up, he studied his bile, noting that the thinnest edges had only just begun to freeze. Relief washed over him. He hadn't been out too long. The sun still shone high overhead.

Testing his legs, Vincent rose to his feet. What happened? He had been so certain that the new treatment had dissolved into his bloodstream, but the inexplicable surge then plummet of his strength proved some remnants still lingered. At least at the moment, the cells seemed under control. They pulsed a familiar tickle at his sternum, indicating to Vincent that nothing was amiss. But he wasn't so sure.

This new development couldn't slow him down, though. He steeled himself against the doubts flooding his mind as he reached for the needles still scattered in the snow and tucked them back into the container. He dusted himself of ice and began walking, a determination bolstering his stride as he decided to forbid this incident from happening again.

The phone buzzed to life, and Vincent felt a swell of hopeful anticipation. He muttered a prayer against the fearful dread as he fished into his pocket. He hadn't heard from Tifa since she'd left him in the hospital's care. Her silence was more than unusual when he thought of the number of messages he'd sent her over the last several hours.

Vincent blew a frustrated breath from his nostrils as Tseng's name lit up the screen.

TsengLocating the target would go faster with help.

He didn't flinch at the thought they'd known he was in the area. Turks always had a way of knowing things, though it was usually Vincent who followed his old company. They were here, either trying to catch up to him or racing to the factory to apprehend Brukho. He'd have to find them first before the redheaded moron alerted his prey that Vincent was fast closing in. A short hour into his trek through the snow and his predators revealed themselves.

Vincent circled Reno and Rude for the better part of the day, inwardly scoffing at the tracks in the snow they didn't bother to hide. He perched himself several feet up the mountainside as they trekked around the edifice, the sun setting beyond the mountains and sea.

"If this crazy dick ain't there, Elena's getting taped to her chair—with the baby moogle song blaring at her on repeat!" Reno said.

Rude, silent Rude, grunted as he climbed up a particularly steep slope in the mountain trail. It gave Vincent a comforting pleasure that the two didn't notice him hovering above them in the trees dotting the slopes.

"Tseng's gonna be pissed if Valentine beats us there. Said he was sure the old man had no clue about the abandoned labs, but who knows?!" The redhead never shut up, making up for his partner, who barely peeped.

Vincent retreated behind a natural snowbank and wondered how long it would take the duo to notice him. He looked at his phone again. Funny how he used to shun the damn thing, hating when a notification shook against his hip. Now he stared at the screen and wondered why Tifa hadn't yet responded to his last messages.

VincentCan't wait to get back. Maybe dance to some oldies?

That one was sent last night as soon as he'd made it to Modeoheim.

VincentThis will work. Trust me.

She'd eventually forgive him for leaving the way he did and understand that he couldn't continue delaying this trip. He hoped she'd finally move past her anger at him and answer. Last time a woman gave him the silent treatment, her husband gifted him with a bullet in the chest and 30 years of solitude in the dark.

But he saved that worry for later, focusing on the job he needed to see through to the end, and tapped onto the screen as he watched the two below look for any trace of footsteps. After a single ring tone, a deep voice answered with no hint of surprise.

"Mr. Valentine. How can I help you this evening?" Tseng asked.

"They're right below me," Vincent responded, easing himself into a crouch as he watched Reno stab his magrod at an invisible fiend. "Can't even see me when I'm ten feet away." Vincent pressed his thumb into his phone screen, smiling at the picture he'd taken of Rude urinating over the cliff, and sent the partial nude to Tseng. "I think you'll find your best efforts pissing in the wind."

"Hmm, yes," Tseng replied. "Be that as it may, Reno and Rude could offer you assistance should the need arise."

"You may be right. I'm certain Brukho is here. What's not clear is what may be here with him."

"You have intelligence on his exact location?"

Vincent smirked. "Seems he moved into one of ShinRa's old labs. Perhaps your boss is too lazy to clean up his daddy's mess after all."

"We're all atoning for our sins in our own way."

Vincent flinched but said nothing at Tseng's pause, letting the silence grow uncomfortably long before the director continued.

"Consider Reno and Rude now under your command. We hope to bring the scientist to justice, same as you and the WRO, Mr. Valentine." With that final statement, Tseng ended the call.

Not three seconds passed before Reno dropped his magrod into the snow. "Shit! Phone call now?" He fumbled into his pocket and cursed again at the name lighting up his screen. "Fuck! What now?! Rude! Come here! Ahem—cough—cough." He hit his chest once, then spit into the snow before putting the phone to his ear. "Hey, boss! Nice and warm back there in Midgar Two?"

Vincent waited.

"Huh?" Reno's head darted back and forth, scanning the icy road.

Vincent kept his silence as Reno's eyes snapped up to scan the slopes. Any moment now. Three—two

Reno yelped and dropped his phone, finally spying the wraith staring down at him.

Vincent waved.

"Fuck Shiva!" Reno fell into the snow and shined a flashlight into Vincent's eyes. "How long you been there?!"


The three crouched atop a rocky cliff-side ledge overlooking the derelict buildings beyond the old factory, Reno disgruntled and huffing something about 'old Turks and their spooky old ways.' Vincent cut the redhead a warning glare, silencing the grumbling as he fished the map from a pocket.

"How do we get in here?" Vincent asked, pointing to a warehouse on the map.

Rude peeked at the mess of buildings and shook his head. "From this vantage, it looks like the storage unit collapsed years ago." He met Vincent's eyes. "You sure this information is reliable?"

"You tell me," Vincent replied. "Kisaragi procured the map. Parran placed the 'X.'"

"Pfft. Reliable, my ass." Reno flounced onto his rear and tossed a rock into the snow. "You came here with a map from Wutai's conspicuous Mystery Ninja and intel from Hojo's delusional protégé? Aww, holy Shiva. I shoulda told Tseng to tail this one himself."

Vincent studied the younger man's face, acknowledging his point, though not keen himself to give up that easily. "Bearing in mind that I received similar intel from Curie, the pieces fit. What I want to know is—what are we missing?"

"Intel from those crazed old dodders." Reno scoffed. "Look, yo. I ain't saying the old bat was lying to ya. But old man ShinRa abandoned that building before he built the labs, far as we ever knew. They stored the former power generators. Hell—I bet they're as old as you!"

Vincent stared down at the buildings, doubtful of the Turk's words as he spotted what appeared to be fresh footprints. "You sure about that?" he asked.

"Hey man. That's all we know," Reno pouted. "You got another X marked on that brilliant map of yours?"

A hand grabbed at Reno's shoulder to pull him back as Vincent faced him, and Rude cleared his throat. "We excluded the location as a potential hideout months ago, sir," he said. "The structures were condemned and unsafe for search. No one could live here."

Vincent frowned and grunted a short 'hmm' before turning back to the tracks. The marks created a fading path into the trees. But beyond, he knew there only to be a cliff falling into the ocean.

When he said nothing and continued to scan the buildings below, Reno began to fidget behind him. "So…uh. What're we doing now?" At Reno's impatient tone, Vincent slowly turned toward the two. "Uh…sir."

"I'm watching."

Reno darted his eyes to Rude, who only shook his head. "Wa…what are you watching? S…sir?"

Vincent put a finger to his lips as he glared. "Be still."

Without another word, the two settled into the snow behind Vincent and waited. Hours passed. Night reigned. Teeth began to chatter. Reno and Rude whispered between themselves, doubting Vincent's sanity to statue himself in the cold and stare at the dilapidated buildings that could barely hold the weight of a single snowflake.

"Why don't you ask him?" Reno whispered.

"You owe me."

"Fuck! Alright. But if he says we're staying, I'm building a fire." Reno scooted closer and cleared his throat. "Um…sir?"

"Make it quick," Vincent replied.

"Right. We were just wondering…why are we still here? Shouldn't we…uh…go back to town and maybe get more information?"

"Didn't you try that already?"

"Well, yeah. But sitting out here freezing our balls off ain't making that crazy fuck appear outta nowhere."

Vincent turned to him again. "This is it. We just need to wait."

Voices climbed up the snow-muted cliff-side, followed by the sound of gears grinding and metal scraping. The men peeked beyond their rocky cliff side just in time to see two large SOLDIERs ducking under an overhang of the derelict warehouse—one Rude believed condemned. Once passed under, they disappeared from view, and the grinding sounded again as the overhang began to descend back into its seemingly dilapidated appearance.

"Would ya look at that?"


Vincent pulled out his phone and tapped into the screen.

"Who ya texting? Personal? You fancy getting some sexy texts to warm ya up?" Reno chuckled, elbowed Rude as Vincent looked up at him.

"No," he said and continued his message to Reeve.

VincentFound the entrance. Request backup to avoid casualties and arrest as many as possible.

VincentSpotted three SOLDIERs and suspect more inside. Send team of four to assist. Will send coordinates for drop.

He pocketed his phone and looked up at his companions. "Reeve will send a team to assist. I need you two to head back down the trail to meet with them."

"Pfft. Come on, Valentine. Doncha think we can take em? A couple of has-beens and one looney doctor ain't too much for us Turks." Reno grinned and had the nerve to punch Vincent lightly on the shoulder.

"I question your training," Vincent said. Reno's smile faded, and Rude let out a snort before Vincent continued. "I don't need X-Ray vision to know that the looney doctor will have seen to his own security. So, we can expect hybrids with claws, fangs, and poison. Two SOLDIERs on the outside mean at least that many on the inside, if not more. I want them apprehended for questioning." His stare pierced into Reno, eyes flashing gold. "No killing."

Reno bobbed his head. "Yeah—yeah. Understood, sir. Bruises only."


The screen lit, but Tifa didn't recognize the wallpaper. She rolled her eyes, mostly at herself, regretting throwing her old phone at the wall following Vincent's leap from the window. The device had shattered against the wall into thousands of pieces. Ordering a new one from the only cell service in town meant she'd had to wait a couple of days for its arrival.

The phone dinged as it received the first message. Tifa waited. The next second, the sound multiplied by at least a dozen. Shit. She didn't want to look at the names. Anyone who'd sent her a message likely wasn't the one she wanted to hear from. Abandonment was a relationship status she'd grown used to long ago.

She pocketed her phone to check later. If anyone had an emergency, they would call. She could mull over her feelings of abandonment for a while longer, get good and angry so the disappointment wouldn't bite so much if the messages were only business.

Not a moment later and she heard Cloud's phone ringing from the living room. She stopped at her bedroom door as Cloud answered.

"Hey Reeve. What's up?"

She entered the living room, not intentionally silent, but Cloud's back was to her. Reeve only called Cloud directly when the WRO had an urgent mission. But—he usually called her first.

Cloud scratched the back of head as he listened, still unaware of Tifa's presence. "Modeoheim? What time?"

"Uh-huh. Just me. Got it."

Tifa clenched her fists. She didn't need to hear the exchange to know she wasn't invited…deliberately.

"I'll be there in ten." He pocketed his phone and turned, eyebrows shooting into his hairline. "Tifa! Um…hey."

"Don't think you're leaving without me."

He shook his head and brushed past her into the hallway. "Reeve was explicit. Only SOLDIERs are going on this one."

"You're not a SOLDIER!" she snapped, snatched at his sleeve. When he faced her, tears were in eyes. "I'm going. Whether you…Reeve…or Vincent like it!" She slammed her bedroom door and began stuffing her backpack with her usual materia and medicines. If Vincent thought shutting her out would ease her worry, he'd soon learn just how stubborn she could be.

She should've had her camera ready when they arrived at the WRO not 16 minutes later. The look on Reeve's face would've been a viral picture that could rival videos of Meteor's slow descent.

"Tifa! Hi," he said, accusation in his eyes as he looked at Cloud.

She dropped her pack onto the conference room table and scanned the room, Pete and his squad present, and accounted for. "Nice to see everyone," she replied, cutting Reeve a glare. "I think you could use one more on this mission."

"Well, Tifa…to be honest…there was a special request for the individuals you see here," he said, spreading his arms. "Additional assistance really isn't needed on—"

"I'm going, Reeve! And that's all there is to it." She crossed her arms.

Reeve seemed to search her eyes and finally looked down, nodding.


Parran's 'X' indeed marked the spot. Three SOLDIERs split up outside their concealed entrance and walked their checks in less than 10 minutes. Vincent hid in the branches of a tree, well hidden in a copse of tall pines. Even their enhanced vision wouldn't reveal his presence.

Their voices drifted like faint echoes across the snow, sounds no human should be able to hear.

"You sure no one's ever found this place? "

"Nah, man. Factory's been abandoned since we were kids."

Once they'd initiated the concealed hatch, a doorway that lifted similar to a garage door, Vincent lowered himself from his perch and hopped lightly onto the roof of the perceived dilapidated warehouse. He circled along the edge, hunting for any opening he could exploit without raising an alarm. The garage door seemed the only entrance or exit, but when he reached the far ledge along the west side, he saw a window just below his feet that provided a view beyond the mountain and out to the cold sea.

Vincent eased himself down, gripping the roof tight as he hung upside down to peer into the window, at once grateful Tifa had left him with shoulder length hair as it draped across his pale face, essentially hiding him from any occupants' view. The SOLDIERs gathered themselves around a pile of crates. Indeed, the entire structure was filled with rows of long ago discarded crates, boxes and pallets, further giving credence to the pretense of an abandoned building. One of them pulled at the top of a large crate. It rose whole and intact, folding at one edge, revealing a faintly lit stairway set into the floor that descended into the earth.

"Bingo."


Just as he had expected, the Turks were suited up in their usual fashion despite the freezing temperature. As the squad set up winter tents, Cloud hoped Reno's balls shriveled up and froze to his body. The redhead never shut up the entire hike and smirked when Cloud glared, further darkening his mood. Matters worsened when he caught sight of Vincent striding over to him, an equally dark gaze in the former Turk's eyes.

"Reeve didn't mention non-SOLDIERs on this mission." Vincent's eyes briefly flashed gold before cutting a glance over his shoulder at Tifa. "I was clear with the instructions."

"Yeah?" Cloud nearly growled at him. "How many times have you told her no, I wonder?"

When Vincent's mouth began to open again, Cloud pulled out his phone and showed Vincent the last message he'd received.

ReeveBe sure to tell him this was not my idea. She doesn't accept no.

Tifa followed close behind, hands fisted, mouth set in a thin line as she swore at Vincent. "Shiva be damned! You shouldn't be here right now." As soon as she placed her hand over Vincent's heart, Cloud turned and walked away, not wanting to see anymore than he wanted to hear her concern and anger.

Drifting snowbanks formed a perimeter of sorts, likely the reason Vincent had chosen this area to camp. The SOLDIERs dropped their packs into the snow and spread out, surveying the area as their training and instinct had honed into them. Their voices barely carried over the quiet drifts as Cloud surveyed their surroundings, too. Long years had passed since his last mission to Modeoheim, still an infantry grunt at the time in hopes of becoming a true SOLDIER himself. But he remembered at least that mission. More ShinRa horrors on full display. And Zack was never the same once it was over and done.

A strong hand gripped his shoulder. "Look alive, Strife," Frank said, wide grin and a wink. "Let's find this bastard and get back to warm weather. What do you say?"

Cloud didn't know the SOLDIER well, but as a member of Pete's team, he'd worked with him occasionally. He nodded and ignored the subdued argument behind him. A small part of him felt satisfaction that Vincent was now on the receiving end of Tifa's nagging.

"Alright." Pete clapped his hands together a single time and his men gathered around him for instructions. "Frank and Dan will take first watch. Cloud…you mind taking mid-watch with me? The Turks can take last."

"Pfft!" Reno sauntered over and tapped his magrod on Pete's shoulder. "Look here, yo. We don't take orders from SOLDIERs. Never did. Right, Rude?"

Rude cracked his knuckles. Cloud could almost appreciate the goon's disposition, both taciturn and fearless, if not for the unfortunate fact that he was still a ShinRa dog.

"Maybe you should ask nicely, yo."

The camp charged with hostility at the challenge. SOLDIERs flanked Pete and Reno's face paled, though he did his best to maintain his cocky gaze.

"I'm not asking," Pete said, then disarmed Reno of his magrod and threw it over the cliffside.

"What the fuck kind of 3rd class move was that?" Reno had just enough nerve left, bolstered by his anger, to invade Pete's space. Cloud laughed aloud when Reno had to look up to meet Pete's eyes. The redhead's eyes snapped to him. "What're you laughing at, First Class? We can have another go-round right now. I still owe ya!"

The metallic sound of swords leaving their sheath filled the night air. Reno's audible gulp seemed to struggle down his skinny throat. Cloud enjoyed the way Reno trembled, almost enough to rid his mind of Tifa and Vincent, but that insistent worry kept the itching smile from curling the corner of his mouth.

"Knock it off." Vincent pushed between Pete and Reno, the latter stumbling back into his partner with a grunt.

"Hey, yo. We didn't start it." Reno threw his hands up. "Turks don't take orders from grunts. We outrank and you know it!"

"What're you? Five?" Vincent passed his gaze over each man. Cloud imagined his—friend—taller in that moment and nearly swelled with pride for being on the same side. But the emotion flitted away from him as Tifa sprinted over a moment later, her small hands circling around Vincent's elbow protectively, cooling old feelings of comradery. "We need a watch. Do as Pete commands."

"You gotta be kidding me, yo!"

"No whining. He's my second," Vincent continued. "I want everyone awake at 0300. They check the perimeter at 0200, so we'll wait for them to fall asleep before we infiltrate. They'll be exhausted. From my reconnaissance, their numbers are small at this location. I suspect our target is in the warehouse, beneath a hatch in the floor. It's concealed by a large crate. I'll continue to scout and find another way in." He turned away from them and looked down at Tifa.

Vincent faced the group again. "Get some shut eye," he said before following Tifa to her tent.

The group dispersed and Pete showed the locations he thought best for choke points and ordered foxholes dug into the snow.

An elbow jabbed into Cloud's side just as he reached for a shovel from the supplies. "Hey. Hey, First Class." Cloud rolled his eyes as he faced Reno's grinning face and prepared himself for whatever snide remark the Turk had in mind. Reno jutted his chin toward Tifa's tent. "I was wondering and thought you might know." He snickered and winked at Rude before continuing. "How big can she take, huh? I mean, that purple beast is a behemoth. I bet Teef's maw has to stretch like this." The Turk widened mouth and crossed his eyes. "You wanna set up video and share with us? I'd sell Elena to see."

"Come on, Reno," Rude said as he hauled his partner away by the scruff. Reno waved to Cloud before he was tossed into their tent.


She whirled on him as they ducked into her tent. But her anger dissipated at the unmistakable grimace briefly passing over Vincent's face. He tried to hide it, even turned away when she reached for him, then his hands fumbled in the lining of his leathers as he pulled something from an unseen pocket. Tifa spied a thin, plastic object in his fist and, a moment later, Vincent jabbed it into his thigh.

She snatched at his elbow, ripping at his sleeve when he tried to pull away. Her jaw tightened as the anger filled her again. "What is that?! Look at me!"

"It's nothing."

"Bullshit!" she snapped, and guilt shaded his eyes. She scratched at his arm to gain a hold and began prying at his fingers as he held fast to the object. "Let me see it!"

Either he didn't try very hard, or his strength was significantly weakened. Tifa easily plucked his fingers open, and she gasped with eyes widened at what she held in her grasp. A sharp syringe, empty except for a thick, glowing residue spotting the tube. "Why…what are you injecting into your body? Why?"

She gave up the needle when he held out his hand. "I told you. It's nothing," he said and pocketed the evidence as though hiding it now would erase what she witnessed.

"Will you stop lying to me?"

"I haven't lied," he said.

"Withholding the truth is the same as lying! Why did you inject that into your body?"

"Tifa…"

Tears welled in her eyes at the plea in his voice. He didn't want to tell her, didn't want to let her in and allow her to help him deal with whatever problem was happening to his body. "Please," she said, and softly circled her fingers around his wrist. "I'll do whatever I can to help you through this. Just…don't keep me in the dark, Vincent."

He touched a tear as it slipped down her cheek. "You have enough to worry about. I'll be fine."

"Just—tell—me!" She let him pull her into his arms. He seemed to sway on his feet. She could feel his struggle and let him lean against her to remain upright. "Those experiments can't be worth this. I see what's happening to you. You shudder. The changes—you can't control them anymore." She met his eyes, a supporting hand against his chest, and didn't try to stop her tears. "And you fainted! You lose all your strength, just like now. It can't be worth that!"

She closed her eyes as he caressed her hair and kissed her. "That's what the needle is for. It helps when I can't control the corruptions," he said against her lips. "Don't cry. Doc Simon has it under control. Some changes to my physiology are necessary for this to work."

"It can't be worth the risk. What if…what if you—" She swallowed the words, and he kissed her harder.

"A normal life with you is worth every risk."

"Me?" she asked as he held her and kneeled with her to the floor of their tent. "You said this wasn't just for me. You have to do it for you."

"Mm, Tifa," he said against her neck. "You are for me."

He ran his hands along her arms as she shivered from the cold seeping into the tent. The fire materia she'd placed strategically on the floor didn't remove the chill completely. "You're cold," he said.

"It's fine," she answered in a whisper.

Vincent pressed her into the sleeping bag. His hands moved fast, stripping her of coat and waterproof clothes and seconds later, she gasped, realizing her naked skin was exposed to the frigid air. She shivered only a moment before he covered her with his warmth. Tifa curled into him, trying to escape the cold and exist only in the heat of his body over hers. His breath thawed her face. She could smell him, leather and man and something that was uniquely Vincent.

His sudden change from a weakened state back to enhanced strength scared her. The serum he hid from her must have been a tonic of some kind, something to bandage the inner wounds fighting against another invasion of toxins into his bloodstream. "Are you alright? I mean…can you? I don't want to hurt you. Or you—"

He chuckled against her shoulders. "I hope you do hurt me. Try your best." He kissed a hot trail down her neck and over her breasts before returning to her lips. "I don't want your tenderness right now, Tifa."

"You're not well, Vincent. You should be back at the hospital. Not out here in the snow trying to seduce me!"

"I will seduce you," he said. His eyes burned into hers, the flash of gold proof that his strength was returning more than his firm grip under her knee as he spread her wide. "No tears. No worrying. Just let me take you and feel you shiver around me."

His warm touches ignited her center, bringing the need deep within her to moisten her sex in anticipation of him. Tifa watched him for any sign of illness as he touched her everywhere. But he seemed better, unaffected by the episode from only a minute ago.

She gave in with his entry. The cold couldn't touch her as the heat of his skin moved against her. Where he kissed, she melted. But she kept her own movements light and tender, afraid to damage him, terrified he might break or lapse into a never-waking sleep.

Vincent cupped her beneath him and growled in her ear. "I don't want your concern tonight, Tifa. Give me your hardness. I know it's in you." She gasped when he nicked her lip and tasted blood a moment before he sucked it from her tongue. "You're a fighter. Show me. I won't break."

His words sent a shiver from her sex straight up her back as he moved faster, with more strength and urgency. She growled back and a second later locked her thighs around him. She flipped their position with one skillful thrust of her hips. His answering grin was one of wolfish delight. "That's better," he said, and fisted a handful of her hair before bringing her down to meet his lips.

Tifa used him, hips rolling, pelvis grinding, commanding his body with the motions of hers. The thrilled pleasure at her core only heightened with the frigid air tickling her bouncing breasts. Vincent made every coupling with him a titillating thrill. And as she gazed down at him, she thought he'd never looked so seductive, so pleasured and aroused. His hands massaged at her hips and thighs, and he moaned uncontrollably, pelvis tilted up to her, a slave to her needs.

The moment she climaxed, her raking nails digging into his skin, he sat upright and swallowed her every shriek, pulling her down with him into the makeshift bed. He curled his arms around her, still nestled inside her, and kissed her temple. "Get some sleep," he whispered.

She finally woke alone and cold, but for her, the tent was empty. Voices drifted outside as the camp stirred and readied for their mission.