– T A Y A H –

I didn't take my eyes off him.

Even as more assassins died around us in various ways. The blonde haired goddess held him securely as Revna despatched of any danger with far too much joy on her features.

"I see you have made another..." He grunted in pain before continuing, "–dangerous friend."

I forced a smile onto my face as I patted his shoulder carefully. I could smell the blood on him and it was no small amount which drove my nerves higher. "You don't send boys to do a woman's job."

He snorted and instantly winced. "Under normal circumstances I welcome–more women."

We now emerged out of the tunnel and into the small and wrecked living space with bodies laying on the floor.

"John would argue that part." I told him dryly as my eyes stared at the pooling blood that had now turned dark.

He jut his large jaw out when I mentioned our best friend. "That horse's ass is the reason I was in here."

I stared at him in shock before I heard a door slam open to my left and I instinctively flung the blade at my hip. It went straight through a woman's eye who was dressed in plain clothing. I froze as I watched her drop to her knees instantly dead.

"That–she wasn't–" I murmured in a dead voice.

"Come, Tayah. We have no time." Kára began touching my arm. I flinched sharply and I saw the shock painted starkly on her face.

"What is wrong with me." I whispered staring at the dark haired mortal that had just run into a house at the wrong moment.

A gusty sigh sounded behind me before Revna strode up to the body and cut a line down the back of her dress.

"What the hells are you doing?!" I growled as flames wrapped around my fists.

"See for yourself." She answered me in a bored tone, looking briefly at my hands before chuckling. Despite it all I looked down and saw the concealed blade under her clothing.

"She was wolf dressed as a lamb. Let's move on, immortal. Or do you need a moment." She mocked.

I didn't even have it in me to snarl at the cold demi-god. I stared and shook my head following them out of the door. But I could feel Kára's eyes burning into mine in question under Kaden's meaty arm.

The rain kissed my face like a long lost friend as we emerged onto the streets. I stood there for a moment as it hit me and the others made their way into the shadows of the alley.

"We need a horse for the mortal. He will loose too much blood staggering around this way." Kára murmured to Revna and she nodded quickly before disappearing around a corner. She carefully set Kaden down into a sit against the wall making him grunt.

Now she met my gaze more fully and held it in question. Instead of answering I crouched before my friend and tilted his bearded chin up to meet my eyes.

"I've barely been gone a month and you all seem to have facial hair. Standards have dropped."

He managed a deep chuckle before slapping my hand away. "If I weren't the forgiving type, I'd have knocked you off your feet the moment I saw you. Immortal or not." He finished with a snort.

"John tried that." I smirked. Glad to have a slither of normality on this realm for a moment.

"Hah!" He grinned. "Did you trade a few back?" He said with an eyebrow waggle.

I shook my head with a bit of sadness. "He is not quite so forgiving. I have a long ways to go to earn his trust."

"I should be the one demanding trust from that whorelet." He ground out. "Practically offered them the fight in the tavern. After the Jester's was ransacked it sent him over board."

"I need to talk to you about that..."

He raised an eyebrow at me before we heard a set of hooves approaching.

"There was only one!" Revna called down the road as she trotted towards us.

"That will be enough." Kára murmured, turning fully to Kaden and I. "Take him back to the warehouse. I must speak with Revna. We will join you soon." She finished tightly.

I nodded, drawing to a stand and lifting Kaden up under my shoulder easily. He grunted again before a small laugh left him. "Gonna take a while to come to terms with you being stronger than me."

I grinned sidelong at him before seating him on the horse Revna left and jumping on myself. If I was being dangerously honest... I had no issue leaving the immortals to themselves for now. The feeling of unease had not left me in the slightest and I couldn't meet Kára's eyes. This would be a long conversation for another time. I knew it but I could not confront it now.

For now, I had my two best friends back and I needed be around them both for as long as time allowed.

* * * * * 

We arrived at the warehouse when the rain picked up. I helped Kaden slowly up the stairs and carefully shut the door–that had been abused far too much in one day.

John almost fell out of his chair and dropped his mug running.

"Gods man! I could kiss you!" He shouted about to rush him into a hug but I stopped him.

"He's injured John, get the salves."

John rushed to a stop and dropped a quick nod spinning on his heel. If it wasn't for the circumstance I'd have laughed.

I set Kaden down in a chair and he leant his arms down gingerly on the table. Then dipped his head and took in a steady breath. "Home sweet home."

This made me pause and take in the warehouse flat I had disregarded so easily before. Of course there wasn't much in the way of decor... the men had the design flare of a goat. But effort had at least been made to get cushioned chairs and the odd chest and fire wood stove–

"Here–this will reduce swelling and stop infection–"

That made my memory flash back to my own treatment at the hands of the immortal all that time ago...

"John where is your experimental liquor? The hard stuff."

"Tayah this is hardly the time–"

"That's my girl!" Kaden piped up before coughing and clutching his side.

I sighed and waved him off. "Just get it now please."

He dropped his meds sack and shook his head before turning to a cupboard and pawing through it hastily. When he gripped the bottle he tossed it to me and I caught it.

I poured a heavy amount into a cloth as the boys stared in curiosity.

"Is this a new method?" John inquired despite his mood towards me.

"Someone once told me it kills infection like nothing else." I said leaving out much context. "The only problem is–"

"AGHH!" Kaden boomed as I pressed it against his exposed ribs.

"It stings like a whore." I finished, dabbing it against him and moping up stray blood and dirt.

After more colourful swearing Kaden calmed down and slammed a fist in a steady rhyme on the table. It went like this for many moments as I removed Kaden's shirt and John wolf whistled. Cleaning his chest, back, stomach, more rags, more fist bangs, more whistles. 

"Women love the scars, man." John began as he propped his chin on his hand. "I'd take a few if I was not so attractive but it adds to your worn out old dog complex–"

"Shut up, John." Kaden and I echoed before we all glanced between each other and laughed whole heartedly.

Silence fell between us as we all watched my hands work over Kaden and secure bandages to his sides. When I finally helped him put his shirt back over his head John spoke.

"I think. We should all have dinner together." He stated, rising without response and opening the cupboards.

Kaden and I shared a long glance before grinning like children.

"If you two try anything, I'm filling your water with devil's sneeze." He promised over his shoulder.

"Does that work in water?"

"I can make anything work." He muttered as he cut slices off a leg of mutton. "It might turn your stomach into a rock but... semantics." 

I leant back on my chair and kicked my feet up onto the table. "Consider me impressed, John."

He snorted.

"No really. Your cooking skills have almost killed us all in the past but you attempt it all the same."

Kaden slapped a hand on the table making it shake with a throaty laugh. John whirled around to face me but seemed to pause. Seeing me sprawled and Kaden thoroughly amused softened his features for a moment. A smile lingered on his lips and he chuckled. Things were as close to normal as they had been in far too long... 

"Ashrive, you better get your feet off my table before this butchers knife slips in your direction." He promised me with that familiar devilish smirk.

I returned it and lowered my feet slowly.

"Yes, sir."

When he eventually set the plates of meat and bread and even wine before us I smiled widely at him. We all huddled around the small wooden table–Kaden consumed most of its space–and tucked in.

"Pass me that wine, wench." John said through a mouthful.

"I didn't catch that past the mass in your mouth." I told him sweetly.

"I said." He responded, spitting chunks across the table– "P-pass me–"

"Jesus, John." I said, shielding my face with an arm. "Just take it."

He grinned with round cheeks while I fought a smile. Kaden burped and took a long drink. He paused and bent down to me before–

"Excuse me, my lady."

Instead of responding I stabbed my fork into his last slice of meat and shoved it into my mouth with a shrug. John laughed loudly while Kaden protested wildly.

"You have no need for more. You tiny girl." He grumbled.

"I am as tall as John." I retorted, swallowing and swirling the wine around my cup.

"Nearly, as tall as John." John returned as he watched me over his cup.

Kaden too, picked up his cup. We all watched each other suspiciously over the rims of our wine before tipping them back and rushing to swallow the remnants first. John slammed his down first, I kicked him under the table making him spit his mouthful out in a coughing laugh before Kaden and I lost the ability to hold it down and wine soaked us all.

We were all crying with laughter and soaked in crimson shades when the immortals opened the front door and stared at us.

To hell with it.