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Dmitri

"So, Sky, Rene tells me you make some kick-ass balms, amongst other things. It's an unusual business. What got you into it?" Ivan asks Sky conversationally, at least making this a little less uncomfortable.

My gaze moves from Sky to Ivan as he chats to her. A good way to gather intel while making it appear to be simple interest, disguised as general conversation. Ivan's eyes flick briefly to mine before shifting back to Sky's. Rene sits quietly, her arm hooked around Ivan's, smiling back at Sky encouragingly.

I can hear Sky's erratic heart rate return to normal as soon as I stop looking at her. I make her nervous. This might have been a bad idea. Being this close to her for so long is torturous. Her scent makes me want to do things to her that I can't remember doing to anyone else. Gentle things like making love to every inch of her body, and then dirty things that, if I think about them any longer, will cause an awkward situation.

"When I was fifteen, my aunt gave me a journal that belonged to my grandmother. It contained various natural remedies, among them tinctures and balms," she says, taking the glass of water from Larry, who has arrived at the table and is dishing out our drinks order. Larry is way too flustered around her. It's starting to piss me off. He was clearly infatuated with Sky.

"I already had a calling towards plants, so when I was given the book, I was inspired to make my own herbal infusion recipes. Over time, it developed into a passion, then a dream. A dream that is now Sky's Naturals. The shop I've always wanted," passion for what she loves oozing out of her as she talks. I wish she would talk about me that way. I mentally punch myself at that thought. What the fuck is going on with me?

She glances up at me and then back to Rene and Ivan.

"You guys ready to order, or do you need more time to look at the menu?" Larry asks, having returned to our table.

We place our orders, Rene and Sky having the vegan burger, while Ivan and I order grilled double bacon cheeseburgers with chips. I notice Ivan gives Rene a strange look when she places her order. I, too, am wondering about her diet, considering we hunt for meat in our wolf forms. How exactly that works for her, I'll have to find out later. Perhaps it's a ruse she used and must maintain when infiltrating herself in Sky's life. I hope Sky never finds out about Rene's motives for befriending her. I don't want her getting hurt, but it may be inevitable. Besides, I tell myself, we don't know if she has an alliance with the hunters yet.

We continue with small talk, Ivan and Rene driving the conversation, asking Sky questions about her life. There's nothing out of the ordinary, and everything that I already know from her file.

Her parents were killed in a car crash, and she was the only survivor at age eight. Her aunt and uncle stepped in and adopted her. There are some records of her having seen a psychiatrist. She was diagnosed with dissociative amnesia, most likely because of the trauma from the accident. She came into some money left to her by her parents, which she used to buy the cottage on the outskirts of town and open her business. Sky's file is stock standard, even mild compared to some files I've seen. Is it made up, fabricated to make her look 'normal', a ruse by the hunters to make us comfortable with her presence?

We're finally at the end of this evening, with Larry clearing our plates from the table. It couldn't have happened soon enough. I've had to endure watching Sky eat her burger, which under most circumstances would be okay. But even doing that, it has reached some level of eroticism for me.

She is so sexy. Lucky fucking burger.

We shift out of the booth after settling the bill, and I, being in front, make my way out of the diner. Fresh air... a fucking godsend. It effectively gives me a breather from the never-ending scent that is Sky's, but not for long, as I sense her behind me. I turn around, the four of us now in a circle.

Rene gives Sky a hug before hooking her arm through Ivan's.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sky," Rene says, giving us a small wave.

"Sure, see you tomorrow. And good to see you again, Ivan." Sky returns the small wave with one of her own as the couple heads off in the opposite direction from the shop.

"Um, I'll see you around, Dmitri." The goddess gives me a small, shy smile before heading towards her shop. She seems to be rushing to end this awkwardness, but I seem to like punishment.

"It's too late and dark for you to cycle home alone. I'll walk you," I say, halting her in her steps. I blame my words on the fact that I'm concerned for her safety and that hunters might lurk in the darkness. The reality, though, runs more along the vein that I just don't want to be away from her.

She swivels back around, looking at me uncertainly. She seems to think about it before giving me a nod and taking a few hesitant steps towards me. I almost start walking toward her place before remembering that I am not supposed to know where she lives.

"I'll follow your lead," I say, stepping beside her as she walks past the diner and down the main road. 

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