Orion:

Food has never tasted better. The tavern, albeit vulgar, was practically vibrating with laughter. Orion ripped into his bread, famished. The recent solstice had left his stomach growling and pleading for nourishment. Yasmin had recovered quicker than him and had found a way to convince him to come to the Little Lamb Tavern. 

She was somewhere in the sweating throng of dancers, at the request of a boy, barely a man. Orion wasn't the least threatened. The boy probably hadn't even started to shave. Yasmin stumbled through the crowd, sweat and exhilaration making her skin shine, almost halo-like. She fell down in the seat across from him, dragging a golden hand over her face.

"Was the toddler a good dancer?" Orion smirked as he let his arm hang on the back of his chair. Yasmin slid an appraising look towards him, but her eyes sparkled with mirth.

"Surprisingly, yes," Her dark eyes looked like sparkling gemstones of onyx in the dim lighting. "Maybe even better than you." The challenge was obvious, meant to taunt him. He didn't want to admit it but it worked with astonishing efficiency.

"I don't think so," he swept out of his chair with an amused growl and bent in a flourishing bow. She laughed heartily, sounding like music. 

"Where did you learn that?" She asked through delighted giggles.

He pulled her out of the seat and twirled her onto the dance floor. Holding her close, they swayed, dancing to a rhythm of their own. Couples bounced around them, but in that moment all he saw was Yasmin, only her. Her cheeks flushed rose red and her dark eyes penetrated him, as if she were staring into his very soul.

"We'll be free soon, Yas," he whispered to her, voice raw with a mix of emotions. "If you let me, I'll try to give you everything you deserve. I know it will never be enough." She reached up, cupping his cheek with her hand. Her touch seared, a brand that would never leave.

"I only need you," she whispered, tears glittering in her beautiful eyes. He pulled her tighter, molding their bodies together. She fit perfectly to him, the missing puzzle piece that he had yearned for all those years. The song ended abruptly and to his disappointment, Yasmin pulled away. His body ached for her warmth and she entwined her fingers in his, a silent promise. 

"Where do you want to go afterwards?" Yasmin crunched on a potato, fingers brushing his leg under the table. 

"Maybe an ocean town," he pondered, looking wishfully down at the drumstick leg. It was golden, flaky, with a buttery scent that appealed to the more primal part of him. He sunk his teeth in it, relishing in the clash of flavors assaulting his taste buds. "I've always wanted to visit the ocean."

"That's sweet, honey," she smiled genuinely. "I can imagine it now. Me, sitting on the beach our daughter, who's building a grand castle, and you splashing in the surf with our twin boy and girl." 

"You've already planned how many kids we're going to have?" He raised his brows at her and she shrugged, running a hand through her silk-straight hair. 

"Of course. And I've named them as well."

Orion leaned back and tilted his head at her. "You better not have chosen something such as Lacy or Bobby or something else idiotic."

She lifted her chin. "The names I've chosen are beautiful and nothing you say will convince me to change them." He held his hands up.

"What are they?"

"The girl will be Jaya, the boy Roshan, and the girl Raine." He was silent for a moment, wrapped up in her homely fantasy. But it was one that he could finally see come to light. He could see their children, a perfect likeness of Yasmin and himself, laughing as they ran along the water's edge. Everything was perfect in the dream. The reality dampened the dream and he withdrew himself out of the fantasy. What if he could never give Yasmin what she dreamed of? What if she would never have the children she wished, the little cottage she wanted to own. He wanted so desperately to give that to her but it seemed like Fate himself forbid it. 

"Orion?" Yasmin voice broke his thoughts. She peered at him in the slightly yellowed lighting. "Are you alright?"

He smiled, strained. "The names are beautiful, Yas. I don't know why I ever doubted you." 

"There's something else bothering you. I can tell." 

With a sigh, he told her. "What if that fantasy is something I can't give you? What if you won't have your three children, and I can't even give you one? What if I can't protect you from the wrath of the clans like I promised? How would I wake up every morning knowing it's not the life you want to live?"

Her hand was warm on his as she rubbed soothing circles with her thumb. Her keen eyes held nothing but love and support. 

"Look at me, Orion. Please, I'm begging you, believe this. You are what makes me happy. I don't care if we have three kids, one, or none. Through it all, I want you there with me. You are my greatest gift." Leaning over the table, she placed a chaste kiss on the side of his temple, and Orion's regret lessened slightly. He had a feeling it would never fully go away but her revelation made him feel slightly better. 

"I haven't seen you folk around before." They jumped apart to see a jovial, potbellied man standing at their table, accompanied by another slightly thinner man. His brown eyes were crinkled from laughter but Orion still kept up his defense. Being on the run had taught him not to trust anyone.

"Yes, we are new to town. We are stopping over for a few nights before going to our destination."

"Where are y'all headed to?" Yasmin glanced at Orion for confirmation and he nodded once. 

"Pamukkale." His smile widened.

"Fine destination, that one. Went with my wife just a few years ago." Orion smiled tightly and looked at the other man, who was unabashedly looking at Yasmin with a possessive gleam in his eyes. He was average-looking, nothing special, but he had a weasel-like look to him. Orion leaned over the table and tucked a strand of her shiny hair behind her ear. The man's eyes dimmed and he turned to Orion, lip curling slightly. 

"This is my nephew, Aaron. He's visiting too." The fatter man clapped a hand to Aaron's shoulder proudly. He smiled broadly at Yasmin.

"You're the most beautiful woman in this town, I reckon. Would you like to take a stroll tomorrow?" Aaron drawled, with a confident smirk. Orion's anger came hot and fast, white and blinding. 

"Actually, my wife and I are leaving tonight. We want to leave before the roads get to choked." Orion bit out, looking pointedly at Aaron. He snarled silently and Orion sat back, satisfied. 

"Well, that's too bad. Hey, if you're leaving now be careful. Eleven of the village hunters left last evening and didn't return. One of 'em, a teeny one, ran back and has been babbling about some 'wolf-man' and and a 'blood leech' in the forest. Just... watch yourselves." Orion nodded at the portly man seriously. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach about who the two were and if they were spotted on the village outskirts they needed to move quick. Yasmin looked at him, silently communicating the heavy question.

How did they move so fast? 

"Thank you for the warning. We won't be passing through the forest but that's good to know. Stay safe." The large man steered Aaron away after a recursive nod. Orion got up and hurried to get his cloak. Yasmin did the same and with no effort at all, she swung up on one of the horses tied outside. The bay mare neighed with fear and Yasmin ran her hand softly down it's velvet fur.

"Come on, sweetheart. I'm not going to hurt you." Orion swung up on the mare tied next to Yasmin's and kicked it, clutching with his life as it reared in alarm. Both horses bolted into the night, fueled by both their fear as well as Yasmin's and Orion's. He didn't know how far the hunters were from them but all he knew was that he couldn't let Yasmin fall into their clutches. With steely determination he spurred the horse on faster. The couple raced into the night and with every pounding step, Orion felt more relieved to be getting farther and farther away from the hunters.