Sleeping against two hundred pounds of warm, raw muscle was comfortable when Jesse shaped her to his body and gave up feeling in his arm so she had a pillow, but the grass was not. And she had to pee. Badly. Tara lifted Jesse's hand and set in at his side. He didn't move, completely dead to the world. That made sense since he'd been barely alive as it was and then tossed into a fight for their lives before preparing to off himself and then having sex with her. Plus, it was early afternoon by the sun's height, and Tara was surprised she'd slept at all. The exhaustion from ghosts diving in and then ejecting themselves and the euphoria from Jesse all over her had don't the trick.

Standing took a few tries.

Without Jesse wrapped around her, it was chilly next to the lake, and it ached right where she knew it should as she wobbled a few steps. Oh man this week was gonna be fun. She traversed a few paces from Jesse and stopped when she hit a patch of normal grass. She didn't realize it was normal until she took a step back and noticed the ground buzzing under her feet. There was a thin coating of dark magic rolling to a few feet around them, and she realized as she examined the grass that it was a tiny bug zapper. Even in his sleep, Jesse had made sure she was comfortable.

Man, they did not deserve each other.

With a contended breath, she skipped around a few trees until she found a shallow flat part of the lake. It collided with a stream, and she found a spot that flowed down river to tinkle. She thought about it for a few minutes but eventually used some of the water to wash herself off, ignoring what tiny microorganisms were in it as she slunk back to find her clothes and ruin the edges of the inside of her pants to dry herself. She was hungry enough to eat a horse, but she doubted any of these fish were jumping out into a fire.

"Tara Viewford." That voice sent a shiver down her back that was completely unrelated to the cold.

"Tanya," Tara growled as she sat in the grass and cross her legs only so the women couldn't staring at any more of her naked parts than she could help.

"Relax, human. I didn't see whatever you did in the woods." A knowing smirk spread on her plump, dark lips, and Tara rolled her eyes. "Jesse's a passionate lover. I don't need to watch him take you to know that. I'm merely here to say goodbye."

"Is that why you have pants?" Tara eyed the ivory fabric that ran to Tanya's feet with glee that she didn't have to see any pubes today, but Tanya's top was the same, squishing those malt balls so tight they might crack.

"Ha," Tanya said with a small smile that surprised Tara with how antagonistic it wasn't. "All of this fighting to preserve your world just so I could see into it showed me that I am not of it anymore. I have much to sort through before I am ready for the peace Vincent Arc has accepted, but waiting garners me nothing. When I go into the void this time, I will not be returning."

"Well, for what it's worth, I hope you find what you're looking for," Tara said with mixed feelings. While Tanya was a horrible person, she'd helped her out, saved her even, and it was surprising to be losing her so quickly. Tara had imagined the woman would haunt her for years.

"Would you allow me something that I know you would rather not?" Tanya asked, her dark eyes downcast, and her frizzy purple hair obscuring her expression.

"What do you want?" Tara asked without animosity. The woman didn't seem like she was in any state to trick her, and if she had one final hitch keeping her in this world, who was Tara to hold her back.

"I just want to touch him," Tanya said the words so quietly that the hush of wind over the lake nearly blew them away. "Nothing strange, just perhaps his hair or the side of his face. I loved him, shittily and selfishly as it was, and saying goodbye to him is the hardest."

Tara looked over to where Jesse was passed out half from exhaustion and half from the high sun in the sky. If Tara was quiet, he wouldn't wake, and Tanya had fought to save him even if she'd a been a real bitch to him in real life. If there were cosmic scales that weighed this decision then Tanya would never get anywhere near Jesse, yet Tara did owe her one or two lives.

"You leave when I say," Tara said, and Tanya quickly nodded. "Come on then."

Tara walked to Jesse's side and checked to see if he was awake at all, and his lids were firmly shut. Poor guy needed a real place to sleep and put himself back together, but Tara couldn't move him so she'd have to wait. When it looked all clear to sneak Tanya in, Tara waved her over, and the ghost hovered nearer. Tara placed her hands on the ground so she didn't fall on Jesse or anything, and Tanya slid into her skin. Like she'd done with Illiam, Tara tried to resist less than she had been, and the transition was smoother despite Tara still being able to oust Tanya if she got at all weird.

Tanya knelt near Jesse and clasped her hands together for so long that Tara wondered if she remembered what she was here for. All the woman did was drink him in, and tears welled in her eyes from Tanya's profound sadness. It was hard not to pity Tanya as she extended a shaky hand to Jesse and grazed the side of his face with only the backs of her fingers. Tanya brushed a few stray, black hairs out of Jesse's face before running her hand delicately over the top of his head, down his hair, and resting it back on his cheek. A small noise escaped Jesse's lips, and the tears slipped from Tara's eyes. They dripped on Jesse's cheek, and his eyes opened groggily to meet Tanya's gaze.

"Sorry," Tanya whispered, and then she fled. Like a bat out of hell, her ghost pulled from Tara's body, and she was nowhere to be found when Tara looked around. When Tara returned her attention to Jesse, he was wiping the remnants of her tears off his face with him thumb.

"My sire was within your body," Jesse said, looking to her for an answer.

"She was heading to the void permanently, and she just wanted to say goodbye, I guess. Without her pestering, you might not have lived and I'd definitely be roadkill, so I figured giving her that much wasn't out of reason. I'm sorry if it bothered you."

"No, I was just surprised. I've never seen her cry." Jesse sat up with a downcast expression before he lifted a hand to Tara's face and brushed the remnants of her tears away. "Thank you for being kind to her. Tanya was warped, but only as much as the one who pruned her. I knew that when I followed her, and though I never liked her, I pitied her with the rest of the Zehirs. None of them ever had a chance with Dev at the helm."

"Come. We don't have to live in the woods. I'm not that committed to nature." Jesse chuckled as he stuffed her into his chest and magic lifted to wrap around them.

Tara leaned closer to Jesse until they arrived in a steaming room that sent shivers down her spine. Stone tiles ran under their feet to an enormous bath house, and Jesse helped her down to slip into the shallow end of the water. Goosebumps speckled her arms as she dipped into the hot water, but she sank with a groan of ecstasy nearing sex as she sank her torn muscles and tired body into bliss. Jesse slipped in next to her, and bubble jets pushed the grime away to the other end where it drained into the sides and renewed with clean water.

This was some fancy shit.

"Whose place is this?" Tara asked. It seemed like a simple question, but Jesse drifted in the water with a sigh.

"Mine by rights, I suppose," Jesse said softly, pulling a pile of towels and soaps over. "These I brought from the Arc estates though. I would not be comfortable washing you in soaps that reminded me of my sire."

This must be Tanya's castle than. They had been in a forested area, but she hadn't known that they'd been deep in the vampire continent. Tara had expected to never see it with how she'd wanted to stay out of vampire things, but now that she was there, she stretched her eyes up to explore the vaulted ceilings. The steam crawled up and rolled against grey stone with wisps of clouds, and she dropped her eyes around to the various heat rooms and baths spread around. This place would cost a fortune in society.

"It's still running?" Tara glanced back to Jesse where he'd sunk to a reclining position in the water, running a small towel over his skin with his eyes closed.

"I went through the Arcs to sell most of the valuables around here that I couldn't stand to look at, and I used the funds on its upkeep. Mostly just keep the lights on and the water running, so I wouldn't try any of the beds here. Likely dusty and musky. It's near impossible to find someone who will come to the abandoned Zehir territory to clean a castle, and I'm not much for it."

"I see." Tara grabbed a loofa and the soap, but she barely got to see them before they were snatched from her hands.

With a frown, she looked to Jesse who was already lathering the poof ball, and before she could object, he had her leaned back against his chest. They reclined against the wall and Tara's legs hung off the ledge into deeper water as he worked the little sponge over her skin. Tara dropped her mouth to the water to blow frustrated bubbles. She didn't deserve such pampering from the man she'd abandoned. There was no protesting though, so she let him work the dirt from her skin before he used a small bucket to douse her hair and scrub her scalp. It was all so gentle and sensual that tears filled her eyes. Her sharp intake of breath gave Jesse pause, and he turned her chin gently before she could suck the tears back in.

"Is this not all right?" Jesse asked, retracting his hands as if they were dangerous.

"No, you're fine. I just feel like shit about leaving you. You're loving, caring, and devoted, and I tossed you away for the void. I could have at least talked to you, but I was too weak to face that I was the one splitting us apart. When you said that you loved me, I didn't know what to do with myself and I ran because if you loved me, it would hurt that much more when I died."

"You needn't linger on it. I am not," Jesse said kindly, like he did everything. "I know why you did it, and I understand why you didn't want to tell me, but you are here now. None of that matters to me as long as I am with you now. Allow me to wash you. I like touching your skin and rubbing it until it's a gentle pink." The mischievous smile implied a lot more than he was saying, and she reddened as he eased her back against him in the water.

Jesse continued to gently scrub her hair, rinsing it with water before repeating until it was sleek and bright again. The jerk didn't give her the chance to wash him though, doing it all himself before hopping out of the baths and heading through the door. It was a few minutes before he returned, but he did so with a stack of clothes that definitely belonged to her as well as more clothes on his body than she preferred. A light yellow dress shirt covered up his muscles, but he left it open at his neck to show off his pecs, and she appreciated them as she dried off and accepted a blue blouse from his hands.

Jesse did the buttons for her, enjoying the red lace bra he'd brought a little too much as he closed her shirt so slowly over it that she worried she'd croak if he took any longer. Someone was not ashamed that they'd found her lingerie drawer, but he'd been nice enough to give her normal cotton underwear at least. That was a godsend since she did not feel like prancing around in a thong with the ache between her legs.

By the time she was dressed, she got the distinct impression that Jesse would love to rip all of her clothes back off if he were not as stable as a three-legged chair. They both needed to get real sleep, but Tara's wouldn't come until later. The sun had ruined that for her. She expected Jesse to pass out for the day, but she needed something to do while he did so or she'd die of boredom. That'd be a nice way to return to the void. Jesse dropped his hands over her shoulders and kissed her ear when she looked to be thinking to hard.

"Jesse!" A voice yelled down the hall, and Tara jumped so hard she collided uncomfortably with Jesse's tightening steel arms. That was most certainly Neil Arc's voice, commanding but younger sounding.

"Stay here," Jesse whispered against her face, kissing the skin there just lightly. "They cannot sense you within these walls."

"But–" Jesse placed a finger on her lips and strode out of the room. Tara grumbled inwardly as she headed as close to the door as possible without being visible. As Jesse's steps clacked on stone, she could help but peak beyond. Like normal, the two vampires' eyes were pinned on Jesse and nothing else. Humans were background noise.

Tara recognized, but his arm henchman she'd yet to see. The guy was built like a tank, with short mahogany hair spiking around his scalp before dropping in a thin ponytail to his mid back, and the guy's eyes practically rusted when he lay eyes on Jesse. The man stood at the ready with a thin glaive as if they were about to throw down. Neil Arc himself stood with his hands down at his sides, but he needed no weapon. Tara had seen firsthand the deadly wind magic he could wield. Neil regarded Jesse with just as much caution and hostility, his crimson eyes dark and focused.

"What do you want, Neil?" Jesse asked, his voice tired enough that the vampire's eased up their shoulders, but nothing else changed.

"You can't run rouge, Jesse. You know I am responsible for you," Neil said sharply, and Tara rolled her eyes. Did he stay out past his bedtime? Jesse was about as aggressive as a squirrel in winter. How Neil could worry that he'd cause any trouble was beyond her.

"I've yet to pile up humans in one of Tanya's spare rooms, if that's what your concerned about." Jesse harrumphed, drawing a smile on Tara's lips.

"Jesse, I understand your misgivings, but you accepted me as your house head when you left the Zehirs. You can't be seen outwardly disobeying a direct command. What you're doing is less impactful than that you are going against your house head."

"House head my ass!" Tara called down the hallway, and Jesse stiffened with a hand on his hip. Since they knew she was here now, she came out from the room and tucked her hands into her jacket sleeves. Neil extended a hand out as if to keep his guard dog back as he tried to make heads or tails of her. "If it's any consolation your househeadship, I think Jesse planned to be dead by now, so it was definitely not his intention to go about gallivanting in insubordinate glee."

Neil ground his teeth side to side with frustration, but she knew this guy had no command over her even if he could boss around Jesse. She also didn't think he was a shit enough to do anything when she'd tossed herself to her expected death for his children and Selena.

"Tara Viewford," Neil said stiffly, shifting his long ponytail of silver hair. "My mate will be happy to learn of your survival."

"But not you." Tara smirked, and Neil let out a breath of agony.

"You do not appear to like my kind, Jesse aside, so I find you trying, but I would never wish harm on you nor death. I am also pleased that you managed to escape the void with your life. Still, Jesse must adhere to our laws, regardless of the reason. My world is not so forgiving when the ones who are defecting can slaughter an entire house if they don't feel particularly good on a given day."

Tara glanced to Jesse, and he met her eyes for just a moment. Emotion glittered in his blue eyes before he faced Neil, bowed his head, and dropped to a knee. Rage bubbled in Tara as she watched him prostrate himself for a man who had practically cast him aside, but she didn't think finding a ghost to tear off Neil's arms would be particularly helpful here.

"Forgive me for my actions. No matter how great my grief, you are my master, and I should have obeyed. I accept any punishment you deem fit, Neil Arc."

"I don't," Tara snapped, drawing all of their eyes, Jesse's the most as he silently begged her to back down. "You owe me, and if you do anything to Jesse, I will go out of my way to make your life a living hell. I might be a weak human to you people, but I have friends who hate you just as much as I do, and they won't hesitate to dig you a new grave."

"Tara Viewford, under no circumstance do I want issue with your people, but Jesse cannot roam as a free agent. It's just not within my power when so many others have lost people to his hands. What would you have me do?" The man asked for her opinion came as a surprise, but if he was a good leader than he must ask for council often. It cooled a bit of her rage to answer with what she'd been thinking about in the back of her mind for most of the morning.

"Well, you don't want him. None of your people do, but I do, and you need liaisons still. Put him up in a nice apartment in society and keep tabs on him for all I care, but using him for communication purposes while keeping him out of your hair works for both of us. Then I never have to see you and I get Jesse all to myself, which I think is fair payment for your family's peace."

"Impertinent–" Neil held his hand up just as his guard dog was about to chew her out.

"Fine," Neil said too easily, stunning the guard dog next to her.

Tara now had to figure out what to do with her next round of shotgun accusations, insults, and threats. "What do you mean by fine?" Tara asked with suspicion.

"You may have what you want, Ms. Viewford. I will make accommodations for Jesse Zehir with the stipulation that I am informed of any travel or extra activities outside of the city required by his new position." Neil paused, and Tara narrowed her eyes when she knew there was more to this. "Jesse still has to return with me and demonstrate his loyalty. Questions were raised when he walked out on me in front of every other house head in the Alliance. None of them are comfortable with him alive in the first place."

"Tara," Jesse spoke from where he knelt, turning his head toward her before she opened her mouth again. That was best, because she was about to spit shit at him about not touching Jesse when he was out of her sight. "I must adhere to vampire law, as you must see to your life. I will return to your side if Neil has agreed to allow it. A house head's word is good, even if you don't like each other."

"Fine." Tara crossed her arms with a huff of dissatisfaction. "Just take me home first. I don't relish walking from the Zehir territory to society, since I'm told that's impossible without magic."

Word Count: 3558