522
This will be verryyyy interesting.

North and north he’d roamed, and now Levent was heading south toward home again, weary in more than just body. His trip had done very little for him, and all he wanted to do was return to Cercatori d’Arte—and maybe Hotaru’s arms, if she would allow him. She had to be tired, too, from dealing with the puppies by herself, but perhaps they could share their comfort. It might make him feel like a real person again, rather than a soul and body that seemed detached and at odds with each other.

Mai snorted tiredly and shook her head, and the merchant smiled faintly at her, murmuring a few words to reassure her they would be able to rest soon. She responded doubtfully, but the disdain in her voice he’d gotten used to wasn’t present. Either she was just that exhausted, or she was getting used to him—and he was faintly hopeful that it was the latter. He’d annoyed her with his presence a lot lately in hopes that she’d just learn to deal with him, and this might be the breakthrough, that she was beyond caring anymore. He didn’t want to truly break the beautiful horse so that she became compliant but resentful, but he didn’t think he could truly get that far. She was strong-willed and reminded him of Hotaru in some ways.

“Do you hear that?” Wilson sounded tired as well, but the note in his voice had Levent stopping and pricking his ears. It was barely audible, but he thought he heard water. For some reason, it sent chills through him that hearing a normal stream couldn’t, and the look on the cat’s face proved he felt the same. The wolf scowled and began to lead Mai in that direction, the tom balanced in the saddle, until a scent familiar as anything hooked sharp claws into him. He stiffened then, and growled an order at Wilson.

“Go straight home.”

The white cat looked at him, eyes narrow but unreadable, and leaped from the saddle to go scampering off in that direction. Mai looked after him longingly, but Lev tugged gently on her lead and continued toward the sound of water and smell of demon.

There she was, reclining by warm pools and swollen with child. His paw pads started sweating, but he wiped them on his fur and kept hold of the lead until he was able to tie it to a tree. Wordlessly and expressionlessly, he looked at the dog, knowing that he’d spent much of the past few days searching for her. Now that they were both here, he didn’t know what he should say.

How could he? Amy had teased out his lust for immortality, and she had mauled one of his pack mates. The images matched each other, forming the true picture of who she was—who he’d always known she was, from the first time her teeth tore into him. The only problem was that he had changed—gained loyalty, and a family, lives beside his own that he wanted to preserve.

What could he say to a monster like her?

347
I was wondering if, at the conclusion of this or whatever works best, Levent could get a minor-ish injury? >:3 He needs Hotaru and Wilson to band together to yell at him and that's a good reason. x3

While it was an effort to sustain his poker face, his sudden appearance did not seem to have ruffled the blonde dog at all. Her brown eyes roamed over him, scrutinizing him, and his shoulders hitched up before he rolled them back, pretending it was only to stretch. The transition was smooth enough to fool most, but he didn’t know what she was looking for or what she would miss. He might have asked her, but his tongue was like lead in his mouth.

Luckily, Amy spoke first. She noted his change, which probably shouldn’t have surprised him. The Levent she’d met in Europe would have thrown himself at her, sly and teasing and not tongue-tied like he was now. He would have wanted something of her, and he would have worked to get it, no matter how long it took. Right now, he found that there wasn’t really anything he wanted, other than an explanation that he dreaded.

Her remark on Cercatori d’Arte made him blink, and suddenly he transformed. Teeth flashed, but it was in a broad and confident smile, and his posture changed once again to something casual and open like he should have approached her. It was a startling transformation, one that was completed by a sparkle in his pale blue eyes and his accent rolling smoothly off his Turkish tongue.

“I would think that a pack dealing in trade is very suitable to my talents, bayan. I have already proven myself as a merchant, and I only expect to climb the ranks faster now.” His ears fell back a notch, almost submissive, as he angled his head at her and smiled. “Unlike you, my elusive mistress, I can’t as easily survive as a loner with so many goods; I don’t have a cart and a slave to guard it. Now I have a residence and protection and food.”

He shrugged his scrawny shoulders. “I feed off people, and this is the best way to do it—although it seems you’ve come dangerously close to picking off some of my pack’s people, Amy.”

400

He knew he shouldn’t fear her—and he was either a fool for being afraid or a genius. Blue eyes watched her innocuously as she stood with some effort, impeded (even if she didn’t seem to be) by her heavy, child-swollen belly. A man should not fear a woman as gravid as she was; it would take little effort to rush her and end her. At the same time, while he might not have feared another woman, he knew this one would have a multitude of tricks up her sleeve. She wouldn’t let pregnancy hinder her; how she would destroy the weakness, he didn’t know, but he remained cautious behind his smile.

Levent thought that his statement made sense; it was logical and honest to his own ears, especially because it was the truth—minus a single detail in the form of a blind she-wolf. He might have smiled at her laughter, but it had come time for her to answer his guised question; and she did so, bluntly. Oddly, he found himself nodding, and he might not have cared if it wasn’t a young pack member who’d been hurt. It was ruthless, but it was justice in its own sickening way, and he’d seen hands chopped off in Istanbul for those who couldn’t meet the price. What she had done to the girl was cruel, but she could have mangled her worse.

“I’ll have to let them know how seriously you take trades,” he said smoothly. “But perhaps you should be lenient; this is not Europe, and these soft wolves don’t know it.” He made sure to phrase his suggestion as a suggestion, rather than demand she change; even if he had, he didn’t see her doing so anytime soon.

He was reminded of this as she stepped closer, her eyes fixed on his as she asked him what he was hiding. All that was left of his friendly façade closed off, and he stared back at her, completely devoid of emotion. She was asking him for the secret of his children, and if she knew about their existence, it would be the perfect leverage against him. Blackmail was not uncommon where both of them came from, and he knew—almost on level with his own cherished life—he would do anything to see that his children were not harmed.

“We all must have our secrets, Amy,” Levent responded.