Thunderstorm came with morning.

The curtains were not fully closed. Averisa laid on her side, half buried in blankets, staring at the sliver of gray sky that showed between the drapes.

The mattress jolted for a moment and Averisa felt fingers running through her hair and trace down her spine lightly. She longed to twist around and slapped the fingers away.

"Let's go for breakfast," came his muffled voice.

"You don't need to pretend I'm human just because we've bedded," Averisa replied harshly.

Derian withdrew his hand and snorted. "I thought you'd cry if I didn't."

Averisa sat up and looked down at Derian. He didn't seem to be insincere with the words. But his tone sounded as if it was just protocol.

"So, your women cry after you bedded them?" She asked in disdain.

Derian was lying on his side, his half-closed eyes looking back at her through his tousled hair. He grunted as he rolled over and got out of the bed.

Averisa turned away as he did.

"Shy?" Derian asked, as he dressed himself. "Oh, don't, you've seen everything, after all."

***

Averisa's footsteps echoed across the passages as she hastened through them. Derian was following close behind, matching his pace to hers.

She cast furtive glances at Derian. He seemed different somehow - he had been acting oddly the night before, but...

Averisa rubbed her cheeks where Derian’s bloody hands touched, the night before. The wounds had crusted over now, but she could still remember the scent of blood. She felt slightly sick as she recalled the night of the massacre.

Averisa hesitated by the doorway as the entrance of the mansion loomed before them.

"What are you waiting for?" Derian took her wrist and pulled her impatiently. "He's going off right now, you know."

Averisa raised her hand to slapped his hand aside. But before she did anything, Derian let her wrist go abruptly, and nursed his hand. His wounds had reopened.

Averisa stared at him, and, for a moment, thought that she had done something to him out of reflex.

"You should be gentle with women.”

Derian growled at Eric. "Why do you care?"

"It's common courtesy." He bowed slightly to Averisa. "You look slightly pale."

"Why are you here, anyway?" Derian snapped.

"It is my choice to be here - or not. How about you?" Eric looked at Averisa. "Is it fine for you to be here?" He looked out. “He’s getting on his horse.”

"I-"

"Go on. Hurry," Derian narrowed his eyes at his half-brother.

It felt strange, standing between the two siblings, and both of them competiting against each other in encouraging her to step forward.

Averisa walked through the doorway.

Owen had just mounted his horse and was looking up from his reins. His foot nudged the side of his horse and he rode up to them.

"You've injured your hands," Owen commented as he frowned slightly. "What happened?"

Derian looked down at his own hands, slightly startled, as if he realised the wounds for the first time. "Ah, it's nothing. I'll...I'll get them dressed later."

"And Eric, how...er have you been? I didn't see you at my wedding-" Owen smiled at Eric politely.

He's avoiding me, thought Averisa.

"I was busy saving the last Schlusig from the clutches of a savage," Eric replied. "I'm the hero, you see."

Averisa could see Derian clenching and unclenching his fists - yet to her amazement, he seemed to be controlling his emotions well.

"I- I see. Well, I'm off now."

"Running back to your wife?" Derian asked.

Owen winced. "I apologise for not being you," there was no harshness in his voice, but Averisa could sense a slight change in Derian's posture as he glared at Owen leaving.

When his cousin was out through the gates, Derian turned to Averisa. "He wouldn't have left if you had bedded him instead," then he, too, left.

"Sounds as if he is envious," Eric mused. "But, I would advise you to not reciprocate any of his 'feelings'. You will only be fooled if you think he had any."

Averisa snorted. "Isn't that harsh of you? He is, after all, your brother."

"Oh, you don't know him. He's quite, quite insane."

As if you're not, Averisa thought.

Eric leaned over. "We're going tonight. Try not to have any plans that involve bedding Derian."

“How-”

Eric pulled away, smiling slightly. “See you tonight.”