The scent of her as she snapped her tail at him, the noises she made as he brushed along her skin; it was all nearly enough to send Vadim over the edge, and to lose his already fleeting control. The same burn of desire he had felt before was beginning to melt away his exhaustion, to make it a distant memory, even as she spoke. A soft, growl-ish hum of acknowledge escaped him, as well as to show his amusement. “Is that jealousy I hear?” he taunted the pale mare, hoping to get more of a rise from her than she was already starting to give. “Don’t tell me your starting to care.” he chuckled softly, before reaching over to drag his lips further down along the smooth skin of her neck. Letting them part just slightly so that he could scrap his teeth (safely) across her flesh and let the taste of her wash across his tongue.


For all the things Vadim had done, he didn’t expect any of the mares to care for him. To hate him, to loathe him, to want to escape from him; all of those feelings he expected. But to see the brief look of concern suddenly flicker in her eyes, and the venom not dripping in her words, it gave Vadim a brief pause from his onslaught of touch and faked mockery. To let a slight frown tug at his face, before it disappeared just as quickly as her own softer expression did. Vadim could only assume he had been seeing things; that his tired eyes were only making something be there that he truly desired, when it would never be.


Instead, Miriella thrust them away from the dangerous game they had been playing, and into the real reason she had appeared. It made the stallion sober up some, and he pulled away completely. His ears tilted back at first, then tipped forward as he contemplated her words. Vadim knew he could be selfish. To imprison the child here as much as he had done to Miriella. But just as he had not wanted to corrupt any of his children, he knew by staying here, they would be anyways. So, after a few moments of silent contemplation, Vadim let his green gaze meet hers. “I’ll allow it.” he said, knowing his choice of words would most likely dig at the mare’s pride, instead of simply agreeing with her that it would be best for the child who’s name he didn’t even know. “Two days, Miriella…. If you do not come back, know that I will find you.” he threatened.


Vadim knew it was probably a mistake giving the roan mare the freedom to take their child elsewhere. She could go to whatever stallion she wanted and beg for their help. To give a rallying cry that would bring the other islands down on his head. But because he was giving her what she wanted, he hoped that she didn’t.