Bite

Fur lay in the bed, still cold and naked. The blanket, however, had eased her a little. Her ears twitched at the gentle sound of water lapping behind her.

The woman who had just washed her was now doing the same to herself. Fur could hear faint gasps and giggles from the taller woman as well.

After a while of silently listening, Krista's voice cut through the quiet.

"Dianelle," Krista said, her tone firm. "I am a bit tired, but I know you aren't. I'm going to rest. You leave and perform the tasks I just told you. And remember, no mistakes will be tolerated."

Krista's footsteps grew louder as she approached the bed. Fur gulped.

She felt the blanket shift slightly as it was lifted. Cold air rushed in for just a moment before being replaced by the icy embrace of Krista's arms wrapping around her.

What was this woman doing? Cuddling with her? The meager warmth Fur's body had managed to accumulate was quickly dissipating as Krista's freshly washed skin pressed against her.

Cold. Extremely cold. And yet, equally soft.

"Grrr…" Fur tried to squirm away, but Krista held her tightly, spooning her from behind. *What is this woman's problem? Can't she leave me alone for once?*

"There's only one bed," Krista whispered into her ear, her voice low and matter-of-fact.

Fur's breath hitched as Krista's cold fingers brushed against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. She was clearly too tired to put up any real defiance, and Krista understood this well. Her touch was deliberate, almost clinical, yet it carried an undercurrent of something ominous—something that made Fur's instincts scream in warning.

"You're still shivering," Krista murmured, her voice a low hum against Fur's ear. "Let me fix that."

Before Fur could protest, she felt the sharp sting of Krista's fangs piercing her skin. A gasp escaped her lips, but it was quickly swallowed by the strange warmth that began to spread through her body, pouring in from the wound on her neck. Krista's bite was precise, as she sucked in Fur's blood after days of abstinence.

*Delicious.* Krista's eyes closed in bliss as, for the first time, a calm expression settled on her face. The warm blood began melting her icy grace.

The cold that had clung to Fur's bones began to recede, replaced by a searing heat that coiled in her chest and spread outward. Her skin flushed, and her breath came in shallow, uneven bursts. This always happened whenever Krista bit her, and she hated how good it felt each time.

The sensation was overwhelming—a mix of discomfort and something that made her pulse quicken and her thoughts blur.

Krista's lips lingered at her neck, not drinking deeply but savoring the moment, the control. She pulled back slightly, her breath cool against Fur's heated skin. "Better?" she asked, her tone deceptively soft.

Fur didn't answer. She couldn't. Her body felt like it was on fire, every nerve alight with a strange, electric awareness. She was acutely conscious of Krista's presence behind her, the way her cold body contrasted with the heat radiating from Fur's own.

Krista's hand trailed down Fur's arm, her touch light but deliberate, as she cupped her breast. "You're so warm now," she whispered, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Fur clenched her teeth, trying to suppress the tremors that ran through her. She didn't understand what was happening, why her body was reacting this way. But Krista did. This was all part of her plan—a way to break down Fur's resistance, to make her pliant and dependent. "Grrr!"

"You don't have to fight it," Krista said, her lips brushing against Fur's ear. "I'm not your enemy. Not if you don't make me one."

Her words were a paradox—a threat wrapped in the guise of comfort. Fur's mind raced, but her body betrayed her, leaning ever so slightly into Krista's touch. The heat was unbearable, yet it also felt… good. *Too good.*

Krista's hand moved to Fur's waist, her grip firm but not painful. "You'll learn to obey me," she said, her voice a low purr.

Fur's breath hitched again, a soft sound escaping her lips. She hated how her body responded, how the heat seemed to cloud her judgment. But deep down, a small, traitorous part of her enjoyed this feeling.

Krista smiled against Fur's neck, sensing the shift in her demeanor. She didn't need to say anything more. *There is only so much stick you can use on a beast. Sometimes the carrot should be given for a change.*

A simple caress after days of neglect worked wonders. Soon enough, Fur would be tamed. Her wildness, though charming in its own way, could be a hurdle in Krista's path.

Soon, sleep engulfed them both. Their bodies, exhausted from the journey, molded into each other.

---

***

The day passed, and night fell. Right after sunset, the door of the inn shook slightly.

Krista's red eyes opened as she turned her head, only to see black slime emerging from beneath the door, forming once again into the figure of Dianelle.

Dianelle had returned after finishing the tasks she had been assigned. She had spent the day collecting information, traveling from one shadow to another.

"Did it go well?" Krista asked, emerging from the blankets, her upper body exposed to Dianelle.

"It did, Mistress," Dianelle replied, pulling out some local clothes she had procured from trip. "Here you go."

Krista took the clothes from Dianelle, her crimson eyes scanning the garments with a faint nod of approval. The fabric was simple but practical, suitable for blending in with the locals. Her black thin gown in this cold weather had certainly raised suspicion earlier in the day.

She quickly dressed and turned her attention back to Dianelle, who was already moving toward the corner of the room where Fur lay, still wrapped in the blankets.

"And for her?" Krista asked, her voice low but commanding.

Dianelle produced another set of clothes, this one slightly smaller and tailored to fit Fur's frame. "I thought she might need something more… fitting," Dianelle said, her tone respectful but tinged with a hint of amusement. "And I took the liberty of procuring some food as well."

From her cloak, Dianelle pulled out a large bundle wrapped in cloth. The aroma of cooked meat filled the room, rich and savory, making Fur stir beneath the blankets. Her nose twitched, and she peeked out, her eyes wide with hunger.

Krista's lips curved into a faint smile as she watched Fur's reaction. "Good," she said, her gaze shifting back to Dianelle. "You've done well."

Dianelle bowed her head slightly, her form shimmering like liquid shadow. "Thank you, Mistress. I also gathered the information you requested."

Krista's expression darkened at the mention of the information, her mind undoubtedly recalling the pillars outside the city gates. But she quickly masked her emotions, her face returning to its usual cold composure. "And the targets?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Dianelle hesitated for a moment before answering. "I've identified the key figures who were involved in the purges."

Krista nodded, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Excellent. We'll deal with them soon enough. For now, let's focus on blending in and gathering more intelligence."

She turned to Fur, who was now sitting up in bed, her eyes fixed on the bundle of meat. Krista's smile returned, softer this time but no less calculated. "Hungry?" she asked, her tone almost teasing. It could be dangerous if she didn't let her eat properly, even now.

Fur nodded eagerly, her earlier wariness momentarily forgotten in the face of food. Krista gestured for Dianelle to hand over the bundle, and she obeyed, placing it on the bed beside Fur.

"Eat," Krista said, her voice firm but not unkind. "You'll need your strength for what's to come."

Fur didn't need to be told twice. She tore into the meat with a ravenous intensity, her earlier discomfort with Krista and Dianelle seemingly forgotten. This cooked meat was by far softer than that raw wolf, it only made her mouth salivate more.

Krista watched her with a faint sense of satisfaction. This was progress. Fur was beginning to rely on her, to see her as a source of comfort and security. As she ate, Krista caressed her, reminding her that with food would come her touch—and her orders.

Fur narrowed her eyes a little but didn't fuss, too busy in devoring the meat.

Dianelle, meanwhile, stood silently by the door, her form flickering faintly as if she were part of the shadows themselves. "Is there anything else you require, Mistress?" she asked.

Krista shook her head. "Not for now. Rest, Dianelle. Stay here and guard Fur while I go and observe the city myself." Krista stood up, smoothing her new dress.

Dianelle bowed again before sinking down on the bed beside Fur, finally finding a chance to rest after a long day.

Krista turned her attention back to Fur, who was now licking her fingers clean, her hunger sated for the moment. "After eating, get her dressed," Krista instructed, her tone turning cold again as she prepared to leave.

Dianelle nodded. Fur also raised her eyes to Krista's departing figure, her gaze still holding a flicker of uncertainty. She glanced at the clothes Dianelle had brought, then back at Krista.

"Good," Krista said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Fur's face. "We'll get you cleaned up and dressed. You'll need to look the part if we're to move freely in this city."

With that, she faced forward, her hand grabbing the inn door and pulling it open. Cold air gusted in, making her hair flutter.

"Now then," Krista murmured, her voice low and dangerous. "Let's see how these humans are thriving after betraying us."