Our assignment was to disguise ourselves as Venatori, thieve a number of Fade-touched beasts from a pampered lord with far too much time on his otherwise useless hands, and kill one of them to incite a livid rage in their master— before letting Riftwatch return the rest, naturally.

I meant to kill it. That thing. [The wolf, he means, tipping his head as he uncorks a fresh bottle of wine (to the tune of her slapping tail, battering Fenris— and the flooring alike— as she scoots in closer towards his lap).]

I don’t know. It was.

[Pitiful, cowering in a corner. Trapped as he was, once.]

Pathetic.

[A sip.]

Long story short, I faked putting down one of the other beasts instead and let this one run. It, of course, came phasing right back not long after.

[A good girl, Fenris says, and oh, isn’t she instantly alight with love, hulking thing that she is already trying to clamber all over him now.]

Would you— darling stop letting it crush you, it still has bloody fangs, you know.

You’re going to lose an eye at this rate.