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Did you know I wrote this over a week ago?

That's right, being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and doesn't pay the bills. I want to keep writing these stories for everyone to enjoy and your support on Patreon or Ko-Fi helps make that happen. Supporters even get to see stories a week early to avoid all that pesky waiting. I also appreciate non-financial support like faving, voting, and following me here or on Twitter. Thank you so much for your continued support! Please enjoy the episode.

And with that out of the way...

Welcome back, my lovely reader!

It's been a while since Katrina had some time in the spotlight, hasn't it, my lovely? Well, my favorite blood magic-wielding black cat will get to strut her stuff in this episode! Speaking of magic-wielding, the new mage in Alice's life is still hanging about.

Katrina obviously has a thing for bunnies, and Alice puts no restrictions on her lovers, now does she? I think you can see where things are going already, but there's more than meets the eye with the aforementioned rabbit. All power comes with a price, especially for mundane...

Let's jump right in!

--?--

Episode 4:

Katrina: Time Enough To Die

"I'm not going to lie, I think you're the most proficient mundane I've ever sparred with." My words came out in a hiss as the rabbit drove forward, his shortsword in both hands in a thrust.

Samuel grunted as I whistled and used my gun to catch the strike, letting the tip of the blade chink right into the opening of the barrel, offering him a smug grin, my sharp teeth on display as my tail coiled behind me lazily.

He clenched his teeth, the sword just stopping short as if he had thrust it into a brick wall. I watched him grunt as he tried to push, my arm unmoving as I offered him a sympathetic smile.

"Uh... right, super vampire strength, forgot about that," He withdrew it and sheepishly sheathed the blade.

"You're still very strong for a mundane, Sam, and fast too. Don't be ashamed of it." I purred as I put my guns away. It was very light work for me, but he was dripping sweat, a faint pant on his breath as his one good eye met mine before he gave a nod.

"Thanks for sparring with me, Countess." He turned and offered me a polite bow.

"I told you to take it easy on the titles, you can call me Kat or Katrina, okay?" My sharp teeth showed as I pressed both hands to my hips, looking him over. He was grizzled and tough for a bunny, with scars all over. I wouldn't lie, it was appealing and he smelled good, but then again that could be because he was mundane, it made me hungry in a lot of ways.

"So... you want to try slinging some magic around this time?" I offered him a challenging grin, then folded my ears as I watched him look away.

"I only use that in live combat, Katrina... my apologies." He wiped his brow of sweat and gave a winded huff. In truth, I wasn't used to this. I was used to supernatural weirdos like me that would just keep going, but he looked very fatigued, even though we'd only been sparring for three hours.

"Why is that if I may ask?" I folded my arms, cocking a brow. "I'm a trained mage, I'm sure we would be perfectly safe."

"You would be, I wouldn't." He gave me a sigh and put his own hands on his hips. "Katrina, I use time dilation spells, are you familiar with those?"

I widened my red eyes and gapped my mouth slightly. "Wait... I thought you looked a little more aged than you should... Sam, you need to lay off that!" My teeth showed as I offered him a glare.

"Hmm... better to have a short life and do good, than a long one of inept ability, yes?" He fired back, cocking a brow.

"Uh... sure, if you weren't Alice's now! You kill yourself using that shit, what do you think it's going to do to her?!" I hissed out, not bothering to hide my annoyance over it. Time magic was forbidden with good reason. It let you achieve near-supernatural feats of speed, but it also sped your own clock up so to speak. Using a haste spell for a minute would age your body up to a year, and the internal effects were even worse.

"Come here, let me feel your life force!" I snarled out as I stomped right over to him and grabbed his shoulder.

"K-Katrina, I am fine!" He grumbled and tried to jerk clear but it didn't stop me as I pulled him up and shoved my forehead right to his own, trying to sense his energy.

I felt him squirm a little in my grip, then opened my red eyes, seeing his own brown eye half-glaring at me before I stepped back and clicked my tongue. "Gods... you've been using it a lot, haven't you? Got a death wish, Sam?"

He sighed and shook his head, his ears flopping about gently. "Just doing what I can with the time I have, for Alice and her-"

"Cool, but stop using that shit!" I hissed out with a glare before grabbing his hand. "Let me taste your blood."

"Uh... is that okay?" He flinched as I just popped his finger into my mouth and took a nip. I watched his eyes shudder a little from the contact, but then I dragged my tongue over his finger, smacking my lips before nodding.

"Sam, I'm a thaumaturgist and blood mage. I know biology at its very core and yours is, well to put it simply, fucked." I sighed as I turned from him. I'd not drunk mundane blood from the source in several years now, even those few drops had the hunger begging for more as I pushed a hand to my cheek, a small pant on my lips.

"I'm not surprised... been through some crazy shit these last ten years." He shrugged as he turned away.

"No doubt, but you should lay off it, I don't think your body can take much more of it. Your heart is really weak." I looked over my shoulder at him with a snarl. Of course, I wasn't angry but I was very hungry now.

He glanced over his own shoulder and frowned as he saw me snarling, his small brown tail flicking with trepidation. I couldn't blame him, he was still a mundane in a house of vampires and he knew it. On a subconscious level, he probably realized he was prey to any of us if we desired it and no doubt could sense my hunger for more of his blood.

"Thanks for the advice, and thanks for the session as always. You're very kind Katrina, truly." He nodded and I watched him turn and slowly leave the training room.

My teeth snapped as I gave a hungry snarl, trying to push my demons down. I'd been sparring with him off and on the last few weeks since Alice brought him here, trying to make him feel at home. Every time, my body told me it was hungry. He smelled amazing with that heady scent of sweat and rabbit musk, not to mention, the sound of his blood pumping as he panted during our sparring. He looked, smelled, and now I had affirmed, tasted wonderful.

This time he smelled really good and I hadn't had anything in almost three days. That doesn't sound like a lot, but when you have all of Alice's mojo churning in you, it makes you crave it, it's one of the reasons our house is so lively with sex. You could say all of us have a little bit of sex demon in us these days, so we crave it quite eagerly, that energy pulled from sex had its own hunger just like the blood did. I was also Alice's first and most frequent lover, so I was rife with the influences of her power.

Sarnai and Elias had important council matters to attend to, Alice was away with Lorelai doing the gods know what. Alex was off with his pack on their monthly hunt, and I don't even know what Gloria was up to, but she said she would be away for a few days the last time she texted me.

"Gods damn it! Why does everyone have to be fucking busy!" I snarled and slammed my fist into one of the training dummies, giving an annoyed snarl, my eyes red as I smacked my tongue again, still faintly tasting his blood, my hips squirming a little. This wouldn't do, I liked him so far, and he did stand to protect Alice, even if she didn't need it. Still, it wasn't my style, I was no temptress and he seemed to only have eyes for her.

I wasn't sure if it were true, I thought I'd seem him staring a little too hard into my own eyes, and he'd wandered over my body a few times now. I did have a bigger chest than Alice after all and more ample hips. Maybe he liked curvy girls? Should I wear something more form-fitting?

"Oh, my gods... am I actually thinking like this? I gotta go deal with this..." I groaned and punched the dummy one more time before stalking off to go find some privacy. I didn't take care of things very often myself but I felt if I didn't I was going to lose my gods damned mind, especially with that bunny running around.

--*--

I said it wasn't my style to be a temptress but it also wasn't my style to just randomly deal with my own carnal desires either. I'd had a willing partner at the ready more or less at any time for the last decade now. The last time I even did this, I couldn't recall, seriously, I don't think I'd done it in decades.

Finding the nearest guest chambers, I was already out of my boots, peeling the tights down I'd worn for training, unceremoniously tugging down the panties I wore with them. My tongue lolled out as I flopped right down on the bed, leaning back into the pillows as my left hand went up under my sports bra to knead at my breast.

I worked at my peak a little, teasing it through the snug material, then my right hand drifted down, hesitating before finally just pushing my fingertips right against my pearl. I'd touched myself in teasing displays for my lovers of course, but I'd not touched myself with intent like this in so long, it almost felt foreign. Still, I was burning up and had to get some of this out of my system.

My teeth clenched as I leaned my head back, purring as I circled and teased myself, panting as I opened my left eye, seeing I'd not drawn the door fully closed in my haste, but this was already so awkward, if I stopped to go close it, I think I'd just say fuck it and stop, it wasn't like the house was full anyway.

My mind wandered as I tried to fantasize, again something I didn't have much need of these days, what with having sex constantly. I thought of Sarnai first, of course I would, the vixen I'd loved since the moment I laid eyes on her all those years ago. I sighed with hot little pants, my fingers circling as I felt myself growing hotter, my body sweating a little now and my heart pounding as I expended the blood I drank to make all of this happen.

"Gods... that's really nice... ngh..." I panted out in a whisper, then bit my lower lip as I thought about that bunny for some reason, the scars, the selfless attitude, but gods above his smell and taste. I'd not fed straight from a mundane in years and his blood tasted so fucking good.

Before I knew it, I was thinking about him, thinking about how the rest of that body must look, wondering if he was as horny as he smelled when staring at my breasts. My teeth clenched and my red eyes rolled up, gods I was right there, I could feel it, just a little more and this fucking torture would dull.

I gave a soft little gasp as my nose twitched and my ears perked, I could hear the thrum of a heartbeat and smell his odor. Was he nearby? Was he looking for me or just passing through? You didn't have to have supernatural vampire senses to hear or even smell what I was doing, he wasn't a dog but even his senses would catch that.

My heart was pounding and even though it was a whisper of a gasp, of course, I heard it. I started to panic, but I'd just been nightdreaming about that rabbit, and now he was at the cracked door, seeing me. I actually kind of liked the idea of it now that I was high on my own lust.

I pretended like I didn't see him, resuming my movements, my fingers circling and teasing at my pearl, my tongue lolled, my eyes red. I panted a little louder now and whimpered a little needier since I had an audience for it. I could hear his heart pounding, he had stared at me a few times during training, but I could hear as much smell how he was enjoying this show. I had never done something like this before, and frankly, it was exciting.

My eyes stayed looking straight ahead, I didn't dare glance at the door, I didn't want him to think I knew, however, I did plan to take the game to another level for him since he seemed to enjoy it. I pinched my pearl slightly, giving a little mew of a moan, then I parted my lips as my eyes closed and I panted out in a breath just loud enough for him to hear, "Gods... Samuel... right there... huff... that's my bunny..."

My ear flicked as I heard the startled but muffled gasp, the rabbit no doubt covering his mouth to keep himself silent. I was loving this, knowing he was there, knowing he was watching me, that he wanted me. My panting got more heavy, my words a little more labored as I started pushing to that edge again. Now I wasn't being shy about it.

"Sam... Sam... gods yes... I want you, fuck me... fuck... ha... ha!" I kept moaning the words out then as I was cresting, I snapped my red eyes open, looking straight at the cracked door as I plunged two of my fingers into my entrance, snarling with clenched teeth, "Fuck!" I moaned out as I felt my body give in viciously hard, my red eyes staring at his stunned face, his hands over his mouth, his one eye shuddering as he watched me look right at him as I was giving in around my fingers.

My red eyes rolled up after a moment as I groaned out, licking my lips before sighing out to the room, "Gods... that was nice... huff... sure wish you'd stop staring and get your ass in here though, Sam..." I grinned with a purr as I laid back, rubbing at my petals as I panted.

I heard a loud gulp from him as he pushed the door open fully and blinked at me several times, his lower lip bit hard. My sharp teeth showed in a grin as I shifted in the bed, wriggling my hips as I sighed out, "What do you want to do, Sam? You want to ask questions, or you want to shut that door, get those jeans off, and bury yourself in me?" I cocked a brow with a snarl as I calmly spread my petals, showing off my clenching entrance.

He gave a little gasp and quickly pushed the door too with a click, then he was already coming to the bed, hands fumbling with his jeans as he kicked his own boots off. My purrs were loud and eager as I watched him hastily pull his jeans and boxers down, grinning as I finally got a look at his length. It was already good to go, no doubt eager from the show I'd put on for him.

"Hum... be honest... you were staring because you liked what you saw? Was I just imagining you staring upon me when we trained?" I purred as I watched him climb over me, his one good eye darting over my figure.

"I- Yes, I've thought you were stunning from the moment I laid eyes on you, Katrina... you're one of the most gorgeous cats I've ever seen..." He whispered the words as he climbed over me slightly, moving between my spread legs.

"You were admiring these too, yes?" I grinned as I gingerly pulled my sports bra and tank top up with my free hand, letting my full round breasts bounce free, dark rosy peaks against soft pale skin. His eye going wide was all the answer I needed, but watching his length jump hard didn't hurt.

"Hum... going to put it in, Sam? I won't let you play with them until you're buried to the hilt in me..." I snarled and cupped my left breast with my hand that wasn't holding me spread, kneading and squeezing it, licking my lips as I huffed out. I wasn't the seductive type, but for some reason, I wanted to try to be for him.

He huffed out as if in a panic to not get to touch them, pushing his hands under my knees to position me a little closer. I gave him a deep eager purr as he moved that head back and forth against my now honey-soaked petals, then he pushed it right into my entrance. Despite his urgency he managed to savor pushing into me, his thrust slow and purposeful, every inch of that length disappearing into my clenching walls until I gave a soft mew as he hit my core.

"Hgn... that's my bunny..." I panted out and wrapped my legs tight, clenching them to let him know he wasn't going anywhere, then moved my hands away, grabbing the bars of the headboard as I smiled up at him. "They're all yours..."

"Gods... they're amazing... y-you're amazing!" He groaned out as his hands moved to knead and squeeze at my chest eagerly. I moaned for him as he started to rock his hips, impacting my core with shallow jabs, but I wouldn't let him get very far out of me. His hands were curious but still confident enough, fingers pinching my peaks as I gave him another little gasp, my walls clenching around his length inside me.

"Ha... ha... you feel so good inside me... did you enjoy hearing me fantasize about you?" I gave him another eager purr, my honey dripping off his sacs as he pushed nice and deep before laying over me. His elbows rested on the mattress as he came nose to nose with me now, my breasts pushing into his shirt he hadn't bothered to take off.

"I did... I've thought about what it'd be like with you too, Katrina... Y-you're so beautiful..." He groaned as one of his hands moved to brush over my cheek. My ears flicked and I couldn't help but smile at the gesture, I had a romantic on my hands.

I met his eyes with a hungry snarl as I released the bars of the headboard to throw them around his neck, pulling him fully atop me. His hips jerked against me as I felt him driving nice and deep, impacting my core as his pre dribbled into me with each stroke. We drew into a heated kiss, our first one ever as I pushed my tongue forward, his own meeting it.

We kissed through several more strokes before I broke the kiss to hiss out and shudder, feeling another orgasm tear through me. "Oooh... my gods... you're no slouch... ngh... Sam..." I puffed out as I licked my lips at him.

The rabbit seemed to read my mind as he said not a word and simply pulled his hair away before baring his throat for me. My eyes glittered red as I gave a victorious grin and drew him hard against me. My teeth shoved into his soft flesh, piercing it and feeling that sweet hot nectar rush into my open mouth.

He moaned from the embrace and I moaned from more heavy pumps he made inside me. I drank from him eagerly, gulping down his very lifeforce, savoring it while he frantically made love to me. I had him now, he was mine and he only had two things on his mind, pleasing me and relief.

I'd not had fresh mundane blood in so long, it was such a treat, he was a treat and I wanted to keep him. Still, it'd be no fun if we finished our first time with him delirious from being fed upon, I could have more of my new rabbit's blood later. I snarled and parted after one more gulp, dragging my tongue over his wound to heal it, then pushed him back up slightly. He looked lost as I moved a hand to his face, slapping his cheek gently a few times to draw him back to reality.

"Gods... Katrina... I- I don't..." He clenched his teeth his brown ears folding down the back of his head.

"Ha... you did well to hold it while I fed." I licked my bloody fangs and grabbed his shirt, pulling him face to face with me again. "Kiss me as you pour it in, my rabbit!" I snarled the orders.

He pressed hard to my lips as I gave him an approving moan, my legs tightening as I felt him give one more jerk of his hips, then I swallowed up his moan as his fire rushed deep into me, quenching that built up hunger I'd had. I gave him my own pleased moans that he took down, both our tongues lazily rolling together.

I jerked beneath him as every last rope went in, he had a surprising amount, then again he'd not gotten any in a few days either, so maybe we were both feeling it. My wall crushed him as he shuddered, my body claiming the last drop of his adoration as I licked my bloody lips. HIs one good eye rolled up as he gave a fatigued groan and collapsed into my arms.

"Shhh... that's my bunny... you did so good, Sam..." I cooed and brushed my hands through his hair, petting down his long ears as he panted in the crook of my throat, his arms weakly wrapped around me. "Ha... rest for now, you earned it..." I kissed his forehead as he weakly nodded and hugged tighter to me, closing his eyes.

My bloody teeth showed with pride as he clung to me and drifted to sleep, my hands still lazily rubbing at his ears and hair. "Oh yes... I won't let Alice keep you to herself... you're my bunny now as well, Samuel..." I kissed his forehead again before laying back and sighing in relief.

--*--

His stirring pulled me from my sleep as he hugged closer to me. I gave a little purr into his ears as he finally regained his bearings, his head laying upon my breasts. After a few more moments he spoke out in a whisper, "So... uh... I guess that happened."

"It sure did... are you remorseful, Sam?" My hands moved to lazily rub his large brown ears, admiring the small scars dotting them, his left most one missing a small chunk of flesh along the inner cusp. He really was battle-hardened to be sure.

"I'm not, so long as uh..." He cleared his throat and sat up slowly, frowning down at me. "Will this cause you and Alice problems? Or uh... will your lord or lady wish to rip me apart?"

I showed my teeth in a grin and couldn't help but laugh at the words. "Oh my! You think Alice will care?" With an appreciative sigh, I moved my hand up to cup his cheek, my thumb rubbing over the scar near his one blinded eye. "You really are a treasure... You could likely lay with every member of this house and Alice would simply be proud of the fact you were doing so. As to Elias and Sarnai, you are perfectly safe, there will be no repercussions from them either."

"You think so? If I'm truthful, her and you are the only ones I've felt any pull towards." He brought his own hand to my cheek, returning the gesture as I gave him another grin and purred.

"Perhaps you just enjoy the short ones, eh? My love, Sarnai is elegant and beautiful, while Gloria is lively as well as a fierce lover in bed. Why, as a warrior, I think you and they would treat quite well together, Sam."

"I would like to meet and get to know all of your family, Katrina, but... Well, I feel you and Alice are quite enough for me." He offered me a small smile, his one good eye looking gentle.

"You assume you and I are a thing now, Samuel? Perhaps I simply sought you to scratch an itch." I purred with a smug grin, resting my free hand upon my chest.

The brown-eared rabbit nodded and I saw his gaze harden slightly. "Of course, Katrina. I can respect that if-"

"Shut up..." I giggled and pushed a hand to his lips as he blinked in surprise. My teeth showed again as my finger trailed down his throat. "I like you... so long as you don't get jealous of what I already have, wanna be my little bunny-boyfriend?"

Samuel swallowed hard and nodded a few times, his fluff of brown tail flicking excitedly as I purred and cupped his face. "Alright, looks like you've got two vampire girlfriends now, Sam... but I do have one stipulation if you're going to be my bunny."

"What's that, Katrina?" He tilted his head, then gave a gasp as I grabbed his shirt and wrenched him down to my face, both of us nose to nose.

"Don't you fucking dare use that time dilation spell ever again! Short of it being a live-or-die situation, you don't even consider it, are we clear?!" I hissed the words at him, my eyes red with little flickers of hellfire drifting from the corners of them.

He bit his lower lip, seeing the fury in them before he nodded a few times. "O-Okay... you've my word, only under the direst of circumstances!"

"That's my bunny... good boy," I hissed out and patted his cheek a few times before pulling him down, hugging him to my chest possessively.

Settling against me, I felt his head gently rest against my breast once more as I lazily stroked his ears and hair. We stayed like that for a few minutes before he spoke out once more, "I do have a very dangerous job though."

"Then you call upon me, I will help you with your work. Hunters are a threat to all of my friends and family, I'll happily aid my rabbit."

He blinked and nodded against my chest. "Okay... my Countess. I shall call upon you in the future if I have duties to attend."

I giggled and purred at that. "Oh... that's rather cute actually. Perhaps I'll let you keep using my title like that, I find it quite pleasing to hear it when you say I am your Countess."

Samuel blushed and shook his head while hugging closer to me, his tail flicking about rapidly as I grinned and rubbed his ears. "You're a tough bunny, but like Alice, you're rather cute and cuddly in the afterglow, I like it... I like you."

He leaned up and placed a kiss upon my lips before smiling at me. "I like you as well, my Countess."

--*--

I would get my chance to make good on that offer and he'd get that dire circumstance nearly a week later. Samuel and myself had been growing closer quickly, even finding ourselves in bed with Alice, because naturally, that would be the next step.

Elias was not happy when I came to his office, and neither was Sarnai. Both of my family leaders looked furious. My ears lifted with a frown showing on my face. "My lord and lady. What has you both so troubled?"

Sarnai growled as she looked me in the eyes. "We just received word from Heather, the Marquess of Bay City. It would appear, that the Shepherds culled one of her fledgling members, they'd not even made it to their evaluation yet."

"What?! They were but a child amongst us at that point!" I hissed out and clenched my fists.

Elias snarled as he met my eyes. "We've no idea where their main headquarters is, but you are our trouble specialist in these sorts of matters, Katrina. I want you to-" My ears perked as my phone started ringing.

"Beg your pardon my lord..." I hissed out and grabbed it, then perked my ears, seeing it was Samuel's number. "Uh... it's Sam."

"Take it, I'll wait." Elias nodded.

I connected the call before answering, "Sam, what's up? Yes. Well, yes I have- Yes, I'm with them now. Okay, uh... let me ask."

My gaze shifted to my two foxes. "He wishes to... attend the meeting?"

"Let the little magic knight join, I do not care," Sarnai barked out and folded her arms.

"Yes, you have clearance to- Okay sure." I sighed and took several paces to the side as a gate snapped right into existence.

I saw another Shield member holding the gate as Samuel strode through it, putting his cellphone away before waving to the other as they closed the gate. The rabbit was already in full combat gear, ballistics vests, heavy cargo pants, and jacket, with his sword on. He made a formal bow before speaking out, "Thank you for the audience Marquess and Marquis Blackpaw."

"Of course, Samuel. You are a welcomed guest in our home. However, you'll excuse me if we are not in the most hospitable of moods." Sarnai clicked her tongue as her head lifted.

"I have already been made aware of the situation, please accept my condolences for the loss of your sibling, and know my visit is related to it." He bowed his head again while placing a hand on the rosary he wore, a gesture I'd seen Gloria make several times.

"How were you aware of things so quickly, Samuel?" Elias perked his white ears curiously.

The rabbit sighed and folded his arms. "I pray you'll forgive me for taking a personal moment in this meeting, but your sibling did not fall alone. Though we are many, very few do I call friend within my organization. That being said... We had a member fall with your sibling in their defense, one of the few I called brother. I'd known him since joining Sacred Shield, and so..."

"So it's personal for you," I spoke out knowingly.

"Rightly so, my Countess." Samuel gave me a nod, not bothering to hide the title as both foxes lifted their ears at it. They knew I had gotten more serious with him, but never heard him address me in such a way.

"We were about to task Katrina with finding the location of these hunters' main base of operations. I've had enough of their meddling and I want the lot of them removed from the cycle of life." Sarnai snapped the words with a growl in her voice.

"The shepherds do not have a headquarters as it were, but they do have a main military convoy that can mobilize rather quickly as the need arises. Also, I beg your pardon, but why Katrina specifically?" Samuel quirked a brow.

"Katrina is our troubleshooter as it were, Samuel. She specializes in integrating into mundane society, going to ground, and dealing with problems quietly."

"He's nicely saying I'm the family hitman, Sam. Me and Alex usually are the ones to deal with things like rogue vampires, wild mages, insane lycanthropes, and everything in between." I gave the rabbit a quick nod.

"I request to join you, my Countess. This is a personal matter and I can direct you towards their main location of current operations." Samuel fixed me with a hard look as he laid a hand over the hilt of his shortsword, not unlike in a way I would see Lorelai do with her own weapons.

"Uh..." I glanced back at my foxes for confirmation.

Sarnai clicked her tongue. "It is just as well. I have already tasked Alex with tracking down a rogue lycanthrope but my need to see these fools put in the dirt leaves me impatient. Find them, and if their numbers are too great, return here, so that I and my husband may join you as we wipe them from this plane of existence."

Samuel gave her a nod. "By your will, Lady Blackpaw. I will happily accomp-"

"Now just a minute here, Sam is still a mundane! The stakes are higher for him than any of us!" I hissed out and clenched my fists, feeling a bit of worry well up in the pit of my stomach over him coming along.

"Katrina, Samuel is a warrior who has trained extensively for this sort of task. He also has a stake in this since he has lost something precious. I've not spoken with you at too much length, Knight Samuel, but I assume you the type to deal with this yourself with or without our intervention." Elias set him with a curious look.

Samuel gave Elias another bow. "You are correct, Lord Blackpaw. One way or another I shall be going and meting out some retribution."

"Then it works out. Go deal with this problem with Sam, Katrina, but if it looks too well-fortified return and we will assist." Sarnai spoke the words matter-of-fact in that council voice of hers, saying this wasn't up for discussion.

"Ah... as you wish, my lady." I gave her a respectful bow before looking over at Samuel and turning to leave the chambers. He followed me out as I walked through the house until I was sure we were clear of my foxes office.

"Sam... I do not like this." I hissed out and looked over my shoulder at him while we walked.

"I am keenly aware from your body language, my Countess. I apologize, but this is a personal matter for me as well. I'd be going regardless." He spoke back in a matter-of-fact voice.

I frowned but felt a little relief knowing I'd at least be able to watch his back, keep him safe so he didn't use- My ears perked as I hissed out, "Sam, you had best not use-"

"I won't unless it's dire, Katrina, you know I gave my word." He spoke out smoothly as we stopped and I turned to face him.

My hands found his own as I looked into his one good eye, frowning as we stood there looking upon one another. I'd only known him about a month, yet I let him have my body and found myself so very protective of him. HIs gaze softened before he moved in and pushed his lips to my own.

A heavy rumble of a purr filled my throat as I returned the kiss, moving a hand to slide along his cheek, then tangle into his brown-blonde hair, rubbing one of his ears while our tongues slowly rolled against one another.

His own hand moved into my crimson locks and I felt him jerk my head away slightly, a soft mew escaping my throat as he guided my face right to the crook of his neck, baring his throat for me. I didn't think and wrapped my arms tightly around my bunny, fangs plunging right into his flesh.

He didn't even flinch and just lazily stroked my ears as I very gently supped from him, not a ravenous thing, just a few slow sips, as if savoring my lover's essence. I didn't want to take too much from him and leave him winded, so I took it down slowly and then lapped my tongue to heal him, a deep eager purr filling my throat as we held one another.

"You spoil me..." I whispered into his ear as we held one another, my tail lazily whipping about.

"Anything for my Countess..." He whispered into my dark ear, kissing the tip of it before pulling from me, his gaze growing more focused.

My own hardened as our moment passed, reinforcing our bond before we got to the business at hand. I was already dressed for this as was he, so I shifted my hands to his hips and tilted my head. "I assume you have fellows that will have gates ready for us?"

"Yes, I need to simply call and we will have a gate ready for our departure. Once at the circle they can create one that will put us in the proximity of their encampment."

"Proximity?" I quirked a brow.

"Yes, it's an unused gate and we don't have the exact details of their compound. It will get us in the ballpark, but I'm sure you will easily sense their life forces once we're there," He spoke as he withdrew his phone, sending a text message.

I watched a gate snap open before us as we both stepped through. I found myself in an unfamiliar circle as I glanced around, seeing a few members flitting about the mage that held the gate dressed in similar combat attire to Samuel's. He was equine judging by his tail and ears, easily having a head and half in height compared to us, since we were around the same height.

"Welcome back, broth... er?" The other mage tilted his head, then gave a nod to me as he realized Samuel had brought company along.

Samuel sighed as he rolled his shoulder. "This is Countess Katrina of house Blackpaw. The Bloodstone court has issued a declaration of war against the Crimson Shepherds and we are to assess their capabilities. We tried giving them their chance to quit this fool's game, now only the gods can help them, though from what I've been told recently, I'd not count on divine intervention for them."

The equine mage cocked a brow as his tail flicked. "Wait- Are you saying the Bloodstone council at large, charged us with this task?"

"No, we as in, I and Katrina. They have lost family and I have lost not just a brother, but a friend. I'll do this on a personal level, even without backup." Samuel clenched his fist as he snarled the words, his brown ears perked straight up, and his tail fluffed out as well. If I'm being truthful, it was rather cute to me to see him like that.

"I'm sure our superiors would offer backup but it could take a day or lo-"

"We know they prefer to move the convoy after a successful hunt, we don't have a day." Samuel sighed out as he folded his arms.

"Knight Samuel is correct and my family seeks their blood now. Sir mage, if you would kindly open a gate, I and he will suffice to route these murderers. Simply hold the portal and await out return." I drew my revolvers and clicked my tongue, trying to use my best council voice.

"I'm in no place to argue with a Countess of the Bloodstone courts, are you prepared?" He looked upon both of us.

I looked back and cocked a brow as I saw Samuel's one eye was now green and looked aflame. He gave me a nod as he drew his shortsword. "It's a night vision spell. I'm ready when you are, my Countess."

"Alright, we'll hit the ground, reconnoiter, then make out plans from there. Go ahead, sir mage." I readied my own guns as the equine threw open a gate that looked like it led to small clearing in a field. I gave Samuel a nod before we both leaped in.

I expect a lot of things when jumping into enemy territory, I'd dealt with Shepherds before after all. Still, I didn't think I'd leap into the path of nearly fifty fully armed soldiers with guns at the ready and firing on the very first thing to come out of that gate.

Now, I've stood my ground against nature goddesses and demon lords. I'm not shy to think I'm one of the more powerful beings on this planet, but that's a lot of bullets, blessed or not, and taking that many would certainly kill me or easily maim me to the point of incapacitation. Even supernatural vampire senses and speed only get you so far in points like this, it's still a wall of bullets flying toward you.

So, a wall of blessed silver flying at me, no open wounds for blood magic, and I was even flatfooted. In those microseconds, I thought hitting the dirt might be my only option and hope the majority flew over me but then I felt that sudden energy you would feel when you knew a mage was casting a powerful spell. Of course, my mind turned to the rabbit that had jumped in with me.

Everything just blinked out of existence and suddenly I was standing several yards off to the side, the hail of gunfire still raining towards that gate. Samuel had a snarl on his face as he blurred out of sight. I thought this might have been how mundane felt seeing us use our full speed before them, only this time it was my little bunny boyfriend doing it.

Of course, I was worried about him, but there was nothing to be done about it now. I simply focused on what I could do in the moment as I brought my fingers forth, slashing them open with my own fangs before willing blood blades to start forming all around me.

Samuel wasn't even trying to spare them, blurring through their ranks, geysers of blood spraying forth and bodies dropping in the carnage. My own blood shards were washed over in flame as several dozen that weren't panicking, turned guns on me, but it was already too late. I set the shards flying towards them faster than bullets as they embedded into their bodies and exploded, just adding to the carnage the rabbit was creating.

We had the whole lot of them dispatched in just a matter of seconds before he blurred back into view before me, covered in blood and heaving, his free hand grabbing his chest as he winced.

"Sam!" I cried out toward him before both our ears lifted as a searchlight hit us. The gate had literally dropped us out next to their entire compound which probably had a few hundred members. Several high-powered rifles were fired from watchtowers as Samuel snarled and blurred out of sight as I felt him invoke his time dilation once more.

I cursed the situation as I blurred out of sight of the gunfire. There was no helping it now, we were separated and I'd just have to do what I could while he did his own thing. I did have the advantage of being able to sense lifeforce as any of my kind could with focus, so there was no hiding from me. I could also catch glimpses of Samuel's lifeforce while he darted all over the compound, it was getting weaker with each passing second.

The whole thing still took a few minutes to bring down. This wasn't just a camp, it was their main compound of operations. I didn't want it to go down like this, I wanted to just scout the area, I'd have never tried to take this on with just me and Samuel and certainly not with him burning through his life force like he was. They must have had their own mage feeling the gate energy or watching the leylines.

I found Samuel as soon as I sensed his energy. The rabbit was drenched in blood, his shortsword on the ground as he braced one hand against a nearby wall, his other grasping his chest as he heaved, sweat dripping off his ears and hair.

"Sam! Damn it!" I yelled out as I rushed over to him. He just showed me a grin before the green left his eye and he crumpled. I screamed his name and was on him before he hit the ground, holding him against me as I sank to my knees.

"Ngh... not so bad... got to... protect, my Count-... ess..." His bloody hand pushed against my cheek as my red eyes shuddered in their sockets, feeling my vision blur. I'd only had him for a few weeks and I was already losing my rabbit.

"Samuel! It's... It's going to be okay! Just calm your breathing, let your heart calm down!" I hissed the words into his ears as his bloody thumb brushed away some of my tears.

"Sorry, Kat... I love both of-" He shuddered in my arms with a gasp, his eye rolling upwards as I screamed out his name again as his heart gave out.

"Sam! No! Gods... I-" I clenched my teeth and yowled out to the night sky, "No! You're mine damn it!" There was no hesitation, my course was already set. I tore my wrist open and drew a mouthful of my blood, shoving my bloody lips to his, forcing the blood down his throat, his eye shuddering a little as it widened, realizing what I was doing.

I repeated the action two more times, forcing three mouthfuls of my blood down his throat before I grabbed his color and jerked him to me. "Keep your eye fucking open! You're not fucking leaving me, you hear me?! I order you... as your Countess! Don't close your fucking eyes!" He clenched his teeth, his body trying to reject the damned blood since it was right on death's door but he weakly squeezed my own arm, giving me just the faintest of nods.

His heart suddenly spurred back into motion, giving a few heavy beats before it made one last shuddering throb and ceased completely. I just hugged him as tightly to me as I could, sobbing as I stroked my hand down the back of his head. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry for being selfish... I'm sorry for giving you no choice..." I whispered the words before pulling back to look upon him.

Samuel gave a pained yowl as his body quickly acclimated itself, large sharp canines growing as I watched the various scars start to heal over and even his blinded eye reform a new blood-red iris. He snarled like a wild animal at me, clenching his teeth as I gave him an apologetic frown and brought my fist down against his temple, knocking him from consciousness.

--?--

I couldn't take him to the family, I had to bring him to my circle to let him have his frenzy in one of the null-magic rooms. It'd be insane to let him frenzy with time dilation. Once I had him sorted, we were finally able to talk.

He stood before the mirror in the room, looking intently at himself through both eyes, no doubt trying to adjust to not only his enhanced vision but having it restored to both of them. All the scars and injuries had healed, but he still had just a whisper of gray in his brown-blonde hair, still looking like a rabbit in his late thirties.

"I'm going to miss all those cool scars on you." I purred playfully as I moved up behind him, giving him a sad smile in the mirror. His red eyes met mine as he offered me a grin, showing the sharp fangs.

"Yeah? Not interested in keeping me around now that they're all healed up, my Countess?" He turned to look me eye to eye. My own shifted to red as I clasped his hands in my own.

"Samuel... I'm sorry... I didn't know what yo-" He put his fingers to my lips and gave me another smile, shaking his head.

"Katrina... all I could think about was you and Alice at that moment... How little of my time I got with the two of you, but how happy I was to have had you in my life. This will take some adjusting of course, but... To know I get more time with you and her, it is worth the price."

I pushed my forehead to his own and smiled, a purr in my throat as we held one another. "Did you mean your words of love to me?"

"A man may speak folly upon death's door, my Countess, but... yes, I did mean them. I knew my time with the two of you would be short, so I loved hard and fast, I opened my heart to the two of you without hesitation. Yes, Katrina... I love you and Alice both, my newly extended time doesn't change that."

"Thank you, Sam... They are guarded words for me, but I must love you as well to have embraced you as I did. Of course, you already knew Alice loved you." I pushed my palm to his face, seeing his eyes had settled back to their brown color. "Love us then, and we shall love you, my Knight." I pushed my lips to his own as we drew into a deep kiss.

--*--

"Barely a month, eh? I suppose it was only a matter of time. You realize you'll still be expected to undergo the evaluation and maintain all our laws, yes Samuel?" I rested my hands on my knees as I looked upon him while he sat there, both Katrina and Alice leaning against him.

"Of course, my Empress. I will take upon any family responsibilities with the utmost diligence and though I am young amongst you all, know I will give my all in the name of our court," Samuel spoke the words respectfully as Alice just grinned and Katrina purred proudly.

"Finally, someone with some level of respect in this house." I huffed out in my haughty tone as my angel-fox pulled me close.

"Come now, Lorelai. Was it not you that said you preferred to dispense with formalities?" Ryder lazily ran his fingertips through my curls as I gave him a fussy look.

"Even so, I must still put on a show of dignity and grace for the new blood of our court." I put a hand to my chest dramatically as I spoke.

"I'm just glad we didn't lose you that day, my lovely bunny... I would have been devastated." Alice frowned as she hugged closer to Samuel.

Katrina hissed through her teeth as she also drew closer. "It was a fault of my own, I was too arrogant, too sure I'd be up for the task, I led us right in without thinking things out."

Samuel perked his ears at that. "Kat, that is hardly-"

"No, Samuel. She is right," I interrupted him as Katrina met my eyes and frowned. I lifted my chin and continued, "You are powerful, very powerful. I've felt it when we have sparred, Katrina. Were you not so entrenched in Blackpaw, I would offer you a position as a Marquess of your own house, but I digress..."

I sat up and rolled my neck before meeting her eyes. "You knew better. You treat every encounter with respect, doubly so when you have others under your command."

"Yes, my Lady." She sighed and frowned at me.

"Samuel." I turned my gaze back to the rabbit with a scowl. He swallowed hard and frowned as he looked upon me. "You could have used your powers to pull Katrina back through the gate, exiting the combat and having spent just a glimmer of energy, instead you chose to wade into combat. I expect you to think more clearly as a member of this family."

"Yes, my Empress. Forgive me..." He bowed his head.

"Come now, no need to ask forgiveness, you were not of this family at that time and you are yet young. I expect you to make mistakes, but I pray you learn from them as to not make more... final ones." I cleared my throat and sighed, "Well, enough of that, I apologize for scolding you both, but I felt it needed to be addressed, I only do so out of concern."

Alice squirmed and I gave her a fussy look, hoping she'd get the hint but she just blathered it out anyway, "Gods, Lorelai... you get me so fucking wet when you get like that. Hum... how about you, me, and Sam today?"

"W-What?!" Samuel yelped out, then grunted as Katrina hissed and jerked him over to her possessively, Alice giving a fussy pout as her pillow was pulled away.

"You drag one of your other boys into the bed with Lorelai, Sam is mine too and I'm not willing to share him, at least not over some casual thing!" She hissed the words in a surprisingly childish tone as Alice blinked at her a few times with a crooked grin.

"Katrina... my Countess..." Samuel whispered to her as the cat hissed out and clung to him.

"This is all very cute, but I'd not partake anyway, and need I remind you Alice, that none are to lay with new members during their evaluation periods? You and Katrina may be exempt since you were already his lovers to begin with, but that is it." I huffed out in a matter-of-fact tone, but then offered my rabbit a smile. "You may of course, join me in bed, but let Katrina and Samuel enjoy some privacy as well."

"As you wish, my love." Alice cooed happily as she snuggled back up to Samuel.

"Uh... am I invited, my ewe?" Ryder offered me a playful grin.

"Of course you are, my angel-fox, that was already assumed." I offered my angel a grin as I leaned into his chest.

You finally spoke out as Samuel blinked a few times and frowned. "Oh, actually... I can't use time dilation anymore. The short version is, that it was fueled was my life force. I theoretically could activate it in a limited capacity, but the drain upon my body would likely put me into torpor after just a few seconds."

The next question you asked made him pause and look down in thought. "Uh... no, I've not tried, I just assumed."

"Alice's power certainly brings unknown factors into play with all things, doesn't it?" Ryder called out while tilting his head.

"Time dilation is still a trained and learned skill, like any other magic. My fusterclucking shouldn't have any impact on that," Alice sighed out.

"Perhaps not, but your powers do influence so much of ones biology and energy, that there's no telling what that means for such a skill. It could be it will adapt to pool from another." I folded my arms as I mulled on it, then nodded to myself. "It is just as well. Samuel, I shall take you to the training facility later with Katrina and Alice. We will put a few things to the test while I am present. This way if you go wild for some reason, I can calm you down."

Samuel perked his ears and gave me a nod, but also looked worried. "Empress Lorelai, it is an honor to train with you, but also uh... I've heard the things you've done, so it's a little frightening as well."

I chuckled at that and leaned against Ryder anew. "You are a respectful thing, and you show wisdom to be fearful. Only a fool holds absolute bravado. For now, put your mind at ease, I am not so full upon myself to demand respect or ask you to put your life on the line, I simply wish to be present in the event your power did run amok for some reason."

"Thank you for being willing to help, Sam, my Lady," Katrina purred the words while clinging to her new rabbit.

"Of course, my sister. It is my duty to see to all the members of our court." I set her with a business-like look as I cleared my throat. "You two did well by the way. Felling so many of our enemies will surely send a message to the remaining members of the Shepherds."

"It is truly a sad thing. We always tried to educate the ones we captured, tried to set them on a better path." Samuel frowned as he put a hand to the rosary he still wore.

"Be that as it may. Like with the celestial I can brook their transgression and hostility for only so long. I have ordered the council at large to kill on sight if they should show themselves." I snarled with red eyes as I felt my anger rising.

Ryder followed up to my statement, "I will not try to talk my ewe down, but know that several knights have been tasked with finding the outliers and attempting to bring their pious ideals to more proactive directions. Lorelai is not outright slaughtering them, Samuel, simply ordering her- your family to defend themselves with deadly force."

Samuel snarled as his eyes shifted to red. "I once sympathized with their path, but no longer. We never once sought to kill them, only guide them to a better path, yet they struck down one of your own along with my own friend. So I'll show no hesitation in-"

"That's enough, Sam." Katrina gripped his arm as the rabbit looked down at her. She shook her head and sighed. "We both enacted gruesome retribution on them, I think you've tipped the scales enough to let that bitterness wane a little. Follow the Empress's orders, yes, but do so out of duty, not malice. Just because you are one of us doesn't mean you can't succumb to hatred just as easily as you did as a mundane."

You spoke out in agreement as I also nodded at your words. "Your sibling has the right of it, being also newly turned, they understand... We are still cut from mundane cloth and we are just as susceptible to the battery of emotions." I gave a frustrated sigh as I looked at the time. "We are getting long in words on this topic of politics and I do not join these talks for it, let us move on for now."

---

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