Sword Thief (Vilkas) 15 "I Know Better Now"

                                    

                                          
Once outside, Vilkas did his best to settle his blood. Fortunately the cold air helped, because the way they had situated so he could braid her hair did not.
Just like the last time, Vilkas sat on one of the tables and pulled a chair in front of him, between his knees... but this time, Ysabyth sat comfortably and didn't freeze up or shy away from his touch as he combed and then braided her hair...
On top of which, her scent was keeping him a little riled... he'd been so focused on searching for her earlier, now his wolf spirit seemed to be intent on making sure she'd never be able to hide from him like that again... he wanted to memorize every nuance of her delightful scent... and it was so easy to smell while she sat in the chair between his knees, leaning against his leg while he ran his fingers through her hair...
By Ysmir, he liked having her so relaxed and so close...
But after a while he noticed she seemed to get distracted by something... as he finished her hair she didn't even seem to notice he'd tied off the end of her braid. She was looking out at the sky, looking lost in thought.
Vilkas let his hands settle gently on her shoulders.
"What's on your mind?" He asked curiously.
"Hmm?" She turned, looking back over her shoulder at him, "oh," she said with a small smile as she seemed to have just noticed that he'd finished with her hair.
"You seem awfully distracted," Vilkas pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh... um..." Ysabyth took a deep breath and Vilkas let his hands fall down her arms as she turned in her seat to look up at him.
She quirked her eyebrow curiously up at him, and Vilkas had to suddenly try very hard to keep his eyes from going too obviously down the front of her dress from that position.
"What... what are your thoughts on the beast blood?" She asked nervously.
Vilkas raised an eyebrow in surprise, and for a moment he had to just debate with himself what he should tell her... he'd resolved himself to follow Kodlak's advice on the matter... but the thought of Ysabyth with beast blood had his wolf spirit getting even more riled up.
Vilkas sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to force the word 'mate' out of his mind...
"I've enjoyed the boons that come with beast blood," he admitted at last, "just like every member of the Circle."
She looked surprised by that, but didn't interrupt him.
"Kodlak is right, though," he continued seriously, "we've given a piece of our souls for this power. I know my mythic histories— bargains like that lead to ruin. This is a curse that was laid upon us; that much is clear," he shook his head.
"So you don't think I should have accepted Skjor's offer?" She asked quietly.
"I don't think it's my place to say," Vilkas shook his head, "that should be your choice... but you should know Kodlak believes that as beasts our souls will belong to Hircine in the afterlife."
To Vilkas's surprise Ysabyth gave a soft snort at that.
"Well, Hircine would have to get the fuck in line," she grumbled. Then she shook her head and got up from the chair with a sigh. Vilkas watched in a mix of surprise and confusion as she just stepped to the edge of the porch and looked back up at the sky.
After a few moments, Vilkas got up and stepped back to her side, regarding her curiously.
She glanced to the side to see him for just a moment before she looked back to the sky with another sigh.