Amber waited in the bar with a mug of ale. At the nearby table, Jamie and Mender were already well into their cups, obviously drowning some part of their past. It irritated her that those two were going to be a pair that James relied on.

Before she could get up and chastise them, the door opened and the bar froze as James and Luna stepped in. Jumping up, Amber waved, drawing their attention. "I got you something!"

Beaming, Luna ran over to her. "James took me on a date! A real one!"

Smiling softly, Amber pointed to the bar where a small cake was waiting for them. "I got you dessert. You two deserve it."

James joined their side. "That's kind of you, Amber."

His gaze seemed to penetrate her as he frowned. You know something, don't you, James.

He stared for several long moments until Luna elbowed him. "Staring at another woman? Am I not good enough for you?"

James quickly held up his hands. "I have to admire my second wife as well, don't I?"

Amber snorted a laugh before quickly retrieving the cake. "You two should go up to your room and celebrate."

Smiling once again, Luna took the cake. She marveled at the white frosting as she looked over its plain design. "Thank you, Amber."

"Yes, thank you," James repeated, his gaze still penetrating her.

She nearly shivered before pressing on Luna's back. "Go on, love. Get our man out of here."

"Our man?" Luna questioned just before James pulled her away. The man didn't pause as he dragged her up the stairs.

Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, Amber went back to her drink. That man is dangerous. In a good way. He doesn't blindly trust, and questions motives. But Luna was happy, and she didn't want to ruin that.

Sipping her drink, she nursed it over the next hour. Night descended fully and the howling winds shuddered the door. The patrons drank down the last of their ales before retiring to their rooms. Jamie and Mender had to be carried once again, only this time, Amber didn't let Jamie into her room.

That girl thinks I would be fun, but won't bother giving me the time of day. There's no point in entertaining her. Besides, I have another I'm devoting myself to.

Draining the last of her mug, she turned to Mason. "Is the passage ready?"

"It is," he answered. Taking her mug, he set it behind the counter. "Last night?"

"It's likely." Getting up, she started moving behind the counter. "My replacement is already in place and promoted. She will be handling the city in my absence."

"We'll need to share one last drink, My Queen."

Patting the large man's arm, she nodded. "We will, Mason." Heading to the side door, she was just about to step through when soft steps came down the stairs.

"Here for a drink?" Mason asked.

"No," James stated. "I'm here for her."

Freezing in place, Amber turned back to the man. "Shouldn't you be entertaining your wife?"

Crossing his arms, he glanced back at the stairs. "She's asleep. But you and I need to talk."

"Are you going to abscond with your second lover," she teased.

Smirking, he walked over to the bar. "I'm sorry, My Queen, but I don't think I'm fit for royalty."

His dull tone made her shiver. "How did you hear that?"

"Let's talk. I believe you were about to leave the inn." Walking around the edge of the bar, he stopped in front of her.

Giving up, she waved for him to follow. "I have to make a quick stop tonight."

"Does it have to do with you giving up your title?" he questioned.

Glancing at his expression, she found honest curiosity in his eyes. Sighing, she led the way to a hatch in the kitchen. Throwing it open, she started climbing down the ladder.

Once they were both at the bottom, she grabbed the lantern off the hook and started leading the way down the narrow passage. The dug tunnel was supported by wooden beams and had earthy walls and a smooth, well-worn floor. They were deep enough that they couldn't hear the winds howling overhead.

"Why are you helping me so much?" James asked, breaking the silence.

Slowing her pace, she felt her tail brush against his leg, making her shiver. "I was told that the man I was destined to spend my life with would come to this city like a storm. He would need guidance and a partner for expanding his knowledge of civilization.

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"I didn't believe the Matron at the time, but here you are…I know that's not enough to convince you, but there's something about you has drawn me in. Just being around you makes my whole life feel like I was drowning, and you pulled me out."

A hand gently touched her back, making her pause. "That's very honest of you."

Turning, she faced him. "Even if I wanted to lie to you, you would know, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," he admitted with a blank expression. "And what you said was the honest truth. But are you really willing to change your very being, just to be with me?"

"I am," she said adamantly.

Rubbing his chin, he scratched his beard a few times. "It's true that I need someone that can guide me in city life. Everyone else drinks too much, and they don't trust me to wander the city on my own."

Frowning, she rested her hand on his chest. "With me, you'll learn what you need about the city. Even when we go to Running River."

"We?" he questioned. "I don't recall the elder saying others would be coming with."

Smirking, she patted him a few times. "Do you honestly think we are going to stay behind. Would you really leave me defenseless in the wilds, James? I could get ripped apart and eaten. You would never be able to use that shampoo on my tail."

Groaning, he ran a hand down his face. "You're coming on pretty thick, aren't you?"

Letting out a throaty laugh, Amber started walking again. Running a hand down her butt, she said, "just so you know, I don't wear underwear. When we need to bathe together, you are going to see everything."

"You're just as bad as Luna…"

"We need to hurry." As much as she enjoyed teasing him, she picked up her pace. "My safehouse needs to be double checked."

"You have a safehouse?" he questioned.

"Everyone should." Shrugging, she let silence take hold as they walked the mile down the tunnel. As they reached the ladder leading up, she hooked the lantern to the wall. "I'm going up first. Feel free to stare as much as you want."

A small laugh came from below her as she started climbing. "You know Luna is going to kill you, right?"

"Already plan on talking to her, love," she called over her shoulder.

Pushing open the hatch at the top, she hauled herself out and reached down to help him. Once they were both in her house, she smiled. Ignoring his clueless stares, she moved to the side wall, where a series of crates were waiting for her.

It seems all of the rifles and bombs are here. I'll need those soon. Moving to another box, she flipped it open. Emergency food and potions. Check.

"What is all of this?" James asked.

Glancing over her shoulder, she found him about to open a crate. "Don't do that!"

Quickly letting go of the lid, he frowned. "Amber, why do you have rifles that have enchanted bullets? And are those Qi bombs?"

Smirking, she touched one of the rifles. "You know what these are?"

"I do," he said while walking over to her. "I remember being around them as a kid. Although it's fuzzy."

Eyes wide, she touched his arm. "Why would your family have these weapons?"

"I don't know," he said slowly. "But they are very familiar." Reaching out, he picked up an empty rifle and started breaking it down.

"You shouldn't know how to do that," she stated.

"Yet I do," he murmured. Checking every part, he started putting it back together. "Those bombs are enough for cultivators up to the foundation stage. You're going to need something stronger for core cultivators."

"I'm aware," she said. "And I have them."

Aiming down the sight, he hummed. "How much of this are we bringing with?"

"As much as possible." Holding out her hand, she added, "I'll need that ring."

Setting down the rifle, he summoned a gold ring that glowed with white veins. "It's yours." Handing it over, he cocked his head at her. "Don't think this is me marrying you. I haven't even given Luna a ring yet."

Smirking, she slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. "Oh, look, a perfect fit. I can't wait until Luna wakes up."

Frowning, he closed the crate to the weapons. "Will you two be able to get along? I really need you two to get along."

"Relax," she told him. "Luna is a great girl. I actually really like her, and I will sit down and talk with her soon. For now, I have to check more inventory. Can this ring hold all of this?"

He took the moment to scan the room. "Yes. I made it, so it should have plenty of space."

Whistling at his confidence, she nodded in approval. "So, this is the side of you that Luna is enamored with. The commanding, confident, will do anything side. Yet, you have a soft gooey inside that speaks well for your friends and partners."

Rolling his eyes, he walked back to the hatch. "I'm going to go before Luna misses me. Oh, and Amber?"

"Yeah?"

"I bought us some wine for the road. Just so you know, you are the one person that has kept me company while in the city, that wasn't work. I appreciate it."

She didn't know how to respond as her heart fluttered. "Oh…" Before she could properly say anything, he exited the room, leaving her among crates of weapons and magical gear.

***

James stepped back into his room, his mind processing everything he had seen. It wasn't what he was expecting, but it also explained some things he had been questioning.

He didn't know why she was willing to drop her entire life to come with him. But if what her Matron said was true, then she was meant to be with him. Her safehouse also explained how important she was to the slums.

"How is she?" Luna questioned, drawing his attention.

"She's honest," he admitted. Meeting his wife's eye, he walked over to the bed and sat by her side. The Fenrir wrapped her tail around him, smiling and waiting for him. "She believes she is meant to be with me."

"Does she?" Luna hummed. "I can't believe she confessed that to you so openly."

"She knows she can't lie," he stated. "She also was flirting with me pretty intensely. Just so you know."

Resting her head on his shoulder, she shrugged. "I'll talk with her when it's time. For now, we need to learn more about Jamie and Mender. They are drinking themselves to death every night, yet won't open up."

Nodding, he turned his thoughts to the siblings. "If they will be coming with us, we need to understand them. They must have a reason for wanting to leave the sect that has been training them. Jamie isn't even beyond apprentice with enchanting, and she's giving that up."

Pulling him back, she made him lay in her lap. "We'll figure it out. These people are our first disciples, and we need to be able to count on them."

"Is it smart to take them with?" he asked.

Shrugging, she yawned. "Not sure. What I do know is that I love you and I'm going to follow you to the ends of the world. And apparently so is Amber. Jamie has claimed you as her brother, and Mender probably has as well."

Rubbing his eyes, he sighed. "Yeah."

He didn't want to tell Luna about the weaponry that Amber had, nor her readiness to start a war. Those bombs were designed to take out cultivators with precision and efficiency. They weren't something that were made easily, let alone trafficked.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed when Luna laid back and pulled his head to her chest. Humming, she ran her fingers through his hair, calming him. Within moments, he was asleep, and her alongside him.

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