How utterly delightful! Astarion tore his mouth from the neck of the last of the Gur who dared to try and sully his moment of triumph. Crimson ambrosia dribbled down his chin and made his fangs glossy through his bloody smirk. He turned his euphoric grin to look towards Tav. She stood over the body of another monster hunter, beaten and exhausted from a hard battle against Cazador and his dark forces. Dark forces, who now knew a new master in Astarion. 

Tav’s long, ginger hair was matted with blood and shoved behind her ears. Her half-Elven heritage meant she would likely recover far quicker than their human companions, but she would still need to rest very soon. He could tell from how pale she looked and how gingerly she held herself. Cazador threw her bear form around like a rag toy and beat her back into her usual shape more than once. Her magic was drained, and her body was tired. Astarion, however, had never felt so alive. Not only did he torture Cazador with the very fate he aimed for so long to inflict upon him, but he took that power for himself. Revenge, freedom, and true immortality. He could feel the lesser creatures all braced and ready to answer his command. What delights would he discover about his new ascendant nature as the days passed? Feeding was orgasmic compared to how it was before, and he felt far more revitalised from the bite as well. Yes, he certainly could go several more rounds, and he was disappointed that the Gur were so few in number. 

“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Karlach snarled and shoved Tav so hard that, suddenly, she stumbled backwards over the nearest corpse and landed on her back. The Tiefling stormed over like she was about to bring her boot, or her axe, down onto the druid. “Seven thousand souls just perished because you let Astarion carry out that ritual.” 

“Of course she did.” Astarion thumbed his bottom lip and licked off the blood with a sassy smirk. He sauntered over to stand beside Tav as she dusted herself off and stood up. Karlack eyed the vampire like she wasn’t sure if he was about to turn on her or not. “Why wouldn’t she? The alternative was to allow 7 thousand vampire spawn to flood into the city. Why let that happen? Why waste a perfectly good ritual and not reap the benefits? After all?” He laughed and swept his red eyes over to the redhead. “Now that my power is growing to new heights, we can use that power to defeat our enemies and take the netherstones. Give me time, and I’ll summon the dark legion of the night to fight in my name.” 

“Are you hearing this shit?” Karlach aimed angrily at Tav, who was keeping rather quiet on the subject. She’d helped him, even if it looked like it killed her on the inside to do so. Tav always sided with Astarion, and everyone knew why... 

“That’s enough.” She held her quarterstaff like a walking aid and nodded towards the elevator to leave the bowls of Cazador’s palace. “We all need a good night’s rest.” 

“Tell that to the dead.” Karlach snarled and stormed off towards the elevator where Gale was waiting for them. Whatever his opinion was, he was keeping it to himself for now. 

“Well? I don’t think she approved of our plan at all.” Astarion sang under his breath towards his reliable companion. “Thankfully, you are a kindred spirit and made the right choice.” The only choice, in his book, but he couldn’t have achieved his wildest dreams had she not linked her mind with his through the tadpole. Yet another gift she had given him. 

“…sure Astarion.” Tav smiled, but it was sad and defeated on so many levels. “I’m tired. Let’s just go.” 

“Naturally. Lead on.” 

————————————————————————————————————————

It was strange, back at the tavern. The Elf Song was a much higher standard than their previous camps, but at least you could have your space out in nature. When tempers were high, one could wander off into the forest and let off steam in whatever way suited the individual involved. Halsin could turn into a bear. Shadowheart could pray to her goddess. Gale could stare into the night sky and see the wonder of creation. Astarion preferred to sink his teeth into something tasty, of course, but each to their own. 

Yes, the downside of living in close quarters came when there was a disagreement in the party. Normally, Astarion was all for a little drama. It spiced up the mundane for a short spell. He especially enjoyed when sharp words turned to furious blows. Tonight looked to be going in the same direction when Karlach cornered Tav and ranted on about ‘innocent lives’ this, and 'monstrous acts' that. Honestly, what’s done is done, and Astarion didn’t see why she was going on about it. It was boring, really, as he kept waiting for Tav to say something to put the barbarian back in her place. Something witty or persuasive. 

But she didn’t. 

Tav stood there, hollow and sad, and on the verge of tears as Karlach laid into her. Astarion, master of stealth, hid behind a partition so no one knew he was there. They all thought he’d slipped away for a quick bite. He had, of course, but returned to the sound of shouting and didn’t wish to interrupt the entertainment. 

“We’re supposed to be the good guys! But you threw away seven thousand souls for the sake of one man’s thirst for power!” 

“It was more complicated than that.” Tav spoke softly, and Astarion rolled his eyes.

“No, it wasn’t.” Gale spoke up, and disappointment was sharp and painful in his tone. “We all agreed that we needed to stop Cazador. That Astarion was right to end that monster’s life. But all those innocent people didn’t have to die, just so he could have even more power.” Astarion peered through a gap in the partition and narrowed his crimson eyes on the wizard. Jealousy doesn’t suit you, my dear. “Power that he is only going to use to control and feed on innocent people!” 

“He only feeds on animals and people we have to fight. Criminals and cultists we would leave for dead anyway.” Awww, look at the sweet druid defending me. Tav was facing off against the entire party, and Astarion’s amusement soured when he realised that Tav was being surrounded by everyone. “Look, I’m going to lose sleep for many years over what happened today, but it was the right call. We need all the help we can get to take down the Absolute. Astarion’s new abilities and the forces he can summon will be really useful when the final battle comes.” 

“Oh, really?” Karlach shook her head with betrayal. “You’re justifying his actions now?” Tav turned her head from left to right, and worried that she was cut off from the exit. She glanced over at Halsin, who was normally her biggest fan and a fellow druid. He turned away from her, ashamed, and she felt it like a gut punch. “I don’t see it Tav. The ends don’t justify the means on this one. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t.” 

“It was Astarion that killed all those people, not Tav.” Halsin spoke, but it sounded far from a confident defence. “Shouldn’t he be the one to answer for his actions?”

“He’s a vampire. If anything, he’s been honest about his intentions from the start.” Wyll scowled and pointed at Tav with a bitter downward curve to his mouth. “His desire for revenge and power aside? None of this would have been possible if you just said no.” 

Tav swallowed thickly and gripped her hands by her sides. She felt trapped. She felt judged. She felt…alone. And Astarion felt something unpleasant in his stomach. What is she doing? If she just told them what they wanted to hear, some sob story of repentance, they’d move on and leave her alone. Let them come for me, if they dare. He couldn’t understand why Tav wasn’t talking her way out of this. 

“Why is everyone beating about the bush here?” Lae’zel stormed up to Tav and she braced herself for impact. The Githyanki wasn’t known for pulling her punches, after all. “This has nothing to do with gaining power to defeat the ghaik, and everything to do with Astarion.” 

“Don’t.” Tav begged her. The unspoken elephant in the room was looming, and it was about to come crashing down on her. 

“She’s right.” Karlach shrugged, her fire gone and sadness simmering away inside her. “Come on, Tav? If any of us tried that bullshit today, you’d have knocked us out or wolfed out on us.” Her voice caught in her throat, and Tav folded her arms defensively. “But you just…can’t say no to Astarion.” 

“You fool.” Lae’zel frowned, and her pity hurt more than anything. Tears welled in Tav’s eyes, and Astarion’s gaze glowed murderously from his hiding spot. “You give and give, and let him take and take.” 

“Come on now.” Gale tried to interject, but backed off with one scowl from the warrior. 

“No, she’s right.” Shadowheart sighed and tried to reach for Tav’s shoulder, but she leaned away from her. “Enough, Tav. He doesn’t love you. Stop letting him use you to get what he wants.” 

“He has shown his true colours time and time again. You gave him your body, your blood, and your heart, and he has abused them all.” The Githyanki sneered from Tav’s right. “The moment he got what he wanted, he threw you out like discarded day old gruel.” Tav did not appreciate the imagery and bit her tongue. 

“You still let him bite you in your sleep, and now you have allowed him to corrupt your very soul.” Shadowheart frowned on her left. With the direction the conversation had turned, the men decided to stay out of it, but they still bore witness. 

“He’s not worth it, Tav. I know you still love him, but you deserve so much better.” Karlach reached for her, to give her a hug. Tav blinked away her tears, and her eyes lit up. How dare they judge her. She’d been forced to make a whole host of shitty decisions on this journey she didn’t like, in the name of their continued survival. Yet this one they had a problem with? And they thought it was okay to gang up on her because it was about her ex-lover?

Tav started to growl, feeling cornered, and dropped to all fours to shift into a wolf. Halsin moved forward and made the women back off. Not because they couldn’t handle themselves, but because he felt Tav’s pain. He had retreated behind the bear within him for safety many times over his long life. It was not wise to get too close to a wounded animal with teeth and claws to defend itself. 

And no wound hurts more than a wound of the heart. 

Well? I’ve had quite enough of this melodrama. Astarion half turned behind the partition, intending to slip away, when he heard a whine. He darted his red eyes back towards the gap and saw the way Tav’s wolf backed up from the others. Her ears were lowered, her tail curled under, and she lowered her frame closer to the ground. Sure, she was snarling like she’d bite whoever got too close, but she was afraid. Or deeply upset. The urge to go out there and start ripping into their throats entertained him for a moment. It would be entertaining, but not today. Once the Absolute was dealt with, he could dispatch these freaks accordingly. She could do better? Than me? The greatest vampire that has ever lived? What utter nonsense! He could hardly blame her for wanting his fangs in her throat. Her heart fluttered so sweetly, and her breathing betrayed her pleasure whenever he bit her. Tav enjoyed giving herself to him. A treat he hadn’t expected to still be on the table when he ended their little tryst. A very pleasant surprise he indulged in most nights, in fact. She’s such a good pet, my little druid. After today, she has earned a treat of her own. I’m feeling generous. 

He smirked and swanned out from behind the partition with his pale hands raised in a silent ‘ta-da’. The gasps and squeals he was greeted with were highly entertaining. 

“My my my? What nosey little bees you’ve all been, hm? Poking around in our private business?” Astarion chuckled and sauntered over to Tav. If a wolf could look humiliated, what he saw was the perfect display of such a thing. She lowered to her belly and hid her snout and eyes beneath her front paws. He looked over her lovely, light brown coat. The hint of red in her fur was a testament to the redhead beneath the wildshape. He grinned down at her, savouring the taste of unease in the room as no one knew what to say. Astarion had heard everything, including the declaration that Tav was still clearly in love with the vampire. This wasn’t a revelation to Astarion, of course. It was useful to him that Tav was so utterly smitten with him. A plan so well carried out that she continued to come begging at his feet long after he stopped seducing her. Her blood was delicious, and her alliance was even more so. 

An alliance he wasn’t ready to be without. “They’re only jealous of what we have, my treasure.” He lowered to one knee and lifted her furry face up from the floor with both hands. He scratched at her chin and gave her a devilish smirk. “Trust and loyalty like ours are highly coveted.” Her big green eyes held wariness at the silver tongue of Astarion. She wasn’t sure if she could trust this sudden affectionate behaviour.

“That’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard.” Karlach sneered, and Lae’zel nodded in agreement with her. “All I see is manipulation and lies.” 

“Who cares what they think, darling?” Astarion looked over her wolf form, appraised her size, and nodded. “Besides, we have too much to celebrate to linger with this mopey lot. The night is young and limitless for us now. Let’s go and have some fun.” He hoisted her over his shoulder and carried the large wolf with ease out of their accommodation. It was such a sudden display of manhandling and strength that everyone was too slow to react. Tav included.