"God, I need a shower," Dante murmured to himself as he squinted at the morning light streaming through the window. Nya was still sat where she had been all that night, though Fionn was leant back against the wall asleep.

"How are you feeling?" she asked quietly.

"Like I need a shower," Dante lifted his wrist and shook the chain lightly, "would you mind?" Nya's eyes narrowed and stepped closer to Dante, cupping his cheeks as she stared into his eyes.

"How do I know you're over it?"

"Nya, Cristobal could be stood right where you are and I wouldn't make a move toward him," Dante paused, frowning at the thought, "well, maybe I'm not quite there yet," he added.

"I'm inclined to leave you here another day, just for good measure," Dante rolled his eyes.

"Nya, I have meetings today and I really need to check up on Kastor. Cristobal already ruined the last few days for me, I would prefer if you didn't let him take any more time from me."

"Fionn, your opinion please?" Dante glanced to his right, seeing Fionn staring back at him.

"Yeah, he really does need a shower," Dante felt a small smile break across his face that was nowhere near matching Fionn's. The vampire stood, rubbing his bare wrists once the chains were removed.

"Nya, go with Sev and get something to drink, or just stretch your legs. I appreciate you staying but I feel my house is a little crowded and I don't need a babysitter anymore," Dante felt it, he was back to his old apathetic self. He craved some time alone with his thoughts.

"I'm so glad you're OK," Nya said as she pulled Dante into an almost bone-crushing hug, which he didn't return.

"Nya," Dante warned when she had passed the point of lingering for too long. She pulled back, flashing a smile toward Fionn before leaving with her husband.

"Please feel free to shower here and get some more clothes from my closet," Dante said as he strode from the room toward his bathroom. He couldn't wait to shower.

The hot water on his skin felt amazing. Though he couldn't actually feel the heat of the water, simply the droplets hitting his stiff and aching flesh felt like heaven on earth. He still felt very weak, yes, and would for a further week, but to be almost free of his cravings for Cristobal, Dante was content.

He wasn't sure how long he stayed in the shower, simply allowing his body to relax and recharge. When he got out, he felt refreshed. Drying himself off, he walked out into his closet. Fionn was over by the drawer of sweatpants and t-shirts again, one day Dante would get him into a suit.

"Oh my God," Fionn chuckled and averted his eyes to the ceiling when he turned, seeing Dante stood completely naked and pondering which shirt to wear.

"Fionn, I am very old, I couldn't care less about being seen naked anymore. Do you have a problem with my body?" Dante turned so he was facing Fionn, he did find it intriguing to watch the wolf's reactions.

"No, I, um, I guess not," Fionn looked a little flushed as he dragged his gaze to Dante's eyes and the vampire could sense he was struggling to keep them there.

"Fionn, I've seen you naked many times over the years. It really doesn't bother me if you see me," Dante felt a smirk tug gently at the corners of his mouth as Fionn's gaze continued down his body.

"God, Ocie was right," the wolf muttered under his breath but Dante easily heard it.

"Right about what?" Fionn cleared his throat and turned away.

"Um, she was teasing me about- look can we change the subject please?" Dante enjoyed seeing the wolf so flustered, it was very amusing.

"Not yet, I'm intrigued as to what your beta was right about," Dante slipped into a pair of black boxers and a deep blue shirt.

"She said you probably had a big cock," Fionn spoke very quickly and very quietly. Dante chuckled, putting on some black slacks and finished buttoning up his shirt.

"That I do, some people believe it's quite a defining quality of mine," Dante could get used to watching Fionn squirm, though he would have prefered to see that crimson blush on his cheeks rather than just sense it was there. Once Dante was finished dressing he walked toward the doorway.

"When was the last time you ate?" he watched Fionn drift into thought for a moment.

"Yesterday afternoon, I think."

"You should really have something before you go, I would offer to make you something but I would prefer to keep my own kitchen intact," Fionn chuckled as the two walked downstairs.

"I'm sure I can find something in here," Dante sat at the breakfast bar and observed as Fionn began to search through the cupboards.

"Thank you for doing this, Fionn, for staying with me," Dante stared down at his own hands, his brows furrowed.

"Don't mention it."

"I guess I owe you now," Dante's gaze caught with Fionn's as the wolf smile turned triumphant.

"Consider it void," Fionn said with a chuckle that put a soft smile on Dante's lips. The two remained in silence for the next few minutes as Fionn began to cook whatever he had managed to find. They would make eye contact every so often and small smiles would be shared.

"So who are you meeting with today, if you don't mind me asking?" Fionn leant on the counter and Dante realised how domestic the entire scene felt.

"Two women, one who wants to buy a few paintings and another who wants to sell some. And Whit will no doubt have fifteen things for me to sign off for that are imperative since I've been gone for a few days," Dante was positively dreading that conversation.

"Why is she so scared of you?"

"Who?" Fionn turned to check whatever he was cooking.

"Whit, why is she so scared of you? When I was at your gallery the other week she practically melted everytime you even looked at her," Dante swiftly ran over every conversation he had had with Whit, he had never noticed she was afraid of him.

"Hmm," Dante pondered if she had ever seen him in a particularly bad mood, "I don't know- wait, yes I do. A couple of months back Kastor was pestering me and I was already in a bad mood. He wanted to go away with Venice somewhere and I wouldn't allow him because he'd already done something to irritate me. He lost his temper and broke a painting I had just sold. Whit walked in just as I happened to have my fangs out. I, very calmly, informed her if she told anyone who I was she would disappear for a long time. And gave her a raise for her troubles," Dante shrugged as Fionn chuckled lightly, shaking his head.

"You really are the stereotypical vampire, Dante."

"I am?"

"Yes. You live in this mansion in the woods, you terrify everyone you meet and you don't have very much empathy," Fionn plated what he had made and sat down next to Dante.

"Do I terrify you?" Fionn glanced at him with a half bemused expression.

"No."

"Then why should I care?" Dante rose to his feet, not too pleased with where the conversation could be heading, "excuse me, I'm going to call Kastor. I'll be back in a minute," Dante strode from the room, dialling his son's number as he stood by the staircase. No answer. He tried again but got the same. Sighing, he called Elik instead.

"Good morning, Sir," the vampire Elik was cheerful, always cheerful.

"Have you been keeping an eye on Kastor?" Dante didn't have the time for pleasantries, he never did.

"Yes, sir, he's with the human girl, Venice."

"Right at this moment, that's where he is?"

"Yes, sir, they're sat in her living room. He looks as though he has been crying, sir," Dante sighed, Kastor had a big heart and shed too many tears for him over the years. He didn't deserve such a child as him.

"Keep watching him, Elik, thank you," Dante hung up the phone and rubbed his forehead. There was a splitting headache pounding behind his eyes and the worry for his son's composure wasn't doing anything to help. He had to go talk to him, he couldn't put it off any longer.

"Fionn, I have to leave for-" Dante paused when he entered the empty kitchen, "Fionn?" the wolf's phone and wallet was laid on the counter, he hadn't simply left. Dante focused in on the sounds around his house, kicking himself when he realised just how weak he still was.

"Fionn?" Dante walked through the other door in the kitchen that led to another hallway. His eyes widened at the sight of Fionn laying face down on the dark oak floor, blood oozing from a wound in the back of his head.

"Fuck," Dante whispered, stepping back as the scent hit him. Fionn's blood was sweet smelling, like honey, and wonderfully inviting to the vampire. At his full strength, Dante would have easily been able to resist like he had when Fionn was shot, at that moment, he wasn't so sure. Clenching his jaw, he bent down and turned the wolf, ensuring he was still breathing. Someone had done this to him, it wasn't any sort of accident.

"My little trouble magnet," Dante mumbled to himself, brushing Fionn's hair from his face. He wished he could make the bleeding stop but didn't have the strength to be so close to him at that time. The blood was dulling his senses more than usual. Hence, he didn't hear the person behind him until it was too late. Just as he turned, something cracked down on his head and darkness instantly set in.