Illario Dellamorte Appreciation

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I'll be back before you know it.

That was what Dela had said before she had left for her contract. The dinner with Caterina and Viago had gone over better once Viago had finished his piece in the wine cellar. Caterina found Dela to be kind and mostly agreeable, so she was in the same group that Isa was in. At least that Illario didn't have to worry about her in that regard.

Dela had to leave for a contract a few days later as she had mentioned, and she said that it was supposed to be quick. It was only supposed to be a week at most. Three and a half weeks had passed since they had heard anything, and even Isa was growing antsy and restless. He and Lucanis found Isa on the roof more often than anywhere inside the villa. It was her way of relieving stress, she said. 

Illario had no idea how to deal with this. When Crows had taken too long to return to him, he would move on. He often assumed that they had returned and didn't return to him. He was proven correct most of the time, seeing that they had moved on without him. 

Now he wasn't going to simply move on. Illario found that he couldn't without knowing what had happened to her. Even then, he didn't think that he could just forget about her so easily. 

"Have you spoken to Viago?" Lucanis asked, finding Illario pacing in the hallway outside the library. 

"Not today. He said there was nothing yesterday," Illario sighed, shaking his head. "He told me that he would come to me if he found anything. If I tried asking him again, he was going to sedate me indefinitely."

"Ah," Lucanis whispered, not realizing that he had been annoying the hell out Viago. "How many times did you ask him?"

"At least twice a day," his cousin answered as Lucanis nodded. 

The Talon couldn't blame his cousin, but he understood why the de Riva would be ready to sedate him. Viago was dealing with the same thing that they were and pestering him for information he didn't have was likely wearing down his nerves. 

"How's Isa?" Illario asked, glancing over at Lucanis.

"I convinced her to come down for lunch, but I've lost track of her after she ate something," the Talon sighed, lifting his shoulders. 

"Then this isn't normal."

"Isa wasn't always in contact with her, but Viago would keep her updated when things were rough. This was the worst it's been."

"Why is this contract different?" Illario hissed, confused. "She's told me about the contracts that she's been on before. This should be any different. She should be home by now."

"You know that there could be a thousand different factors and conditions that could cause her delay," Lucanis reminded him.

Illario shot him a glare before sighing. There was another explanation that no one else wanted to talk about, but Viago was going to need to make that decision soon. Viago had to announced that she was officially missing when the second week passed, but once they passed the fourth week, her Talon would announce that she was officially dead. It was extremely rare for a Crow to return after the four-week period. Lucanis had been the only one in recent memory to have done it. 

"I should go out to go find her," Illario suggested as Lucanis paused.

"Illario," he warned.

"I'm serious. We have no idea what's going on or what's happened. I can go find out what has happened. Why she hasn't come home."

"I can't authorize that. Viago would be furious at the very idea."

"Then don't tell Viago," Illario hissed, turning to look at Lucanis. "I'll go alone, and no one has to know where I went. Tell them you sent me on a contract because I wouldn't stop moping."

"No one would believe that," Lucanis countered. "You don't mope, and if you did, sending you on a contract would be a death sentence. People would assume I sent you to your death."

"People would believe that."

"Oh, knock it off. I'm not going to pretend that I'm send you to your death."

"Well, you are going to have to figure out something! Because I'm leaving in the morning," Illario nearly shouted. 

Lucanis covered his face with his hands before dragging them down his cheeks. He sighed and shook his head.

"Fine, but I'm not going to lie to Viago or Isa. That's where I have to draw the line," Lucanis informed. 

"Fucking fine. As long as you don't let Viago kill me, I don't care," Illario answered. 

"I can manage that," the Talon replied before producing a copy of the contract. 

Illario took the packet before looking through it, seeing that it had been assigned to Dela. He turned to Lucanis with confusion.

"I was on my way to file it away. Viago is pushing off what he needs to, so he gave me the contract. However, if I don't have the contract, we can't file it with the reason for death," Lucanis mentioned, raising his shoulders.

"Viago isn't going to let you touch another contract."

"He will. As long as you come back with answers. That's what I need you to do. That, or bring her home."

"I'll bring her home," Illario whispered, knowing that it might mean that he would be bringing her corpse home. 

"For future reference, you should find out how she wants to be honored in death," Lucanis mentioned before holding up his hands. "Isa wants to be buried in the Necropolis. It would surprise me if she got that idea from Dela instead of Emmrich, but I would still ask. Not right away, but eventually."

"Isa wants to be buried?"

"You can ask her about it later. You should go before one of the de Rivas before they ask what you're up to."

"Fine, fine, I'm going," Illario replied before pausing. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Illario. Just bring her home."

Adelina laid on the dirt floor of a rundown dungeon as dried blood covered her face. Her face was swollen from the beatings her captors had given her throughout her stay, trying to get her to reveal who had hired her for the hit. In truth, she didn't know. It was anonymous, and she didn't pry or look into it. 

Someone had known that the client had gone to the Crows, and the target had a trap waiting for the Crow who would try to fulfill the contract. Unfortunately, it had been Adelina who had fallen into the snare. 

She wondered how many days it had been since she had been down there, but she had lost count after the first week. That was when she had started trying to escape, but they were always on top of her. They knew where she would go and how to get her every time. They had even found some way to cut her off from the Fade, meaning that she could send spirits to alert Spite where she was. She doubted they knew that she had the ability to do that, but they knew she was a mage. That was enough for them. 

The last escape attempt had incurred the angriest reaction from them, and Adelina wasn't sure what had happened to cause it to make them angrier than before. Still, she was sure that her nose and left cheekbone were likely broken. 

So, she laid on the ground for the moment, waiting for the pain to subside. The bleeding had stopped, and she could almost see out of her left eye again. It meant that the swelling was starting to go down. 

Adelina exhaled, wishing that she could just rest and fall asleep at least. She felt like sleep was so far away with the pain and the situation she was in. Sleep meant letting her guard down, but she could barely defend herself like this. They had even found her hidden dagger on her third escape attempt. 

She could hear some commotion outside her door, and Adelina guessed that they were getting drunk again. They were rowdy and excitable, and they were more so that night. She wondered if something was going on outside that she was unaware of. 

She closed her eyes, deciding to relax on her back since that would cause the least pain. She started to ignore the noises outside, but they only seemed to grow closer. 

Then the darkness gave away to an intense light, and she sighed in irritation. A part of Adelina wanted to snap at the person who opened the door to blind her, but she knew that the drunker they were, the more violent they were. So, she didn't say a thing. She didn't even flinch, especially as she heard hurried footsteps rushing towards her.

"Hacedor, amor mío, qué te han hecho?" a familiar voice whispered before she heard the door open. 

Adelina furrowed her brow a little, surprised to hear his voice. 

"Illario?" she murmured, wondering if she had gotten a concussion. 

She opened her eyes to see Illario in the flesh kneeling over her. She stared up at him, wondering if she somehow had died, and now she was looking at a spirit of remembrance or something similar. 

"I'm here, Dela. I'm here," he reassured softly. 

Gently, he brushed her hair out of her eyes as her eyes watered. Tears started to fall down her cheeks and into the dirt beneath her while she reached for him. She held his cheek carefully, running her thumb across his cheek.

"How are you here?"

"I followed your contract when you didn't come home, mi amor. You've been gone for three and a half weeks."

"I have?" she whispered weakly. "I didn't know. I knew it was a long while, but I didn't know it was that long."

"I'm going to get you home, alright?"

"There's a lot of them, Ario. I've tried escaping so many times. I can't get out," she whispered with a light sob. 

"I killed them, cariño. They weren't expecting another Crow to come find you," Illario reassured. 

"You killed them for me, my love?" she whispered with a smile. 

"I would have burned Thedas down if it meant that you were safe," Illario answered, making her smile and chuckle. 

"Well, don't do that," she hummed. "We still live here."

He smirked before she pulled his face down to hers, gently kissing him. He followed her lead, aware of her injuries.

She reluctantly pulled away after a moment, finding that her strength wasn't what it once was. Her injuries were getting the best of her and not just the ones he could see. 

"So, do I get to prove that I'm not dead to the courts?" she exhaled, trying to remain humorous. 

"I think Viago will find it difficult if he doesn't have the contract to show that you were missing on the job," Illario pointed out before producing the contract he spoke of.

Adelina stared at him in shock before rolling her eyes at him. At least, to the best of her abilities, which nearly made him laugh. He was too relieved to see her alive to let himself be chastised. 

"Viago is going to kill you, Ario," Dela warned before he shrugged.

"He's going to be too busy talking to you and being relieved that you are alive for him to be upset with me," he replied, placing a hand on her right cheek. 

"We'll see. I'm sure to get an earful from both Vi and Isa at this point. Has Isa even come down from the roof?" 

"Sometimes. Mostly to eat and sometimes sleep. She's not going back to the de Riva estate, either. Caterina has said that she should go home as well."

"Home will be too difficult. The villa was the best place for her. I hope that Viago went to the Diamond in the meantime, as well," Adelina replied, gently shaking her head. Illario furrowed his brows.

"Why?" he asked.

"We lost so many Fledglings at the estate. It's bad luck to stay at the estate when a de Riva is missing."

"I'm so sorry that your childhood home can't be your safe space," he replied quietly.

"We have made better memories since. Some are just too strong, love," she reassured, placing a hand over his heart. "But speaking of home, I would like to go there. I want to go home."

"I will get you home. Can you stand? Walk?" Illario wondered. 

"I can try," she answered with a slight nod. 

Illario stood first before helping Adelina to her feet. She stumbled into him a little, but he was able to her keep her balance. She nodded, feeling her head start to ache in pain. She groaned as she leaned against him. 

He rubbed her back before pulling one of her arms around his shoulders. He would at least help her start to walk until they could reach a healer or an inn at least. They had stripped and sold her Crow leathers, which was both a blessing and a curse. Illario would track down who they sold her things to, but no one would suspect that they were Crows with what he was wearing. He didn't think much about changing out of his casual clothes before jumping in. Something that he would no doubt get scolded about when they both arrived back in Treviso. 

Illario took her to an inn, and the innkeeper was happy to give them a room and to fetch a healer for them. Apparently, the thugs Illario had taken care of had been causing trouble in town, so he had done them a favor on the side. Illario was thankful that it at least helped Dela get the help she needed. 

He helped her to their room, and she laid down on the bed. She nearly cried when she felt the soft mattress beneath her. Illario held her hand still as she glanced around the room. 

"This seems familiar," she whispered, looking over at him.

"Oh?" he asked, wondering what she was talking about.

"Another one-bed-room in an inn? It's like our first outing," Adelina reminded him with a light laugh. "I wish that we could get away when we're not on a contract, though."

"Really?" Illario asked, glad to distract her for a little bit.

"Why not? I think that we would have a good time," she answered, squeezing his hand. "Did you get word to the Crows?"

"Not yet. I haven't had a chance to run to the post to send a letter."

"What? You don't need that."

"Not all of us have magic like you do," Illario reminded her. 

"I'm not talking about magic, love. Call a crow."

"What?" 

"Here, help me to the window."

Illario paused, unsure if this was the best idea. However, he helped her to her feet again and got her to the window. She opened the window and immediately started to caw into the night. He nearly shut the window to ask if she had hit her head at some point, but then a crow appeared on the sill. Adelina had called a bird to their window, and it now looked at them expectantly.

Adelina smiled at him smugly before she motioned for him to write a letter. Illario, sighing, wrote something out quickly, and he handed the parchment to her. She tied the letter to the crow's leg and instructed the bird to fly to the Dellamorte villa. Illario wondered if the bird would really know where to go, but this was also a bird who came when called. Perhaps there was a chance that it would get to where it needed to go.

To whom it may concern,

We are hoping that this reaches the right people, but Dela and I are safe. She has completed her contract, and we are now heading back to Treviso. She is eager to go home, but if Viago is going to be angry when we get back, we are prepared to take a detour or two while he simmers down.

I will let Dela explain her story when we return rather than risk someone reading it. Just know that we are one our way home, and we will take a ship home tomorrow. We should be back in three days. 

See you soon.

Illario

Isa read over the letter after untying it from the crow's foot, and she beamed, thanking the gorgeous bird. It squawked before flying off while Isa practically jumped off the roof onto the second-floor balcony. She started a few of the working staff, but Isa was too excited to reach her fiancé that she hardly noticed that she had scared them.

The maids chuckled, shaking their heads at the strange woman. Most would look condescendingly at such behavior, but the villa had been so dour for so long. Now there was spontaneity with laughter and hi-jinks, it actually felt alive again. They could hardly complain when everyone wore a smile again. 

Isa dashed down the hallway before reaching Lucanis's office, throwing open the door. Lucanis looked up at her, surprised to see her and her wide smile. She had been spending so much time on the roof he wondered if Adelina herself was the only one who could get her to come down. 

"You have to read this, carissimo!" she announced, running over to him. 

Isa practically shoved the letter at him as she bounced on the balls of her feet. Lucanis gave a half smile in his confusion, glad to see her in high spirits again. He looked over the letter, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Both Illario and Adelina were returning home, and with a complete contract. The people were the most important part, but Viago would be more amenable to know that she completed the contract. 

"This is fantastic news," Lucanis replied, meeting her wide smile with his own. 

"I'm going to go let Viago and Teia know. You should tell your grandmother," Isa instructed before she grabbed the letter, rushing out the door.

"Right now?" he chuckled as she nodded.

"The sooner Viago knows the sooner he can process his irritation!" Isa answered before she vanished out the door. 

Lucanis shook his head before leaning back in his seat. He was so glad that his cousin found Dela after so long. Viago was going to be relieved as well, and now Lucanis just needed to wait until the contract and the Crows were here, and then they could put this all behind them. Perhaps they could have a nice dinner as a celebration. It had been a minute since he could cook for that many people.

Something is off.

That was Illario's first conscious thought. His first instinct made him listen to the silence of the room with his eyes still closed.

No footsteps. No breath besides his own. No shadow looming over him and blocking out the morning sun.

Carefully, he cracked one eye open, just enough to catch a glimpse from under lowered lashes. His right hand stretched as if rolling over in his sleep and slid under Mira's pillow to grab the knife she kept there.

The second his fingers closed around it and his body coiled to roll out of bed, he knew what was wrong.

Mira's side was cold and empty.

Not only was she gone from their bed, but also from their room.

"Huh." It wasn't that late, and she usually didn't sneak away from their room since the first few minutes after waking were usually a time they just lay there together. Not talking, just being with each other before the rhythm of the day caught up with them.

Something must have driven her from their bed.

A nightmare maybe?

Or-

A creaking board down the hallway outside their bedroom made him pause and listen. Footsteps - calm, certain, familiar.

He was already smiling when the door opened to reveal Mira, wearing one of his shirts and carrying a tray.

"What is this?" Illario murmured when she climbed onto their bed and set the tray between them. "Is it my birthday again?"

Mira chuckled. "No, you still have to wait a while for that. But you've been working really hard for the past weeks, and I've decided you deserve a day off."

Illario's hand paused halfway to the food. "A day off?"

"Don't want one?" She asked over the rim of her cup. "I can always drag you down to your study and make sure you stay bent over your desk all day."

"Bending me over my desk? Will you use the new toys I brought home that we haven't got around to play with yet?" He let his tongue linger deliciously on every other word. "Tell me this isn't just an empty threat, amore."

Setting down her cup, Mira looked at him seemingly unaffected by his flirting. "I don't make empty threats. Ever. Today though, I have other plans for us."

Illario's playful smirk dropped a little. This sounded less like a fun day off, and more like a list of chores she had ready for him - chopping more wood or getting rid of the weeds in their garden. Or maybe, making new scarecrows - though the old ones were still serviceable, and he wasn't sure where to get new bones from. The last enemies to invade their little island were nothing but ash.

Then he saw it, the little gleam before she reached for one of the plates.

"Tomorrow, though," she said, "I'll happily use all the new toys on you while you stand bent over your desk."

He swallowed against his suddenly dry throat, and shifted slightly to accommodate the growing tightness in his lap. "And today?"

Mira bit into her breakfast and chewed slowly before answering. "You'll see."

Half an hour later, Illario and Mira walked side by side along the shore of their island home, a basket and a blanket under Illario's arm.

Somewhere at the back of his mind, the pile of work that was still waiting for him on his desk was screaming at him, but the sun warming his face and the salty sea air soon silenced it.

Rounding a rocky outcrop, Illario found himself on the small beach he used for training in secret all those weeks ago - months, he corrected himself.

The stony path slowly transformed into soft white sand, making them both take off their boots and walk the last few steps on bare feet. The sun-warmed sand tickled between his toes, and far out on the glittering waves, Illario spotted seals playing.

Were it the same two he had watched so many times? The ones that had reminded him of a time long ago and two little boys playing?

He wanted it to be so.

The gentle brush of lips against his cheek and the blanket pulled from under his arm pulled him from his thoughts.

Mira shook out the blanket and placed it close to the high rocky cliff walling in the beach. At this time of day, its shadow was just a small sliver, just enough to set down their blanket. By the end of the day it would reach the water's edge.

Illario sauntered over to her, setting the basket down by the blanket. "Well, amore, you've successfully abducted me from my paperwork. What's your grand plan?"

Mira quirked a brow and pulled her shirt over her head. "You're usually not one to ask stupid questions. We're on a beach, alone. We can do whatever we want."

He watched as Mira's pants dropped next to her carefully folded shirt, revealing her shapely legs. His own clothes followed before he even knew it. "I might have an idea. Or two."

"Like I said. Anything. We. Want." She tapped him on the chest, then dashed away, calling gleefully over her shoulder. "But you have to catch me first."

Sand went flying as he went after her. On a normal day, he easily outran her. His longer legs simply made more ground than hers, but here, on this small stretch of sand, he didn't get the chance to build up speed. Mira wasn't running in a straight line; she jumped and turned, like a hare trying to outrun a predator, slipping out of his reach just seconds before he could catch her.

Finally, she made a mistake, turning toward the water. She hesitated just for a breath, but it was enough for Illario. Hooting gleefully when his arms finally closed around her, he used his momentum to gather her against his chest.

Mira struggled and cursed. Only in play, he knew, if she truly didn't want him to manhandle her, he'd already be bleeding.

Sloshing into deeper water, Illario panted, "I advise you to hold your breath, amore."

"Don't you dare," Mira threatened, holding on tightly to his shoulders and neck.

He grinned. "Oh, I dare."

Then he let himself topple over, making sure it was his back that hit the water. Once the waves crashed over his head, he let her go and came back to the surface.

Mira wasn't there.

"Mira?"

He turned, expecting her to have surfaced somewhere close by. But there was only water.

"Mira!"

A sudden tug at his ankles sent him crashing back down under water. Another tug, this time on his smalls.

Spluttering, he came to his feet and found Mira a few feet away, waving his stolen small clothes at him.

"If you think this will stop me, cara mia," he called out, "You are sorely mistaken."

Her smile didn't waver, not at his words or when he started chasing her again. Soon, both their laughter echoed off the cliff walls.

When he finally caught her, she didn't make any attempt to shake him off, but let herself be pulled into his arms and a breathless kiss.

"Got you," he murmured against her lips.

She pressed closer, her seawater-soaked smalls revealing more than they were concealing. "You do. And what will you do, now that you have me?"

"You said, anything I want, right?" He raised a brow, hands sliding up to her breastband, loosening the knot, then slowly - layer by layer removing it.

"Anything we want," Mira confirmed, reaching between them and closing her hand around his length. "And this is what I want. Any objections?"

"None," he rasped, then bent down to kiss her again. His lips followed the movement of her hand below, a slow and gentle teasing that made his stomach clench in anticipation.

All too soon, she stepped back, chuckling at his blank expression when his mind needed a second too long to register what was happening.

Then she curled her finger at him, luring him toward their blanket. He followed her like he was in a trance.

"Let me," he interrupted huskily when Mira moved to take off her panties. Kneeling before her, he took his time to hook his fingers into her waistband, his lips trailing a path south from her navel. Worshipping every inch of skin he laid bare.

"Illario," Mira whispered when his breath brushed over her lower lips, then gently kissed those, too.

His tongue slid in between them, tasting salt and sea and her.

She uttered his name again, voice shaking now, making him groan against her heat. And like she had taught him a month ago, he now took his time to undo her. With patience, endurance, and skill.

Her fingers curled into his hair, holding him against her as she came against his tongue. His own hard length was throbbing and weeping, demanding the attention Illario had denied it so far.

But he wasn't done yet.

Still kneeling, half on the blanket, half on the sand. Illario pulled Mira down on his lap; her arms and legs wrapped themselves around them almost instinctively.

Illario groaned some undefined word, just as she sank down on him. Maker, she was so warm and tight, he almost lost it there and then.

"Do you want me to move?" Mira asked, her words thick from the first peak she was still coming down from. She rocked her hips, just a fraction, then cursed when he grabbed her rear tightly, holding her utterly still.

"No," he hissed, resting his face on her chest. "I- need a moment, just- just stay with me like this. Please."

Damn it, even her soft chuckle seemed to vibrate along his shaft. "Anything you want, mi courazon."

"I want-"

"Yes?" She asked, almost innocently, lifting her chest with her next breath.

Illario shuddered when one hard nipple brushed his cheek. Without a thought, he turned his face toward it, running his tongue over it, then sucking it into his mouth.

"Yes!" Mira hissed.

Letting go of his last control, Illario's hands grabbed her rear even tighter, pulling her hips roughly toward him. Then let her slide back.

He heard Mira croon something into his ear, though his mind didn't register the words; he only knew it wasn't a plea to stop.

Again he pulled her against him.

And again.

He let go of her breast, then caught the other and sucked it hard, making her cry out in pleasure.

By now, Mira was moving on her own. Legs hooked behind his back, she rode him, mirroring each of his muffled groans with one of her own.

Maker, he didn't know how long he'd last.

Illario had lost all sense of time and place when he felt Mira's movements becoming more urgend. She was close, but he was closer.

Using one arm to support her weight, while she kept up her pace, he maneuvered his free hand between them, his thumb just reaching her sensitive nub, still wet and swollen from his earlier attention.

Mira's head tipped back when he started to run his thumb in circles, her rhythm faltering for half a breath before picking up again. Faster than before.

"Make them hear you, amore," Illario rasped. "All the way in Treviso."

"You- first-," Mira panted, snapping her hips and making him see stars. Once, twice.

Illario cursed, then his breath caught in his throat as his peak crashed down on him.

"Don't stop, don't stop," Mira whispered. His pleasure-addled mind didn't know if she meant him or herself as her hips kept moving.

Through the stupor of his orgasm, he kept moving his thumb; his lips found her breast once more.

When Mira finally shattered against him, she cried out his name - maybe even loud enough to be heard in Treviso.

Their weight shifted as she slumped in his hold, the sand under his knees did too, and they both toppled over - panting, trembling, limbs still entwined.

For a few long and blissful moments, Illario just lay there - Mira in his arms, the sun on his skin and her fingers playing with his hair.

"I think," he started, his voice husky, "I should have a day off more often."

Mira hummed into his shoulder.

"At least, once or twice a week," he continued. "Maybe three times."

Her lips slowly meandered from his shoulder up his neck, then along his jaw. "Hm, I'll give you one day a week."

She cut off his protests with a slow kiss.  "And maybe the occasional longer lunch break," she added.

"One day a week and a long lunch break every day."

She kissed him once more, deep and languid, then murmured against his lips. "One day off a week, long lunch break every second day, and I'll throw in a massage once in a while as needed."

"And if I need one every day?" he asked, not even trying to sound innocent.

"I might be persuaded if you ask nicely." Her tone became more serious. "You only have to ask, Illario."

He caught her face and held her at a short distance, really looking at her for a moment, all serious now. His eyes asked, when his mouth wouldn't, if she truly meant it.

"I told you before, words have meaning," she said calmly, "I don't say things that are empty. So, if I offer you something, you are allowed to take it."

His eyes burned, throat suddenly too tight to speak. So he just nodded and pulled her tight.

"I love you," he croaked into her hair.

"I love you, too."

He held her a little tighter, listening to the waves break against the shore.

Tomorrow there would be letters waiting on his desk. Training. Chores. Arguments over something ridiculous. Work that never truly ended.

Today, there was only this.

He’d lost his protector, his best friend, the only person besides his parents who actually cared for him. Loved him.

The shame hadn’t come until weeks later, when he was in the sitting room with Caterina and Lucanis, the only surviving members of House Dellamorte. Three of them were left out of hundreds. Most had been slaughtered in their beds, not even the children spared. Yet here they were, the First Talon and two of her grandchildren, the only ones the Maker deemed worthy of saving.

Or had it been luck that kept him from the assassin’s blade, his life worth only as much as his grandmother felt it was, Lucanis taking the mantle of her favorite now that her children were in the grave. Whenever Caterina turned her stern gaze on him in those early months, or caned him for misbehaving, or withheld food to punish him for failing one of his training sessions, Illario began to wonder if she hadn’t wished he’d died so that his sister could live.

Perhaps if he’d just thrown himself at Alessia’s assassin before the killing blow had landed, she’d have survived instead. Then she could have been the person subjected to Caterina’s torture, and in the end, Illario knew his elder sister would’ve been the better assassin as well.

There was also the loneliness to contend with.

Not a single touch since his childhood had been out of love. Convenience, perhaps, but there was no kindness in Caterina, only punishment when he didn’t live up to her expectations. The violence, death, the occasional sexual advance with a stranger (or a contract) and the resulting climax… none of it meant anything. No one meant anything. 

What would Alessia think of him now? To see him in such a state? Betraying his family for power, for an modicum of respect.

Illario remembered the first time he’d asked Caterina about the slaughter. About the how and the why. And specifically, why Alessia had died for him. His grandmother had only stared down at him with those hawk-like eyes, almost as if the question disgusted her. As if he disgusted her. 

He remembered the exact moment she glanced away from him, gaze fixed on the portrait of his family. His parents sitting upon the fancy settee that still sat in the receiving room, Alessia nestled between them with those multicolored eyes, the same ones that had haunted his childhood nightmares. A baby Illario was cradled in his mother’s arms, sleeping as the artist finished the painting.

When Caterina finally spoke, his heart broke for the final time, his entire future decided in a single terrible moment.

Alessia made a mistake. It was she who was meant to rule House Dellamorte after my death. Not protect a helpless child who can barely hold a knife.

No, perhaps Illario shouldn’t have survived, but he had. And he’d vowed to one day prove Caterina wrong.

And with the help of the Venatori, he would.

The cemetery was eerily quiet, not even the usual carrion haunting the grounds. There was a slight breeze in the air, but even as it shifted the leaves of the trees overhead, not a sound reached his ears. Death had never scared Illario once he’d become a Crow. In fact, he reveled in it most days. But this… this was harder than it had any right to be.

The wisteria tree he’d planted nearly fifteen years before was in full bloom, it’s petals scattered along the ground in front of the headstones, violet against the dark green of the grass. It’s scent tickled his nose, a reminder of freer days when he, Alessia, and Lucanis would roam the gardens of Villa Dellamorte while their parents handled Crow business. Picking wisteria blossoms and tucking them into their hair or behind their ears, pretend sword fighting with the branches, laughing loudly as they took their bruises and scrapes.

He hadn’t felt that free in a long time.

Kneeling before the thick stone, Illario reached out to brush some ivy from its face, the names etched there haunting him as much as their memories did.

Se saprai ricordarmi, sarò sempre con te.

Valerio Dellamorte Francesca Cantori Dellamorte Alessia Dellamorte

With a finger, he traced over Alessia’s name carefully, the stone rough where it touched his skin. As much as he’d wished it as a young boy, his relationship with Lucanis, his dearest cousin, didn’t even compare to the one he’d lost with Alessia. And it’d made him bitter. Made him angry. Each time he tried to prove to Caterina he was as capable as Lucanis, he failed time and time again. 

No matter how hard he tried, she never hesitated to express her disappointment and level her comparisons.

His eyes stung as his mind conjured an image of his sister, her hooked nose and raven colored locks nearly the same as his and yet, it was those heterochromatic eyes that always dazzled: one eye as blue as an ocean, the same color he possessed himself. The other was a deep brown, dark almost like a fresh cup of coffee, and though it appeared that many of the born Dellamorte possessed this color of iris, Alessia Dellamorte had been the only one born with two different colored eyes.

A tear rolled down his cheek, as much a weakness as the affection that still squeezed his chest at the thought of his family, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. Then he placed one of the fallen wisteria branches, full of blooming flowers, at the base of the headstone, a tribute to a family who still lived on his heart nearly twenty years after their deaths.

But he was still failing them.

Tears blurred his vision as he read the headstone engraving again, knowing deep in whatever was left of his soul that if any of them were alive now, they’d condemn him for what he planned to do. Because he was tearing what was left of his family apart.

And he didn’t care.

“Alessia, I hope one day when we meet again, you are able to forgive me for what I’m about to do.”

With one final look, he got to his feet, dusted the dirt from his pants, then turned away, heart hurting and stomach sick. But he continued on, one foot in front of the other, towards the future he deserved. 

Illario stood in front of Caterina, who was surprised by his confession. She never thought she would see the day when he would tell her that he was seeing someone in a serious manner. Especially seemingly out of the blue. 

She had heard rumors that he had been pining, but she thought that they were misinformed. Illario did not pine. He did not yearn. At least, not from what she remembered. He flirted and teased, and he usually didn’t focus on one person.

“Who is it?” Caterina asked, not unkindly.

“Her name is Adelina. Adelina de Riva,” Illario admitted, knowing how it would sound. 

Caterina sighed, wondering what the de Rivas had done to snag both of her grandsons. One was fine, but two seemed suspicious. Especially since this woman had her younger grandson under some sort of spell. 

“De Riva?” Caterina repeated.

“Yes,” he sighed.

“Was she the one who was on the contract in Rialto with you?”

“Yes.”

His grandmother stared at him for a little while as she thought about what this meant in the grand scheme of things. She didn’t think that Viago was the one planning this.

While Viago was somewhat power hungry, she didn’t think that he would use his Crows to control the First Talon from the shadows. He would much rather just be the First Talon himself, but she didn’t believe there was a danger there either. Viago and Lucanis were friends in the general sense, after all. 

However, she was all too aware that Illario and Viago didn’t get along at all.

“Is Viago aware of this?” Caterina asked, leaning back in her armchair. Illario glanced at the fireplace before he sighed.

“Adelina said that she would break the news to him today as well, but I would imagine that it is going worse than we expect,” he admitted.

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

“Viago will not be thrilled to hear that I have seduced one of his Crows.”

“It sounds like she has seduced you,” Caterina remarked as he frowned. She wasn’t exactly wrong. 

“Viago won’t see it that way,” Illario mentioned.

“What is her goal?”

“Her goal?”

“In seducing you,” she answered.

“I was the one to make the first move, Caterina. I was captivated by her, but she was oblivious to it. She completely professional during the contract in Rialto to the point where I was surprised,” he explained.

“Oblivious? She didn’t know that she was seducing you?”

“No, I don’t think we can say that she was seducing me at this point.”

Caterina hummed in response, finding that interesting. Perhaps this was more innocent than she believed, but she would need to meet the woman before she had a good sense of what was going on. 

Illario tried not to fidget in the silence as he waited for his grandmother to say something. While she was no longer the First Talon, she was still the head of the family regardless. She was retired from Crow work, not family matters, after all. 

“When am I meeting her?” Caterina asked.

“That was the second reason I came to speak with you. She wants to speak with you as well to make this as official as possible,” Illario answered before raising his shoulders. “I don’t believe that she’s leaving for a contract any time soon, so we can have her over for dinner at any point that you would like.”

“Do you expect Lucanis to cook?” 

“I expect nothing other than you and Adelina to talk. I will take handle the rest. If Lucanis offers, then we will talk about it.”

“Alright, then you should see when she is available and let me know when I am meeting her. I am not going anywhere anytime soon,” Caterina mentioned. Illario wondered if that was his grandmother’s way of telling a joke. 

“I will go and speak with her,” Illario replied.

“I look forward to the dinner, then,” she added as he left the room. 

He exhaled, relieved to be out of the room. He didn’t enjoy being in the room alone with his grandmother, but it seemed that retirement had tempered her emotions. It was strange, but she didn’t demand anything nor did she raise her voice at him. He could tell that she was wary of Dela, but he was relieved that she wasn’t antagonistic about it.

“No,” Viago snapped as Dela exhaled. 

“Viago-” she started before he stood from his desk.

“I said no,” he repeated. “I told you to be aware of his flirtations! He is-”

“A seductionist! I know!” she hissed before frowning. “And yet I was the one who ended up flirting with the target because he wanted to change the plan altogether.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Viago growled, realizing that could have been very bad. The client had been rigid and adamant about the target’s death. 

“Because I seduced the target. The contract was done as intended. The target found me more desirable,” Dela reminded before folding her arms. “I spoke with him, and he explained what had happened plainly. He did not want to flirt or seduce anyone in front of me.”

“That’s his job-”

“Which he did not do.”

Viago glowered at her as she met his intensity. He was worried that Illario was leading her on only to break her heart later down the line. He had seen it time and time again with different Crows of different Houses, and Viago had done what he could to keep it from happening to the Crows he had grown close to.

He thought he had been doing a good job with Adelina after she had returned from the contract with a smile and a notice of completion. It sounded like the job had been done professionally, but he didn’t change his mind about that. It seemed that she had missed Illario’s blatant flirting, likely due to his warnings.

“Illario is introducing me to Caterina as his novia,” Dela informed firmly.

“His words?” Viago asked lowly.

“His words. I would not agree to speak with his grandmother in this capacity unless he was serious about this. About me,” she explained.

Viago ran a hand through his hair, taking a moment to think about what was going on. While Illario couldn’t be trusted, Adelina did know what she was doing for the most part. He didn’t know her to date, but she was meticulous and careful. She wouldn’t put herself in certain situations without careful thought and expectations. 

“And I wasn’t asking for permission, either,” she added in a calmer tone. 

Viago exhaled through his nose as he hung his head. The last thing he wanted was to control her choices, but it seemed that he did come across that way. He shook his head.

“You don’t need my permission,” he admitted softly.

“It seems that I do,” she countered.

“You would have gone and met Caterina anyway, right? I wouldn’t have stopped you,” Viago reassured, realizing that he was sounding like the former Talon.

“I’m glad to know that you wouldn’t have tried to stop me,” Adelina replied, relief in her voice. “I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the new relationship. He has not done anything untoward or inappropriate, either. He’s been a gentleman, I promise.”

“Illario?”

“I know, but he has been.”

“Alright,” he whispered, sitting back down at his desk. “I’m assuming Isa knows.”

“She does. She helped me understand that Illario was flirting with me in the first place.”

“Right.”

Adelina smirked at him before Viago sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. She could tell that he was sensing a headache coming on. 

“Do you want to go to dinner with us again?” Adelina wondered as Viago glanced at her.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“I think you would be able to see that Illario isn’t looking to ruin my life.”

Viago shot her a withering look before glancing out the window for a moment, thinking about the idea of going to another Dellamorte dinner. The last one had gone over well. However, now there was a new level of tension. He didn’t even know how Caterina was going to react to two de Rivas being involved with her grandsons. 

He just hoped that she didn’t think that he was involved in orchestrating their relationship somehow. Lucanis likely wouldn’t do anything, regardless. Still, Caterina was formidable. 

Lucanis had been surprised that Illario had organized a family dinner where Caterina could be introduced to Adelina. It wasn’t that Lucanis didn’t think that Illario was serious about it, but involving Caterina was a big step. It was definitely not something he had expected. He thought that they would eventually meet, but reluctantly through an accidental meeting.

Regardless, Illario was adamant that he was going to handle the dinner himself. While Lucanis had offered to help, Illario said that he wanted to be responsible since this had been his idea. Even Isa was surprised when she heard. She didn’t know Illario could cook. 

Illario had watched Lucanis enough where he felt that he could at least help cook when the chefs were in the kitchen. While he would love to try his hand at cooking a nice meal for his girl, there was a part of him that felt like he needed to impress her and his grandmother with more than an experiment. So, he hired out for the night. 

He found himself more nervous than usual, and he was relieved to find that Adelina was just as nervous when he greeted her at the door.

He was also surprised and a little panicked when he opened the door further to see Viago by her side. An irritated Viago, even. 

“Come in, come in,” Illario encouraged, glancing at Adelina, who at least looked apologetic. 

He knew that he was going to be trying to impress his grandmother and prove that he was serious about the Crow. However, he didn’t think he would have to prove himself to Viago for a while yet. That was something he was hoping to put off until absolutely necessary.

Viago walked past him with a respectful nod, but it was clear that he didn’t want to be there. Illario exhaled as Adelina touched his arm. He turned to her, silently asking the question.

“I invited him,” she mentioned.

“I figured,” he replied softly.

“I thought it would be better if we got both out of the way at the same time. Viago and Caterina get along, don’t they?”

“I suppose they do.”

“We’ll have Lucanis here to help, won’t we? He can be a buffer between the two,” Adelina suggested before Illario shook his head. 

“He was pulled away at the last minute. He had offered to help, though, but there was a House dispute he had to iron out,” Illario answered. “Is Isa running behind?”

“Kind of? She’s still out on a contract.”

“Maldita sea, that’s alright. We’ll manage. Right?”

“We’ll be fine,” Adelina nodded with a forced smile.

She figured that they would be alright. She didn’t know Viago as well as Isa did, but she considered both Viago and Isa more like cousins than like siblings. However, she was aware that Illario and Caterina didn’t have the best track record in the past. 

“You aren’t very convincing,” he pointed out, teasing her. 

“Well, I’m doing the best I can,” she sighed. “Are you cooking?”

“I thought it would be better to hire a chef for tonight. I helped where I could, but I’m better at picking wine than sauteing vegetables,” he admitted.

“I’ll cook next time,” she winked before she glanced behind him towards where Viago vanished. “We should probably go entertain them before something happens.”

“I can’t imagine anything could happen,” he laughed before he nodded. “But you’re right.”

She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, whispering it was for luck afterward. He chuckled, guiding her into the room where Caterina and Viago were waiting. 

When they came in, Viago was greeting the elder woman, who was giving her signature tight-lipped smirk. It seemed cordial at least, but both seemed wary when Illario and Adelina walked in. The Crows both immediately wished they had more people in the room with them. Adelina wished that she had the forethought to invite Teia as well, but she had been so focused on convincing Viago that this was a good idea, it hadn’t crossed her mind. 

“Encantada de conocerte, Adelina,” Caterina greeted, dipping her head.

Adelina bowed at her waist before giving a light smile in return. 

“It’s good to meet you as well, señora,” Adelina replied, surprising the woman.

“Estás hablando en Discurso Comercial,” Caterina commented.

“Yes, but I understand Antivan. I can only speak in Trade,” the Crow explained with a light shrug. 

Caterina blinked at Adelina in confusion before humming. She was always blindsided by de Riva Crows. 

“And why is that? I thought you’ve been a Crow for a while now,” the older woman wondered, leaning forward slightly.

“My former Talon said that it would make me a better Crow if I didn’t speak Antivan. I could blend in easier when I needed to for when I was given contracts outside of Antiva.”

“And you were sent out of Antiva often?”

“Not that often, no,” Adelina replied with a tight smile. “I believe it was a form of control from my former Talon. He was a strange one.”

“I remember he was afraid of his mages,” Caterina sighed, glancing at the single tattoo on her cheek.

“I’m sure he isn’t afraid of anything anymore,” she chuckled. Caterina smiled at that. 

“I believe you are correct in that,” the elder replied before looking at Illario. “Por qué no compras una botella de vino para compartir?”

“Alguna preferencia? No quiero demorarme,” Illario remarked, looking mildly annoyed. 

He didn’t like the idea of leaving Adelina there to fend for herself, but he could at least be quick. Caterina simply shrugged and just told him to grab anything that would go well with dinner. He huffed before Adelina gave him a reassuring smile. She would be fine, of course. 

Illario walked into the hallway to head towards the wine cellar when he heard footsteps behind him. He had hoped that maybe Adelina had come up with a nice excuse, but it seemed that Viago had done it instead. Illario paused to see the Talon walk up to him before walking next to him.

“Not convinced I can choose a good bottle of wine?” Illario asked with a light tease to his voice. 

“We needed to chat,” Viago answered, ignoring his jest. 

Illario pressed his lips together in irritation, but he should have guessed. Viago didn’t laugh much, if at all. Isa said that he wasn’t made of stone, but Illario didn’t believe that for a second. 

“About what?” Illario asked, letting him control the conversation for now. 

“How serious about Adelina are you?”

“Are you kidding me?” 

“No, I’m being very serious right now.”

“I can’t believe you, Viago,” Illario complained, rolling his eyes. “What do you want from me? What do I have to do to get you to believe me?” 

“The entire time I have known you, the longest relationship I have seen you entertain was twelve weeks,” Viago answered with a certain bitterness. “I do not want to see one my Crows, who is one of my close friends and who I consider family, hurt by you. I tried to warn her, but she decided that she knew better.”

“It sounds like she does know better.”

“Does she? I’ve known you longer than she has, and I have known her longer than you have.”

“Fine, that’s true,” Illario relented before shaking his head. “But that doesn’t mean you are always right, Viago. Sometimes you aren’t the one who knows best.”

“Does that mean that you aren’t going to break her heart? That you are going to stay with her regardless of what happens? Or are you going to whisk her away for a while before you find the next pretty face?” Viago accused.

Illario glowered at the Talon, his blood boiling. His fists clenched at his sides before he forced them to release.

“Did you have this same conversation with Lucanis about Isa?”

“A similar one, but not exactly. I needed to make sure that he wasn’t interested in her because of her newfound fame.”

“Do you think us Dellamortes are completely superficial?” Illario demanded, realizing that Lucanis didn’t mention that to him. “That we only care about money or beauty or power?”

“Do Crows care about much else? Crows become obsessed with it,” Viago answered coolly. 

“Shouldn’t that include you?”

“Of course it includes me. Do you think Teia doesn’t check me on it?”

Illario furrowed his brows in annoyance before rolling his eyes.

“I’m not looking to take Adelina from you. I’m only looking to get to know her because, yes, I was infatuated with her. Now I’m finding that I’m fond of her. I like her. A lot. Her mind is fascinating, and I enjoy being around her,” Illario answered snappily. “I can’t guarantee I won’t break her heart, but I’m not going to drop her for another pretty face. She’s different.”

“She’s different?”

“Fuck you, Viago.”

“How many times have you said that someone is different?” the Talon asked seriously, ignoring the insult. 

Illario went to snap back at him before he thought about it. It was true, he hadn’t said that the person he was seeing was different. He had patterns and people he generally chased after. Adelina didn’t fit within that pattern, but she wasn’t completely outside that mold either. She was just... different. 

“I haven’t,” Illario admitted.

Viago nodded, letting the intensity between them calm down. Illario exhaled, rubbing his forehead as they started down towards the wine cellar. 

“You are a pain in the ass; did you know that?” Illario hissed.

“Teia and Isa both have said that before, yes,” Viago admitted with a shrug. “But I find that I need to be to get the answers I need.”

“And did you get those answers?”

“I did.”

“Great.”

Viago hummed with something akin to amusement as Illario rolled his eyes.

“I’m still not sure if I approve of you seeing Adelina,” Viago informed quietly before tilting his head to the side. “But I don’t disapprove. I’ve also made it clear that Adelina doesn’t need my approval to move things forward.”

“Then what’s the point of saying anything?” Illario growled, grabbing two bottles of wine off the closest rack.

“Transparency. Honesty. I don’t want to lie to her,” Viago replied before smirking. “And it keeps you on your toes.”

“Fuck you, Viago,” Illario groaned, turning to head back up towards where Adelina and Caterina were waiting. He hoped they were having a better conversation than he was having with Viago. 

Illario lifted his hand to shade his eyes as he looked from the balcony of his former room out over the gardens. The early afternoon sun sparkled on the calm blue waters that stretched to the horizon, and the scent of a myriad of flowers below hung heavy in the air.

This used to be home, he thought - the sight, the scent, the familiar layout of his room. And yet, standing here, he felt nothing but the urge to return to the island and its clear, salty air and the sound of waves crashing against the nearby rocky cliffs.

But he couldn't, not while Lucanis was still talking to Mira in his study. For a while now, he had noticed Mira becoming restless; her routine walks around the island had become more frequent. The sound of her steel sword pommeling the training dummies now filled their home's courtyard more often than not.

"I need more to do," she had muttered to him when he asked what was wrong.

"You have a task," he had reminded her. "Of guarding me and to keep me-" his voice rose to resemble hers. "from drowning in ink and self-pity."

She had told him that he no longer needed her to do that. And now she was down in Lucanis' study looking for something she could do in addition to her guard duties.

"Can't let you out of my eyes entirely," she had told him with a soft kiss when he playfully pouted that she was planning on leaving him.

A soft sound behind him tore Illario from his thoughts and made him look over his shoulder. Rook stood in the open door to his room, face pinched as if just having bitten into a lemon.

"Are they done?" Illario asked when she remained silent, hovering at the threshold but not entering.

Her eyes narrowed, as if even that innocent question offended her. "No."

He expected her to walk away then. Rook had avoided him whenever she could, always watching him with unveiled hostility. A look that didn't suit her at all; her face wasn't one made for scowling.

With Mira, he had seen her laugh freely, talking as much with words as with her hands. Lucanis himself, in a rare moment of openness, had told him that Rook was the sunshine that balanced the darker aspects of his life. Even with Caterina, Rook smiled more often than not.

It was his fault, of course. And he didn't really blame her; he was just tired of it.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked.

"No."

Illario couldn't help but tease, "I remember you being a lot more verbose than this, my dear Rook."

Her cheeks burned an angry red, the same shade as her hair. "That was before you proved yourself to be the one behind all of Lucanis' misery."

"Not all of it." He corrected mildly. "Caterina did her fair share; others as well. But I admit that I played a large role in it."

He watched her bristle. Nothing he said was a lie, and she knew it.

"You betrayed him. Sold him out." Each word came hard and clipped.

"I spent a year in a cell for it," he reminded her with a friendly smile. "And despite saving your and Lucanis' lives, I am still under house arrest. At least he has forgiven me."

The words were meant as bait. Rook had been spoiling for a fight ever since Illario's sentence had been changed. He was certain that she wanted to end what had been started in the Opera house almost two years ago now. But he knew she'd never start that fight by herself, no matter how much she wanted it. She wasn't a troublemaker.

But he was.

"I haven't," she seethed.

He let his smile grow into a lazy grin, while watching her face for the tiniest reaction.

"I wonder why?" he crooned. "I am family now, my dear. Family should forgive each other. Your husband has. Your child adores me. Did you know, he calls me-?"

Crack.

The sound of her fist slamming into his jaw echoed through the room.

Illario had seen it coming. The punch was born from rage, and while strong, it was sloppy. He could easily have sidestepped it, but chose not to.

The second one hit him unprepared.

As did the third.

The iron taste of blood filled his mouth, and he could already feel bruises forming along his jaw and cheek. He braced for another punch, but nothing came.

Looking up, he found Rook standing before him, fist still clenched, breathing hard. There was blood on her knuckles -his or hers, he didn't know. Then her eyes widened.

"Maker," she gasped, taking a hasty step toward him. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

He lifted his hand, blindly reaching for the chair he knew was somewhere behind him with the other, and let himself drop onto it.

Carefully, he tested his jaw, opening and closing it a few times before saying, "You did mean it. And don't you feel better now?"

A multitude of emotions warred on her face - anger, regret, trepidation, triumph, sadness. Had no one ever taught her how to hide her every thought from being plainly written all over her face?

He expected her to run away now, to seek a quiet corner to sort through her feelings, but when she finally moved, it was with a quiet resolve.

She pulled a handkerchief from one of her many pockets and offered it to him.

"I am sorry that I hit you," she said again, then blushed. "But I do feel better now."

"Good." Lightly, Illario dabbed at his split lip and winced. "You hit a lot harder than I expected."

A lot harder than last time. But he wasn't stupid enough to say that bit out loud.

"Caterina made me practice," she mumbled, still looking flustered at her own rage.

The sentence made him sit up straighter. He had assumed that Lucanis had trained with her, teaching her at least a few basics so she would have to solely rely on her bow. But if Caterina herself had taken over her training and it hadn't broken her yet, then the little elf must be a lot more resilient than he had credited her.

"Next time when fighting a larger target," he advised. "Bring them down to their knees first. Once they are on the floor, you have an easier time finishing them."

"It wasn't my intention to kill you."

"Not today anyway." He grinned, and despite the pain, his smirk grew even wider when she scowled at him.

"You have a real knack at pissing people off, you know."

Illario chuckled. "My cousin would tell you that's my talent."

Rook scoffed, and for the first time she really looked at him. He wasn't sure what she saw, but after a moment, her shoulders relaxed with a deep sigh.

"I'll go and see if there's still some ice in the kitchen," she said, pointing at the door. "Should feel good on your bruises."

"Thank you, I would appreciate it."

She turned and walked to the door, her fingers twitching by her side as if moving along with an internal argument. At the door, she looked back.

With a crooked smile, Illario said, "Welcome to our family, Rook."