At the time, she hadn't really understood Lorelei's words that, in some senses, beauty could be a weapon of it's own – something that could wilt the will of others. But now, as she stood gazing at her reflection in the bathroom mirror of the room that Apollo had helped acquire for them, his words started to make a little more sense.

It had merely been out of curiosity that she'd slipped on Diana's dress. She hadn't nearly expected the dress to fit; somehow, she'd presumed her and a queen would never be able to share even the same clothes. But the reality was that the dress might as well have been tailored specifically for her. That white floral lace flowed around her figure as if it had been sculpted on. A woman with black ringlets of hair and a figure that curved like an "S" stared back at her – someone who felt like an entirely different person to the girl marked for slaughter with the crown of flowers upon her head.

Touching her fingers to the glass, she felt fierce. Like she really did have the blood of a goddess flowing through her veins. Wearing a queen's dress was empowering; she really felt like could wear this dress to battle a god and emerge victorious.

She found herself liking the dress entirely because Apollo said white didn't suit her.

What ever happened tonight, whether it be a clash with Xavier or Apollo himself, she felt appropriately dressed to face her own destiny.

There was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Winter, are you all right in there?" came Tamer's voice.

She sighed. There was no way she could talk to Apollo with Tamer being there – her body's unholy reaction to the sun god would make the matter extremely uncomfortable. They had so little time together, but her opposite in every matter, somehow, she knew Apollo was a foe she was going to have to face alone.

"I'm fine," she replied. "I was just trying on a dress Lorelei gave me." She paused. "I think... I think I might actually like to go to the dance tonight."

She no longer cared. She doubted Xavier would attack in a crowd of people, and if he did well... it was going to happen anyway. She knew he wasn't the type to harm humans from his disdain to their relationship and the dangers that came with it.

"Hmm?" Even without seeing him she could hear the eagerness in his voice. He probably had that devious smile on his face as he often did when he thought of her in a way that pleased him. "All right then. I'll leave you to it."

She opened the door. It seemed as though Tamer's gaze had already wandered down her body before he even had a moment to remind himself not to. Winter laughed; Tamer met her eyes once again.

“How do I look?” she said, spreading her arms wide.

The noise Tamer made was half chuckle half groan. His hands followed those curves lavishly, nearly devouring her with his hands.

"Winter," Tamer called, the side of his face brushing hers as he spoke into her ear, "You don't like to make it easy do you?"
Those rugged hands indulging her body were hypnotic – if it went on a little longer she had a feeling she was going to be pinned down onto that bed.

"It's a beautiful dress, isn't it?" she teased.

"Yes, it is," Tamer purred. His voice turned rugged – a panther to a wolf in a matter of moments. "It's a shame that I have an unholy desire to rip it to shreds.”

She blushed. He wasn't joking. He sharpened his nails a little just to lightly trace them down her sides. She didn't know what to say. While she was trying to think of some snarky retort, Tamer's arms encircled her and pressed her hard against his chest. His lips were soft as silk as they brushed her neck, showering her in little kisses as soft as the flutter of butterfly wings. His voice touched her as a sultry blossom of warmth, sending desire panging within her insides,"You look really pretty."
>8
Winter panted. She groaned as Tamer chuckled and nibbled her earlobe.

"Tamer..." She'd meant to scold him but at that moment his lips caught a particularly tender area of skin and it came out as a moan. She bit her lip, giving a shaky breath before mustering up the strength to interrupt him. "Come on, you hound... It isn't chivalrous to kiss the lady before the date."

Tamer laughed softly. No matter the pain, no matter the distress, within the comfort of her body, he seemed to glow, his warmth touching her like a caress.
The past two days had been hell for both of them, but now even his smile was radiant. "I'm sorry Winter. I want to wait until everything is right, I really do, but my self control is waning..."

"You don't need to apologize." She ran her hands over the sharp ridges of his shoulder blades, sliding up to run his fingers through his hair – god, he was tall, she had to stand on her tiptoes just to reach. She knew that being Lupine, Tamer was bound to be affected by the mate pull faster than she, but what was her excuse?

Perhaps Apollo was right. White wasn't really her colour. 

They'd never been on a date before. They'd never been allowed to do anything. Her purity was a charade, anything that would tarnish it a punishable offense so the white little lamb would obediently walk to slaughter.

She scoffed.

"Let's go to this dance to enjoy ourselves and relax.” Her lips – an inviting shade of pink – gave a slow curl, and her hand trailed longingly down his chest with a surprisingly seductive whisper, “Tonight, let's pretend that no one exists but the two of us."

****

The earlier hours of the festival were upbeat, abundant with energy and lively dancing, but as the night darkened and midnight fell, the numbers diminished. The gentle weaves of the violin became slower, an almost tender lilt, and couples to stole the dance-floor.

The two of them drifted in and out of the illumination of dozens of lit candles twinkling like stars. The crystal chandelier above reflected them, leaving speckles of warm light like to scatter over their bodies like kaleidoscopes as Winter twirled into the spotlight, skirt wavering as she retreated back into Tamer's arms.

Her and Tamer caught a lot of attention. But he never noticed; his eyes were transfixed on hers. She sighed, breathing in his boyish woodland scent, clinging to the gentle glow of content oozing from his skin.

Tamer had received a few admirers, but he wasn't the only one. His warning not to interrupt them was perhaps a little passive aggressive, marking her with gentle kisses on her face, lingering caresses that delved as how as appropriately possible on her waist.

They slow-danced to the rhapsody of a violin with their fingers tied, the pitter-patter of a piano that played like a heartbeat, all the while, weaving in and out the warm splashes of candlelight that molted across the wooden flooring.

In that moment, she cherished every little thing about him. His woodland scent as she rested her head against his chest. The drumming of his heart weaving into the rhapsody lilting around them. The tight, protective way he gripped her waist – the urge to never let go, the battle to protect this embrace, or die trying.

Looking up, Winter saw the dim reflection of the dancing flames in Tamer's eyes. He was a lot like fire himself; often, he had a blaze in his eyes suggested he had enough passion to devour her in a moments notice, but right now, his eyes were the endless warmth of a man hopelessly in love.

This image of a world where she was free to love Tamer. This was what they were fighting for.

“Do you understand?” Tamer whispered. His hand slid up her cheek; she loved how rugged they felt, how hard they had worked, yet how gentle they would touch her. “Do you understand why I keep fighting, even if my own life is at cost?”

She nodded. This moment was pure magic. What was normal to every other human, to them, was paradise.

“I know, just please take care of yourself, okay?”

She finally understood why all their life the two of them had been the subject of rumours and speculation. Humans didn't fall in love like Lupine did. And yet, Tamer's feelings were so strong he'd managed to pull her into his world of cataclysmic devotion. The term soul-mate wasn't something to be used lightly. But she and Tamer were the definition of it; two halves of the same whole – sun and moon, day and night. Two entities that, although were in stark contrast, could not live without the balance of each other.

Arms around his back, her fingers curled through his shirt.

“I love you, Tamer,” she whispered.

She heard him suck in a quiet noise of surprise. Against his chest, his heart began to race. Like a lullaby, she shut her eyes and relaxed.

Worldlessly, a droplet of moisture shattered upon her forehead. As the tear rolled from his cheek down to hers, it was then she realised:

Tamer had never been told he was loved before.

She held that suddenly tense body tighter in her arms, squeezing him hard in attempt to ease that tremour running through it. What a fool she'd been. It hurt, but in some ways, it was a relief. He took so much in his stride, further and futher blurred the lines between man and wolf that she was greatful to be reminded he was human. She was afraid if she acknowledged it too much, he'd smother it again, but once the glass had shattered, the bottles content came flooding out.

“Tamer, Tamer, Tamer.” With each call of his name the pain in her voice rose; she kissed his cheeks, his tears – she knew it would be tempting for him to hide his pain, so she cupped his face to look her in the eye.
“I know I can't do much. I know I'm not strong like you. But I'm here for you. Please talk to me, I'll listen, whatever support you need, I'll give it. I'll even share your pain just so that there's someone else who can relate to your hurt. Just please. Value your life Tamer. If you want to keep me free from pain, that's the most important thing you must do.”

He gave a sniffle, then a deep breath as he composed himself. His rugged yet gentle hands slid over her cheek and through her roots. He gave a teary-eyed smile, his golden gaze so soft.

“I love you, Winter,” he whispered.

The drawing of their lips were like magnets. The eventual touch of their open mouths like a lock and a key. As they shared a kiss, she could still feel the hot tears clinging to his cheek. As soft as it was, it made her slowly melt like the candles around her. This type of pleasure was different, not like a voracious heat, but more like a sparkle, a ripple of magic swirling through her insides.
It was amazing what his touch could do. From just holding him she wanted to wind her body around him and feel his skin against hers. From just kissing him she wanted to kiss him harder. Except this time, she never wanted to stop.

As hard as it was to keep it tame with those people around, eventually, their lips parted with a gentle click.

His eyes were glowing the brightest shade of gold yet –  eyes she was admittedly lost in.
He embraced her. The two of them weaved with lazy content before Winter stood on her tip-toes and whispered, "Shall we go?"

Tamer cast her a small smile and clasped his fingers around hers. She wondered if he knew. This time, she was going to defy her own destiny. Tonight, she wanted to get to know him in his purest, rawest form.

***

They exited that golden warmth into the darkness. The cool whisper of wind was refreshing to the heat clinging to her chest. It wasn't as cold as it should have been and now more felt like what would be considered a refreshing summer's night. From the back door, the town turned into a more open cut area of woodland where gatherings were often held. She'd decided to take this route because she knew that, secretly, Tamer loved the woods. And she loved how he looked within them. Particularly how the light in his eyes would intensify as panels of moonlight caught him through the cracks in the tree branches, the subtle way his attention would drift as he caught a scent that intrigued him, the way he would tense as if to protect her as he heard a sound that was very unlikely oncoming danger.

Winter hid her grin. As tempting as it was, she knew it wasn't fair to make fun of him when he was this relaxed about being Lupine around her.

However, it appeared as though something was amiss within the woodland: after a few more minutes of walking, she saw speckled orbs of light like miniature suns floating towards the sky.

She glanced at Tamer and had to remember not to act surprised.  Immediately relating it to Apollo, there was a high chance he couldn't see it. Of course; that was why they were here, after all. His face betrayed nothing so she bit her lip, walking on with what she hoped was a stoic expression on her face.

She mentally cursed herself, knowing she was going to have to speak to Apollo when all she wanted was Tamer.

The two of them continued, at least one not deterred. The sight was too beautiful to be sinister; the closer they walked the larger the orbs grew, filtering to the sky as if they were snowflakes in reverse.

And then she saw a beam of sunlight.

Of course, it couldn't have really been sunlight – it was far too dark for that. But it filtered like heaven's message through the gnarly tree branches, leaving them awash in a spectrum of gold.

Prisms blinded her. Every shade of gold known to man seemingly strobbed through the trees. As the forest came to a clearing, she was blinded, suddenly feeling as through she was walking through heavens gates.

Then she saw him, shining like a star in the distance. There, kneeling in a field of tall grass that rippled in the wind like ocean waves, was Apollo. But she'd expected him; she knew at one point they were going to have to cross again. It was the child before him, so small she was on his eye-level, that perplexed her. She had her arm extended, grasping something tightly in her tiny palm, as if beckoning for him to take it.

She didn't even glance at Tamer. She found herself running, leaving him calling after her as she bolted through the field.
Apollo didn't so much as glance at her; he merely raised his hand, ordering her to stop. She did so promptly at his demand, staggering a little on the final steps.

The girl had a tiny daisy in her hand. She thrust in Apollo's face with a determined-look on her own.

"I'd like you to have this," she said quietly. "I found it growing alone in the snow. I didn't wanna pick it but dad said it would die either way. It grew in the snow, so it must be very special and rare."

Apollo scanned the girl with glowing eyes. It was then Tamer caught up with her. She shot him a glance to apologise; somehow, she felt like she wasn't permitted to speak, but Tamer didn't even look at her. He too showed intrigue in Apollo, gazing at him with the faintest of frowns.

"Me?" Apollo said carefully.

"Why would you like to give it to me? Surely something so rare and cherished would be best cherished by its finder?"

The little girl dipped her head. "Well, I'm happy you helped me find my way and... the point of the festival is kindness right? My sister taught me about this thing called karma. That if I do something good, maybe something good will come our way. 'Cept we're very poor. Daddy is always drunk, so its hard for us to have nice things. I thought that maybe if I give away the most important thing I have then maybe that god would make sure daddy won't..."

The little girl drifted off, her body becoming tense.

In the radiance of Apollo's glow, Winter then noticed that the girl had a gigantic purple bruise on her face.

Apollo gazed at her at the moment; there was clear anger in his eyes, but his voice remained soft.

“Does it hurt?” he whispered.

Burying her face in her hands and nodding, the girl sobbed.

“There, there,” Apollo said gently, voice like a lullaby. His thumb traced across her cheek; just like that, the wound vanished like an eraser over paper. "You want the pain to stop right?"

She nodded with a spluttered sob.

“Then so it shall be.”

He had such soft look in his eyes, warm opposed to the usual scorching heat she'd been accustomed to. For a moment, she was captivated by him. The soft light he radiated was akin to being embraced with warm, inviting arms. She found herself clinging to Tamer who was frozen, standing unnaturally still.

"You are right to deem it precious; a flower in the snow is always a sign of hope," Apollo said. "May I ask what your favourite flower is?"

"R-roses," she stuttered.
Apollo's eyes briefly became distant, as if recalling a memory. He shut them then smiled. "You have fine taste."

Winter was about to cry out in protest as he gently pried the daisy from the girl's fingertips; it seemed wrong to take away her single strand of hope in the form of a dying flower. Tamer squeezed her hand in warning – she hadn't even realised she'd been holding it until then.

Apollo twirled the daisy in his fingers, staring intently at it's dying beauty. He unfurled his fingers and, much to the little girls amazement, the flower began to spin, soon levitating in his palm.

Two tiny flames began to wind around the stem. The girl's eyes lit up as they danced, their cinders solidifying into leaf, sprouting stem and thorns until finally, in one spontaneous combustion of flames, an orb of fire crafted it's head, and in his palm a red rose shedding cinder replaced the daisy.

The little girl was enchanted. Winter could see her eyes shimmering. Her child-like innocence radiated as Apollo said, "Here. Take it as a sign as good will and hope."

Her tiny hands reached shakily. Suddenly, she snatched her hands back, biting her lip and wailing, "As magical as it is, I can't take it. It's for you and I can't undo that now!"

Apollo raised his eyebrows. He passed a deep, lilting laugh that seemed pleasant enough to make the world vibrate.

"Oh, that's right, silly me," he said with a small smile.

He withdrew to full posture. The little girl uttered a little gasp as he stood. Winter didn't blame her; she'd forgotten how intimidating he was at full height. He tilted his head back to expose himself to the moon, his gold hair rippling gently in the breeze. For the first time that night, he turned an amber eye to Winter and Tamer.

He stamped his foot and a circle of flames spawned beneath him. The world was so suddenly awash with shock waves of fire. A tidal wave of flames was nearing them faster than they could move. Shrieking, she latched onto Tamer as they ravaged the ground; her heart nearly rose to her throat when they caught her.

Although, little did she realise, it was harmless. Nothing but a friendly heat warmed her despite how voracious the flames looked. It was only upon looking down did she realise that the fire did not reap havoc, but instead beauty. Below her the once wilting strands of grass were twisting, their ends splitting into bulbs of flame that blossomed fiery petals.

She had just enough time to catch the process sweep over the rest of the field as green turned into red, grass into rose. When the fire extinguished residue cinder remained, shimmering through the night like firey snowfall.

Winter's hair and dress settled. Despite the harmlessness, she was shaken. If she had any doubt about Apollo being a God, there was little to fund that doubt now. Tamer had also saw. Whatever the purpose Apollo had also chosen to reveal himself to him as well, making it hard to hide her first encounter with the god-like she would have preferred.

Said deity gazed at her with an unimpressed look. His golden eyes narrowed as if silently disapproving of her. It had been hard to tell what his current mood toward her was. Apollo hadn't given her much attention all night.

When they caught eyes, he scowled.

"There," Apollo said, turning back to the little girl. "Now you can pick as many as you want. I'm sure your father won't bother you again now that I've granted your wish. You know who I am right?"

The little girl was shaken. Nervous sounds stuttered from her mouth.

"Perhaps you could ask this young gentleman to take you home?" he asked, gesturing to Tamer. Apollo's voice lowered, but despite his words, it wasn't exactly cutting. "That is, of course, if he could withstand his own jealousy for even a moment."

Tamer had a scowl on his face.
"Jealousy?" His arms folded, stating flatly, "I don't know what you mean."

Apollo came closer. Somehow, Winter didn't like seeing him too close to Tamer. It was almost seeing two things from two different parts of history collide.

The God met the Lupine with a smile that actually managed to succeed in not appearing too twisted.

"A god's perception is far beyond what any mortal could understand," Apollo said quietly. "Your eyes were buring into my body. Your aura flared with distate. The way you gazed at that girl...it was almost as if you were jealous of how easily her problems were solved by divine intervention."

Tamer's teeth gnashed. "Well you know, magic. Fucking magic. I'm happy for her and all, but it seems a little unfair that all these kids go through so much shit, and then one just gets their problems solved by magic of all things. Just like that when so many suffer.”

Apollo turned his back. “You were abused,” he whispered.

Tamer looked away with a furious whip of his head.

“Well, you can only have so many miracles in your life," he said bitterly. "I suppose I already had mine. I was lucky enough not to meet my real father. That in itself was lucky enough to save me from a whole other world of suffering."

"I see," Apollo said quietly. He paused thoughtfully, stepping a few paces closer toward Tamer. "Humans are rarely so black and white. Lupine on the other hand... Well. They tend to either fall on the morally right side of the compass, or they do not."

Tamer gave a small start and  met him back with a horrified gape.

"Child, did you really think that, in everything I could sense from just a glance that I would not know of your Lupine lineage?"
Winter gripped Tamer's arm. This was bad. She'd always know that somehow these two shouldn't meet. Now, they were played right into the god's mercy.

Apollo laughed at his unease. "You may relax. I can promise you that such mortal matters do not interest me. I care not if you're Lupine, nor will ever feel the need to share that fact to anyone."

Still tense, Tamer changed the subject quickly.

"You're.... you're Apollo, right?"

"That's right." He grinned. "And you are?"

"T-Tamer."

"Tamer," Apollo said, testing the name on his tongue with a fond smile. "What a strikingly unusual name."

Apollo grasped his hand in a firm handshake. Tamer's shock was very visual. Winter could only imagine the heat that radiated from Apollo's skin had stunned him; she could feel humidity clinging to the air even where she stood. The man was glowing, his smile the picture of fondness as he shook Tamer's hand firmly.

"I am afraid though, Tamer, as much as I'd like to get to know you and chat, it is the young maiden wound around your arm tonight that captures my interest this particular time. If you want things to change, who knows." Apollo smiled. "Perhaps you should try wishing for it."

But when it came to her, Apollo's voice was like ice, like every word that came from his mouth was a lie and that he really did not want to so much look at her.
She'd never imagined something so bright could suddenly seem so dark but Apollo's gaze was livid, so cold and attached from what she was used to.

"Tamer..." Winter touched his shoulder, gazing into his as calmly as possible. "You know I don't want to but I believe this god has business with me. I might have to ask you to leave."
Tamer's frown was reluctant but there was also a note of hurt in his eyes.

"How did I know you were going to ask me that?" he sighed.
Winter raised her hand to gently stroke his face.

"I don't want you to, it's just..." She shuddered as she felt Apollo's piercing gaze into her back, shying away from both of them. "I get the feeling he wants to say something for my ears only."

"Is it important?"

"If a god wants to speak to me, I can only presume so. I'll make it up to you later okay?"

"Winter." Tamer grasped her hand. "Are you sure you're going to be okay? You seem... nervous."

"I..." She silenced, shaking her before nodding to him. "I'll be fine, please don't worry about me."

Tamer nodded. Reluctantly, he slid out of her grasp, beckoning the little girl to follow him before casting one final weary glance in Apollo's direction.

Winter waited until he was far out of distance before speaking. She grabbed the ends of dress and pulled the ends in a mock courtesy.

"How might I be of service to you?" she asked as brightly as possible.

Apollo leered at her.

Winter couldn't say when, or how, but appeared, somehow, she'd angered the deity.