<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7b/2a/07/7b2a0723c7ba76185e522ce51fccb7d2.jpg)<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Adan Hathsin</strong></span></span></div></div>At his sordid retort, Adan flicked his eyes to Corbin, his head following slightly, giving him just enough of an angle to cast his partner a knowing look.  Some things didn’t require a verbal expression to get his intention across, this being one.  For just a moment, between one heartbeat and the next, he let Corbin bear witness to a specific hunger his lewd remark had awakened.  Jest or not, Adan had plenty of memories of them together, and welcomed those instances, however brief, that would allow him to forget the hardships awaiting them.  Sometimes he needed a reminder that even during times of difficulty, there was always something to be savored.  Small bits he could hang on to that made winning the challenges all the more rewarding.<br/><br/>Besides, two could play<em>that</em>game.<br/><br/>The woman’s protest cut off that thought, and he reverted to a more stolid expression as he regarded her.  “We have pulled you out of immediate danger, but we haven’t finished helping until your belongings are safe,” he corrected her, and seemed pleased when she accepted.  The promise to repay them later was noted, though he had no real intention of holding her to it.  Corbin, on the other hand, was a different beast entirely…<br/><br/><em>She’s a woman, not a lost puppy,</em>he mentally corrected, though he would come off as amused.  The lady had no obligation to them, and he was not yet sure how wise it would be to bring another along, should she even want to.<br/><br/>She gave instructions on how to locate her horse, as well as a warning.  Adan only smiled at the challenge, and nodded.  “I will return shortly, my lady,” to Corbin, he turned and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.  “In and out, got it?”  The demon likely didn’t need to be reminded not to dawdle, but it couldn’t hurt.  Corbin had become a permanent fixture in his life, one he counted on to be there, at his side.  He couldn’t imagine doing the things he needed to do without him.<br/><br/>After giving the two of them another glance between them, he slipped deeper into the forest toward the stables.<br/><br/><div align="center">~}{~</div><br/>Compared to the bastards inside the building, the stable master had given him little grief about taking Snowdrop out of his stall.  Hard for a sleeping man slumped on a pile of hay, pitchfork laid next to his open palm, to be much of a threat to anyone.  But, just to be safe, Adan moved the pitchfork out of the man’s range, then set to the task of identifying the beast, saddling it, and moving it out of the stable.<br/><br/>The horse was facing where Adan would enter, and upon seeing the strange figure outside the door he began to shift uncomfortably.  Unphased, Adan opened the stall and carefully reached for the beast, placing his warm palm on his long snout and slowing stroking down to his nose.  Meanwhile, he gazed into Snowdrop’s eyes and communicated his intentions in a gentle manner.  He moved quickly, putting the blanket, saddle, and reins on the horse, and made sure all of the items that had been left with him were accounted for.  Once done, he led Snowdrop out of the stall where he had room to mount.<br/><br/>A short while later, Adan emerged from the stable on top of Snowdrop, and he guided them toward the shelter of trees where he had left the woman to wait.<br/><br/>“Ah, there we are,” he said, slipping off the saddle and handing her the reins.  The horse jerked his head as if to protest, and Adan poked his snout.  “Remember what we talked about,” he said in quiet warning.