Greatwater Lake (M) Butterflies taste through their feet.

She could feel her rational mind receding as her instincts shifted to the forefront. The fire that licked up her limbs was more ardent than it had been in a long time. Evidently, being unattached was a key ingredient in Towhee’s spicy cocktail, because she hadn’t felt like this in years.

Had Alaric approached her now, Towhee might not have resisted him, resemblances aside. Fortunately, the man who entered her line of sight looked nothing like her dearly departed mate. His appearance was fairly unremarkable, save for the strange object wrapped around his throat.

She eyed this warily as he ranged a little closer. Towhee rolled her shoulders and rumbled, inviting him to close the gap even more. She sniffed, analyzing his scent. He smelled as commonplace as he looked, aside from a faint whiff of what smelled like blood and ozone that made the hair raise a little on her back.