Blacktail Deer Plateau i would beg to disagree, but begging disagrees with me

I do, she said, the smile returning to her face, now without its wry twist. It's lovely here—I'm familiar with the hot springs just south; I saw the steam rising when we were on our way here. She nodded in that general direction, in brief illustration, before looking back at Sakhmet.

My, she'd grown. Maegi saw none of Parvati in her, but neither did she see herself. The pale eyes, such a contrast against the burgundy, reminded her of someone, though. Who was it?

Ah. . .Damien. It gave her a slight qualm, her stomach churning, to realize it. At the same time, it confirmed that Sakhmet was, indeed, a Melonii, and meant to be hers. Never meant to be Parvati's—

you stole her like you stole the golden woman's whelps

I like any place where you are, she said, a little loudly as she tried to drown out the ever-mocking voice in the back of her mind. And who was that, anyway? One of the daedra—Sheogorath or his ilk seemed a prime candidate, or perhaps Sithis. A remnant of the past.

The smile remained, but it was watery, now.