Once you have mated with me a great deal you will become an incubus and be given the same protection."

Now there was a subject that brought him a renewed sense of negativity.

“Yeah... an incubus... I've read about them. They're a being of lust as great as that of a monster. All I'll think about is sex. To me that doesn't sound like a fulfilling life."

“You dislike being compared to my father, but he became an incubus by the time I was grown and he certainly does not think only about sex. It is my understanding incubi are as varied as the monsters that create them. My kind are never consumed by constant lust and neither are our mates."

Carter gave her a skeptical look.

“I'll still change though... and have no say in it."

“Your desire for sex will change certainly, to match my own desire. It is difficult for me to understand such desire, but awakening to it is part of my kind's life. We accept it, and my mother claims that it is something to enjoy," Taki reasoned back.

“Again, at least you're not a stranger... this whole situation is still crazy though."

She closed her eyes in thought before addressing him again. "I don't know what more I can say to put your mind at ease, except that when the time comes both our instincts will take over. All your concerns and insecurities will be washed away during it. Nature will take its course. We are male and female after all.”

“And after that?" he asked.

“We will continue on together, I will never abandon you."

Somehow this assurance was comforting, even though her voice was stoic as ever. Still he smiled bitterly, “you talk like I'm someone special, but all I am is the guy you settled on for lack of other options. I've done nothing to earn your loyalty, and I'm not exactly worth it either."

“As you said once before, I am asking you to give up your future, and, in a sense, your freedom. My loyalty is certainly worthy of that exchange."

“So it's like a trade..." he gave a heavy sigh and stood up.

“I don't know if any this has really helped how I feel... but still, I think I understand some things better now. Thanks for the talk."

Taki stood as well. "No thanks are needed. I believe I have come to understand you better as well.”

"I think I'll gather some more materials for those stairs we're planning on," he stated, trying to Lighten his mood.

“I will come assist you in a few hours, I still have the rest of my patrol to do."

Then, without so much as a goodbye, she leaped off into the trees.

Carter truly felt no insult, this was just how she was after all.