Blood and
Cantrips

The first time Astarion shoves Gale against a tree, it's not a fight — it's surrender dressed as war. Gale's endless incantations die in his throat as the vampire's mouth takes his, rough and tasting of blood-wine and hunger. They fuck in the forest dirt like they're trying to win, all teeth and desperate hands, Gale gasping the wizard's name as Astarion bites down just hard enough to draw copper. Afterward they lie tangled in the dark, neither willing to name the thing that's already claiming them — but when Gale's fingers find Astarion's cold hand in the tent, the vampire doesn't pull away. The camp never asks why they share a tent now, but everyone already knows.