"Guns don't kill vampires," Sasha spoke slowly.

"You've had a lot to drink tonight," Michael growled and rested the muzzle of his gun against Sasha's temple.

Sasha breathed out a long hiss and sighed, "Well, my dear, I guess our date night will have to wait."

He let go of my arms and gently brushed a finger over my cheek. Michael grabbed him by the shoulder and threw him out the elevator. Sasha fell on his ass and called out, "You were made for me, Lorna."

He then pressed two fingers against his lips and poked his tongue out between them. A wave nausea bubbled up inside me and I had to look away. Michael moved in front of me, his broad back blocking my view of Sasha.

"You can't have her, Michael. You're not a real boy!" Sasha yelled.

Michael slammed fist against the elevator button and the doors slid shut. 

Turning to me, he lightly framed my face with his fingers and asked, "Are you okay?"

I thought about his question and didn't know how to respond. I was okay, but I wasn't okay. Sasha had just attacked me.

When I didn't reply, Michael inched closer to me and said, "It's okay, your safe."

"You pointed a gun at his head," I whispered.

"Yeah, I'll get my ass raked across the coals for doing that - but it was worth it. Sasha will think twice before touching you again." 

The elevator doors ping opened and I looked out onto the empty corridor. I knew that I had to leave the elevator and return back to my apartment, but I didn't want to -  I was scared. The apartment would be empty, and Magda and Francesca could be gone for several more hours. 

There was nothing stopping Sasha from coming down here and finding me.

Michael caught my elbow and lightly tugged on it. "Come on, I'll walk you back to your apartment."

"Michael, would you stay with me?" I asked.

Michael's eyebrows drew together in worry. "Did that shit stain frighten you?"

"Just a little," I confessed.

He nodded his head and slipped his arm around my waist. Pulling me close, we walked back to the apartment together. As we moved, I felt so small against Michael's enormous frame. He position his body around me, like a human shield. 

Opening the door of the apartment, we both walked in. The lights's flickered on and Michael locked the door behind us.

"I'll stay with you tonight," he said, "I can sleep on the couch and keep watch on the front door."

I glanced towards the front door and asked, "Do you think he'll try to get in?"

"No, I don't. But, I'll stay, if it makes you feel safe."

"Thank you," I smiled.

He smiled back at me and said, "Let me check your head."

I reached up and touched the back of my head. It was slightly sore from where Sasha had pushed me into the wall - but it wasn't nearly as painful as the bite mark Michael had left on my neck.

Taking a seat on the couch, Michael stood behind me and gently parted my hair.

"Keep still," he hummed as he checked for any bits of broken mirror or glass.

I held still for a few moments and asked, "Why did you bite me?"

Michael stilled and drew in a steady breathe. "I didn't bite you. I marked you."

"You bit me."

"No, marking is different - a mark is a message. That mark lets everyone know that you belong to me."

"Are you kidding? I'm not thing that you can own!"

"Look, I only marked you in the same way, that you marked me."

"What do you mean?"

"Let me show you," he said, positioning himself in front of me.

I watched in surprise as he suddenly peeled off his t-shirt and kneeled in front of me. Heat crawled across my face as I stared at his chest. He was ripped, like, seriously ripped. I'd never seen such muscle definition on a human body before.

"Are you okay," he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm just processing all of that," I said, gesturing at his torso.

"Why, is something wrong?"

"Oh no, nothing is wrong."

"Good, now give me your hand."

"What?"

"Your hand, Lorna."

I lifted my hand and gave it to him. I felt the electricity sparkle between us as our skin touched. Taking my hand, he rested it on his shoulder. 

"Do you see the little white dots here," he said, pointing to his neck.

I leaned forward and saw two white pin point scars on his neck. "I see them."

"That's your mark."

"My mark?"

"Yeah, it's like a little stamp that tells everyone else 'back off, he's mine'."

"Really? Is that how it works?" I asked sounding kind of breathless.

"Yes," he murmured, sliding his hand over mine.

I stilled, as my whole body became aware of his. He was moving closer, pulling me gently to him. I opened my mouth to say something to break the tension, but he was so close I couldn't even think let alone speak. His fingertips caught my chin and tilted my head upwards. He leaned forward and gently kissed me.

My palms slid down his shoulder, over his chest. I felt his hand moving around my waist, pulling me closer against his body. The heat of his skin, burned through the material of my dress as he kissed me. He whispered my name against my lips and said, "We belong to each other, Lorna."

I opened my eyes and leaned forward to kiss him again.

Michael smiled, cupping my face and grazing his lips across mine, "We need to stop. Your parents will be home soon."

"Technically, I'm in my thirties. I don't need Francesca or Magda's permission to kiss you... they are not even my real parents."

The front door slammed shut.

It was Magda and she looked furious. She pointed her finger at Michael and yelled, "Are you stupid? What the hell were you thinking, pointing a weapon at Sasha?"

Michael stood up in front of me and growled, "He deserved it," Michael growled.

Magda picked up his shirt and threw it at him. "He probably did deserve... but that's not what the rest of the coven think."

"So what happened?"

"He went to Duncan and told him that you marked Lorna. Is that true, did you mark her?" Magda demanded.

"We both knew that this would happen sooner or later," he replied calmly.

Magda lost it and flew at him, screaming in Russian.

"How could you let this happen? How are we supposed to tell Duncan?" she yelled.

Michael paled and shook his head, "I don't know... but I won't let him take her away from me."

"And I will not let you take my daughter away from me," Magda countered sharply.

They both fell silent.

I didn't understand what was happening, but I knew from their expressions, it was grave. Duncan was the leader of the coven and from what little I knew of him, he hated Michael and the slayers.

"I should go and speak with him," I said standing up.

"No," Michael said, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"This is my fault. I ran out of the hotel that night. It's only right that I should be the one who explains this to Duncan."

Magda shook her head, "No, you don't know him, Lorna. You will stay down here, in the apartment where it is safe. Francesca will speak to him on your behalf."

"I can speak for myself. I will tell him what happened and explain that it was me who marked Michael first," I said.

Magda's eyes widened and she mouthed, "You, marked him, first?"

I nodded and she rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath in Russian.

"Perhaps, it could work," she eventually sighed. "Duncan may think differently of the situation if he believes that you are in control of Michael rather than the slayers in control of you."

She held her hand out to me and I took it. 

"I will take you to his office, but Michael must stay here," she said.

Michael's face became an unreadable mask of stone when he heard this. "I don't think that this is a good idea," he hazarded.

"I'll be fine," I said, offering him a smile.

He raked his fingers through his head and said, "Okay, but if you're not back here in the thirty minutes, I'll take it as a sign that something has gone wrong and I will come for you - I swear."

He shot a dark look at Magda and paced to the far side of the room. Magda ignored him and led me towards the front door. I felt sick inside. I didn't want to leave Michael. He had become my security blanket in a world of unknowns. But I had to do this... I had to be brave and face Duncan alone.