Author's notes:

This is similar to what I picture the room Jade doesn't use a lot looking like. I just wanted to give you an idea of how it was set up but of course you can always picture it how you'd like. I hope that one day I have a huge bedroom like this. That'd be a dream come true.

_______________________

"You look cheerful. It's weird." Asher tells me as I take a seat at our breakfast table.

"Someone got laid," Dean says blatantly. "How was it?"

"Fantastic. Sorry if I kept you up after bedtime but I definitely needed that last night." I say grinning at Derek.

"I can think of worse ways to be kept up all night." He laughs. After the cluster fuck of events yesterday, I needed to unwind. The best way to do that is by doing Derek.

"I don't know how you handle her. Her sex drive is off the charts."

"We all know that's how Jade handles her." Abby pauses looking for the right word. "Emotions." She finally settles on.

"Still doesn't change the fact she's the horniest person I know." Dean points out again. "One of the many reasons why my heart only beats for you." He says placing his hand on his chest causing me to laugh.

"Everyone has their own way of dealing with their problems and your heart beats for any girl who has a nice ass. If you weren't a vampire I bet you'd have five different STI's and a dozen kids." I say. Everyone laughs and agrees with me including Dean.

"Is this normal conversation for mealtime?" Zach chimes in.

"Laughing and having a good time? Yeah, it is. If you don't like it, you can always leave." I offer sweetly.

"No, it's fine. I was just wondering why everyone is so involved in your sex life."

"Jealous again, are we? Looks like I wasn't the only one who needed to get laid last night. They aren't involved in my sex life. I just don't hide the fact that I enjoy sex when the topic arises and Dean's the one who brought it up. He wishes he was involved in my sex life but no matter how many times I tell him it's not going to happen he keeps trying. I have to give him credit for that."

"It'll happen one day. Inside you're dying to find out what it's like to do a vampire." He releases his fangs and gives me a wink.

"Sorry to break it to you but been there, done that. It was quite a disappointment." I lie trying to push away the memories.

"Your mistake was choosing him over me."

"Who says it was a he?" I grin. Abby and Zach choke on the contents in their mouths. "Lighten up guys. Don't be such prudes." I laugh softly.

"I am so lucky." Derek says then takes a sip of his juice.

"It was a joke," I whisper to everyone as if telling them a secret. "It was a guy. When you're done meet me in the conference room. I'll tell you what's going on and we'll configure a plan." I leave them to finish their meal and head downstairs to Deyvon. At least someone has finally slept in that bed. I enter without knocking and find him drying his hair shirtless. "You have definitely grown up since the last time I saw you." I admire the ridges of tight muscle and the v leading down to his jeans.

"When we were last together we weren't even close to hitting puberty but look at us now. You have tits and I have muscles." I smile up at him.

"Thank God for puberty. Without these babies manipulating men would be a lot more difficult. They agree to anything with my girls in their face."

"Really?" He says continuing to dry his hair.

"Yes really. Kind of like you're doing right now." I say laughing.

"Sorry, but last time I saw you, you weren't." He stops talking and gestures his hand in my direction.

"Hot?" I offer. He nods and starts laughing with me. "Put a shirt on. I've set up a meeting in the conference room. Head there when you're done."

      *                            *                               *

While waiting for everyone to finish I decide to use the free time to talk to Cyndi. I knock on the ornate wooden doors softly.

"Come in," Cyndi says.

"Good morning. I hope I'm not interrupting but I wanted to inform you of the job my team and I have been assigned to." Cyndi looks up from her papers with a curious look on her face.

"I assume it involves Deyvon."

"You assume correctly. He has asked for protection for the next two weeks while he's traveling. Someone's been sending him and his protection detail death threats. I'm going to go brief everyone and we're going to come up with a game plan."

"I'll join you. That way you don't have to come explain everything to me when you're done and I can make changes to anything wrong if I see a problem. When are you all meeting?"

"Now. I can hear everyone shuffling into the conference room. They're all there and waiting for me."

"You have the ears of a werewolf." Cyndi looks from me to the closed thick wooden doors.

"They aren't that good but they did keep me out of a lot of trouble when I was young." Cyndi raises a questioning eyebrow at me. That probably wasn't the smartest thing to tell my mother. "Forget I said anything. We should go, sounds like Zach and Deyvon aren't getting along." She lets out a sigh and tucks a stray strand of red hair behind her ear. I follow her tall thin frame out of her office toward the conference room,

"They've never met. What do they have to fight about."

"They are teenage boys. They'll find anything to argue about." I lead us into the office. "Break it up," I order as I enter the room. Deyvon and Zach stand face to face looking ready to strangle each other. At the sound of my order, the two men jump apart.

"You still have eyes in the back of your head, I see," Deyvon says. "You always know what's happening. Even when you aren't around."

"Not eyes, Dev, just really good ears. Everyone take a seat. Cyndi will be joining us." Zach and Deyvon sit on opposite sides of the table. Abby rolls her eyes at them. "Everything we discuss in this room stays here. You are not to discuss it with anybody outside of the room. Got it?"

"Got it." They reply in unison.

"Good. Let's get started." I say standing at the head of the table. "As you know Deyvon is to be crowned in two weeks. We will be protecting him until then. He and his protective detail have been receiving death threats in the form of untraceable letters. He does not want to put them or their families at risk which is why he is having us protect him. We are the best warriors out of all of the schools. Let's show everyone how right they are.

"Now, we need to make a plan for all the occasions Deyvon will be attending. When he is not attending functions he will be on lockdown wherever we are at. Someone will be shadowing him every second. I don't want to take any chances. We need to know everything you have planned while we are watching over you."

"Today I planned for traveling. In two days I have a dinner planned with Barron, the new council representative for the werewolves, as well as other lunches and dinners throughout the week. We meet with Barron at the end of the week again for a party he is hosting in my honor. Saturday is a party hosted by my parents for me and all the other leaders to attend. Next Monday I meet with the fae."

"The fae are always up to no good. What are you meeting them for?" I ask.

"To try and persuade them to join the council. We could use them. They are intelligent and their warriors are trained as well as ours are. We need the numbers on our side and to know they have our backs when we need them."

"I have a bad feeling about it already. All the fae do is manipulate people."

"Yes, but we need them on our side."

"What else do you have planned?"

"More parties but they'll actually be fun. There's a possibility I may have a follow-up meeting with the fae and of course my crowning ceremony. I imagine almost everyone will be there and that will be the last day you'll have to watch me. After the ceremony, I'll be spending all of my time in the council hall."

"Thank you. We need to come up with a plan from today until next Sunday. Transportation, hotels, building layouts, who are attending events. I want every last detail planned out. Time to get to work."

     *                                  *                             *

"Does it look good to you?" I ask Cyndi. For hours we sifted through papers detailing people's lives and making calls. The next few weeks of Deyvon's life are planned out for him. When he isn't at an event he will be at the hotel and a guard will be by his side.

"It's excellent. Deyvon is in very good hands." Cyndi gives me a smile and hands the folder back to me. "Good luck on your mission. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." Then she leaves the room.

"If you haven't finished packing go finish now. We leave in one hour. When you're ready, meet me at the front door of the school." They nod their heads in acknowledgment then head off. I grab my partially packed case from my dorm room and head back downstairs. The door to the bedroom I lent Deyvon is ajar and I find him sprawled out on the bed.

"Is it time to go?" Deyvon asks shooting up from the bed.

"No, I gave them an hour to finish packing. I needed to grab a few things from my closet." I roll the suitcase behind me to the doors of the large closet.

"This is your room?" Deyvon points at the wooden floors. I respond with a nod of my head. "This is your room and you're still staying in that tiny dorm room?" He asks incredulously. I throw an array of clothes into my suitcase then zip it up when I'm satisfied.

"I barely use my tiny dorm but yes, I prefer using that one over this one. It's closer to the training room. You should have come sooner about wanting us to be your protection."

"I sent letters, remember?" He points out. I yank my suitcase behind me and gesture for him to follow me.

"Yes, but if you really wanted to get in contact with me you could have. We both know there are multiple ways for you to have given me the message."

"You're right. I'm sorry for making it so last minute but I had too. If Michal and Chris knew what I had planned they would have never agreed. They're very loyal."

"Oh, those must be your two little pets from last night," I say connecting the dots. Side by side we walk together to the front of the school.

"You could use their names now that you know them." A small growl escapes my throat.

"Those academy bred brats are nothing but pets. My thoughts on the academy have not and will not change."

"I can see that." Deyvon eyes me up and down noticing my uptight posture. "You know things have changed dramatically since you were last enrolled."

"Drop it," I say sharply

"I'm just saying its completely different-."

"Enough!" The order is met immediately with silence. The only sound is the word echoing off the walls.

"Everything okay?" Zach asks as he rounds the corner from the end of the hall.

"Of course, why wouldn't it be?" Deyvon's expression is cool and composed. The two men stare each other down harshly. I notice their stare down and wonder what could possibly be going on between the two of them.

"If we're done with your silent pissing match. I'd like to fill Deyvon in on our plans for the day." After one last glare at each other, they turn their attention to me.

"We'll be going to the airport to use your private plane to go to Los Angeles. By the time we get there it'll be late. We have reservations at a hotel until it is time for Barron's party. The hotel is in the heart of L.A. and an equal distance from all the places you have meetings at. Either Abby or I will be at your side every moment you are out of the hotel. We have no idea who's after you, what they want, or who's on their side. That means you have to be ready at every second in case whoever it is comes for you. When I say run, or anyone else does, you run. No hesitation, understand?"

"Yes, you aren't my first bodyguards but you are the first one to ever boss me around."

"No, we aren't but we are the first bodyguards you have that know someone has targeted you. At this time with all your traveling and meetings, you'll be vulnerable. They know that. At some point, they will make their move and I need you to be ready when they do." My stern blue eyes stare into his letting him know how serious I am. This is his life and he trusted me to protect it.

"I understand." The sound of voices and the roll of suitcases bring my attention to the end of the hall.

"Good. Zach and I are going to check the plane and make sure it's safe. Wait here for the others. They'll be here soon. I'll give Ash a call when we know it's safe." I start heading for the door. "Leave your bag. They'll bring them for us when we contact them. Put in this earpiece." Without looking beside me I hold the earpiece out to my side. He takes the small piece of equipment and tucks it in his ear.

"How does it work?"

"Double click the button if you want to keep the com open. Click and hold for short responses. It's nice and easy for you." The portal of the school takes us to the tarmac of the airport where the private plane awaits.

"What are we checking for?" I let out an annoyed sigh. "What is it now?"

"Your inexperience never ceases to amaze me and it's hard to amaze me."

"And why's that?"

"Because I've seen and done a lot of things. Some I wish I could erase from my memory. We are checking the plane and surrounding area to make sure that we don't have any unwanted guests or devises on the plane." He stares at me in shock causing me to let a groan. "If you can't handle this, open a portal to take your ass back home. I don't have the time or patience to hold your hand through this. We have been put in charge of the princes' life and I don't need any dead weight on my team."

"Sometimes I forget how blatant you are and grouchy." I turn my attention to him with a smirk on my face.

"People act fake in order to please others but you won't get that from me and for some reason, you seem to annoy me very easily. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that you ask stupid questions you could answer on your own. I can tell that you have the ability to be a great warrior. You just need to believe in yourself and start using the powers you have." I stare into his green eyes and look at him curiously. There's something about him. He's gorgeous but doesn't act like most Nephilim men do, cocky and arrogant, and he's hiding something. Something that I can't see when I try to peek inside his head. "You and I aren't so different you know. You've been through a dark life-changing experience that almost tore you apart. You don't get close to people and you act all nice but we both know you have a dark side. One that you try your hardest to hide. You can't hide from me. I can see everything." His jaw tenses and he balls his hands into tight fists at his side. The wind blows strands of his blond hair in front of his now darkened green eyes. "There he is," I whisper. My dark hair blows wildly around us. It's only then that I've realized we've stopped walking. All of a sudden his body relaxes.

"I'm pretty sure you aren't the know it all you think you are. I bet you don't know what I'm thinking of right now." He runs a hand through his hair pushing it out of his eyes. I place my hands on the handles of my swords to keep them at my side. "I can tell what you are thinking of right now." He leans forward bringing us face to face. His lips hover over mine and when I tilt my head up to bring my face closer, a smirk spreads across his face. I shove the thought of his lips and how soft they felt out of my head.

"Nice deflection. You'll talk when you're ready. Until then continue acting as if you're fine" I turn away from him and head to the plane. After a quick but thorough inspection of the plane, we find nothing. "Ash, do you copy?"

"Yes, is it clear?"

"Everything is clear. Don't forget my bag."

"Or mine." Zach chimes in. A moment later they all appear on the tarmac next to the plane. Dean lets out a low whistle.

"What's it like having your own private plane?" He asks as he daydreams about it.

"Not as glamorous as it seems. Usually, I'm alone except for Michal and Chris. I have yet to join the mile-high club but maybe tonight that'll change." Deyvon grins winking at Abby.

"Sorry, but I wouldn't want to risk the wrath of your parents if they ever found out." Abby laughs.

"What are you smirking about, Zach?" Ash asks looking at him confused.

"Oh, nothing. Jade won't admit it but she almost kissed me again. Seems like I'm not a bad kisser after all. Since she was coming back for more." He says winking at me.

"You're delusional. I think you should go back to the school. Leave this to the professionals." I say as I walk past him onto the plane.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." He laughs. Everyone follows me onto the plane and when I look back at Zach and see the smile on his face. I can't help but smile back at him.