From their vantage point at the top of the hill, Sidney spotted a car acting strangely as it emerged from the mountain pass, traveling much faster than the couple it overtook on precarious bends. It forced one of those it overtook to swerve off road to avoid impact. She had to concentrate harder than usual on blocking out Callie and Nico's chatter in order to hear the occupants thoughts. Her inability to differentiate between the two gave her a headache, repercussions from whatever spell Lana placed on her the week before.

"Will you two shut up for five minutes? I can't hear myself think, never mind anyone else with the racket you two make," Sidney snapped, startling Callie into abrupt silence. After a moment of peace she was able to gather the information she needed. "Micah sent two shifters to take care of the problem. They're only a couple of minutes away, let's go."

At Callie's insistence, Nico waited behind a hedge at the end of the lane until Micah's men entered the house, stating they'd smell him as soon as they got out of the car. He knew she was right, but his wolf wanted to protect her, wanted her to be the one to remain outside while he took care of the bad guys. He couldn't however, fight the command she gave and waited until the second shifter's foot crossed the threshold before sprinting for the house.

As he entered, he saw the first shifter lying face down on the living room floor with Callie sitting across his back. She waved Nico through to the kitchen where Sidney wrestled with the larger male.

Ducking just in time to avoid a chair the shifter swung in her direction, Sidney rolled under the table and grabbed the shifter by the legs, yanking him off his feet. Once she made eye contact, the fight was over, leaving Nico wondering why she didn't batter them like she normally would.

"There'll be fewer questions if they return uninjured," Sidney replied to Nico's unspoken thought. "Besides, I have a feeling there'll be plenty of fights once we make it into camp." She took Nico's pro-offered hand, thanking him for his help as he pulled her out from below the table and onto her feet. "Out you come, Russel. Go join your buddy in the sitting room."

"I still don't understand why Callie has to feed on them," Nico said, placing a hand on Sidney arm to stop her from following the shifter to the other room. "Can't you just compel them to do what you say?"

Sidney snorted in amusement. "Compulsion is only as strong as their will is weak. The more stubborn the subject, the more likely they are to break it. And, unlike whatever Callie's bite did to you, I can only make them do one simple thing at a time. Callie's bite is more than compelling, it's ..."

"An inexplicable devotion," Nico supplied at Sidney's hesitation. "A desire to please her no matter the cost. Even though I know that what I feel is because of her bite, I want to be with her. She completes me."

"There you go. You've answered your own question better than I could. We need them to have that sort of loyalty so they'll protect her when you're not around to do it."

"I thought we'd settled this? She goes nowhere without me."

Callie rolled her eyes in exasperation, getting up from her seat on the shifters back to sit in a slightly more comfortable armchair. With a wave of her hand, she beckoned the shifter closer so he sat on the floor between her knees, facing away from her.

His shoulder muscles bunched beneath her touch. "Relax, I've been assured you'll enjoy the experience," she whispered, her warm breath tickling just below his ear.

Course stubble-hair prickled her parted lips. Callie pressed harder, feeling the elastic-pop of her teeth piercing his taught skin. Salty sweetness exploded onto her tongue. She forced herself to take no more than a few mouthfuls before withdrawing her fangs.

"That should do the trick," Callie said and patted the shifter on the head, much as she would an obedient dog. "Sidney?" she called over her shoulder. "It's your turn to feed."