Val felt like they had been transported to an alternate universe, or back in time. Victoria had led them down to a subterranean city that started under the city. Val had marveled upon entering the vast space and wondered how they managed to keep it hidden from the human population. Beyond that, they had kept it secret from the scrutiny of Heaven and Hell, not an easy task.

There was pandemonium all around as people rushed to and fro to put out fires and help the injured. Zack had been unable to stop himself from kneeling by an injured child to begin healing a burn on her arm. Val had stopped next to a flaming blacksmith shop still and sucked the fire from the wood and into herself.

Their entrance had gone largely unnoticed, but the more their group helped, the more people stopped to watch. While the shouting was still abundant around them, the groups closer were reduced to whispers. There was mistrust in their eyes, but Val noticed an alarming rate beginning to pay obeisance to her.

"Victoria, why are they doing that?" Val asked.

"They know you are His Majesties mate. It was announced the day he met you. They assume your presence here means he has succeeded in his challenge," Victoria explained. "But they are confused that you are not marked and that you are not fully human."

Val applied herself to consuming the flames of another building while a couple of trolls bearing a litter ran by with a groaning wolf. Zack had moved on to heal a man that Bachon and Z had just pulled from some rubble. Val looked up to the high ceiling that looked like a sunny sky speckled with puffy clouds.

She could see fields in the distance that surrounded the city. The space had to be larger than the footprint of the tower. They must be deeper underground than she had thought or else the humans would have noticed long before now during excavations for construction projects.

"We ask for reinforcements and only receive four members of the Guard?" a gruff voice asked.

Val took note of the deep curtsy that Victoria performed and turned to the source of the voice. He was tall and fair, with long braided hair that exposed his pointed ears. His attire blended with the rest of the underground Renaissance town, but his armor gleamed with the same vibrance as Zack's.

"Three guards," Val corrected. "And we aren't here for you, we are here for Alexander."

The man was clearly riled by Val's familiar use of Alexander's name as he raised his arm. There was a sudden flurry of movement that resolved into Zack as he grabbed the man's wrist.

"I would advise against such an action," Zack told him in a deadly calm.

"She must be punished for her impertinence," the elf declared.

Zack abruptly let go and stepped back. He stepped aside and performed a slight bow as he extended an arm to Val.

"By all means my lord," Zack said with humor. "I look forward to you king's mate returning the sentiment as she burns you to a crisp."

The elf looked at Val in sudden alarm. His raised fist jerked down as he thumped his chest, dropped to a knee, and bowed.

"Forgive me, my lady," the elf begged. "The image I had been shown of you was in human form. It is no excuse; I should have recognized you."

Val was frustrated beyond words. There were things that needed to be done around them, but everyone seemed more concerned with customs and courtesies.

"Get up already," Val grumped. "Who are you?"

The elf rose quickly to his full height.

"Aeron Everlight, Counselor of the Armies to His Majesty, at your service my lady," Aeron proclaimed.

Val nodded to Zack, and he went back to his work healing the wounded around him. Val reached out her arm to Aeron and he reached out to grasp it. He stopped short at seeing the black streaks that were tracing along her hand and halfway to the elbow.

"You've been bitten," Aeron remarked.

"Yes, by a black lycan as I was trying to find the children," Val informed him.

The dull pain was turning back into a throbbing again, but she did not want to detract from Zack's task. She could deal with the annoyance, there were many others in more need than her.

"Where are the heirs now? Are they alive?" Aeron demanded.

"I left them with some people I can trust to keep them safe and hidden," Val divulged.

Aeron nodded his acceptance.

"Best not to say more then, there are spies in our midst," Aeron told her. "We need to get you down to the hospital. They won't be able to stop the progression of the traitor's bite, but they can slow it down."

Val called the others and waited for them to come back.

"Lead the way Aeron. You'll have to forgive my lapse of knowledge, I am not a member of the Guard and I was not aware Alexander was a lycan until I came for the children," Val admitted. "We can walk and talk."

Aeron performed a sharp nod of deference before turning on his heel and barking out orders to those surrounding them. They were quickly encircled by soldiers as they began walking down the rough road.

"If these soldiers can be utilized elsewhere, they should be," Val pointed out.

"The citizens of the kingdom all train for emergencies such as this, we are a well oiled machine, my lady. Your safety is paramount at the moment," Aeron told her.

Val looked around and could see the truth in his words. While the scene had appeared to be chaos and pandemonium as they had entered, it was organized chaos. Everyone running about seemed to have a mission.

"How has this all remained hidden?" Val asked him.

"A little bit of Elven magic mixed with lycan blood in the building materials," Aeron explained. "Forgive me, but does His Majesty know you are a demon? He never mentioned it."

"Cambion," Val corrected. "I believed he was human until I saw him bound on the floor, in what I assume is his throne room. I'm sure you know the laws of Hell prohibit me from revealing my true form to humans for the most part."

Aeron nodded, understanding coming across his features. Aeron looked back at Zack before looking at Val again.

"I take it your boyfriend there didn't know either. If I am not mistaken, citizens of Hell and Heaven were forbidden to engage in relationships a long time ago," Aeron pointed out.

Val looked back at Zack and her heart shattered all over again at his soft smile. He was glorious in all his armor with his wings tucked behind him. She was not sure how she would keep Alexander from killing him yet, but she was determined.

"Yes, it has been a day of revelations," Val agreed. "How did you know he was my boyfriend?"

"His Majesty appointed me to keep tabs on you. He was worried something would happen to you before he could reveal himself and claim you properly," Aeron explained.

The feeling of constantly being watched suddenly made more sense. A flush crept up her cheeks as she remembered her passionate weekend with Zack and wondered how much he had witnessed. While she was accustomed to an audience, she knew Zack had been a virgin. She did not think he would be pleased to know their activities had been observed.

"I only saw the first act," Aeron informed her in a whisper. "I was called back almost immediately. The bond had not been as strong your first weekend of entertainment and he had been able to maintain his control. It was different this time, he felt your connection to your angel there."

Val had not been aware that lycans were affected by mate bonds in that manner. It made sense, she knew it to be a highly intimate tie between two beings. She had thought marking was required first for such a closely felt connection though.

The road suddenly curved to a corner and then dipped down a ramp. Val was again struck by the enormity of the underground city. While the lower level contained much of the fairy tale village features on the upper level, there was a different ambiance in the lighting from above. She also saw more stone incorporated in the buildings down here compared to the wood and thatch structures she had seen above.

While above had housed fields of crops and orchards, down here the fields were largely filled with livestock. There was vegetation down here, but it was more of the variety found to thrive and bloom under the light of the moon. The air itself felt different down here. Vampires, she realized as one rushed by.

Val marveled at the ingenuity of the lighting; they must have filtered out the wavelengths of light that were toxic to their skin. There did not appear to have been as much damage done down here as on the upper level.

"I thought lycans and vampires were enemies," Val said to Aeron.

"They are in the old world. His Majesty has worked hard to cultivate a welcoming kingdom for all who are tired of the old wars," Aeron told her.

They finally reached the end of a cobblestone road and Val paused at the modern exterior of the building. It looked like she could be standing in an ambulance bay for a hospital topside. People were running all about, triaging and treating as they went. She saw more trolls moving around as they carted patients off at the dictates of others.

"Z, call Ama. Tell her we need as many healers and medically trained people as possible," Val dictated.

Z pulled out his phone and grimaced.

"No signal down here. I'll have to go to her," he said.

Val nodded. They needed all the help they could get right now. She was torn between feeling an obligation to stay and do her part or search for Alexander. She looked at Zack, already working to heal wounds, and found herself even more torn.