"Do you feel comfortable with Hayden?"

Ezra's eyes glowed in the dimly-lit room. We were in our cabin back on campus, where we spent the night. I barely slept. It was now dawn, and Ezra was getting ready to join the others to raid the club.

I watched him emerge from the closet, dressed in cargo pants and a black t-shirt, and my heart dipped lower into my stomach.

Sitting up in bed, I wrapped my arms around my raised knees. "I guess. I never really talked to him a lot, though."

Tucking his phone in his pocket, he sat next to me. "He's going to stay with you. Dad insisted Sam comes with me. I'll feel better knowing Hayden is with you. He's strong."

"Do you have to go?" I asked, my eyes pleading. I didn't want him to go. It was a trap. My guts were all tied up in knots, had been since yesterday.

He sighed and pressed a kiss to my neck. "I have to. Although there are more fun things I can think of doing right now."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed his face. "I'm serious."

Smiling, he brushed the back of his fingers against my cheek. "I have to go. I can't expect people to do things for me. I can't let them fight on my behalf. What kind of leader would that make me?

"Besides, this has to do with you. I can't let someone else get his hands on that asshole first, whoever he is."

"Just be careful. Please. I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Don't worry, baby," he said, but I could feel his uneasiness through the bond. "I'm taking a mini army with me. And anyway, the most important part of me will stay in a safe place."

The most important part-? Oh. He meant me.

I flushed, my heart melting into a puddle. "Very smooth, your highness."

Still, the vise around my heart refused to loosen. But Ezra had to do this. While I understood that, it didn't mean that I liked it.

"I'll be back before you know it," he said. "I love you."

"Love you too. Just be careful," I mumbled. He kissed me. Then he was gone.

The door closed behind him, and with it my heart tore into two.

I curled into a ball under the covers and tried to reign in my emotions. But he could feel them through the bond, sparking his own conflicted feelings.

I knew it was stupid. I was overreacting. But I couldn't help it. Even my magic was stirring wildly, wanting to follow him so it could protect him.

But we couldn't do anything.

"It's going to be okay," I whispered to myself. "He's going to be fine."

***

Haley was already downstairs, with Gray. The pup trotted towards me, tail wagging. I scooped him up with a groan, he was getting heavier.

"Hey, little cutie," I mumbled against his fur. His weight and warmth and soft fur alleviated some of my anxiety.

Gray licked my cheek and wiggled. I let him go, and he went back to his bowl of food.

Haley sat at the island, nursing a cup of coffee. "Good morning."

"Morning," I said, heading to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and stared at it, unseeing. I didn't have the stomach for anything. I closed the fridge and turned.

Haley gave me knowing smile and opened her arms. "Come here."

Grateful, I walked into her hug. She rubbed my back. "He's going to be fine. He's taking a dozen warriors with him, and Sam is going as well. He'll take care of him."

I pulled back and sat next to her. "I know. I just... I feel uneasy."

"You can link him, right?" I nodded. "Then you'll know if something happens. He can take care of himself. He's a good fighter and he's not reckless. He knows what he's doing. Don't worry."

I let out a shuddering breath. If something happened to him, I was going to kick his butt.

"Hayden's here," Haley grumbled, standing up to open the door for her brother.

"Morning little sis," Hayden said with a grin.

"Morning jerk."

"There's coffee if you want it, Hayden," I told him.

He made a beeline straight to Haley's mug and took a big gulp.

"Eww! You can drink it now!" she said, shoving his arm.

He made a face and put the mug down. "No, thanks. Too much sugar."

"Jerk," Haley muttered, swiping her mug away.

Hayden headed for the coffee machine.

"There's cream and sugar if you want," I told him.

"I drink it plain black, thanks,"

"Just like his soul," Haley mumbled, taking her seat next to me.

"I heard that," Hayden said, pouring himself a mug of steaming black coffee.

"You were supposed to."

I chuckled. Siblings.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Expecting someone?" Haley asked.

I frowned, moving to open the door. "No. Maybe it's Ashley?"

I pulled the door open and froze. This was last person I expected to see.

"Hey," Joanna said, her voice tight. She shuffled uncomfortably on her feet. My magic stirred. I did not like seeing her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, genuinely curious, and a bit irritated. She was wearing an oversized hoodie that dwarfed her thin figure.

"Can I come in?" she said, glancing around. The hour was too early for students to wake up, and outside was deserted. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Talk to me? Last time we talked wasn't exactly a pleasant experience."

"I-I know," she stammered. I furrowed my brows. What was wrong with her? She was too fidgety.

"I want a chance to explain myself. I want to apologize, if you can let me in."

I wasn't comfortable with letting her into a space I only shared with people dear to me, but I wasn't going to deny her a chance to explain herself.

I know how being misunderstood felt like, and although I doubted what had happened between us was a simple misunderstanding, I still wanted to hear what she had to say for herself.

So I stepped aside and waved her in, closing the door. Haley shot to her feet. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Next to Haley, Gray growled, baring sharp teeth at Joanna. Hayden put his mug on the counter and took a step closer.

"I just wanted to apologize," Joanna said, her voice shaking.

I walked to stand beside Haley and put my hand on her arm, stopping her from taking another step towards Joanna. My magic swirled, a dangerous premonition twisting my guts. It was trying to tell me something.

Something was off.

"Get away from her!" Hayden called.

Joanna threw something on the floor. It shattered, painting the floor a rusty red. Hayden pulled me and Haley behind him. But it was too late.

Four hooded men popped into existence. One right in front of Hayden who'd just held his hands up. Taking Hayden by surprise, the man shoved him before Hayden's magical shield could flicker into existence, shoved Haley out of the way, then reached for me.

It all happened in one quick second. A blink of an eye.

One of the men was behind me already, choking my neck with his arm. I struggled, finally finding my voice to scream, my magic quivering inside. The man put a rag on my mouth and nose. A sharp scent filled my nose. And my vision dimmed, its edges darkening.

The sound of fighting behind me. Gray's growls. The man holding me cursing and jerking. Gray's small form being thrown aside, hitting the glass coffee table.

The last thing I saw as my consciousness slipped out of my grasp like sand was Gray, laying motionless in a puddle of blood. Hayden, eyes glowing as he grabbed one of the men. The back door opening, two guards barreling through.

Too late.

The bond twisted. Then it all went black.

***

"Orla! Orla, wake up!"

My eyes shot open, heart thumping wildly. The urgent voice, though raspy and exhausted, was familiar.

The face hovering over me cleared up as I blinked. Hayden. He stared down at me, his skin ashy and glimmering with perspiration, and his features tight. It took me a moment to get my bearing about me. Another moment for the memories to trickle in. Joanna. That bitch.

"Thank God," Hayden mumbled, scooting back so I could sit up. I closed my eyes for a moment until my spinning head stilled, then took in our surroundings.

We were in a cell.

That much was clear, if not by the dark brick walls and the metal door, then by the chains that clinked as Hayden moved. Both his hands and feet were chained.

The only light streamed in through the tiny barred window on the metal door. The space smelled like must, overlayed by a stinky smell, the origins of which I didn't want to think of.

"Are those silver?" I said, my voice a croak. His wrists looked burned raw where the manacles touched.

"Yes. They don't want me to link anybody. One of the things silver is good for. Well, good or bad, depending on your perspective."

"But I can-"

"Shh," he rushed out, eyes wide. Shaking his head, he nodded towards the metal door. Right. Someone could be listening. Linking was an advantage. Without a mark, they wouldn't expect me to be able to link.

'Link him,' Hayden mouthed.

I focused inward. The bond was there, but it felt asleep, distant. As soon as I reached for it, however, wild emotions and Ezra's voice shot through it.

"Orla, please talk to me."

"Ezra?"

He'd probably been trying to link me. The bond groaned under the force of his relief.

"Orla?! Orla, baby, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, wrapping my arms around myself. I felt chilled to the bone. "Hayden is here with me."

"Where are you? Do you know?"

"I-I don't know," I said. "I was unconscious. I just woke up. We're in some sort of cell right now."

After a moment of thundering silence, he spoke. "Does Hayden know anything? We can't reach him."

"Silver, and let me ask." I looked at Hayden. "Do you remember anything? Where we are? Anything at all?"

"Teleportation magic," he said. My eyes widened. "I was able to come with you because I held onto one of them at the last second. But as soon as we reached the destination, they knocked me out. I could tell we were in the middle of the woods, though."

I relayed Hayden's words to Ezra, who cursed.

"Is Haley okay?" I asked. "And Gray?"

"Haley is fine." he said. "A little burned because of the silver, but she's okay."

"Silver?"

"Yeah, they had gloves coated with silver on, according to Haley."

"Oh. What about Gray. He was hurt."

Ezra hesitated. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. "Ezra? What about Gray?"

"I'm sorry, baby. He hit his head on the corner of the table. He died before Haley could help him."

I covered my mouth. Shocked. Oh my God. Poor Gray. Poor baby Gray.

"Orla? What is it? Is it Haley? Is she okay?" Hayden inched closer, eyes wide.

My throat tightened, but I managed to speak, "Haley is fine. But Gray..."

His brows tugged down. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head and closed my eyes, swallowing past the knot in my throat. I couldn't dwell on it. Not here. Not now.

"Orla?" Ezra said. "We'll get you out of there. I'll find you. Just keep your link open, and if you see anything that might helps us find your location, let me know immediately, okay? And don't let them know you can link me."

"Alright."

"And baby? Please, just- just stay alive, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

Bringing my knees to my chest, I scooted closer to Hayden. There was a pause before Ezra replied, his voice thick with emotions. "I love you too, baby. I love you too."

"Thank you," I told Hayden.

He turned his head towards me. "What for?"

"For coming along. You didn't have to."

He regarded me in silence for a few seconds, then leaned his head back on the wall and closed his eyes. "I'd rather be here than with Ezra. He would have castrated me if I was there."

I frowned. "It's not your fault."

"He entrusted your safety to me. Despite the unexpected circumstances, I was still responsible for your safety, and I failed."

I sighed. "Stubborn males."

Hayden chuckled. "At least Joanna will finally get what she deserves. She was the one who got them in."

I figured as much. No wonder she was so nervous. "How?"

"She had bespelled blood."

"Bespelled blood?"

"One of the forbidden ways to teleport. Any magic that uses blood is forbidden, and this particuar way of teleportation relies on blood. You need to have the blood of the people who will teleport, and cast a specific spell on it, among other details."

"Why is it forbidden?" I asked.

"Blood magic enables the witch to deal with magic that he or she wouldn't be able to control otherwise. It also makes them crave more power, and the only to get it is through more blood. Usually, they end up in a crazed state of power hunger. Most witches who dabble in it end up killing others for more blood, and thus more power. It's a slippery slope."

Huh. I never knew. I guess I should spend more time with Haley and Hayden.

"Is it the only way to teleport?"

"No. But it takes a lot of practice and a certain level of magic mastery to teleport normally. Without blood magic, that is," he said. "There are only a few witches alive who can do it. I can't. My father can, but it usually leaves him drained."

"I see."

My guts churned at the extent of Joanna's betrayal. How could she betray everyone like that? Why would she? Did she really hate me that much? To the point of letting in enemies into pack territory?

Wait... "Could she also be the person who was keeping tabs on our whereabouts?"

Hayden nodded. "A strong possibility."

That bitch.

I sighed, stood up on shaky legs and snuck to the door. The barred window was too high for me. Why did I have to be so short?

I stood on my tiptoes and peeked. All I could see was a dimly lit hallway. I strained my ears. Nothing. This was the second time in twenty four hours that I wished I had werewolf hearing.

I went back to sit next to Hayden.

"So," I said, "the person who sent the rogues yesterday and the person who kidnapped us are the same, right?"

"Probably," he replied. "Unless you're really popular and have more than one villain after you."

I chuckled. I felt bad that Hayden had to be stuck here with me. But at the same time, having someone I knew was better than being alone.

What would they want with me?

I tried to push back my fear. There was no reason to alarm Ezra. The bond was already strained as it was.

"Promise me something," Hayden said, looking at me, his blue eyes firm. "If you get the chance to get out of here on your own, take it. Don't stop until you reach Ezra."

"I'm not just going to leave you here. Who knows what they might do to you?"

These people, whoever they were, wanted me. So Hayden was dispensable for them. They might even kill him if he was no longer useful. They probably kept him alive to use as leverage over me.

"You have to," he retorted. "If something happens to you... it's going to be bad. For everyone involved. Promise me."

I couldn't make a promise I wouldn't keep. And I didn't have to. Because footsteps sounded outside, getting closer. Hayden and I exchanged a tense look and watched the door. Seconds later, it squeaked open.

Two men, wearing black hoodies, stood in the door. The hoods were pulled low over their faces, and with the light at their back, their features were a black shadow.

Hayden and I stiffened. One of them walked in, heading straight for me. Panic seized me and I froze. Hayden tried tripping the man, getting between me and him, but the other guy zipped towards him and jerked him up by his neck, pushing him against the wall.

There was a sizzling sound. Hayden groaned. The two men were wearing gloves. It must be the silver.

The first man yanked me up by the arm. It felt like it was going to be dislocated. I tried getting away, but he was too strong. My magic twisted, flowing to my hands then rushing back inside, unable to help.

"Let her go," Hayden said, his voice strained.

The man dragged me out of the cell. I glanced over my shoulder. The other let go of Hayden and kicked him in the ribs.

"Leave him alone! He's not doing anything!" I said.

"Move," the man jerked me forward. The other stepped away from Hayden, got out and locked the door, stuffing a ring of keys in the pocket of his hoodie. He followed us, his presence raising the hairs on the back of my neck.

Heart racing. Throat dry. I couldn't keep the fear at bay. The man lead me through a long, dark hallway, cell doors left and right, until we reached a bigger door at the end.

He opened it. Without a key, this time. Down another hallway. Another door. No key. I stored the information with the part of my brain that wasn't addled with fear.

The space on the other side of the door was so unexpectedly different, it was almost jarring. It was some kind of living room space, sparsely furnished with two plain black couches and a wooden table. Large, barred windows let in the faint light of the thick woods outside. The space was clean, the air stale.

The man knocked on one of the doors and pushed it open. So far, only the cell door was locked with a key.

The room we entered was illuminated by a lamp set on a table, right next to a brown leather couch. A few chairs were scattered around another table in the middle. Standing behind the couch, facing away from us, was a cloaked person.

Blood rushed to my ears. The cloaked people in my dream hunted down the fairy females. And their goal, as Ezra had told me, was to make them bear their children and produce stronger supernaturals.

If this person was one of them... if he knew I was a fairy...

My knees almost knocked together. Fear choked me.

Calm down!

In an attempt to calm down, I reached for the bond, and Ezra's voice exploded through. I must've been blocking it again.

"Orla, are you okay? What's wrong? Orla!"

"I'm fine."

"What happened? Why are you afraid?"

"Nothing. Don't worry," I said, right as the cloaked man turned.

My heart stopped, Ezra's voice fading to the background.

The cloaked man, his features shaded, snapped the book in his hands shut and threw it next to the lamp. I glanced down. Sure enough, his fingers were tattooed. VI.

He dropped the cloak's hood. Irises edged in crimson red. Shoulder-length black hair. Trim black beard. Ivory skin. His straight, long nose and deep set eyes gave him an aristocratic vibe. Until he grinned, showing long, thin fangs, and his face went from handsome to deranged maniac in the blink of an eye.

"Oh, dear," he spoke in a cheerful voice, his eyes trailing over me in a way that made me step back. The man holding me jerked me forward. "What a beauty! As expected! A fairy indeed!"

Oh, no. They knew...

He just stood there, looking at me like a meal he was ready to devour. The man holding me shoved into the couch as the cloaked vampire moved to stand over me. I gulped. With one last spark of sanity, I managed to link Ezra.

"They know, Ezra. They know I'm a fairy. The tattooed vampire is here."

I didn't know if the words made it through, all I could focus on was the man who crouched in front of me. I pressed further against the couch.

"Orla, I presume?" The tattooed man said, his face holding a glee that made me sick. "Oh, don't be afraid, dear."

He took a seat next to me, as if we were old buddies.

Without looking away from me, he waved the men who brought me away, and they left, closing the door.

"I apologize for the way we had to meet. Believe me, I would have preferred we meet under less uncomfortable circumstances."

Understatement of the century.

I couldn't look at him, I kept my eyes straight ahead. Cold fingers grasped my chin and turned my head. I flinched.

"You're as beautiful as I expected," he said, his eyes trained on my lips.

My entire body was shaking. He trailed his sharp nails down my jaw to my neck, pulling down my collar.

"He still hasn't mark you. You did very good not letting him near your neck. That would have made things complicated."

Bile rose to my throat. I tried pulling my face away. His hand clamped on my chin again, so hard I thought my jaw would break. The grin slipped off his face, and a scowl took its place.

"Don't do that again," he said, a growl beneath his voice. "You're going to have to get used to me, my dear. You won't be seeing that wolf again."

My heart lurched at his words, and I tried getting away from his grasp again with renewed vigor, shoving him away when he tried to get closer. "No!"

But he was stronger. Bigger. Faster.

In a flash, he had my arms restrained in front of me, pushing me against the couch.

"Enough," he snarled, his face inches from mine. I turned my head to the side, swallowing a scream. "If you want that friend of yours in the cell to live, you better behave."

Breath caught in my throat. "No! Don't hurt him."

"Mhm, sweet voice," he purred, leaning down to my neck. I swallowed. "You'll have to be a good girl, then, my dear."

He chuckled, before dipping his head and sinking his fangs into my neck. 

--- ---- ---

Thoughts?

Sorry for the cliffhanger! I'll try to update early again next Wednesday. See you then!

Also, if you like this story, then you'll love my other book, Blue Flames! It's completed and free. Give it a shot!

Much love <3 <3 <3

M.B.