The early morning light fills our hotel room with a warm, soft glow. Sitting on the chair by the window, I look over at the bed where Logan is sprawled out, completely gone to the world. His blonde hair was more gold in the light, and it was strange to see how it all seemed drawn to him in a single sunbeam. Well, he was a sun god, right?

Sipping my coffee I let him sleep, and looking at the small black box on the table, I picked it up and opened it. Two golden rings looked back at me, and I knew it was the right thing to do. It was an idea I came with up with last night and thankfully I had been able to leave the room, buy them, and get back without Logan waking up. I thought about how to give his to him, without it being corny, misunderstood or over the top or at least I started to because the faint knocking on the hotel door had me closing the box and getting up. Cautiously I opened it to find Artemis standing there.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, leaning into her hug as surprised didn't quite cover how I was feeling. It wasn't that I didn't want to see her, it was just - unexpected.

"Can't I come by to see two of my favourite people?" She pouted.

"Not when it's before seven, and you're supposed to be in another realm!" It was then my stomach sunk. "Is everything okay there?"

"Yes, of course. Never better." She mumbled, coming into the room. "Where is my brother?"

"Asleep. Did he know you-"

"No. Do you think I could borrow him? Just for a few hours of course?" Something was definitely wrong.

Artemis didn't stand still, pretending to admire the painting on the wall before moving sit on the small sofa. Fidgeting, she plumped up the cushion before rising again. The energy she was giving off made me even more nervous.

"Well, we had plans today. It's-" I paused. It was Valentines Day, and after the elaborateness of last year, we had planned a nice quiet day. Together. Telling her than suddenly sounded stupid so I let it go. "Why do you need him?"

"Just, look Elise. There are still things about us, about our world you don't know and don't need to. I simply want my brothers opinion on something, and while it's nice he's here playing human and being with you, it is because of you, he is not back home now, making me go to all the effort to even be here in the first place." She lectured, meeting my gaze I didn't see my friend staring back at me.

"Artemis, what is going on?" I put my hand on her arm, unsure where all this is coming from.

"Agreed. What are you doing here?" Logan asks cautiously in the doorway. Yawning as he comes over to us, he wakes up quickly as he takes in her slightly dishevelled appearance. "What's wrong?"

"I need you to come home. Just for a few hours, Hermes has a portal ready for you." Artemis tells him, stepping away from me to go closer to him. "We need to talk."

"We can talk here."

"No, we can't. I need you to see something too." She insists.

Logan frowns, looking at me and I only shrug. Clearly, I'm not welcome to this party, so I make it easier for him. Whatever was going on was apparently necessary.

"I had that training with Penny to go to, so long as you're back for dinner, I don't see why you can't go?" I offer.

Ignoring Artemis, Logan comes over and pulls me close. "It's Valentines Day. Whatever it is can wait. We have plans and-"

"I think you should go. She's right, she's clearly gone to a lot of effort to get here. Just be careful and make sure you do come back." I warn, desperately wanting to go with them, but knowing it's better if I don't and I also think Artemis wouldn't even consider it at this point.

Logan groans, rubbing his face with his hand before looking at his sister.

"Give me half hour. I'll find you." He tells her. His tone is flat, angry almost and she simply nods before vanishing. "She had a tendency to be dramatic. This is ridiculous though."

"What if it's about Cain?" I wonder.

"So what if it is? He isn't our concern." He snapped.

"He's still a friend and your half-brother. What else could get her worked up like this?" Logan shakes his head. "I'm done with him, and that world. If you hadn't set me up to go, I would have refused."

"But-" I go to argue, and he moves away, going into the bedroom.

I instantly follow, hating how his mood has completely darkened and if I had done the right thing. Surely if Cain or anyone over there was in trouble, even if it was just Artemis how could he not go back.

"I made my choice Elise." He said as he paused by the bathroom door. "I thought you did too."

The last part was barely a whisper, but I heard it. Standing by the bed, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go in. His words hurt, yet that silence and distance which had been with us on the drive to the hotel last night were coming back. It was like a third presence in the room, following us, waiting for a chance to take over once more.

This was stupid.

Going over to my abandoned coffee and the little black box, I took out its contents and went to join him in the shower. Steam rose up around us as I leaned my head on his back, wrapping my arms around his waist. I felt him tense before relaxing, and slowly he turned around, so we were flush against each other.

"I don't want to lose you again." He sighed, kissing the top of my head. "I'm sorry about last night. I don't know what came over me and now, well. It's like everything has settled down, and now they have to do something to ruin it all."

"Maybe it's nothing. Maybe she's redecorating and wants your opinion on paint colours?" I suggest hopefully.

"Maybe. I will be back before dinner though, and I will make up for all of this." He promises, tilting my head up to face him.

"You don't need to." The words come out softly as I feel his fingers on my skin, running down my back and over my hips as his lips part slightly.

I reach up and close the distance between us, kissing him as though I don't want him to go. I don't want him to, what if it's something terrible, dangerous, or worse? Artemis wouldn't put him at risk like that, I'm sure of it, and I trust my gut. Doesn't mean I can't enjoy this time together. Cold tiles bite my back as I'm moved against it, and as his hands entwine with mine, he stops.

"What's this on your finger?" Logan asks, inspecting my hand as if he's never seen it before.

"Oh, those?" I grin, slipping them off. "I got you a present for valentines day. Well, I got myself one too. It's a promise ring."

He frowns. "A promise ring?"

"Yeah. After last night, I got thinking, and I'm not about to say let's go make a baby right now and all that, but I love you. I'm committed to you, to us. To our future and I don't want you to doubt that. It's got our initials on, see? A sun for you, and my little moon tattoo. The heart is love obviously."

Never mind the whole fated curse thing that put the thing on my wrist. I'm kind of fond of it now, plus the moon with a snake is my symbol now in the pages of those history and mythology books. It seemed appropriate.

"A promise ring." He repeats, inspecting his slightly thicker version of the gold rings.

"Do you like it?" I ask hopefully, not saying anything as he looks at my matching band. He slides it on my ring finger on my right hand, before putting his on and kisses me again.

"I love it."

And then he shows me just how much, by making Artemis wait for over an hour.

☽⚫☾  E ♥ L  ☀ 

Penny picked at her salad with one hand, while in the other she had a small book on Astrology open. It was hard to ignore her as she kept pausing for my answer or reaction to whatever she had to say and focusing on my burger, I tried not to let her talk about Mercury Renegade or some other nonsense, put me off my food. Apparently, things were about to get tough.

"I don't understand this need for knowledge. Focus on something else, like weapons or species weakness or something useful." I add, very unhelpfully.

"Don't you get it? It's one thing to deal with demons and witches and vampires, but gods Elise. The gods of myth are legit. Your dating the sun god! Who knows what these ancient guides could actually be telling us!" She snapped.

"Probably as little as they did before we realised that there was a lot more to what we are and this world. What even is Mercury Renegade?" I huff.

"Retrograde! Haven't you been listening?"

"Honestly, no. I just nod or shake my head depending on your tone."

She doesn't appreciate that. "Well when shit starts to go crazy for you, do not come crying to me. It's coming up at the end of the month."

"Noted. So what's new. Enough with the books for a bit okay?" I plead.

"Nothing really. Are you going to get back into training soon, you've had a few months off. You don't want to get rusty. Zane misses you." She gives up on her salad and reaches for my chips.

"I'm not going to get rusty. I train. Just, not like you guys do." I shrug. "I miss Zane too. I can't believe he actually accepted a position at that new academy. I am so glad he wasn't one of my teachers."

"He's so good with the kids. I was surprised. He's patient, and no one can push him to his limits as you do." She smiled. "The new training routines and schedules are nothing like what we started with. I'm glad the Council have upgraded, well everything."

"How do you find the work?"

"It's different. I kind of miss being out on missions and things, but I feel useful. Like I'm contributing, and we are going to make a difference in the future."

The new academy that opened managed to land a few of my friends on the payroll. While Zane needed a lot of convincing, I'm glad he was taking some time out too. I know he had gone out on one of Ailin's special missions once, but for the most part he was a combat trainer. Zane wasn't young enough to retire, yet with how closely he had worked with Cain and all they had done, it was good he got to pass on that knowledge and his own too. I hoped he stay there forever, but it wasn't likely. His contract was for six months so who knew what he'd do after that.

"You are. I'm proud of you guys!" I meant it too.

"Thanks, Elise. I never saw myself as a librarian, but I guess with my family history it makes sense." She looked thoughtful for a moment, and I didn't have the heart to tell her she wasn't actually a librarian.

Penny was merely helping out much like Zane, Nigel, Tom and Sam were in getting the new place up and running. All had been appointed by Ailin, and my Dad and some of his choices had me puzzled. Everything was working out well though, and that was enough for me.

"So where your god? I thought you two would be like all these other loved-up couples in here today. Don't tell me you've broken up again. Oh, you have haven't you, why else would you be having lunch with me!" She groaned.

"No, can't a girl show her best friend some love on valentines day?" I asked innocently.

"Well yeah, but just seems odd."

"It is actually. Artemis just turned up and asked him to go back home with her as she needs his help." I admit.

"What?" Penny nearly spat out her mouthful of champagne. "For how long and he actually went?"

"I kind of pushed him to go and just for today. I mean, it sounded urgent and-"

"Why didn't you go?"

"I'm pretty sure you had more chance of being able to go than me, and like when Portia and I sneaked in to watch the Coronation, I think it's better if I stay away from that place for a while." I got the waiter's attention and signalled for more champagne. "I'm sure it's nothing."

"Do you think its to do with Cain?" She whispered.

"I hope not."

Penny frowned, looking more than thoughtful for a moment. I didn't want to ask what she was thinking, and as I went to the waiter interrupted as the bottle he put down in front of us wasn't the one we'd been drinking. I glanced around as the skin on the back of my neck prickled, but not in the usual way when something supernatural was around. The uneasy feeling of being watched passed between Penny and I and as the cork popped open, I watched the waiter top up our glasses.

"Compliments of the gentleman at the bar." He smiled, looking as unimpressed as I was.

Penny turned, looking up and down the drinks area. "Which one?"

"The one-" he paused, turning around as he looked for the mystery donor. "I'm sorry, he seems to have disappeared."

"Never mind then," I told him, and as he left us, I picked up my glass, closed my eyes and focused on the liquid, trying to test if it was tainted with poison or magic.

Nothing came back to me, and as I took a sip, Penny watched me cautiously with big wide eyes. I smiled, sitting it down and nodding at her that it was okay. She didn't relax though, and neither did I, so after an acceptable amount of time, I suggested we go.

"I need a real drink now. My shout?" I offered.

"Why not, where are we going?"

I smirked and took her hand, bringing us both to the one place I never had any trouble finding and that I always felt at home in. It was before opening time, so the bar was empty except for the manager, Paul; a bear shifter that was distantly related to a good friend and ally Oz I had met a couple of years ago. He didn't act surprised as he saw us, just smiled as he stopped unpacking one of the boxes of beer cans.

"Wasn't expecting to see you here boss!" He greeted.

"Well, when you own a bar, why would you drink anywhere else?" I laughed, heading over to the shelf where the bourbon sat waiting for us and grabbed two small glasses. "I would ask you to join us, but I don't think that would be very professional."

After Penny and I got seated and left Paul to do whatever it is, he does that keeps the business running and profitable, I braced myself for the questions I knew were coming.

"Who do think brought us that champagne?"

"No idea. It was nice though." I shrug.

"Did you sense that-" She continued,

"Yes. Let's not overthink Penny. Let it go, no harm was done." I poured us a glass each, clicking my fingers and praying ice appeared in the cups and not anything less desirable.

The cold cubes appeared, and I sighed in relief. Today had been a good day as far as my abilities were concerned.

"Why do you look like you didn't expect that to happen?" She asked, not missing a thing.

"Because sometimes it doesn't work how I want it to. I'm still learning okay?" I snap defensively.

"Fine. Just asking!" She held her hands up in surrender and picked up her glass. "They're not like, poison or made out of something that isn't water are they?"

As she inspected them, I fished one out and crunched down. "Nope, I actually did it this time!"

"What happened last time?"

"I made it snow," I admit, making her laugh.

We clink our glasses together before taking a drink, and that's how we spend the rest of the afternoon. Paul keeps an eye on us as the first patrons start to arrive and as the sun goes down, we hardly notice. The jukebox is loaded with our favourite songs which only makes us get up to dance and a few brave demons, and some probably too young to be in here, dark fae gets up to join us.

For a moment it's like old times, and as a pair of hands land on my waist, pulling me back against a hard, familiar body, I ignore the pang of regret that hits me as it's not quite like old times at all. No, it's something better, and I focus only that as I dance with Logan.

"Sorry, I'm late." He whispers into my ear. "How about we get out of here?"

I find Penny who is happily dancing with another Hunter, and she grins as she nods at me, giving us the thumbs up as I signal to her we're leaving. In seconds we're back in the hotel, and the smell of pizza makes my mouth water.

"You got pizza?" I ask Logan, semi stumbling towards the lounge and the waiting food.

"How long have you and Penny been at it?" He asks, following behind me.

"Pizza smells good." Logan pulls open the lid as I couldn't work it out and grabbing a slice I relax into the cushions. Looking at him, he seems, preoccupied. "You k?"

"Yup, just a bit tired." He sits beside me and eats too.

"Wanna talk about it?" I ask, feeling the drunken fog lifting as I eat more.

"Later."

I merely nod, and as we finish eating, I curl against his side ready for bed. He strokes my arm, up and down, and after a big sigh, I find we've left the sofa and are now in bed, clothes changed and everything.

"You really gotta teach me to do that," I mumble.

"Later." His lips are on my forehead, and then I'm out.

_____________

So, what do you think so far?

It's a bit of a slower start, not much action yet. They're still a bit in holiday mode, and not much happening right now except for doing a bit of catching up with the old crew so you know where they're all at. . . . Any thoughts on what's happening in the other world?