"What do you want?" The words seemed like wind against my lips as I spoke them.

He squeezed me a little too tightly and I realized this wasn't some friendly hug. Simon was keeping me in place. He was either protecting me or trying to confirm a deal I hadn't agreed to yet. "I have a party to attend this Tuesday. A conference among the power players in the supernatural community, if you will, and I need to show how well we wolves interact with humans."

"A Halloween party?" I asked, my interest piquing slightly. Halloween and parties were my favorite thing. This deal wasn't sounding too bad so far.

He made a humming noise and looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. "You can dress up if you'd like."

I slipped my fingers into his and broke the hold he had on me, but something told me he had let me do it. I dipped down, pulling my shoulder away from his chin, and turned towards him. Holding my hand out, probably a little too high up, but the secret smile on his face told me that perhaps it wasn't just a Halloween party. That perhaps I was a little too hasty in accepting. Come Tuesday, I suppose I'd find out.

"Deal."

After he shook my hand, he plunked his hands into his jean pockets and casually walked down the stairs towards the man he'd called Cypress. His too large black knit sweater billowed behind him the closer he got to Cypress, making it seem like the wind was only happening in the area around him.

I felt Arden come up beside me. She knocked me none-too-gently in the side. "What'd he talk you into doing?"

Wrapping my arms around my stomach, I shrugged. "I get to go to another Halloween party is all. I love Halloween parties, so it's not a big deal to me."

"A Halloween party?" Arden paused and gave a curious stare down at the two men. Whatever it was, it dawned on her within seconds and she rolled her eyes before patting me gently on my shoulder. "Oh no. And it's not a Halloween party."

I turned with a frown. "He said I could dress up... what's oh no?"

"Simon is a handful at parties or any unknown crowded areas really. It's why he lives out here."

What did that mean? "He doesn't handle his booze?" I asked.

Arden shook her head. It was clear she wasn't going to give away anything either, so I tried again, curiosity getting the better of me. "He gonna feel me up?"

She shook her head again and waved her hand, "Nothing like that."

"That contract is only for a week. After that she's mine, unless you'd like to fight," Cypress said in the scariest voice I'd ever heard. It was a tinkling of childlike innocence yet menacingly shrill like that evil toon in Roger Rabbit. I watched as Cypress raised a challenging eyebrow as he followed Simon, who was walking backwards, up the steps.

Wait! I wanted to shout it. Why were they coming up here?

Simon partially turned towards me, giving me a scowl as if to say 'you did this'. "I'm not fighting you, Cypress. I'll just embarrass you again, then you'll cry about it and try to get revenge. I can't deal with that again. Not so soon after the last time."

"I will beat you one of these days."

Simon gave a tight lipped smile. "Of course you will."

Covering her mouth with her hand, Arden turned to speak. "They always want to fight Simon. It's not just Cy."

"Why?"

"Because he's never been beaten," Arden said with admiration.

I raised an eyebrow and gestured towards Simon. "Him? Puh-lease, I could beat him with my pinky," I said.

Simon wasn't skinny so much as lengthy, willowy even. I could see his muscles, but it was his glasses sliding down his nose that made him look defeat-able. He didn't look weak per-say, just kind of sweet and playful versus dangerous.

Cypress perked up like a dog getting called for a bacon treat. "Oh, I've changed my mind." He grinned so widely I found myself wondering if it hurt. I waited for the crevasses on either side of his lips to bust so he could smile even wider. My heart was thumping wildly with every step they took towards me.

"You'll fight her," Cypress said, pointing towards me. "If she wins then I'll consider my right to her null and void. If she doesn't win, at the end of the week, she's mine. And Simon, I'll know if you let her win."

Stunned that he'd even heard me, I shifted towards Arden only to see her face in her hands as she shook her head. I looked Simon up and down as he stalked towards me. His glasses falling down his nose, his feet bare, his too large sweater and his knee-ripped blue jeans with his hands shoved in the pockets, made him look harmless and a little scrawny.

The two moves that I did know where effective, at least from what my dad told me. I even saw it happen once on TV and it knocked the guy out cold. Just one hit to the groin and it'd be over. I wouldn't do it hard enough to damage him, just enough to incapacitate him. I may not have much experience, but that was to my advantage. They didn't think I could win, but I did.

"We'll do it. It's a deal," I said, quickly. This wouldn't take but a minute.

Simon snarled softly and took a small leap forward so that he was in front of me again, towering over me. A four stair leap towards me wasn't that big of a deal. Not really. My slouching wasn't going to show him I could win either. Quickly, I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin defiantly.

"What?" I said as he glared down at me. "I think I can beat you."

The crazy maniacal laugh coming from Cypress mimicked Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon a Time. It sounded awesome in the television show. In real life, well, it was an entirely different story. I watched as Cypress rubbed his hands together enthusiastically.

Arden clucked her tongue. "She doesn't believe we're real. I've tried to show her and tell her, but she's as stubborn as a mule!"

Simon slammed his hand against my bicep, wrapping his fingers around like a vice grip and pulled me towards a tree. "Hey. Hey! Easy on the merchandise bud," I said trying to yank my arm away.

"What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing," I said snootily, digging my nails into the hand he had on my arm, and when he finally let go I rapidly rubbed the throbbing area. "You're not exactly the Rock, ya know?"

"The who?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"A gorgeous hunk of wrestling beefcake," I said, with a little wiggle of my shoulders as I thought about him. "He's kind of an actor now though."

Simon bit his lip as his eyes searched my face. "You won't beat me. You should never have made the deal."

I harrumphed and settled my weight on my left foot, cocking my hip, and folding my arms across my chest. "We didn't shake hands, it's not officially made."

He shook his head. "That doesn't apply here, just saying the words to a Fae is enough." He heaved a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his already wind disheveled hair.

"You'll be safe for only a week. That's all he was willing to do anyway. Even if I fought him I don't think I could change his mind. The only way out of this is for me to claim you as my mate," Simon said, appearing to be mumbling to himself more than me.

I scoffed and tossed my hair over my shoulders. "Listen, buddy, I am not having sex with you. Besides, I can totally beat you. I have a move. Two actually," I said holding two fingers up.

A small smile played on his lips as his gaze focused on me. "Two moves huh? Wow, you're a regular old Bruce Lee."

"Right!" I nodded, cracking my neck before I started doing side bends. "I don't even really have to fight you."

He paused, raising an eyebrow. "Where did that logic come from again?"

"One of my moves can incapacitate you in minutes. That's the move I'm gonna do. It'll be quick, like sound."

His back settled against the tree he'd pulled us behind, his arms casually crossing around his abdomen. I fidgeted, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, while he continued to examine my face and then my chest... and then rest of my body.

How rude.

"How old are you?" he asked.

"Nineteen – well, almost."

He shook his head, looking slightly baffled. "How have you survived this long?"

"Well, how old are you?" I asked with a sneer.

"Way older than you."

I smiled happily up at him and reached forward to pat his stubble roughened jaw. "One more advantage for me then... okay, Grandpa, let's fight," I said, ignoring the jolt that shot through my hand when I touched his skin. I cleared my throat, nodding at him, before walking confidently around the tree.

I didn't get very far. Cypress just beyond it, chin between his fingers, and shoulders hunched. The smile that had been there before was completely gone as he listened intently.

"First, my name's not bud and please do not call me Grandpa again. My name is Simon!"

I shrugged as nonchalantly as he had when I'd corrected his usage of my name.

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "This is going to be a very interesting morning."

That's what you think... Grandpa.