Narcisse blinked; the shocking realization of what he had done came crashing down upon him. He had hurt her; he had torn her skin with his fangs, and her shirt with his hands so he could better access the blood that oozed from her wound. He had latched on with a quickness, somehow primitively aware that blood was what he needed to survive. He had craved it— and he still did even after forcing himself to pull away. Her pulse ran slow, and she felt colder than the winter storm that brewed in the night sky far above their heads.

Evette's hands untangled themselves from his hair, releasing the rough strands as her fingers slid down to the side of his face, lingering gently over his skin.

The cloud of dust that had hovered dissolved as everyone fell silent. Narcisse could not believe what he had done, and he stepped back, his eyes raking over the body that clung to the wall, lifeless.

They all rushed to her, but Narcisse was the first to take Evette's head in his hands and shake her gently. He pled for her to wake, but she was unresponsive. Jade grabbed hold of Evette's legs, and with the help of Josia and Jamie, they carefully placed her body down on the floor. Feathers obscured his vision as Narcisse sat beside the others at her side. They were crimson; stained by the same magic that had left visible marks on his arm and back.

"You were only meant to have a drop or two, not drink her dry!" Jade scolded as she pressed her hands to Evette's open wound, sealing the few drops of remaining blood left inside. Eve twitched, but was still unconscious. She could hear their loud, strained voices even after her heart slowed.

"I don't even remember how I escaped from the cell I was locked in!" Narcisse frantically yelled. "I didn't mean to kill her!" He breathed.

"She needs blood." Jade looked down at Evette who was unmoving. It was impossible to hear her heart beat, as it was as quiet as the mouse who scurried blindly along the wall, hiding away in a small hole in the corner of the stuffy room.

"Give her mine. Do whatever it takes." Narcisse said quickly, his hand tightly gripping the girl's arm.

Jade frowned. "I can't give her your blood, or any of ours. We are wolves, and she is a Guardian, which means that if I'm even able to somehow pump blood into her system, it will kill her."

"I heard what you said in the dungeons before— you're half Guardian yourself. How come when you were bitten by a wolf, you still lived? What's a little blood going to hurt?" Narcisse angrily asked, afraid that they may already be too late.

Jade shook her head, words stubbornly caught in her throat. "It's different. I was born half Guardian, and judging by the fact that Evette was chosen by her creator, she was solely created to be a Guardian in the purest form."

"How do you even know that? You said before that it is hard for you to remember things from your past. Is every detail suddenly coming back to you now?"

"No, not every detail, but everyday I remember more and more. Now is not the time to question my knowledge. Just trust me." Jade looked hard at Narcisse. They exchanged a glance, both clearly concerned.

"What else can we do then?" Narcisse growled, his grip tightening on Evette's thin arm.

Jade faltered for a moment. "Evette mentioned that her brother was religious. . . I think we should pray." She folded Evette's hands and held them in hers, head bowed.

"No," he refused. "We can't just sit here and do nothing!"

"We're doing something. We're doing what her family would have wanted." Jade looked at him.

"You know quite well that her family does not care for her. She told you that herself. Why would we honor the wish of those who have left her?" Narcisse asked.

"You've seen war. You were old enough to be forced to fight in battle years ago, were you not?" 

He nodded, hands balled into fists. He forced himself to stay calm and focused. "I was on the frontlines." 

"Then, you know that her brother did not leave her by choice." Jade murmured.

Narcisse gave in. He angrily pried one of Evette's hands away from Jade and bowed his head. They quietly prayed, their eyes barely closed.

The girl's fingers turned icy. They were too cold for either of them to still grasp her unmoving hands. They flinched away, and watched as frost rose on Evette's skin. It moved up and over her collarbone, lingering over her wound until it sealed shut beneath Jade's palm. Everyone except Narcisse confusedly fell back, their gaze fixed on the red feathers that began to wither and fall away from the skin of her wing. A bright white flourished through the crimson wings, and restored them to their original color. Her hair was damp, and mud formed on her soaked clothes as every feather began to burn with fire. The now white plumage disintegrated as they burned at her back.

Evette opened her eyes a moment later, spewing icy water from her mouth. She was engulfed by Narcisse's arms as she sat up, shaking frantically. His whispered reassurances helped her to realize where she was.

"You killed me," Eve hoarsely whispered, her eyes open wide. "You really killed me." She said again, as if realizing what the man who now held her had done. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around Narcisse's warm torso, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," He hugged her tighter, hands entwined at the small of her back.  "Jade was right, I was not in the right state of mind. I never meant to hurt you."

"The dragon saved me." She said absentmindedly.

Narcisse pulled away from Evette, his brow furrowed as he glanced down at her. "What dragon?" He asked in a growl.

When Evette met his eyes, she gasped. Narcisse's skin was smoother, and most of the noticeable scars had faded away with his new transformation. Everyone was too focused on the shaking girl in his arms to even notice that he had changed. The red, winding ink on his arm was not the only change worth mentioning. There was more to his surprised smile and his brown, deep-set eyes. She had enjoyed tracing the subtle scars on his face, and she had admired the sharpness of his aged features long before now, but something had changed. He was almost ethereal, and Evette realized it was because he had drank her blood and was now immortal just like her.

"I saw him when I died. He brought me back to you." Evette smiled, the frost melting away from her skin.

Narcisse looked toward Jade. "What is she saying?"

"She must have seen something after she fell unconscious." Jade answered. She was just as confused as Narcisse, but she tried her best to interpret what Evette had said.

Evette's cold fingers brushed over Narcisse's face. She was too distracted by his gaze to think straight. "You're beautiful." She whispered, and everyone glanced at her like she was insane. She was flighty, and strangely distracted.

"Now is not the time to fawn over my unlovely looks." He unlaced his fingers at her back and he pulled away, but she refused to let him go.  "Tell me what you saw, love." He embraced her once more after he realized that he could not escape her oddly cold, yet heated touch.

"You just called me 'love'," Evette glanced into his eyes, her head peeking up from where it had rested on his chest. "I think that is the nicest word to have ever come out of your mouth."

"Can we talk about this later? Will you tell me what you saw when you were unconscious instead?" Narcisse asked, clearly embarrassed when he realized that everyone in the room was staring at the two of them.

Evette frowned. She did not care who was watching, unlike Narcisse. "It was a male dragon I think— there was something in his eyes that spoke to me. They were violet, and his body was made of bone. No flesh or scales, just bone."

"Do you know why your wings changed color? Or why I now have this," He looked down at his arm, and everyone followed his gaze. The marks were once invisible, but now they could be seen by everyone in the room, except for Joseph of course. The crimson markings took Evette's breath away, as did the feeling of his skin when his arm brushed against her. He could feel the pulse of her heart through the thin of her clothes, and could somehow feel the array of emotions that flooded through her. He could have felt her nervousness even without touching her shaking hands, or looking into her eyes. The bond they shared made him more aware of her feelings, and she of his. If they were not being watched by a room full of wolves, perhaps they would not have shied away from spending a few moments more tightly embracing each other.

Narcisse had not chosen to be mysteriously bound to the girl who finally sensed his uneasiness, and pulled away. He had not chosen to be the one who she had found comfort in either. He was not usually a caring man, or one who thought of others' feelings before his own.

Jade cleared her throat, as if to warn that she was about to interject. "New wolves must be bound to a person or bloodline that is capable of leading them. The person who bit the new wolf is not bound to them at all, so during the transition phase, usually someone, if not the new wolf, must choose their fate. When new wolves are bitten, we allow them to either die, or be bound to an individual or bloodline. Joseph, Collin, Josia, and Jamie, are not bound to each transition wolf individually as they are bound to their entire family line instead, but I am an exception. I am the last of my bloodline, so if a new wolf were to drink my blood, then we would both be marked in a similar way to how you both are. The designs can appear in different colors, depending on the magic that the wolf possesses." Jade held out her arms, and designs of different colors began to surface. Orange and pink swirled together up her left, and different shades of blue, green, and gray, overtook her right. They were hidden markings. "Before it was too late, I chose to be bound to Collin, but I am not blood related to him or any of the Worsney's, so any wolf who would drink my blood is bound to only me as an individual."

"Why do my markings appear red?" Asked Narcisse.

"The magic that best suits your inner wolf should force the markings to appear in that color. The magic that Evette possesses is a type of fire, but it clearly did not wear off on you."

"Do all wolves posses magic whether they like it or not?"

"Yes, but there is usually no way of telling why their body prefers a certain type of magic, other than the effect it has on one's emotions. I assume most of this because of the things I've witnessed and have recently remembered. Nothing is for certain. Collin has always been frustrating to deal with, and so I assume the magic that best suits him is fire. Jamie has more fluid emotions, so water is the type of magic that his body chose. Josia sometimes chooses to shy away from conflict or a fight, so the element of peace and nature turns his eyes green. Ciren was the same as Josia, but he always held a hatred for elves who were not burdened by magic. Regardless of the magic he possessed, he was still very violent on the nights that the moon was full. They all are."

Evette carefully stood. "And what about Joseph and yourself?"

"Light magic. It appears white. I have yet to wrap my head around what emotion it represents, but I assume that it represents balance, similar to water in a way. Joseph and I share it in common."

"So, what you are saying is that Narcisse possess a magic that appears red?" Eve glanced down at him, admiring the markings on his exposed arm.

"I've never seen the markings appear in the color of blood, and my wings have never sprouted feathers and then magically shed them. Blood symbolizes the fall from grace, as darkness lingers in all wolves, new and old. We bleed from our eyes, and we crave what saved us from death when we were forced to transition."

Evette's boots were stained by the mud that had swallowed her up in the void of her nightmare. She glanced down as she casually rocked on the balls of her feet. Her feet had fallen asleep, and she could still feel a cold ache in her bones from the freezing weather she had endured. "His eyes do not glow like any of ours. Did his body not choose a colorful magic to match emotions?"

"Perhaps." Jade winced as she lifted her arms and rested her hands close to her hurt side. "Or, maybe, blood magic is indeed what best suits his emotions. The practice of witchcraft has been banned for forever, specifically dark magic."

Evette smiled. "You wouldn't turn us over to the enforcers of the king's law, would you? I do not think I could survive such a scandal."

"I won't tell, as long as you two keep quiet about the wolves underground that manage to keep their existence a secret to evade the king's tax every year."

"I'm sure that is not the only reason why you all keep hidden." Evette said knowingly.

Jade opened her mouth to speak, but Jamie suddenly rushed to her side, his hand wrapping loosely around her arm. He glanced at her as Josia also stepped toward her. "Don't." He warned, but Jade did not listen.

"We plan to lead a rebellion against the king," Jade said quickly, ignoring her brothers warning. "We are trying to strengthen our forces."

"Why is that a secret you are not supposed to share with me? You have all already told me more than you probably should have, and I've told you everything. It's a little too late to be secretive." Evette frowned.

"We don't have many visitors. They just don't want me to let out the big secret to any outsiders."

Evette looked at Collin, who still laid unconscious— but still breathing— on the floor. "Well, do not worry about me telling anyone untrustworthy. I've already told you why I set out on this quest to begin with, so you are aware of how I feel about the king."

"I'm sure you hate more than one."

Evette inhaled sharply, her frown turning to an annoyed scowl. "Indeed, I do." She reached up with a sore arm and scratched her head. "My father will get what is coming to him soon enough. He will pay in the end."

"Will he pay with gold? Or with his life?" Joseph suddenly wondered, his head tilted curiously. He listened intently from his place in his comfortable bed.

"Both." Evette said quickly, a little too quickly. Darkness did not cloud her judgment this time, as it was absent from her heart, mind, and soul. It no longer lingered on the tip of her tongue when she spoke of the things she forewarned. Perhaps the darkness had simply been an extension of her already potent anger and hatred. It proved that, even without the help of the dark magic that had loomed, she was just as ferocious and filled with fire. Similar to the haunting dragon from her short—but very real, and very frightening slumber— she could be strong even when she was trapped in a void filled with rain, and snow, and lightening that boomed in the gloomy sky. She could find hope even when the odds were stacked against her. Two large, bright violet eyes, and countless bones were all the creature needed to survive, and for whatever reason, that gave Evette concerning, yet inspiring hope. Narcisse could feel each emotion that stirred within her, as their bond forced them to feel what the other was feeling. "We'll need gold if we are going to wage war. Not all soldiers fight for honor alone." She looked Narcisse over. "Coin can be a golden incentive."

"You're right. Men with valor may be the ones who fight to conquer kingdoms, but the wealthy cowards at their backs are always the ones who take credit for their warriors' victories."

Narcisse groaned, shaking his head in disagreement."Not all people who lead others are cowards. What about you two? If one of you were to command an army, dare I say rebellion, does that mean you would be a cowardice woman in doing so? No."

"Neither of you are equipped to lead a rebellion." Josia chimed, his gaze falling on Evette and Jade, who turned to him with sour expressions.

Jade angrily frowned. "I've taken care of you— all of you—since my mother passed. I may not remember everything, but I sure do recall all of the times I have had your back. We've had this conversation before, and you know that it is not up to us to decide who leads us. A new king is chosen after the old passes away. Joseph has failed to tell us about his past, and we've kept things from him; but we all know one thing, Ciren was the rightful King of the Wolves, not your father." She huffed, hands balled into taut fists. She could no longer feel the pinch in her side, as red-hot anger coursed through her.

"This is all getting very confusing." Narcisse mumbled, his weight shifting from one foot to the other. He stood close to Evette, and she innocently reached out, her fingers gently tracing across the red markings that spanned up his tan arm until her hand slid down in an attempt to lace her fingers through his. He did not physically respond by allowing their fingers to entwine, and he politely pulled away after a moment, leaving Evette to wonder why he no longer wished to embrace her affection.

"Josia, watch your tone when speaking to your sister. She's still half Guardian, and if she was ever somehow bitten again, she could die. You never know what you have until it's gone, boy." Joseph coughed, his body now slumped over in bed.

"Maybe that would be for the best," Josia growled. "We can take care of ourselves. We don't need Jade."

Jade turned away from Josia. She glanced down at the floor, fingers twitching almost unnoticeably. When she caught Evette's eye, the beat of her heart picked up. They shared a glance, and Eve knew that she was reeling from the jitters she felt; filled with anxiety that she could not contain.

"When will you all choose a new ruler? Once Joseph is dead and gone?" Evette raised her voice as she stepped away from Narcisse, now standing in front of Josia, who growled in frustration.

"A new leader can be chosen whenever the last has proven to be incapable of carrying out their duties. My father knows that the wolves must choose soon, and he won't be able to defend himself against the challengers that will no doubt wish to take his place. He may have faked his death in the past, but he won't be able to this time."

"They will fight to the death." Evette said, understanding what Josia meant.

"Yes. I hate to say it, but, my father will have to either slay the challengers, or die before a new leader can be chosen."

Joseph frowned, clearing his throat again. "I will gladly lay down my life if it will ensure that a new king will valiantly rule in my place, but an unruly man of the forest folk has come to us this year. He was bitten by a wolf who can only change when the moon is full, but he's very skilled with his blades. His steel was forged in the Silver Mountains."

Evette looked over to Joseph, her expression stoic. "That is where Morgan's family used to live, before they came to live in Tigerstar. They say it's a lost land, as the mines collapsed many years ago. Weapons are no longer forged there."

"The King in the West plans to send men to the mountains once he marries, so he may help restore the mines and the mountain lands. His recently developed concern for the well being of elven folk is quite concerning, to say the least." Narcisse shrugged.

"How would you know about his plans?" Evette asked quickly.

Narcisse cleared his throat gently, his gaze falling away from Evette's eyes for a moment. "I'm no stranger to the Commander of his First Army, General Greece Leviathan. I've been told things in confidence."

"You could have told me that before. Perhaps it could have provided some clarity as to why the king made such a horrendous agreement with my people. He plans to try to covertly take our land. Destroy us." Evette said.

"I'm sure he knows that the elves will destroy themselves if given enough time. A small kingdom with a heedless ruler, doesn't make for a lasting joy among those at the bottom. Madness trickles down the hierarchy." He said.

"My brother wouldn't be dead if it weren't for that man's greed. After he took out our strongest men, he turned around and ran back to his castle, where he has locked himself away like a coward. How dare you defend him!" Evette pointed.

"I did no such thing," He said, sighing heavily. "I simply stated the obvious. Tigerstar will fall, regardless whether a human king marries an elf related to one of the royal families." Narcisse frowned.

"Did the King of Drogen mention the qualities he was looking for in a wife?" Jade asked, an idea popping into her head. She looked to Evette, who eyed her warily.

"I've never asked. It's none of my business." Narcisse answered.

Evette took a step toward him, arms crossed over her chest, head tilted to the side. Her expression was sour, and her voice suddenly held an edge. "For his sake, I hope that he didn't say anything on the matter. I hope he kept his cowardice mouth shut, and made no demands." She said angrily, a shimmer of orange gleaming in her eyes. "Morgan is the youngest girl in the group. Her parents allowed their daughter of sixteen years to go with the others, and we know that Joseph wasn't there to possibly intervene. I know the truth of who her real father is, and I will tell her, but I must find her first. I must protect her from what might hurt her. I must get to her."

"I know you will find her." He nodded in response. "I've never spoken to the king, but I once saw him from afar. He made his face known in the times during the war. His orders are relayed through sealed envelopes. He never leaves his chambers, and no one has seen him for years, as you all already know. I'm sure I have met worse men, and I'm not excusing the things he has done when I say that I don't believe he is specifically looking for a young bride. I'm surprised he is looking for a bride at all, to be honest."

"If you are able to catch up to the others, you may be able to get close to the king, Evette. Perhaps you could gain his trust." Jade murmured.

"I will try to get close to him, but I have no interest in getting to know him, that fact is obvious. How can I get close to someone when they refuse to speak to anyone?" Asked Eve.

"Perhaps he plans to make an appearance once the girls arrive from Tigerstar."

Evette looked at Narcisse. "You may be right. His motive is unclear, but I'm still going to assume the worst. I am tired of hearing about him. I just want to kill him already."

"You'll get your chance soon enough, I'm sure."

"You made it clear before that you were loyal to the king. Either you are just telling me what I want to hear, or you have decided to turn against him." Eve glanced up at him, chin upturned.

"Everything changed for me when I saw that wolf swallow you whole," Narcisse said, pausing silently for a moment. "You emerged from that beast, and I found myself speechless. No amount of pain could have kept me from keeping my eyes open, even if I did indeed want to give in. You were magnificent—you still are. I've bent the knee, and I hope that you will allow me to prove my loyalty beyond a simple curtesy."

Evette stared at him, her expression void of emotion. He was blunt, and honest, but also kind, and careful with his words. He glanced back at her, waiting for her to send him away. He wanted her to realize that he wished to pull her closer, instead of reluctantly push her away. He had his reasons, and they were justified. There was more to tell—more to confess.

They both knew there were others in the room listening and watching; but there was a moment where they both felt everything around them fade away. They were the only two standing in the cold, underground room, and while standing far apart, they held each other close in the embrace of their eyes.

"You certainly are an interesting man, you know that?"

"The unscrupulous character of the century, I suppose." He laughed in response, referring to himself. His lips pulled up into a smile revealing his teeth. Evette had not noticed the dimple at his right cheek that appeared when he showed emotion, which he rarely revealed. The messy bits of his short hair on his head looked touchable, and she remembered just how dense, yet soft his hair was when she had run her fingers through it. The sight of his arms beneath the thin fabric of his sleeves reminded her of the pull she felt toward him. She was filled with a disconcerting need to be held by him. She wanted him to want the chains, the red markings that had yet to fade from his veined, softly wizened skin. The meaning behind his words went over her head; the thought that perhaps she was only infatuated by him because she craved attention from a man like Narcisse, and not a boy, had not crossed her mind. Eve was too caught up in the moment to realize that she was walking on a small, vine engrossed path away from the road. Away from all that was ethical and healthy for one's depraved soul.

"Are you good with a sword, son?" Hearing Joseph's voice forced Evette to snap out of her sudden focus. She let out a breath as she forced her gaze away from Narcisse, and once again turned her attention to Joseph.

"Why do you ask?" Narcisse wondered, a brow raised in question.

"The princess has taken a liking to you. You must be a strong one, like her. My brother is not fit to lead, and Josia and Jamie are too young. Jade is the only one who is equipped to fight, but I would never try to force her to step into the fighting pits, as it would be dangerous for a wolf who is the last of their bloodline to fight the others. She would have no legacy, unless she married, or bore children. Evette was just a child the last time I saw her, and she was one to watch out for in her younger years— always too clever for her own good—and, if she trusts you, then I know you must be a decent man. We have all been burdened by magic, and down here, there aren't many wolves I would trust to take my place. The wolves in this room are the best I've got to work with." Joseph began to stand, reaching to grab his own leg so he could slowly lift himself from the bed. Jade rushed to him, and hesitantly helped him stand with the help of his wooden cane.

Everyone was taken aback by his words. Especially Narcisse. "You would ask me to fight to the death? To kill you and any of the other opponents." He held out his hands, a look of confusion flashing across his features. "I ended up here because I was sick and wounded, and I thank you for hosting us, but we cannot stay here much longer. From what I've heard, Evette killed your brother, and I almost killed your other brother, and yet you would ask me to compete against your own family in a game that wolves play. I'm finding it difficult to even stand up straight, and these markings," Narcisse glanced down as he pushed up his sleeves, revealing his red ink. "I still don't know why they are even here, or why I can feel everything Eve feels, which is very overwhelming to say the least."

Joseph gripped the handle of his cane tight, and with the help of Jade, he walked to the center of the room and stood. "The markings will fade in time, and like Jade, you should be able to control when they appear or remain invisible. My brother, Ciren, was a man none will miss, as he has no family besides us. I fought against him years ago, and we didn't kill each other in the pit. He cheated— brought a small blade to a fist fight, and I was awarded the crown by the people. We fight with honor, and although the universe chose Ciren as king, our people didn't. As for Collin, it's best that he loses a fight every now and then, keeps him in check." He cleared his throat tiredly. "Tradition calls four transition wolves, and four lunar wolves who can only transform when there is a full moon, to fight an opponent from the opposite group. They go down the line, until there is only one wolf left from each group, and then the last one to win must fight, well, me. The final round is the only round where either party has the choice to kill the other if they so choose. I don't want to lay here in this bed for the rest of my old life, I would rather die with honor."

"You aren't seriously going to go through with this now Joseph, are you?" Asked Jade.

"I must share the news. Ciren is dead, and I will tell the others to assemble their four chosen warriors. I'm not dead yet, but there is no better time than now to do this, before I change my mind. You must choose if you will fight Jade, or if this stranger, Narcisse, will." Joseph began to hobble toward the door, his back turned.

Jade moved away from Joseph when she realized that he was determined enough to walk on his own, the decrepit man making his way down the dirt hall.

"How dare that old man," Josia groaned, the green magic of his eyes bright. "I will fight, so you don't have to get your hands dirty. I've trained with most of the wolves here, and you haven't. Best leave the fighting to the men, Jade." He stormed away, stepping over the thick, unhinged door, and following his father out into the long hall. Jamie followed after him, his steps quick and quiet.

Jade exhaled, a panic still present in her soft eyes. "Excuse him." She said in a breath, pushing her dark, silken hair away from her eyes.

"I won't excuse him. He practically insulted you." Evette shook her head as she eyed the man who still laid unconscious on the floor. The sight of Collin was almost laughable.

"Being in tune with nature doesn't necessarily make him peaceful or kind. Just like how you are familiar with anger and darkness, it doesn't mean you are inherently a bad person." Jade shrugged.

"I won't fight," Narcisse murmured. "But I will stand in your corner. Just tell me how I can help— how we can help." He smiled sadly to Jade, and Evette knew that her fear and emotional discomfort only grew when she heard his words.

"I'm always the one who wants others to be humane, but now I have to be the violent one. That scares me." Jade said honestly, her voice steady and formal, as to create a false sense of comfort for herself.

"You don't have to kill anyone, until the last round of course. It will be easier than you think." Narcisse was not helping in calming Jade's nerves, so Evette stepped toward her, careful not to touch the girl or make her feel more uncomfortable.

"You're not helping!" She whispered to Narcisse before turning her attention back to Jade, who was subtly taking deep breaths. "Everything is going to be okay. Try not to focus on the parts that are probably gory and intimidating. Just take another deep breath." She and Jade both took a few moments to breathe. "Now, do you have any combat skills? Maybe have a sword?" She asked.

"No sword, but when I was younger, I was pretty good with my fists. I've never won a fight though." Jade frowned.

"That's okay," Evette smiled, but felt all hope leave her. Jade would not stand a chance unless she could at least be able to defend herself against her opponent's attacks. "You can practice on me. Don't be afraid to hit me." She backed away a bit, and held out her hands, readying herself.

Narcisse's laughter almost echoed around the two others standing. He watched them step away from Collin's body and ready themselves for a practice scrap. When Evette glanced angrily over her shoulder at him, he covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes crinkling charmingly as he smiled. "This is going to be a nightmare." He composed himself for a moment, before he fell right back into a fit of laughter. He did not take his eyes off of Jade, who threw the first punch, completely missing her target. Evette simply dodged her punches and kicks, afraid she might hurt the girl if she tried to strike back. "A good nightmare though, as I get to watch from afar."

"Sure," Evette said absentmindedly. "Whatever." She bobbed to miss Jade's attempt at a high kick.

• • • •