Adie decided to eat dinner in her room, on her own. She wasn't hungry, but she needed to replace the energy she used earlier when she healed the boy. She showered first though and gloried in the refreshing feel of the cool water pounding the aches from her muscles, momentarily allowing her mind to wander to the events of the day.

She'd surprised herself that afternoon when Bonnie had let loose on her. The blows came so quickly she had no idea how she managed to avoid any of them. It was as if she was moving automatically, without conscious thought.

Then there was the matter of her eyes, three people had witnessed them change colour now, witnessed them glow neon blue, the same colour as the healing sparks. Moreover, what of the Shaman business?

Why do those people think I'm a shaman?

As if that wasn't enough: Kevin and the blackout she had after she pulled him from the water, waking with an insatiable thirst - for what she had no idea.

And, he thinks we're mated.

She pictured Kevin in her mind: tall, blonde spiky hair, clean-shaven, eyes the colour of a tropical lagoon, his top lip flat and the bottom full - a man's mouth that hid his sharp fangs completely, and a perfectly straight nose that blended his features effortlessly. Too faultless for her, his body was a little thin for her liking too.

I prefer a little meat on my man, a bit of muscle, just like Rick.

She couldn't help but compare the two. Rick won easily. Not that Kevin wasn't good looking, he just wasn't for her.

Nicolas, Devon's errand boy, interrupted her daydreams when he knocked on her door with the dinner tray. He smiled when she opened it, a genuine smile that caused faint creases to form at the corner of his eyes. It spread to a cheeky grin when he saw her bare feet, his gaze moved slowly up the length of her body. She only wore a towel, her hair dripping water that ran in rivulets toward the soft mounds of her breasts visible above the top of the towel.

"Mr Aston requests the pleasure of your company in the study when you're finished eating," he instructed, edging past her to set the tray on the dressing table.

"Okay, I'll be about half an hour." She pulled the towel a little higher and stepped back from the door to let him out. He looked his fill, his eyes roaming up and down her body before he stepped out. Adie slammed the door after him. "Jerk!" she called. His chuckle had her yanking the door open again to give him a piece of her mind.

The anger drained from her instantly, She stood there, her hand resting on the doorknob, with no idea why she'd stepped into the hall. She felt nothing, emotionally numb. Not even embarrassment at standing practically naked in a hall full of staring men.

Shaking her head, she stepped back inside and closed the door, wandering to the tray he left for her. The delicious aroma of lemon chicken and lightly spiced rice assaulted her nose when she lifted the cover of the tray, making her mouth water and her stomach grumble.

"Guess I'm hungrier than I thought," she mumbled around the last mouthful, her plate cleared.

Adie dressed quickly, not bothering to dry and style her hair, thinking it would dry soon enough in the lingering warmth of the late afternoon sun.

Who do I need to impress anyway? Certainly not Devon.

After being made to wait in the hall for several minutes, she was ushered into the study. Devon sat behind an elaborate, wooden desk in a comfortable-looking, leather executive chair. A laptop sat open in front of him.

"Have a seat, I will be with you in a moment," he addressed her, turning his attention back to the screen.

He grunted as the machine pinged to signal a new email. Immediately snatching up the phone after he read it.

"What the hell do you mean he's dead? ...I do know what dead means. I spoke with him only yesterday and he was confident... Damn it Morag, Demetrius was my main backer for taking over that territory, without him I am going to have to fight Alexander for it. What happened? ...Are you sure it was Samuel? ...He has given no indication that he wishes to take territory for himself... I had no idea he was even powerful enough to take him on." He stood and began pacing back and forth across the narrow room, "Yes, your informant is correct, I have marked a witch... No, I do not know the full extent of her power yet... Fine, I will call when I test her... Goodbye."

He turned to face Adie with a rueful smile plastered in place. "Sorry to keep you, my dear. As you have just heard my main ally has been unexpectedly dispatched. It seems we have ourselves a new player in the territory wars."

"So what does that mean exactly?"

"That it may come to a fight after all if Samuel decides to allay with Alexander. Although, he may decide to take Colorado first. He has allegiance from the Regis clan already."

"Wait, Regis? That's Rick parents isn't it?" Adie interrupted him.

"Your young shifter mate is part of that pack, yes."

Adie's mind worked overtime, Rick's parents as far as she knew where loyal to Callie's Sam.

Sam – Samuel. Oh shit, she thought.

Devon continued, "I had Kevin keep an eye on you today to get an idea of your day to day abilities. He will be joining us shortly, I believe he has some news he wishes to report."