I bid Alexei and Clara goodbye before heading back to my office. The long corridors of my mansion linger in silence. I sigh walking slowly through them.

     So many years have gone by and yet I have still barely achieved anything.

     I clench my fists together in frustration. My steady pace never slows as start to reach my office. Seeing the black oak door come into sight I stop, reaching out to open it. My fingers brush the cool metal handle as I push the door open crossing the threshold.

     Alina stands behind my desk chair waiting for me. Her eyes narrow as I step into the room.

     "It seems you took your time eating, master," eludes.

     "I showed Miss Clara around the mansion," I tell her.

     Alina brushes a hand through her hair, letting out a soft sigh. The moonlight filtering in through the window behind my desk dances across her charcoal skin.

     Moving to pull my chair out for me Alina speaks once more.

     "Are you sure it is a good idea to involve a human in this? She could end up hurt or worse dead," she says.

     I settle myself into the cushioned chair, staring down at the papers scattered on my desk. Shifting my eyes towards Alina, I smile weakly.

     "I have given her many opportunities to back out. But she wants to fight, and who am I to deny her an honest chance at solving the problem that plagues her village," I explain.

     "Just because you are obsessed with fixing everything does not mean others are as well, master. You should send the girl home, no need to put her through more trouble," Alina says.

     I scoff at her, tapping my fingers on the mahogany desk.

    "I would hardly call myself obsessed. I am simply the only one working towards a better future," I bite out.

     Since being banished back to the Shadow Moore other blood Fae choose not to associate with me. They turn a blind eye to those breaking the taboo, claiming they have no part in it.

     I can no longer stand for this.

     "Master, when was the last time you have done anything other than tracking down missing people?" Alina suddenly points out.

     I chuckle, placing an elbow on the desk.

     "I cannot rest, not until I have put a stop to the trafficking. I am tired of seeing people hurt, I simply want a brighter future for our mind," I say.

     Alina places a hand on my shoulder squeezing lightly.

     "You cannot take care of anyone if you do not take care of yourself first," she points out.

     I sigh, clicking my fingers against the desk once more.

     "I will rest when I am dead," I laugh.

     "I wish you would take just one day off from work," Alina pleads.

     "I currently have a mansion full of kidnapped humans. Now is not the time for taking a break," I reply.

"I understand that master, but please promise me that after they all return you will take a break," she sighs.

"After this is sorted out, I will take a couple of days to rest," I give in.

"Good, now we should get back to work," Alina pauses staring at me.

"I was looking into the blood Fae you took care of yesterday," she continues.

My eyes sway over to meet hers.

"And? What did you find?" I ask.

Alina sighs, pushing her bangs out of her eyes.

"He was just an underling. We are no closer than we were before to find the leader. I have looked through old letters and I cannot find anyone among the people Tatianna was in contact with that has not already been investigated," she informs me.

"That cannot be right. After taking out so many traffickers, you would think their leader would be dead. Or at the very least they should have revealed themself by now," I clench my fist.

"We just have to make them reveal themselves," Alina drawls.

I exhale, shifting to look at my desk. My fingers are wound together as I stare at them.

"And how exactly do you propose we do that?" I question.

"We set out bait," she replies.

I raise an eyebrow, a light chuckle escaping my lips.

"Where are you planning on getting this 'bait' from?" I ask.

"That human Clara wanted to be helpful did she not?" Alina suggests.

I clench my jaw, narrowing my eyes at her.

"Was it not you who said it would be too dangerous for her to get involved?"

Alina smiles, her pearl fangs shining against her charcoal skin.

"Yes, I did. I also think if you are going to keep her around she should at least act useful. Using her as bait may be our only chance to catch their leader," she says.

"Clara could also be turned into a sire vampire. I cannot do that to her," I reply.

"It is a risk we may have to take for the greater good. I think we should ask her if she is willing to act as bait in order to get information. If she agrees I will train her, and if she refuses we send her back to her village," she says.

I pull my elbows in front of me, locking my fingers together, and I rest my chin on them.

"Fine, but the choice is up to Miss Clara. If she refuses that is the end of it," I state.

Clara would not actually agree to this, would she?

"If that human really wants to help she will do this for us," Alina affirms.

"There are other ways for her to be useful, Alina," I sigh.

"Really? She cannot read, nor write, nor fight for that matter. She has no medical skills, she is clearly no forger and I doubt she can make maps. This girl has no skills to aid us, just the Will to die apparently," Alina snorts.

I scowl, snapping my head to look up at her.

"She has the Will to fight, and to me, that can get you farther than anything. She has suffered at the hands of these outlaws, therefore she has every right to fight against them. So I will help her in any way I can. You should be less worried I made it clear from the very beginning, that if she cannot make it, I will not drop everything to protect her," I explain.

Alina rolls her eyes, moving to stand near the window. She stares up at the moonlit sky as a soft sigh passes through her lips.

"Alright, if you are wanting to see her through this I guess the only thing I can do is support your decision master," she stops.

"Now, we should get back to work there is much to be done," she says turning to face me again.

I nod in response. Alina comes to stand behind me once again. After going over the schedule for the day, I begin to finish the paperwork on my desk.