Over the last week, I've tried a hundred different ideas to get Ava out of her situation. And then I tried a hundred more. None of them will work.

We've been meeting at her house every night to discuss the plans. And as the date of the wedding quickly approaches we are running out of time. We are running out of plans.

But I don't just have the wedding to worry about, there is also the hunt.

I'm exactly 24 hours the blood moon will rise and the hunt will begin.

Every day after training I've been scouring the library for a spell or even a potion that will keep Ava safe. I've tried to look at some of my mam's books, but it will be difficult with her always being in her library.

" Do you have any more plans?" Ava whispered. Her body pressed against mine under the warmth of her duvet.

I sighed adjusting my head on the pillow. I gently stroked her hair, lightly kissing her head.

" No, but right now I'm more concerned about the hunt tomorrow night."

" Are you sure the spell they will use will manage to lure me out? I'm pretty strong-willed." She smirked pressing herself up staring down at me.

" How about I show you." I suggested.

" Sure." She shrugged sitting up.

I sat myself up and started directly in her eye.

Taking a deep breath I began to the spell.

This spell unlike others doesn't require you to mutter something. All you have to do is expel a strong will that lures the target out and make them do whatever you want.

With every breath, I took I could feel the spell starting to work. Ava began to shake her head, trying to resist the spell. She began to blink furiously and shake her head even more.

Finally, the spell took effect.

The blue in her eyes disappeared and her eyes turned a milky white. Her breathing evened out and she sat there in a trance.

I got up from the bed and walked over to the door. Ava stayed on the bed, staring off into space.

" Come to me," I commanded, my voice came out as a whisper echoing around the room.

Immediately she stumbled off the bed and hurried over to me.

As I pulled her close I released the spell.

As the effect of the spell wore off her eyes turned back to their ocean blue, and her breathing slightly quickened. Shaking her head in disbelief she looked up at me, her eyes widened in shock and terror at what I just did.

" I know you are strong-willed but as I just showed you this spell will affect you and the result is death." I whispered stroking her cheek.

" Sorry I doubted you. Now kiss me." She commanded puckering her lips.

" Really?" I smirked rubbing my hands up and down her waist. Relishing the feel of her gown under my fingertips, wishing I could feel her bare skin.

" Yes, I think it's only fair after what you just did to me. Don't you agree?" She smiled.

" Touche." I chuckled pulling her lips up to meet mine.

Waking up in a bed by myself has become quite depressing for me. For the last week, I've wanted nothing but to stay with Ava all night. I've wanted nothing more than to wake up and see her sleeping beside me. To watch her wake up, to see her smile when she looks up at me. And savior that sweet taste of the early morning kiss as the early rays of sun beaming down on us as we lay in the bed.

But I can't stay with her for the night. I can't wake up beside her. Well at least for now.

I ran over to the temple early this morning to continue my frantic search for a spell.

In exactly thirteen hours and thirty minutes the blood moon will be at its peak, the hunt will commence and many innocents will die tonight. But Ava will not be one of them.

My tired and droopy eyes threatened to close as I flipped through the book in my hands. My hopes began to whiter as I neared the end of the book.

This is the sixtieth book I've read in the last week and so far I have zero spells that will help Ava tonight.

As I turned to the last page a large smile broke on my face.

The Hunt Spell

Right in the first paragraph was how to prevent the spell from taking effect.

" Jackpot." I smiled taking out my notebook and scribbling the spell down.

" What are you doing?" Naomi asked leaning her back against the door frame.

I jumped at her unexpected arrival, slamming the book shut.

" Just reviewing the spell I'll have to use tonight." I shrugged closing my notebook.

" Oh, okay. Lizzie wanted me to tell you that all training is canceled for today due to the hunt." She explained.

" Great." I sighed. No training today will give me time to go to Ava and do the spell.

" Also there is an important meeting happening before you go off for the hunt. The whole coven is required to attend." She further explained.

" What's the meeting about?" I asked crossing my eyebrows in confusion.

There has never been a meeting before hunts.

" She didn't go into specifics. All she said was that there is something important she is going to announce." Naomi said crossing her arms over her chest. A puzzled expression painted on her face.

" Wonder what the announcement is?"

" Beats me, now if you will excuse me I have some very important matters to get to."

" Really?"

" Yup, in going to lay in my bed and go back to sleep." She smirked turning on her heels and walking away. Leaving me in a state of joy, confusion, and curiosity.

After copying down the rest of the spell I packed the book where I found it and left the temple.

The spell said that the spell only lasts about six hours so I will have to place the spell on Ava when I leave for the meeting. But for now, I have a date with my bed and sleep.

" Wake up!" My mam screamed.

I groaned as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. The late afternoon sun beaming through my window showed that I've been asleep for nearly the whole day.

" What time is it?" I groaned slipping out of my bed.

" Six o'clock. I'm leaving early to prepare for the meeting. Just make sure you get there before nine o'clock." She snapped before closing my door and leaving the house.

Moving at an inhumane speed I showered and dressed in some clean clothes.

As I placed my knife into my belt a sense of guilt swallowed me up. I haven't even killed anyone and I'm already guilty.

While my mind has been occupied with keeping Ava safe for the hunt and trying to get her out of the upcoming wedding I completely forgot about the fact that I have to kill someone tonight. I forgot that tonight I have to lure a child or a young woman out of their home and kill them.

The old me would easily be able to do it, but now I'm not so sure I can.

Maybe I can pretend to search and when I go back to the temple empty-handed, I can just say I didn't find anyone up to my standards. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

Once I was all cleaned up and ready I sprinted down to Hawthorn. Using the cover of the trees and the darkness that was beginning to cover the sky I found my way to Ava's house.

She was looking out her window, already dressed in her nightgown.

Changing into my bird form I flew into her room.

Her beautiful smile formed on her lips when I landed and changed back. She ran over to me and pressed her lips against mine. I quietly moaned as I attacked her lips. She moaned as she ran her fingers through my hair and down my neck stopping at my chest.

" I need to do this spell then I have to leave. There is a meeting before the hunt." I whispered pulling back.

" I was worried you would say something like this."

" You were worried that I would have a meeting?"

" I was worried you would have to leave so soon."

" That's very sweet. Now let's get this over with."

" Okay," she sighed rolling her eyes," so where do you want me." She added with a smirk.

" On the bed." I commanded.

She chewed her bottom lip as she made her way to the bed. Keeping eye contact with me the whole time.

" Stay still, this spell isn't long."

" Okay." She smiled.

I took a deep breath and placed my hands on her head.

" Lillith mater voco, ad daemoniorum. Ex hac puella custodiat venari. Custodi illam vocationem tutem ab sirenis."

I could feel the spell take its effect. I could feel the shield of protection form around Ava.

" Is it over?" She asked.

" Yes, now I hate that I have to say this but I have to go now." I sighed.

" Love you." She whispered.

" Love you too."

Changing back into the bird I flew out her window and to the meadow.

I changed back at the temple door and ran to the arena where of course the whole coven was waiting for me.

Naomi was seated in the middle of the circle. When she saw me she gestured for me to join her in the circle.

With a confused expression, I made my way to the center of the circle and sat beside her.

I looked around at the rest of the coven. I am even more confused with their expressions. They all look happy, and Cleo is looking at me with a smile on her face.

" Before the hunt will begin I have an important announcement to make. After a week of consideration, we have decided that we need to add more members to the coven. So, therefore, we need more couples,"

I don't like where this is going!

" We have decided that on the first day of winter Naomi and Tobias will marry."

What?