It took two more days before Keira had gained enough strength to physically stand on her own, and another day after that, before she had the strength to get downstairs under her own steam. She'd spent the better part of the day dealing with the constant barrage of messages and emails filling her inbox. The massacre had made national news, and everyone wanted inside information. As expected, the University wanted to know when she was planning to return. She'd already been away far too long for their liking.

With the case now over, they were applying pressure to return to her duties. What wasn't mentioned outright, but implied, was they also wanted to take advantage of the fact she was instrumental in tracking down and apprehending the Mystery Hill killers. Something they would be milking for months, if not years to come. This would mean massive exposure for the university, not to mention the potential cash flow from new sponsors and benefactors.

Keira could never understand how people could take advantage of the misfortune of others in such a callous manner. Money truly was the root of all evil.

Not wanting to deal with the politics of university life just yet, she dressed and headed downstairs. She followed the sound of Dayna's voice and found her in the large family room that opened out from the kitchen.

As she entered, she was shocked at the flowers, plants, fruit baskets and plates of food that littered the normally immaculate area. Her sister was on the phone hopping from foot to foot. Something had clearly excited her. Keira wandered over to the countertop and made herself a Green Tea, just as Dayna finished the call and let out an animated squeal.

"Good news?"

"You could say that." She placed the phone back into her pocket. "Lovely weather we're having."

Keira narrowed her eyes. Dayna was not known for keeping secrets. This only meant one of two things. There was a man involved, or, it was something Keira wouldn't approve of.

"So how did your call with the principal go?" Dayna asked before Keira could answer.

It was clear her sister was avoiding the subject. It's a man I won't approve of, she decided.

"Department chair," Keira replied as she raised an eyebrow. You know you'll break. It's only a matter of time before you'll spill "I haven't spoken to him yet." Kiera pointed to the lack of counter space. "What's all this?"

"When the SuperNatual's and gifted found out what had happened, things just started turning up. We've now got everything from free range eggs, to homemade lasagne, to knitted beanies. Everyone wanted to show just how much they appreciated what we did."

"How the hell did they find out?"

Dayna lifted her shoulders. "Damned if I know, but words out. I even had a little kid come up on the street yesterday and give me a hug. It was the strangest thing you've ever seen. She appeared out of nowhere, threw her arm around me, squeezed, and then ran off." Dayna half snorted, half laughed. "All I need now is a string of sexy half-naked men to do the same, and I'll be in heaven. Their gifts I won't want to return."

Keira frowned. "I'm not sure I'm as comfortable with that many people knowing."

"Too late now. Even Deacon has stopped grumbling about how many people have appeared on his doorstep bearing gifts."

Keira sat down on the oversized couch and watched as her sister sat down opposite her and began to fidget. "So, I gather no one's back yet?"

"No. Kahair and Makeda are still scouring the area for any clue where Zahir and Amos might be. Kahair and Deacon are pretty determined to track that Legion down. From what I can gather, there's some bad blood between them."

She wasn't surprised. There was something about the General that gave her the impression he recognized many of the Primordial Vampires fighting against his Legions.

Keira took a sip and stared at her cup. "What about Deacon and Ryker?" she asked, trying to keep her voice even.

She hadn't laid eyes on Ryker since the summer solstice. In the fleeting moments he did come home to check in on her, she'd been sleeping. For some strange reason, she'd questioned his timing. Was it deliberate? Was he actively avoiding her?

Each time she'd woken to discover she'd just missed him. Often, she didn't even need to be told he'd been close. His familiar scent lingered in her room well after he had departed.

Dayna checked her watch. "Who knows. Could be any moment, could be hours. The backlash over this hasn't been pretty.

Keira's phone beeped. She glanced at it and groaned. Steve, the Department chair, was nothing if not persistent. The university had set up a special lecture for her the following week on cult killers, and the message implied it wasn't optional on her part. She sighed and sat back on the couch as she scanned the room filled to the brim with gifts from strangers. It wasn't lost on her the stark difference between life in LA and the life led by the SuperNaturals in Salem and the surrounding areas.

"Bad news?"

Keira sighed. "I've got to get back to Berkley."

"Can't you stay a little longer? With all that's been going on, we really haven't had a chance to catch up."

"I would love to, but I've got students to worry about. I've already been away too long." Keira tucked her legs up under her. "Why don't you come with me? You can just as easily get a flight back to the UK from LA, as you can from Boston. It might be nice to spend some time without the Leviathan drama."

"It was intense, wasn't it?"

"So, what about it?"

The way in which Dayna suddenly fell quiet, had Keira on high alert.

"Actually," said Dayna, not looking at Keira. "I was thinking about sticking around for a while. There's nothing really tying me to Europe and the coven needs help..." Dayna trailed off. She cleared her throat. "I've actually found the perfect house not far from here. It's a bit of a fixer-upper, but it's perfect, and the owners are willing to sell it for a reasonable price."

It took a moment for the information to sink in. Even when it did, she still couldn't believe it. Keira recalled the conversation she had interrupted.

So, that's who you were on the phone to.

"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" Keira asked. Her sister was impetuous, but to move back to Massachusetts? After all this time?

"I had a few days to think about it, and it feels right. Besides..." Dayna winked. "There's a lot more things on offer than there was a few hundred years ago."

Keira groaned and facepalmed. "I'm not sure the male population are aware what's about to hit them."

Dayna giggled and twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "I'm going to enjoy educating them then. Starting with those very hunky specimens at the Salem Fire Department."

"Which one in particular?"

Dayna waved her hand dismissively. "All of them silly. Maybe not all at the same time...actually..." She grinned, and an impish expression overtook her features.

Keira held up her hand. "Stop right there, I don't need to hear any more."

Dayna's expression turned serious. "The other reason is, I can't leave the coven so exposed. They still are nowhere near where they should be. The door is sealed, but with Amos and that General running free, who know for how long."

This was something that had played on Keira's conscience as well. They had lost the majority of their coven and were not in a position to defend the entryway between hell and earth. At least with Dayna there, they would have a fighting chance.

Something she recognized as guilt, pricked at the back of her mind. I've played my part, she snipped at her inner voice. With Dayna here, there was no reason to stay.

Are you sure about that?

Keira ignored the bizarre conversation she was having with herself and refocused on her sister. "Well, at least we'll be in the same country."

Dayna smiled and tilted her head. "Why don't you stay as well. There's more than one fireman to go around, I'm not that greedy... or maybe, you prefer a different kind of uniform?"

Keira shifted and swung her legs to the floor. This was not a conversation she wanted to have with herself, or her sister. "You know I have to return to work. Some us don't have the luxury of being able to just up and move on a whim."

Not taking the bait or the hint, Dayna said, "Suit yourself then, your loss. If you want to ignore the obvious, who am I to stand in your way."

Keira was thankful when Dayna's phone rang. From the way in which she bolted from the chair, it was to do with the house she had been interested in. This was confirmed a moment later when her sister's mile a minute bubbly voice coerced Bradley, whom Keira assumed was the retaliator, into a showing the next day.

She picked up her phone and scanned her messages. Not able to put off the conversation any longer, she made her way up to her room and placed a call to Steve, before he scheduled any more special lectures and interviews. He'd already lined up enough that she'd have no voice left.

***

Keira was on edge for the remainder of the day. Not having anything constructive to do, she rearranged the bouquets of flowers at least three times and managed to get all the food into the fridge. This alone was an achievement, as she'd managed to pack in at least twice the volume than was deemed safe. Provided they didn't need anything from the fridge, they'd be just fine. Even removing one container may cause a chain reaction, and the rest would eject with so much force, it would carve holes in the nearest walls.

Kahair and Makeda were the first to arrive. While Makeda wasn't much of a talker, Kahair more than made up for it. He spent the majority of his time flirting with Keira and Dayna. By the time Deacon returned home, Kahair had even managed to relax Keira's frayed nerves.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Deacon said as he walked in and noticed Keira. "For a while, you had us a little concerned."

"Nonsense my friend," said Kahair as he waved a glass in the air. "She was never in danger. Did you not see the range of her power? Even the Legion were unable to best her."

Deacon gratefully accepted the glass of Bourbon Dayna offered him as he passed her. "That does not mean she or Dayna are invincible. Even they must comply with the laws of physics and nature. There is a limit their bodies can endure, and I believe that point was almost reached."

He took up a position near the patio door and looked over at Dayna, then swung his gaze to Keira. The strain from the past few days was evident around his eyes. Whatever aftermath had erupted was enough to phase the normally stoic vampire.

His faced softened, and a hint of a smile flashed across his face. "I know I haven't had a chance to say it, but your mother would have been proud of both of you."

The back of her throat became parched, and Keira took another sip of her wine to ease the discomfort. It was a strange experience to have someone other than them remember their mother. Someone who remembered who she was, and the legacy she left behind.

"So, sleeping beauty finally arises."

Keira's head whipped around to face the new arrival. Ryker pulled off his cap and sunglasses and tossed them onto the nearest chair.

He grinned as he made his way towards her. "You know, they lied when they said a kiss would wake the princess. All you did was snore."

Keira nearly choked at his jibe. "You didn't. I don't."

He winked at her distress. "If you say so." Ryker then nodded in Deacon's direction. "I hear you had words with the Governor today."

Thankful the conversation had drifted away from her, and onto more serious matters, Keira studied Ryker's profile. He was standing close enough to her for her to breathe in his distinct masculine scent. The same one that had been taunting her for the past few days.

She closed her eyes and remembered the last time she'd seen him. She'd been nestled in his arms, secure in the knowledge he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Was that why her unconscious state allowed him safely through her protective aura when others weren't able?

Keira wasn't stupid enough to deny the fact there was a physical attraction to him. The sexual charge between them was off the charts. Should she throw caution to the wind and let whatever had been building between them just happen? A fission of lust rushed up from her core as she recalled the panty dropping kiss he'd laid on her just before the battle. She wanted to cash in on the promise of what the kiss offered and damn the consequence to her state of mind. She'd already made her decision and set the wheels into motion. It was too late to back out now. All that was left was to break the news. The only question was, to tell him before or after she had her wicked way with him?

Keira had been so engrossed in her inner fantasy, she'd failed to notice all eyes were looking expectantly at her.

"Sorry," she mumbled, embarrassed at being caught daydreaming. "I must be more tired than I thought, can you repeat that."

She was thankful when the conversation resumed and refocused on something other than her, and made her way to sit before she fell. Even though she wouldn't admit it, she still had a way to go before she was fully recovered.

Keira had just sat when Ryker decided to follow her over. He perched on the armrest and frowned. "Are you sure you should be up?"

"I feel fine," Keira said, "stop fussing."

"You need to make sure you don't overdo it."

Keira rolled her eyes. "Yes, mother."

"Hey, you're the one who had the death wish. Even your sisters had granny naps during the day, and she only got a portion of what you did."

"I heard that," said Dayna, "and their called power naps."

Ryker chuckled and scratch the back of his head. "At your age, they are definitely called granny naps."

Dayna poked a tongue out at Ryker. "If I still had my nifty new powers, I'd transport your clothes outside, and then we'd see who's all wrinkly and shriveled."

"You wish."

"Before I forget," said Deacon, interrupting the conversation before it got out of hand. He addressed both Keira and Dayna. "There's going to be a memorial for all the victims early next week. Do you think you'll be up to attending?"

Dayna, who had been standing between Deacon and Kahair, tucked her arm under Deacon's and patted his arm. "Of course, we will. Whatever you need help with, just let us know."

Keira's eyes darted around the room nervously. This was not the way she'd intended this particular conversation going. "Um... I won't be able to. Sorry. I'm booked on a flight to LA tomorrow afternoon."

The room fell quiet as if the air had suddenly been sucked from it.

"What?" both Ryker and Dayna shouted in unison.

Keira wished a hole would appear in the ground, and allow her to disappear into it. She fingered the amulet around her neck and felt the weight of all eyes on her. "I have no choice. I have a commitment, and I have to return. It's already been pointed out that I've been away a lot longer than they originally agreed."

Dayna placed her hands on her hips and stamped a foot. "And when the hell were you going to tell me?"

Keira winced. Her sister sounded more hurt than angry. "It all happened so quickly, I haven't had a chance to tell you my plans. I was going to talk to you about it later tonight."

Deacon cleared his throat. "Before we get too carried away, I suggest we put things in perspective. Kiera's being here was at my request. It was only supposed to be for a few days. I can understand the universities reluctance of having a member of the faculty away for so long." He turned to her. "I am assuming that you are not able to take a leave of absence?"

Keira let out a long breath and shook her head. "I have already used up the maximum of time allowed for the entire year, just in the past three weeks. It's the middle of the semester, and the students have to come first."

She conveniently left out the remainder of the terse conversation with the vice chancellor and her head of department. Hostile wouldn't even cover it.

Guilt ate away at her. She should have told Dayna her plans.

Keira was grateful when Deacon skilfully moved the conversation back to safer topics. As expected, Dayna would pout for days when she didn't get her way. It was the sudden change in Ryker's demeanor that shocked her the most.

When she looked up, he was no longer beside her. Instead, he was deep in conversation with Kahair and Makeda. Each time Keira attempted to engage him in conversation, his answers were curt and distant.

It wasn't until she took notice of Makeda's overly familiar physical contact with Ryker that Keira became concerned. He didn't seem to mind. In fact, the flirting between them was becoming sickening. When Makeda took to whispering in his ear seductively, Keira was ready to let the earth open and swallow her whole. The painful headache returned in full force.

❧ ⚛ ✺ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ✺ ⚛ ❧

📎A/N. OMG! How could he?

And Dayna has decided to stay... I did not see that coming.

Don't forget to vote before you go to the final final chapter...

❤ ℳ