The fight started and I fell into what felt like an old habit. Like I’d been in a ring before, but yet I didn’t remember doing so. But it felt comfortable. 

The big man with claws for fingers came at me and I easily dodged away from him, and as he passed behind me I brought a leg down on his back and he collapsed to the ground only to spring up with his nose bloodied from smashing his face into the concrete floor.

The bell rang and he sneered at me. First blood was the rule, and apparently smashing your face into the concrete counted.

The second guy choose himself – so much for my choice. But it didn’t matter as we danced around. I managed to dodge a few blows before I fell backwards and knocked my head against the floor. I saw stars but no blood – we kept going – dancing around each other and trying to fell the other. 

I dodged another blow and as he flew past me I grabbed the back of his shirt and flung him into the beam. He came away with a bloodied lip and I was no worse for wear. 

The third and fourth guy went pretty much the same, dance around each other, trade a few blows before I sent them into one object or another and they come away with blood. But me I was free of all injury – save for the bruises and knocks to the head I was taking.

By the fifth guy I was breathing hard, and the man howled at the ceiling with the throat of a man, but he sounded very much like the wolf he was. His teeth dripped saliva and I knew this time would be different.

He didn’t try to hit me, he tried to bite me – he went straight for the throat. My life felt in dire straights and in a moment of inspiration I pushed as hard as I could at the man’s chest on top of me while I lay on the ground. He flew up and away and I was able to roll away. Where there had been yelling and growling and rooting for the other man, now there was silence. He landed on his feet but everyone including that man stared at me. 

The bell rang and Dom waved his hand with a hidden command and the room empty save for me and the men around him. “What are you?” He asked.

I stood there staring at him with a shake of my head. “What did I do?”

“It looked like something grabbed him and flung him off of you.” Another voice from the shadows said. I turned to look and saw Mr. Tall dark and handsome step out of them. “I’ve only ever seen Venatori do that.”

“Or a dragon.” Dom said, “Though they tend towards fireworks instead of air But they are capable I’m told.”

“Magnus have dragon blood.” Ant said. Alex had sent him. I was sure of it. 

I growled, “Alex sent you to watch over me?”

Ant frowned, “He did. He doesn’t want you to die.”

Dom laughed, “He’s two of out three. If you want to count each battle here he’s only lost twice.” Dom held up a finger, “Pushed him down the stairs and he cracked his head wide open.” He held up the second finger, “And here he was taken off guard by an idiot of mine. Though I doubt he would have lost given his self preservation.”

Ant nodded, “Still Alex doesn’t want to lose him. Even if he insists on putting himself in danger.”

“So what, you are to be my body guard?” I growled again.

Ant shook his head, “No. I was only to intervene if you got hurt. You have not. But Alex won’t like any of this either way.”

“You follow him around like a dog on a leash. What happened to Del Figlio.” Dom retorted.

“I am still the son of the Hound, and I do not follow Alex lightly. We are a team. The three of us.”

Dom sighed, “It was one thing knowing your mother took more than one human as servant. But you take two powerful creatures.”

Ant laughed, “I’m sure Ryan would love to know he’s a powerful creature.”

I was lost. Completely and utterly lost. I had no idea what they were talking about. What was a Venatori? And how did that relate to what I had done. Ant grabbed my shoulder and steered me towards the shadows. I pulled out of his grasp. “I don’t think so.” I said and walked towards the exit. “Dom, I paid my debt?”

He nodded, “Abby and Will will not be troubled by my wolves. And if they are, you may call Liam and I will put a stop to it. Lest I sick you on them.” He beamed. “I don’t think anyone will bother them with that threat above them.”

I nodded and walked down the long empty hall. The metal door was unguarded and I pushed it open. I knew I had a shadow long before I got to the end of the block. “Why are you following me?” I asked.

“You aren’t even a little curious?”

“About what?”

Ant laughed, “Any of it.”

I shook my head. “No. It all feels familiar. None of it’s unnerving but none of it I know.” I sighed, “It’s like I lived another life.”

“You have lived many lives over.” Ant said, “We all have. Ryan could tell you all about the Umbra and the energy and the souls.”

“And soul mates.” I countered.

Ant nodded, “Yes.”

I shook my head, “I want to go to bed.”

“I could…”

I interrupted, “I’ll be fine. The long walk home will be good.”

“It’s a two hour walk.”

“Then I better get started.” I said and kept on walking.

The address that Dom texted me was in Lower Manhattan specifically Tribecca. It was almost as far from my home as I could get. And it was a several hour walk, so I decided to take the train instead. It was dark by the time I stepped off the train and into the night air. There was a faint scent of forest on the air, and the moon was no where to be seen even though the clouds stayed away. The air was cold and I wished for a warm jacket, but I’d forgotten to take one with me when I left the house that morning.

I could swear I heard the howling of wolves in the distance and wondered if it was a trick of my mind or actually the wolves howling into the night. Did werewolves howl? But the people around me didn’t seem to notice so I figured it was a trick of the mind. No howling wolves in the middle of New York City.

The place I went to looked run down, and it looked like one of those things you’d see in the movies with the metal door with a sliding peep hole. I knocked. The metal window slid open in the door and the pair of golden eyes that looked out were more wolf than not. He looked me over and then slide the window closed. 

I heard movement on the other side of the door and it opened seconds later. “Dom was wondering if you were going to flake again.”

“I had a rough night last night – sorry.” I said. It was the truth, I didn’t think I needed to mention the fact that I had forgotten too. It was Saturday night and I was in the middle of a pack of werewolves. I could smell the forest with in, but the only thing I saw was concrete and metal. Even the sheetrock was gone. Only the metal and concrete remained. 

High beams rose from the floor. Some of them bent at awkward angles only to be supported by another beam screwed and welded into place. There was a loud crowd farther in. Their howling and growling reverberated in my bones. I swore I felt the power of something humming through my veins.

I followed the empty corridor to the ring. It wasn’t really a ring, just a crowd of people who circled a pair fighting in the middle. They were both bloodied, one man had claws for hands, and the other’s snout was that of a wolf disfiguring his features but still oddly human.

The crowd parted as I worked my way to the front. No one looked at me, or said anything they just moved – parted like the red sea. A quick glance behind me and the sea had fallen closed as I passed through. I had a clear shot to the man sitting in a chair – the only man sitting in a chair I noticed. Their leader. I stood next to him. “I promised I’d make it this time.”

He didn’t look up. “I expected no less.” The fight continued on, and I watched in near horror as they bit and clawed at each other until one of them fell. A man came out raising the paw of the winner and the other man’s friends helped him off the floor. And still another cleaned up the blood. Dom looked at me, “Still up for a fight?”

I shrugged, “I guess. But I don’t fancy dying.”

“You won’t. We have strict rules.”

“He’s going to be alright?” I asked.

“He’s a werewolf. He’ll heal.” He looked up at me. “You aren’t, so we’ll make it to first blood.”

I only sorta nodded and wondered why I had ever agreed to this. I wasn’t a fighter. And yet I knew that was a lie. I took a deep breathe and put one foot in front of the other and made my way to the ring. Dom stood up when I took the first step. “Tonight, we have a treat. A man who bested three of our own. But he’s not one of us, to first blood. Who will challenge him?”

There was about ten wolves who stepped out of the shadows. All of them bigger than the next, and all three times my size. I looked back at Dom and he smirked. I was so fucked.

“One at a time, let him choose.”

I laughed, “You want me to choose the guy I want to kick the shit out of me?”

Dom smiled, “It’s fair. They all want a shot at you since you hurt their friends.”

“They pushed me down fucking stairs,” I growled.

“And here you are all better.” Dom laughed, “They just want their revenge. You must too.”

I sighed and shook my head and pointed at the biggest of the men. “Let’s get this over with.”

There was no bell, no indication at all that the match had started – only the blur of motion of the werewolf before he was on top of me. His fingers extended into claws and he had me pinned to the ground. 

There was a bell and three men were pulling him off of me. “Jared that is no way to treat our guest. Play right or you’ll find yourself at the end come this full moon.”

I had no idea what that meant as I stood up. No one bothered to help me. “We play by civilized rules, even in an uncivilized manner. But still I didn’t say go.” Dom said looking mostly at me.

That was good to know.

I took up stance and I waited for the word to move. The big man stared back at me, his tan skin made the snarl on his face look meaner. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth and I knew I was dead. It may be to first blood, but I knew it would go farther than that.

Alex had his hands full and walking down the stairs was lonely. I had walked up with Hunter and had dinner with Alex – for the second time. I enjoyed my time here. It felt nice – but it was time to get back to my world.

Which really wasn’t my world. It was Alex’s world apparently. I don’t know how I got mixed up in all this. How had I come to stand in front of Safe Harbor?

But I didn’t get too far before I heard a commotion down another alley. I started to walk by but then I heard a scream and I turned down the side alley and into the shadows. It was dark and the shadows were thick. “Leave her alone.” I said quietly.

There was a moment where it felt like the wind had stirred and the whole place got brighter, and then it was gone. The three men who had their hands on the women were all looking at me. Their eyes wide with fear and then they bolted, dropping their grasp on the woman and she tumbled to the ground. I raced to her and scooped her up. “You okay?” The sense of familiarity rose in me. The feeling of peace overcame me and the ever present pain I’d been living with.

She smiled up at me. It was like seeing an angel for the first time. I wondered if angels were real. A thought I filed away to ask Alex later.

“My savior.” She beamed.

“I didn’t do anything.” I said as I helped her stand up. “At least I don’t think I did.”

“They must have sensed the strength in you.” She smiled and squeezed my bicep. She stood on her tip toes and tried to kiss me.

I pulled away. “Sorry Duckling, I have a boyfriend.” Which wasn’t really the truth, but it wasn’t really a lie. Alex was something – I was in love with him. Had been in love with him for months. 

She pouted. “Awe.” She held out here hand, “I’m Lucy.”

I shook her hand, “Nox.” 

She giggled, “My name means light, and yours means dark. And you’re named after a goddess.”

“So I’ve been told.” I smiled. For some reason I knew that had been true. Though I didn’t remember who had told me. We didn’t learn about the same myths as human children did. We learned the same people, but they weren’t always the same stories. The goddess of night was not among them. She was a vampire named Nyx. I stopped at the mouth of the alley way and thought to myself how did I know all of that information. 

Lucy was staring at me as I stood in the mouth of the alley just staring off into space to her eye. “Sorry. I just had a strange thought.”

“What was that?” She smiled, “You will walk me home won’t you?”

I nodded, “Yes ma’am I will. It was just a strange thought, how I was named after the goddess of night.” I lied with a smile on my face. Alex would have seen right through it and it had come so easily – that little white lie that wasn’t a lie. it was a half truth. I was good at half truths – saying things that were only partially true so that I was never lying outright.

But yet I felt like I didn’t tell lies. It was a fundamental part of who I am, but as we walked I thought about how that information had just spilled into my head.

Lucy chatted and I listened. It was strange not being the one spilling out words. But she hardly gave me the chance to talk. I wondered if that was how others felt around me. I’d have to make a concsious effort to let others talk. “Anyone ever told you, you talk a lot?” I grinned.

She looked at me stunned. And then the blush that crept over her face made her ears red too. “All the time.”

I laughed, “Me too.”

She relaxed and beamed up at me. “Oh really? You’ve barely said a word the whole walk.”

“I couldn’t get a word in edge wise, even if I wasn’t lost in thought.”

She nodded, “I do that too.” She looked up at the tall building that had had V&M stuck high above for the world to see from everywhere in the City. It wasn’t the tallest building, but it was one of the top ten. “This is me.”

“I didn’t know there were apartments here.”

She smiled, “There aren’t. My dad works here, we are going to lunch. You should meet him sometime.”

“I just met you and already you want me to meet your parents I’m flattered.” 

She laughed, “You are funny.” She reached up on her tip toes and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’m serious.” She pulled a card from her purse and tucked it into my hoodie. “Call me, and we’ll make a date of it. You can bring your boyfriend even.”

“You sure you don’t want me to walk you up?”

Lucy shook her head and the blonde strands fell in front her face. She pushed aside the locks with a smile, “No one will hurt me inside here. My Dad is pretty powerful man.”

The way she said powerful I got a shiver and knew she meant something entirely different than what I thought she meant. Though I didn’t know why. I didn’t know why this building gave me the chills too. Something about it…

Lucy waved her good-bye as she opened the door and entered into the lobby of the V&M building. I could follow here, but as I glanced at my watch to catch the time, I didn’t have enough to do that and make the meeting with Dom. I promised and I didn’t intend to be late.

We sat down at a glass table and some wire chairs with bright cushions on them. It was rather comfortable. “That’s his kitchen isn’t it?” I asked.

Alex nodded with a frown, “Yeah. But you liked it didn’t you?”

I nodded, “Who wouldn’t?”

He smiled but he didn’t say anything more. We ate in silence until I chuckled. Alex cocked an eyebrow at me, “Hunter told me I’d be staying for dinner.”

“You weren’t planning on it?” Alex asked.

I shook my head, “No. I can’t do this with you.”

“Why?” He asked.

“Because you want someone else.”

Alex sighed, “I do, but I want you too.”

“I won’t make you feel guilty for loving me Alex. I can’t do it.”

Alex smirked, “Getting ahead of yourself aren’t you?”

I shook my head, “No. I’ve been in love with you for eleven weeks. From the first moment you came into my dreams. You are the first thing I remember when I try to think about how my life has been. The first thing. You are the only consistent thing in my life. I can’t be just a fuck Alex. As good as it is, I can’t do it.”

He nodded but he was looking off into the City skyline, “I don’t want just a fuck.”

“Did you help Hunter escape?”

Alex smirked, “Not intentionally, but I heard him as he left and I did nothing. I knew where he was going. And I knew you would bring him home.”

“So a game?” I growled.

Alex shook his head, “No. You saw the picture. And the more I think about it, the more his theory makes sense.”

“What’s his theory?”

“That we knew each other. You don’t remember who you are right? We are missing someone – all of us – this whole fucking city is missing someone and we all feel it but we can’t figure it out. We don’t remember. And here you are this nothing person with no memory, no family, no friends, who woke up eleven weeks ago with nothing to tell him who he was. Hunter says you are family. Rider feels pack in you. Abby too. Jo obviously did she won’t go with Rider or Dom. You do magic without knowing it. I swear to fucking god if we had a picture of you at Hunter’s age you’d look exactly alike. And I’m drawn to you, I was drawn to him too. So maybe – just maybe you are him.”

Before I could say anything Alex added, “I have no proof. I only have a feeling. I have the words of a five year old who has never ever told me a lie. He says you are family I can’t keep denying it.”

“So what do you want me to do? Just believe it. Come be part of all this.”

“Fuck no!” Alex said, “This life is shit. If you got away then maybe you did it for a reason.”

“Why the fuck would I leave this Alex. Why would I leave you, Hunter, and the rest of the kids? Why?”

“I don’t know. Because you knew something. I don’t know Nox. I don’t fucking know. All I know is I can’t get you out of my fucking head.” He whispered, “And I don’t want to either.”

“But yet, all you want is to fuck.” I growled.

Alex sighed, “I… I’m sorry. I can’t help but push you away.”

I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t really say much more so I ate my food. Alex’s eyes never left me, I could feel them like giant pokers sticking right threw me.

“You really are very loud.”

“I’m not saying anything.” I grumbled.

“You think too much. Your head is like this turbulent chaotic storm and I’m not even digging deep.”

“I can’t stop thinking.”

“It’s not a bad thing.” Alex said. He was smiling when I looked up to meet his gaze. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for you.”

“Apparently, you don’t have to you have all access pass to my head.” I knew I was angry. I didn’t need to take it out on him, but every time he was in my head he used my thoughts against me.

The smile slide from Alex’s face, “You’re right, that’s not fair is it? I can’t help it. It’s part of who I am.”

“It’s one think to know what I’m thinking, but completely another to get pissed off because I’m thinking it.”

“Can I tell you something?”

I rolled my eyes, “You are going to tell me anyway.”

Alex smirked, “You’re a real ass sometimes.”

“Whatever.” I said sitting back in the chair with my glass of water.

Alex didn’t get a chance to explain because the door burst open. “Alex, they won’t leave me alone.” His daughter, who had just called him Alex, whined.

Cass growled, “I just want to help!” She argued.

Drake was there too he was holding on to Cass’ hand, “We just want to help Quinn.”

Rider was following them out, “Sorry.” He rounded the girls up and shoved them back through the door they’d come, “I was trying to settle down some vampires that decided because I was Alpha I could do anything. The fucking pack is restless and I can’t do shit cause of Dom.”

Rider looked at me and frowned, “Sorry, I forgot you had company. We’ll talk later. Ant says to hurry the fuck up too. He won’t wait all day.”

Alex shook his head, “And you want in on this life?” Alex sighed , “I’ll finish what I was going to say but I need to go.” He smiled at me but it didn’t reach his eyes. He wasn’t angry with me, but he was pretty upset. “Anyway… You pretty much say whatever is on your mind, except when your mind is racing and then I can’t even follow it. You’ve never contradicted yourself between thought and what you say – that never happens.”

I shrugged, “There is no need to lie.”

“There is always need to lie, you just find none.”

I sighed, “I feel there is more to the lying but I can’t remember why.”

Alex sat forward and took my hands from my lap. “We can find out what happened if you want. I have resources. First we can see Doc and see if there is any trauma in your past.”

“You have a personal doctor?”

Alex shook his head, “Not personal, he works for Ant’s mom. She has a personal doctor. And lawyer, and accountant. And hacker.”

My eyes grew wide with that, “She’s a vampire?”

“She is.”

“I didn’t know vampires had families. Or is that some strange relationship?”

Alex laughed, “It’s complicated, but Ant was born a vampire, his mother was made a vampire. It’s all a magical mess. And too much to explain over dinner. But you should go”

“I need to go, anyway. I have to meet Dom. I flaked last night.”

Alex frowned, “You can stop by anytime. I’ll send Doc a message, and tell him you’ll stop by sometime.”

Alex shook his head, “Tell me you’ll come here on Halloween like you were invited. It’s my birthday, it’ll be your gift to me. Hunter and the kids would love it if you did. You can be whatever you want, it’s a costume party.”

I sighed, “Fine.” I made it sound like a chore, but it wasn’t. “I’ll see you around?”

Alex nodded, “Your job still waits.”

I shook my head, “No, I can’t. Replace me.”

“Rider will be disappointed.”

I shrugged, “I just can’t. But if you want stop by and I’ll make you dinner sometime. We can talk more.”

Alex laughed, “Is that all?”

I smirked, “Yeah. That’s all. More and I’ll be a broken mess. So it’s talk or nothing, okay?”

Alex nodded, “You lie.”

“Maybe, but you know how I’m feeling so please.”

Alex nodded again. “Not really a lie, but you’d like more. I can live with that.” Alex stood up with me and he closed the small space and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Slow it is.”

“Thank you.” I said and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

The first thing I did when I got out of the shower was check the message Alex had sent.

A shower sounds good. Sure you don’t want to take one here.

I was sure. Though it could be tempting. The sex had been good, but I was in love with him, and I knew it. Having sex with him again would only land me further down that rabbit hole. And I was pretty sure I was never climbing out of it again.

After dressing and making sure my eyeliner looked good – covered up the fact that I had been having a rough day – or days. It was thicker than usual, and there was some eye shadow applied to help hide the bags under a light swath of color that matched the green shirt I was wearing. I wished I had time to treat my hair to the same color, but I didn’t have any green wax to apply over the blue that was currently dying my hair.

Hunter was sitting on the couch when I went upstairs to get him. He was still flipping through the same magazine. “Are you actually reading it?” I asked him.

He looked up and smiled brightly at me, “Not really. There is a puzzle in it I’m working on.”

“And the answers are in the magazine?” I asked.

He shook his head, “No, you are the puzzle. I’m trying to figure you out.”

“And I’m in the magazine?”

Hunter giggled, “No, silly. I was trying to figure out why you liked this magazine.”

He held up the cover of some hunting mag that Abby had left figuring I was a guy I liked guns and ammo. “Abby supplies all the magazines. I don’t think I’ve read a single one.”

Hunter grinned, “But you read this.” He held up my current book – the last and final book of a series I had read a billion times over. I’d read it while Alex made me food. 

“Yes, several times.”

“Do you think any of that magic is real?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Who’s to say now. I mean vampires and werewolves are real. Dragons are real. Telepaths are real. Whatever you are – you are real.”

Hunter grinned, “You are real.” He stood up and took my hand, “I’m ready to go home.”

“Okay, kid. You hungry?”

Hunter smiled, “We can stop at Bonnie’s on the way home. She’ll know what to make.”

“How about we call them, so it’s ready when we get there.”

Hunter agreed and I let the boy make that order. I added my own order to the menu in a separate to go bag so that I could take it after dropping Hunter off. Hunter just shook his head and muttered, “You’ll stay for dinner.”

He hadn’t thought I heard, “Is that a prophecy?”

Hunter looked at me wide eyed and shook his head, “Da, will talk you into it.”

I didn’t like that fact. He was right, if Alex asked I’d probably stay. 

Hunter held my hand the whole way to Bonnie’s. His small hand fit nicely in mine and we chatted about things. I couldn’t tell you what they were as they were just little things. But they were relavent at the time. He was a smart kid. And he didn’t seem to want to overwhelm the conversation like most kids did, he listened when I rambled on about something. It was a dance of sorts. Like we’d done it thousands of times, but we’d never done it.

There was a odd sense of familiarity as we walked up the stairs to the fourth floor where Hunter said the common spaces were. Which I had no idea what that meant. I mean I understood the need for common spaces, but in a house, they weren’t usually called that. 

The kitchen was the first place we walked into and I was flabergasted by the sheer size of the space. It was like walking into a restaurant kitchen but with so much more space. Everything was impressive and I wanted to run my fingers over the stainless steel benches. If it wasn’t the silver of stainless it was a beautiful marbled white and gray tile. 

“This is Da’s favorite room.”

“I can see why.”

Hunter grinned. “That’s not why.” He tugged me through the kitchen area into a seated lounge where everyone was gathered on cell phones.

Isabel, the dark haired woman from the park, ran over to Hunter and pulled him into a hug. “There you are. Where have you been? Why did you run away?” She threw more questions at him but I was looking at Alex who was watching me.

“You didn’t tell them?” I asked him from across the room.

He shrugged. “Hunter wanted you to bring him home. Who am I to ease their fears when the boy has a plan.”

“I brought food.” I said. “Hunter made the order at Bonnie’s.”

I said the name of the diner and all heads perked up and Rider’s twin brother was grabbing a bag from my hand, and so was the eldest girl of the bunch. She looked like Alex, had his eyes, she had to be his real kid. Made me wonder how many of them were his here.

“Just me.” She said, “I’m Quinn.”

“You can read minds too.”

“Yes, but I’m not trying to,” she looked to her dad guilty, “He just leaks so much.”

Alex laughed, “I know. He doesn’t know any better.”

Alex grabbed a styrofoam box and the bag I still carried with me, “Come on, let’s go someplace a little more quieter.”

I frowned but I followed him out the door to a patio outside. He shut the door and there was silence. Or rather less talking noise, and only the drone of the city to keep us company.

I went for a run. I ran for about two hours. My dream was rolling through my head. The day before was coursing through my veins. I couldn’t get Alex out of my head. It wasn’t even the sex. That had been great, it was just him. Things he said too – they stayed with me.

I was doubting myself. Could I bend fire? Or Earth? what about water and air? And even though I knew better I felt a kinship to it all. Like this life was not strange. Nothing shattered my illusions of humanity. Nothing was making any sense either.

When I finally made it back to my apartment I was exhausted and sweaty even though the weather was cooling down dramatically. The leaves were off the trees and it could snow any day now. But this close to the water the air was still warm. And the sun was out. It was a nice day.

I jumped down the small flight of stairs to my apartment and stopped dead in my tracks as a small figure huddled in the corner of my apartment doorway. “Hunter?”

He looked up. His face broke into a beaming smile and I frowned, “What are you doing here?”

He stood up. “I got lost.”

“Lost? and you came here?”

His gaze dropped to the ground, “I might have ran away.”

“Why did you run away?” I asked. My key slid into the slot with ease and I turned it kicking the bottom of the door to get it open. It stuck a little. I waved for Hunter to come inside.

“Isabel wouldn’t let me come see you.”

“I wasn’t in the park today.” I said.

“I know.” He smiled and followed me up stairs. “But I know where you live.”

“How?” I asked.

He puffed out his chest and smiled, “I found it on Da’s phone.”

“He has my address listed?”

“And your number.” Hunter added with pride.

“Why did you want to see me?” I asked. “Do you want some milk?”

He nodded. “Please.”

I headed up stairs to the fridge and poured a glass of milk for Hunter and grabbed a bottle of water for myself. Hunter took a long gulp of his milk – drinking half the glass in one swallow.

With a milk mustache he grinned at me, “I wanted to give you something.” I didn’t have to ask what as Hunter was setting his glass down and pulling out a cardboard tube that looked suspiciously like a paper towel tube. “It’s inside.”

I looked inside the open end and found there was paper rolled up inside. He was using it like an art tube. Ingenious!

I pulled the papers out and rolled them flat on the table. There were drawings. Three of them to be exact. “The last one is mine. That one is Drake’s.”

“The one with the orange eyes.”

Hunter grinned and nodded emphatically. “He said it’s a picture of his dragon.”

“Drake has a dragon?” I asked dumbfounded. “Dragon’s are real.” As soon as I said it I knew the answer – Drake was a dragon. “That explains his eyes and his hair.”

Hunter giggled, “Drake says that’s the dragon he’ll turn into when he grows up.”

I nodded with understanding now. I set the picture off to the side and looked at the next one. It was a crude drawing of a room. “Cass says that’s her bedroom. I don’t see it. Other than all the purple.”

“Her favorite color is purple?”

Hunter giggled, “Yeah, and she likes unicorns even though she knows they aren’t real.”

The last picture wasn’t perfectly drawn but I could tell it was me. And there was Alex and Rider, and almost everyone in Alex’s family standing there. But so was I. “I drew my family.”

“I’m not part of your family.”

He smiled, “You are and you aren’t. I don’t know how to explain it. But you are and you aren’t.”

“Some sort of prophecy?”

Hunter shook his head. “No, not prophecy – reality. It’s colliding worlds.” Hunter shoved his hands through his hair and bit his bottom lip at the same time. He was clearly frustrated with explaining the complexity of his visions to me. “I …”

I laughed, “It’s okay Hunter, you don’t have to explain it’s a lot.”

He nodded and picked up his milk and finished it off.

“I need to call your parents.”

Hunter shook his head, “No, just take me home. They won’t even notice I’m missing.”

“Sure. I’m sure that’s how it’s happening.”

“I’m going to take a shower then, and you can sit here and read a magazine okay?”

Hunter nodded and hopped on over to the couch and grabbed a magazine and pretended to read. 

I took my phone with me. There was a message from an unknown number.

You missed the fight club – another tonight ~Dom

Fuck! I frowned. The day had been so busy I had completely forgotten that. But I had other things to worry about at the moment but I sent him a quick reply.

I’ll try to make it to night – promise.

And with a resigned sigh I sent a text to Alex.

Hunter found his way to my place. I’ll bring him home after my shower. 

There was an immediate reply

Thank the fuck he’s okay. Iz has been worried sick when she couldn’t find him.

Alex sent another right after that.

I can pick him up if you want.

I sent him a reply after I turned on the hot water.

No. I told him I’d take him home. He doesn’t think he’ll be missed.

There was another quick reply.

Of course he does. Why would he think we’d miss him. :rolling eyes:

My final response was sent and then I jumped into the shower.

Grabbing a shower and then I’ll bring him home.

My phone went off one more time but it would have to wait till I got out of the shower.

The shower went cold before I got out. My apartment was dark. I could feel Jo upstairs sleeping. The thought of why never crossing my mind, though it should have. But I was mentally drained as I collapsed in my bed to sleep.

I didn’t prepare myself for dreaming and woke to my lone tree and the starry landscape just at sunrise. And I wasn’t alone.

Alex smiled when he saw me, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I’ve been avoiding you.” I said.

“I know,” he smirked, “I noticed.”

I turned to walk away. But Alex was in front of me and I nearly ran into him. He was frowning, “Come on Pretty Boy.”

“You can’t even come here as yourself.” I growled and stepped around him.

He sighed, “Can I explain.”

“Not really.”

Alex growled, “You are a stubborn asshole sometimes.”

“You seemed to enjoy my asshole earlier.” I couldn’t help the small smile that crept to my lips but I kept walking.

“I’m a dream walker. I can walk into anyone’s dream I want. I was taught to hide who I was so that the Venatori wouldn’t find me.”

I stopped walking but I didn’t turn around. But Alex took that as a signal I would listen, “It’s a habit, and one I can’t change. I’m at least a guy you find attractive. And not some dip shit that won’t make me jealous because I can’t tell if you like him or me.”

“Sure he’s cute.” I said, “But it was always you I wanted.” I turned around to look at not-Alex. Though I felt my anger rise and turned back around. “I can’t do this.”

“I know.” Alex said. “Do you want to know why this bothers me so much?”

I didn’t say anything jus shrugged.

“I loved a man who did great things. I lost him. I still love him. But there’s a reason I’m drawn to you here in the dream. Why you call to me every night we are apart. There is a reason we keep fighting to not join together. And why once we are together that we can’t stay apart. Even if we fight. I’ve been lying to myself because I thought I had found my true love – my soul mate. Turns out it was all a lie. And I knew it from the moment I first stepped foot in this dream.” Alex paused. I wanted to turn around but I couldn’t, I couldn’t see that face with that voice and those eyes. I couldn’t do it anymore. I felt the tears streaming down my face again. Fuck! I thought I’d cried it all out.

“You are my soul mate, Nox. And every time I deny it, it hurts just a little bit more.” Alex sighed, “I’m sorry I’m an ass. And I’m sorry that I loved someone before you.”

“We all have a past Alex, but you aren’t over him. I’ll make it easy for you and stay away.” I said, “Have a good life Alex.”

I woke myself up and continued to cry.

I didn’t sleep the rest of the night. But the tears stopped halfway through and I was just numb to it all.

I must have drifted off to sleep because I woke to the smell of bacon and coffee. My eyes felt dry and scratchy. My body ached. I really needed to sleep better, but I crawled out of bed and made my way upstairs. Jo was standing in front of the stove. “I thought I’d make you breakfast.”

“You didn’t have to.” I said but I took the offered up of coffee and sat down at the table.

“I know, but I wanted to say thanks, and you had a rough night last night.” she giggled.

I rolled my eyes, “We were that loud.”

“We all have really good hearing I’m told.”

“It won’t happen again.” I said.

Jo set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me, “Why? Alex seems like a good guy.”

“He’s great. He’s fostering a bunch of kids that aren’t his. He makes jobs for people, he takes care of his family, but he’s hung up on a guy I’ll never match. He’s the heroic do gooder type.”

Jo laughed, “You have that covered if you ask me.”

“I’m nothing.” I said.

Someone stomped up my stairs, it could only be one person. “Nox!” Abby shouted.

“What?” I shouted back though Abby was already at the top of the stairs with a goofy smile on her face.

“Hey Jo.” Abby said. “It’s nice to see someone else taking care of him. I’m Abby. Rider asked me to come check in on you, make sure Nox was treating you alright.”

“He’s great.” Jo said.

“I know. Rider was joking. He wanted me to offer you the spare bedroom at my place. It’s just upstairs. This way you can have a home, and be close to Nox.”

“I don’t know.”

“Abby’s great, and she won’t boss you around too much.”

Both women grinned. “And you’ll have your own space.” I said.

“If you think I should.”

Abby laughed, “We do. Rider says I have some explaining to do for you. And Nox needs to go see Rider and Alex anyway.”

“Why?” I growled.

“Rider wants to explain some things, and Alex just wants to check on you – like I said Jo said, you had a rough night. You aren’t even wearing eyeliner.”

“I just woke up.”

Abby stared at me wide eyed. “Really?”

“He cried for several hours.”

“What did Alex do?”

I shook my head, “Nothing. It’s over.”

Abby laughed, “It’s not Nox. Alex is as stubborn as you are.”

“He doesn’t even want me.”

“Really?” Jo laughed. “He sounded like he wanted you yesterday.”

I growled. “I’m going for a run.” I said and left the two women alone in my apartment.

Downstairs on my way to the shower, I had more than the three people I expected in my bedroom. Fucking door! Dominic Olmos stood in jeans and a flannel shirt staring up at my naked body. He neither said anything nor looked like he was admiring the goods, just watched me descend the stairs.

“You and the vampire got her out. I owe you.”

“You don’t you promised to leave Abby and Will alone.”

Dominic laughed, “I did, but I’ll do that for free. I owe you one. Though I don’t think she’s coming home with me.” He sighed. “One of my guys bit her, then left her. the Ventori killed him. She needs pack. She won’t go with Rider either. Adrian might be able to talk her into going with him, but…” He paused and looked at me with a smirk, “She trusts you. Can she stay here?”

I frowned, “I don’t have any extra space.”

Jo spoke up, “I’ll sleep on the couch. Please.” She begged.

I looked over at the bed that was now occupied by a sleeping boy, “Fine, I guess I’ll be on the floor. But everyone else get out of my house.” I sighed. “Sorry, don’t mean to be rude, but I want to be alone.”

And then I went into my bathroom and shut the door. The shower was nice – not the best in the world but nice. I flipped on the water and let it get to the right temperature before stepping inside. 

I heard the door open and close but I didn’t care. I stayed under the spray, the glass door between me and whoever decided to interrupt my calm.

“Nox?” Alex spoke softly. “Don’t talk. Just listen.”

I sighed softly and let the water run down my face in hot streams. At least it might mask the tears that threatened to fall.

“We need to talk about what happened. And I don’t mean the sex.” I could hear the smirk in his voice, “But it was great sex. I don’t usually make that much noise.”

“But Nox.” Alex went on, “That fire wasn’t nature. Cass and Hunter only do that when they get upset and it messes with their control.”

“I can’t make fire happen Alex. I’m not magic.” I said.

“I think you are. Vin said that you can see the crossed swords. You are a carrier of wolf’s blood. Jo feels it. Adrian too. And Dom said as much when he said she needed pack and let her stay here. You might not think you are magic, but you are. In so many fucking ways.” He sighed.

“Whatever, what do you care?” I asked. though I wanted it to sound harsh and rude, it came out a whisper and sounded so fucking pathetic. I growled at myself.

“I just do. I can’t explain it. Hell, I can’t explain why I want to see you. Why I came here? I can’t even tell you why I’m so attracted to you. Fuck.” I looked through the foggy glass. Alex was raking his hands through his hair fully dressed. “I can’t tell you why I’m jealous of you parading around in nothing through your own fucking house for everyone to see,” he growled. “I can’t get over the feeling that I loved someone and that you could be replacing them. I hate it. I was gone. Completely and totally his, and he’s gone, and now there is you.”

I shook my head, he was confessing his feelings, “I’m never going to be him.” I said.

“I know.” Alex said. “I’m gonna go. Ant is taking Levi to our house to tend to him. Hunter didn’t say what we should do with him, so I guess we’ll see. I expect I’ll be seeing you when you come talk to Ant about Will and Abby.” Alex left the bathroom with a soft snick of the door and I was all alone again with the soft patter of water falling on the tile floor of my shower.

I collapsed to the floor and cried. I felt so utterly alone, and the one person who made me happy didn’t want me.

I didn’t know what made him so upset at me. I didn’t ask him here. But I got the impression that no matter what I did he was going to be mad at me. So I followed him upstairs and made him a cup of coffee I had just brewed – cream and two sugars.

I poured my own cup then made another pot of coffee in the French Press. It didn’t hold much more than two cups and I knew I was going to need another one. I set his down on the table where he sat. He looked up at me and frowned. “What I do now?” I asked

He growled. “Sit down.”

I sighed heavily and followed the instructions. He sipped at his coffee with his eyes closed. He was enjoying the brew and I smiled but he didn’t see it. I was glad he liked it. I still hated that I wanted to impress him. He wanted nothing to do with me. 

He growled again but he didn’t say anything.

“So talk, Mr. Grumpy.”

“Of course I’m grumpy, you’re an idiot.”

“How so?” I frowned.

“Do you even know what you are getting into here? What those people could have done to you if you got caught?”

“Enlighten me.” I growled back at him.

“For starters they would have locked you up with them and thrown away the key. That’s what the Venatori do, they take no prisoners but if they do you never see them again. That’s how it is. We were trying to change that, but that’s over. They are worse than they ever were before.”

“Before him?” I growled.

Alex looked at me like I had said something in a foreign language. I shook my head and stood up. “I’m never going to measure up to him. I’m never going to be him. So why the fuck do you care what I get into.”

There was a large roar, and when I looked over the burner for the stove was three feet high and the coffee pot had tipped over and coffee was spurting everywhere. “Fuck!” 

I stood up toppling the chair, but Alex was there before I was. I stood staring at the burner wondering what the fuck just happened.

Alex was looking at me, his head cocked to the side.

“What?” I growled at him.

“I’ve only seen that happen with kids around?” 

“I’m not a kid.”

“Kid was a poorly chosen word.” Alex said looking at me like I was some sort of puzzle to figure out. “An untrained child with no control.”

“Fuck you.” I said and hurried to the bathroom. But the problem was, I was pretty sure that had been me. I was pissed. Alex had a way of pushing my buttons.

I hadn’t even made it to the door down stairs when Alex spoke softly, “You push my buttons too.”

“I don’t mean to.” I growled rounding to face him only to find him inches from me where I stopped. He was so close, I could feel his breath on my face. 

There was only a moment of hesitation before Alex was pressing his lips against mine. His hands found the hem of my shirt and in seconds it was over my head and we were back to kissing. He undressed me like it was a life or death situation, like if we stopped to think I might say no. There was no fucking way I was saying no.

Alex chuckled against my lips, “Shut up and suck my dick.” He said pressing me to my knees, my jeans still around my ankles as he undid his belt and buttons for me. I pulled his pants down with my hands and found the piece of flesh I had desired most and licked the length of it. 

Alex groaned and he took a step backwards. I followed him until he was sitting on my couch, his knees spread so I could have access to his balls while I sucked his cock. I wanted to watch him, but I didn’t want to see the look on his face either. I didn’t want to know how he felt. The sounds of his pleasure were the only thing I needed I told myself. I’d wanted this for so long. Wanted to taste him, wanted to feel him inside me. I wanted him so fucking badly.

His hand raked through my hair holding me in place for a moment before letting me up. He played with my hair trying to let me go as deep as I wanted, his body thrusting involuntarily into my mouth until he grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled me off, “Fuck, I’ll come if you keep that up.”

“Isn’t that the point?” I asked.

Alex smirked. “Finish getting us undressed and I’ll show you.”

My cock was hard and leaking and I complied with the order given. I wondered if he’d talked with Adrian – if he knew what he was doing. If…

“Shut up and just fuck yourself on my dick.” Alex pushed a condom into my hand.

My entire body flexed with desire and I ripped open the condom foil with my teeth and then rolled it over Alex’s cock with my fingers. He grabbed my free hand and pulled me on top of him. Alex suckled my nipple and rolled it with his tongue before he bit sharply. I groaned in the pleasure. “You like a little pain?”

I didn’t answer, instead I centered my hole over his dick and I pushed him inside with no preparation. The burn was intense – bordering on too much pain but he felt amazing inside me. I pushed him all the way inside me and my body flexed around him as I adjusted to his length and width. 

“Fuck I’m not going to last long.” Alex groaned.

I didn’t have much time then so I started to move on his hard dick. Alex’s head lolled back against the back of the couch and I sucked at his Adam’s apple as it bobbed his moans and groans from my hold. 

“Holy shit, Nox!” Alex shouted out as he released his load inside of me, “Come baby, people are coming.” He reached between us and stroked my cock in his hands and it wasn’t long until I was riding my own wave of pleasure. Just as Rider and Jo made it to the top of the stairs to find us both naked.

They stammered and then were down the stairs again. I laughed softly pulling off Alex’s softening cock. “You were a bit loud I think.”

“Fuck, me!” Alex said, there was a guilty look in his eyes, but his face said he was pissed I’d said it.

I grabbed my clothes and from around us and walked way, “Sorry.” I was never going to get a break with him. Great fucking sex and he’s still pissed at me.

Alex growled, “I wasn’t mad at you. You just said something that reminded me of things.”

“I don’t want to know Alex. We had sex, maybe that urge we both seem to have will go away now. Please don’t come by again.” I said walking down stairs naked. I wasn’t going to put on clothes just to take a shower.

The look on Jo’s face told me that she didn’t want to go with Dom. “Would Rider be best?” I asked.

“Dom asked you for the favor tho.” Vin said.

“But Jo doesn’t want to go with him.”

“So you trust a sixteen year old boy?”

I shrugged, “I worked for him – so yeah.”

Jo shook her head. “I don’t…”

“Rider is a good guy.”

“He’s a good alpha.” Vin added, “He’s stronger than you think, he can protect you.”

“I’m not werewolf.”

“No more than I am.” I said. I stood there staring at Vin and he stared at me. It was like a light bulb went off in our minds. 

“You carry.” Vin laughed, “That’s why you see the tattoo.” He put his hand on my shoulder, “I’d love to see that scar.”

“I’ve never been bitten.” I said. If I’d been in my dream my clothes would have vanished as proof, but neither of the people here were Alex and I felt no desire to prove myself to them.

Vin nodded slowly, his voice was just as slow, “Maybe a parent?”

I shrugged. “My memory doesn’t work that way.”

I pulled out my phone and sent Rider a text.

A little bird told me that you might be able to help me with Dom’s little wolf. I have her at my apartment.

“He answer?” Vin asked.

I shook my head, “I just sent it. But I don’t expect one. I expect they’ll just show up.”

“Why is that?”

I laughed, “A gut feeling.” I headed upstairs, “Coffee? Water? I might have a few beers in the fridge.”

“A beer sounds great. Little wolf?” Vin asked.

“My name is Jo,” she growled at the vampire. 

He chuckled, “Yes ma’am. Coffee? No probably not, maybe a cup of warm milk?”

“That’s cats.” Jo said.

“Blood steak?” Vin teased.

She growled again. 

“Jo would you like anything to drink?” I asked.

She nodded, “Water will be fine. Thank you, Nox.”

They all stayed downstairs with Levi. I stopped at the landing before the last bit of stairs, “Should I tell them about Levi?”

Vin looked up at me, “No, they will know. I’m sure they will prepare to bring him back too.”

“But you said you are here because of a boy, Hunter told you to come.”

“He did. But they know what he dreamed as much as I do.”

I walked back down the stairs. “What did he dream exactly?”

Vin shrugged. “I guess I can tell you now. It’s done and over. He dreamt of me and you rescuing a girl and and a boy. He didn’t say how, he only said that we did. He drew a picture of the boy and girl and made me promise not to tell you.”

“That you knew what we were doing?”

“I didn’t know anything. Only that his dreams come true. Or they don’t.”

“Why don’t they?” I asked more curious than angry.

Vin grinned, “Because someone changes the outcome because they knew how it would go.”

“Which is why you didn’t tell me?”

Vin shook his head, “No. That wasn’t the reason, but he didn’t tell me why I couldn’t tell you. Just that I shouldn’t tell you.”

“So you could have?”

Vin nodded, “Yes, but the little boy’s intitulation is better than most and when he says don’t do something. I try with in my power to do as he asked.”

“Why? He’s just a kid?”

“He’s a prophet.” Jo said. “Prophets are listened to even in religion.”

Vin looked at her, “You weren’t raised in a pack. Where does your knowledge come from?”

She shrugged. “A religion that failed me.”

Vin smiled, “I hear you little wolf. It once long ago failed me too. I sought my freedom in immortality.”

“Did it free you?” Jo asked.

“In a way. I was bound to another for most of my immortal life. Doing her bidding until now, I am free – yet not, I have that bond but I can’t find the other side no matter how hard I try. But it wasn’t always that way.”

I listened to their conversation as I headed up stairs to get their drinks and make a pot of coffee. I pulled out the Frech press and started a gourmet coffee blend that I’d bought with what little excess money I had. I didn’t do it often, and usually only when I had guests – which was usually Abby and Will. But I felt that I was going to have a house full soon.

And when the coffee was finished there was a knock at my door. My guests were all sitting on the edge of the bed chatting. Still speaking on religion and how it had affected their lives. Vin’s was old Catholic, and some how I knew he had been a Centurion in the Roman Empire.

I opened the door and found Rider standing there with a guilty smile. The man behind him was the reason why. He’d brought Alex with him.

“Come on in. Anyone else want a cup of coffee?”

Rider came inside with little more invitation, “I’m good. But Alex would probably like a cup. He’s trying to ignore you.”

I laughed, “So why did he come at all then.”

Alex pushed past us and headed for the stairs, “I am not, Rider just thinks he can’t handle this by himself.”

“He’s pack leader, why couldn’t he?”

Alex turned and looked at me, “What do you know of this world?” He growled and stomped up the stairs. 

I followed up him.

I didn’t know if trusting him was a good thing but it sure beat the alternative. Tossing my cookies so to speak sucked.

We ended up in a broom closet. Very close. I could smell the musk of the man who’d dragged me through a shadow. And if I wasn’t jonesing for some other guy I’d have kissed him. He seemed to sense that and laughed, “I’ve been around the block, but pretty boys aren’t my thing.”

I frowned, “You know Alex?”

He nodded, “Yeah, sorry man. I know you and he are on the outs. You are pretty for a man, not in the way a girl is pretty. Long lashes, high cheek bones, the fact that your eyeliner is thick and the lips a color that definitely isn’t natural, doesn’t help the illusion.”

I sighed, “He’s the only one I let call me pretty boy with out a tongue scathing.”

“Sorry man.”

“It’s not a problem. I should have figured you knew him though. You work for Ant?”

“Not really. I don’t work for any of them. Not really. I have a fondness for them kids though. And I’m here because Hunter said I needed to be here.”

“What’s up with that kid? His mother seemed like she was freaking out when he was talking to me. And he knew things, some sorta wisdom this kid’s got.”

“Hunter can see the future in dreams.”

I laughed, “That’s why he said everything will get better – he saw me in a dream.”

Vin smiled, “Yeah.” He opened the door and we piled out of the broom closet and into the hall, “The art room is this way, I feel the little werewolf now that we are here.”

“She’s a werewolf?” I asked.

“Course she is, why do you think Dom sent you.”

I shrugged, “I guess I just want to stay oblivious”

“Sometimes that’s for the better.”

A nurse walked right past us and she never even saw us. Almost ran right into me. “What are you doing?” I asked.

Vin chuckled, “I am extending my obfuscation to you.”

“Your what?”

“My power, I’m a shadow vampire, my creator is the Master vampire of our Bloodline. And apparently somewhere along the lines I got a power boost.”

“And you walk in day light.”

Vin laughed, “This is how that happens.” He tapped a ring, “Witches – wiccans sorry made it for me. Isabel isn’t very happy that had to make a few and then she forgot why but gave them out anyway.”

“She seems very grumpy.”

“She’s pregnant with not her kids – she’s not happy at all.”

“Sorry to hear that.” I said.

We stepped into the art room and there were a lot of people who didn’t see us, but that little wolf did. I didn’t know how I knew she was here. But I did, and she looked straight at us. Intention seemed to matter with Vin’s magic. 

She came up to us with a growl. “I can’t leave here, they won’t let me.”

“They don’t have a choice, little wolf.” Vin said, “Your pack alpha sent us.”

“I’m not a wolf.”

“Did you get bit by a dog?”

“Yeah along time ago.”

“How long is a long time ago.”

“A few years.”

“Carrier.” I said and Vin looked at me, “From being a novice at this you sure do know a lot of things.”

I shrugged, “I just know things sometimes.”

Vin took her hand and the person next to us looked around and then shrugged. “Dom wants you home, so we are taking you.”

“But what about my things?”

“What do you have here?” Vin asked.

“I don’t know clothes, books.”

“We’ll buy you new books, new clothes. Don’t you want out of here?”

She nodded, “Yeah, they are mean here.”

“Then let’s go get Levi and then we can go.”

“You mean the kid no one ever sees?”

We both shrugged, “Yeah, guess so.”

“He’s comatose.”

Vin nodded, “Hunter said as much. But there’s something else he said but I can’t remember it.” He smirked at me.

I sighed, “It has to do with me doesn’t it?”

“Yes. But it’s nothing to worry about. The boy will be awake. Let’s go.” Vin was aweful bossy.

We walked through the halls of the Infirmary with no one even noticing us. “What’s with all the tattoos on the temple?”

Vin stopped and we both skid to a halt with him. “You see them?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“No.” They both said in unison.

Vin went on, “Only those attuned to the occult can see the Venatori tattoos.”

“The who?”

Vin shook his head, “We’ll explain later. We have to move quickly or they’ll steal away Levi before we get to him.”

“Up ahead.” Jo nodded her head to a door where two nurses were going in.

We might not make it out easily. But as we got to the door the lights were off and there was lot of shouting. Vin took our hands, “Nox grab the boy, I can get us all out before they know what happened.”

I rushed to the boy’s side, his hands were cold and clammy and he locked hold of my hand the moment we touched, and then we were in my apartment. All four of us.

“How did you know to come here?”

Vin chuckled, “I didn’t, you did. I just went to some place safe, you directed us.”

“What?”

The boy collapsed in my arms and we didn’t get a chance to do much more as I rushed him down stairs to my bed. “Now what?”

Vin grinned, “I have no idea. But I’ll stay with you and the little wolf tonight, until Dom can fetch her.”

The place we were going was called the Infirmary. It was two whole floors of hospital and minor research facilities and as I was coming to understand now a physiatric ward. The ward was on the thirty-first floor and that’s where we were going. That was a little over 400 steps. That wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t even close to a mile of stairs. It was relatively easy to do.

But Vin started out slowly as I started up the stairs. “You’ll tire out.”

“Let’s just see,” I said.

Walking was too slow. So I sped up a bit more, and Vin was looking up at me from the last landing as I rounded the corner to the next. 

I was three landings ahead of him before there was a burst of speed and he was running equal with me. “I remember a race we once had…” Vin started then shook his head. “I don’t know. Wow, that was weird.”

“What was?” I asked as we continued up the stairs at the pace I had set.

“I thought I remembered us racing to the top of the Night Life building a few months ago.”

“I haven’t been to the Night Life building in the few months I remember.” I said stopping on the landing, “You think we knew each other?”

Vin shook his head, “No, man. I’m sure I’d remember you.”

I nodded. “Yeah that’s what I thought.” I grinned, “I’m just that memorable.” I laughed.

“Who wouldn’t remember those big brown eyes, and the eye liner, and the blue hair? I mean you are distinctly you. I’d remember that.”

“You would think.” I said, “But I don’t remember me.”

It was strange, that flicker of memory that had passed in front of Vin’s eyes. It made me wonder about a lot of things. Why did no one look for me? Did they forget me too? That was something to consider. A lot of thoughts piled into my head at the same time, but I had to focus on the mission at hand. And right now we were three flights of stairs away from our destination.

The remainder of the walk run up the stairs Vin and I were quiet. Vin opened the door going first as if a hospital was a bad place to go. 

The place was all white and sterile looking. The only color were colored lines on the floor. I expected they meant something as some of them crossed paths and turned down other halls or into door ways. It felt odd. A distinct hum that I couldn’t quite place and it wasn’t the lighting, but then again I looked up and I didn’t see the lights I expected to see.

“It’s all magic. This whole place is magic. I don’t know what you are thinking, but that look says what the fuck is going on.”

“That’s pretty much it.” I grinned at him.

We went to the front desk and a woman with a pair of cross swords tattooed on her right temple frowned back at us. “There are no visitors on this ward.”

Vin started to talk but I put my hand on his forearm and smiled at the woman. “We are here to discharge to patients.”

“There are no patients ready to be discharged here, sir. Move along.”

“Really, if you don’t discharge them there will be a problem.” I said.

“Jo Monahan and Levi Hughes.” I added. 

The woman’s eyebrows went up. “Those two?”

I grinned at her, “Yes, those two.”

She left the desk and went into the back. Vin laughed, “You think they are in trouble?”

“I don’t know who they are, or why they are here.”

Vin shrugged, “Me either. I’m not sure how we can get them out of here without violence.”

I shrugged, “You can’t shadow walk can you?”

Vin stared at me and then blinked in confusion. “What?”

“There’s a dark shadow over there. I know where they are.”

“How?”

I shrugged, “I dunno how, but I can tell where Jo is. And Levi is the only name not on the list, he’s in his room.”

“And that is, where?” Vin asked curious.

I pointed to the monitors on the wall, they were facing the desk and they had little names on them, “Room 303.”

“Jo’s name is under art.”

“And you think that’s accurate.”

“I’ve been in one of these places. Maybe this one, I don’t know. I sorta just know.”

Vin laughed, “Sadly I can’t shadow walk.” And to prove it to me he walked over to the corner and the shadow and disappeared.

I looked around and blinked myself. He wasn’t here, what had been his vampire power aura thing I saw was gone too. He wasn’t hiding.

And then he was just standing there. “Holy fuck!”

“What did you just do?” I asked, though I was pretty sure I already knew.

“Shadow walked. I can’t do that.”

I laughed and the women sitting at the other side of the desk glared at me while we waited. “You just did. So you wanna?”

“You want to kidnap them?”

I grinned, “I have a feeling that no one is going to go looking for them if we do. I have a feeling these people aren’t here legally.”

“Human legally you mean?” Vin asked.

I nodded, “My gut is telling me that if we take them, we will be in the clear unless they want to cause problems down the road with the families.”

“The families. It sounds so mafia.”

I grinned, “Yeah.”

Vin held out his hand, and I smiled, “If I don’t mind.” He squeezed my hand, and we stepped through the shadows and I didn’t have any inclination of puking. “I wonder what is different this time?”

“You, me the tossing your lunch?”

I nodded, “Yeah.”

“You trust me, that’s a good sign.”

I finished my pumpkin pie and took a cup of coffee to go. The walk to the Apex Unlimited Building across the street was strange. It felt like I crossed a line. A shiver ran through my body as I stepped up on to the curb. It looked and felt like any other mall I’d ever been in. Except I hadn’t been in any mall in the past few months. It was all memories I couldn’t exactly touch, only in drabbles.

I looked around the lobby and straight up into the middle of the building itself. It was like a giant tube all the way up. And in the center was a glass elevator that made me shiver.

This whole place gave me a bad vibe. My gaze followed the elevator down. I saw the coffee shop that was a vampire haunt – served blood in their coffee. I turned and saw a statue in the middle of the lobby.

It drew me in. I walked over to it and then around it. The man holding up a globe was classical mythology. Atlas was the son of titans he held the heavens above the earth as punishment for siding with the Titans when they rose up against the gods. The myth came easily to mind – I’d learned it somewhere. The globe above his head was made of glass filled with dirt and growing grass, and inside clouds formed and rained down upon the grass. Small ants lived inside, a trail of them could be seen leaving and entering their home inside, tunnels around the outside edges showed their home inside. Someone had taken great care in this piece. 

The gold plaque that adorned the base of the statue was worn away – unreadable. But I knew it hadn’t always been that way. It wasn’t that old, yet the letters were not readable.

A man came up to me and stood there standing in the sunlight that bathed the statue. “I never really trusted the Venatori.”

I looked towards the man. He was wearing a white shirt with an open collar, not a business shirt, more like a tunic with leather cords to tie up the front. It looked rustic, maybe he was a LARPer. Or maybe he thought it was fashionable, but on him it looked right. He held out his hand and wondered, “There is magic all around, and a friend made a ring so the sun would not burn, but I didn’t beleive. Faith was required.”

I laughed, “Those sound like words you’ve spoken before.”

“I think I have.” He smiled revealing the fangs he had been hiding moments earlier. “Domonic Olmos sends you after a girl. I wish to help. For a returned favor.”

“What’s that favor?” I asked.

“In the same infirmary is a boy, a troubled boy. A friend of mine dreamt of this boy, and his demons and wishes to save him. He saw you, and me.”

“How do you know this boy we are to save?”

He shook his head, “I don’t. But I’m told the demons are familiar and that it is our responsibility to help him.”

“Our?”

He laughed, “Me and mine. We dispatched the demon that plagued the boy, now he wakes and is deemed crazy – which he is not – the same as the girl you free.”

“Did The Alpha know you would be here?”

“There has been talk of a combined effort to free those we could. He deemed you expendable, but my friends do not. Well the dreamer does not. And when he says something we believe.”

“This dreamer?”

He laughed, “Prophetic dreams. Not a stalker.”

“You know who I am?”

He nodded, “I do. We have mutual acquaintances. But I’m not here on his behalf, just the little dreamer.”

“I’m Nox.” I extended my hand.

“Vincent Ricci. But you can call me Vin like everyone else.”

“A pleasure Vin. So where exactly are we going?”

“Nearly to the top.”

“Can we take the stairs?”

Vin looked to the elevator and then past them to the stairs. “If you can keep up.”

I looked at the glass tube leading up. “I don’t want to ride in that thing.”

Vin laughed and we headed for the stairs. “We can take a break when you need to, there is no rush.”

The peace and the quiet was great for calming down. I hadn’t realized how tense I was. I’d started to relax a little with Alex over dinner the night before, but that was trashed almost immediately.

Now I felt better, when Adrian came down he handed me another card. “Come by next week, there won’t be a party, and come to the side door. You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to, but we can just do this again.”

I chuckled, “Is this another one of those orders?”

“Do you need it to be?” He asked with a smile.

I shook my head, “I’ll be here.” I tucked the card into my pocket, “I might have to reschedule if I get a job or something between now and then.”

He nodded, “Of course, you can call the number, we’ll get you set up.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, Nox. Abby’s found a good friend in you. Will too, I like him.”

“He’s a good guy for a blood sucker?” I asked playfully.

He laughed, “He’s a good guy for anyone. So is Alex.”

I sighed, “I won’t meet up to his guy.” I said as I headed out the doors to the side.

Adrian didn’t say anything, “Dom is expecting you in 30 at Bonnie’s.”

“Thank you for that too.” I said.

“Anytime.” He smiled and shut the door behind me.

I wasn’t far from Midtown. It felt like I knew my way around here so much easier than Harlem. I knew there was a pizza joint around the corner that served a great margharete pizza. I knew that the bar two doors down was a gay bar. And I knew that the coffee shop inside of the AU building had the best dark roast. But I didn’t like their coffee in general.

And just like I knew all that I knew Bonnie’s served Pumpkin pie year round. I wasn’t hungry but I couldn’t resist a slice of pumpkin pie.

There was a group of men standing outside of the diner as I opened the door. They looked tough – very gangster. I knew Dom was early. The glared at me as I passed through the door. There was a bald man sitting at an empty table – the whole diner was cleared out except for the waitress. I smiled at her, “Can I get a slice of pumpkin pie and black coffee?”

“Sure things sweatheart.”

I took a seat across from the big burly man. He looked at me blankly. We stared at each other for several long minutes. Long enough for my coffee to arrive, and long enough for the man to finish his steak which had been rare.

“I’m Nox.”

He only nodded so I went on, “I don’t know what beef you have with Will, but is there anything that will make you leave them alone. They aren’t hurting anyone.”

“They aren’t hurting anyone?” He growled. “Except that I told the vamps to stay away from the wolves.”

“Abby isn’t even your wolf.” I said flatly. “She belongs to Rider.”

“All wolves in Manhattan are mine!” He growled, “That’s the way it should be.”

“Why?” I asked. “Split the territory. There are three of you, I think there is enough space for you all. New York is a big place.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Then just leave them alone, it’s not that hard. We don’t live in a feudel state where who you marry matters.”

“It matters in this world.”

“So you married your what? alpha female.”

Dom growled at me, “I didn’t marry my mate, she died. Killed!” He growled and I felt like he was directing it at me. 

“I didn’t kill her did I?” I asked concerned he knew me and I was a bad person.

He blinked at me and then frowned, “No. Someone else did.”

“What I do to you?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“So you growl at everyone?”

The men around us giggled softly to themselves. One of them said outright, “Yes.”

“I think they like you. You say what you think.”

“There is no reason not to.” I smiled. “I have nothing to hide.”

“Where did you learn to fight?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know. I just went with it.”

“You wiped the floor with my men.”

“I just went with it.”

“I’ll order my men to leave Will and Abby alone if you do a few things for me. You seem capable enough.”

I laughed, “You need someone they don’t know?”

He nodded, “And smart too. Yes. There’s a girl across the street, I need her out of there. One of my boys was stupid and now I need to fix his mistake. Get her out and I’ll let Abby and Will be. But I can’t guarantee you that the vampires will let it be.”

“I’ll deal with the vampires later. What’s the other things?” I asked. My pumpkin pie arrived and I started to scrape the filling from the crust with a strange look from Dom.

“I want you to go up against my guys. I want to see how good you really are.”

I shrugged, “Okay, I can do that. Just tell me when.”

“Tonight sound good, 9pm we have a sort of fight club.”

I nodded, “Okay.” I guess I can make it if I’m not dead.

He laughed, “I doubt you will be.” He dropped a hundred on the table, “Tip and yours. I’ll see you tonight.”

He was followed out of the diner by three men I saw and one from the back. And all the men from the front left.

I didn’t look around, I didn’t move much into the room even after Leah left me there. I stood still just staring straight at my feet. It wasn’t natural, but I felt loose and comfortable and it was familiar. Everything about this day had been familiar – even the small boy hugging to me like I was his only life line.

I listened to the heavy foot steps coming down the stairs. I smelled damp forest leaves and the undercuts of pine needles on the air as the man came closer. “Nox. Abby tells me a lot, but she didn’t tell me this.”

I didn’t look up but I was curious, “Tell you what?”

He put two fingers under my chin and made me look into his eyes, “It doesn’t matter, take a seat and we can talk.”

I sighed with unknown relief and I sat down in the chair proffered me. Adrian sat across from in another chair, not behind his desk as I expected him to. “What can I help you with.”

“I came about Abby and Will. This in fighting between ‘families’, has to stop.” I said. I put air quotes around families and he chuckled at my phrasing.

“Abby called, said you knew what we are.” 

“What she is, what you are, yes.” I said, “Werewolves.”

He grinned, “Astute of you.”

“Not really, but it’s gotta stop.”

“There isn’t much I can do about it. Rider is Abby’s Alpha. And Dom is not happy about having another Alpha on his territory – especially one who’s only sixteen years old.”

“Seventeen now.” I stated. 

Sheridan chuckled, “Yes. Still a child.”

“I tried calling his people, but they hung up on me.”

“And what do you expect will happen if you do get a hold of them.”

I shrugged, “People have this way of bending to my will I don’t understand it. Everyone except a short list of people.”

“Alex Kennedy being one of those people?”

“What of him?” I asked.

He shook his head, “Nothing, rumors mostly.”

“What rumors?”

He shook his head again, “The man came for someone, he’s gone, he stays for the kids. He’d leave if it weren’t for them.”

I shook my head. “I don’t care about him. I’ll never live up to his lost love.”

Adrian laughed, “He’d have been head long into the Abby Will thing too, so I wouldn’t sell yourself short.”

Adrian pulled out his phone and dialed a number, “Hey Dom. I got a kid here who wants to right the problems between vamps and wolves. Specifically Abby and Will. I say give him a shot. You never know what might come of it. He knows about this world, maybe an outside party will help us see the answer.”

He listened for a while and laughed before he hung up the phone. “Dom says he doesn’t want no meddling do-gooder mixed in this mess, but if he thinks he is who is, then he wants to meet the guy who kicked four of his wolves butts without any cuts.”

I shrugged with a smile.

“Dom will meet you at Bonnie’s – a dinner across the street from the AU building. He said it’s been a while since he’s been there.”

“I know where it is.” I don’t know how since I hadn’t been to Midtown in the past 3 months. “Thank you.” I said but I didn’t get up from my seat.

Adrian smiled at me, “Is life troubling you, Nox?”

“No more so than usual.”

“Then the signs are natural?”

“What signs?” I asked.

“The bowed head, the relief when I told you to sit down. The relaxation you had when you felt when the scent encompassed you.”

“I don’t remember things, but all of this feels natural. But it’s not a life I want.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you come upstairs and play, though you would be welcomed with open arms. I was merely wondering if you might need to sit here in the quiet, with the diffuser and find balance? I can make it an order.”

My body stiffened a little at the idea, it wasn’t a sexual reaction though someone might think it was. And Adrian noticed and smiled, “An order it is. Sit here for 30 minutes. I’ll come back down and see you out.”

Adrian stood up and walked a few steps, “There is nothing wrong with being in control. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to give it up – for personal or sexual reasons.”

“I know that.” I closed my eyes and just took in the scents of the place, “I think it was hard lesson – the need for control, and yet the wanting to give it all up.”

“Some people thrive on control, and others need to find balance. I think, you are the latter, control is how you survive yes?” I nodded, and Adrian continued, “But that control is painful. Let it all go Nox. You are safe here, no one will bother you. No one will hurt you, you have my word.”

And with those parting words he left. His footsteps light as he left, barely making a sound. He’d been heavy for my benefit coming down. Safe… That was what it was.

Half the day was gone when I decided to take a break. More than half really it was 3 pm. I looked at the cards in my pocket, flipping between the three of them. One I knew I might run into Alex, so I stuck it back in my pocket. But the other two I could at least try – it was day time. It might be safer and I was pretty sure the full moon had passed already so I wouldn’t be worrying about them turning furry on me. But what did I know, I knew nothing about werewolves and vampires – fuck I couldn’t even begin to believe I was entertaining this idea, but I had seen the strange things already. 

It explained a lot.

I gave the number on the card for Dominic Olmos – he was pack leader of a rival clan, and probably the one making the most trouble for Abby.

A male voice answered the phone, “What?”

“Hi, I want to make a meeting with the Pack leader.” I said confidently though I felt like an idiot inside saying that.

“Who’s this?” the voice asked back – even more annoyed than before.

“My name is Nox. You don’t know me. I’m just a friend of Abby and Will’s and I’d like to see if there was something we could do about this situation.” I honestly didn’t know what I could do about that, but I couldn’t help but try.

“Just stay out of it, that’s what you can do.” And then the phone went silent.

I called back but no one picked up. So much for diplomacy.

There was a number for Adrian Sheridan, but there was also an address, so instead of getting a no over the phone they’d have to call the cops to get me to leave. I could be annoying if I needed to be. 

I gathered up all my things, and I stopped by my place and dropped off the supplies before heading into Hell’s Kitchen to find this Mr. Sheridan.

I hopped a train and was there in a modicum of time. The sun was still on the horizon and I was hungry. I knew there was a nice taco stand nearby so I stopped and grabbed a few to eat while I finished my walk.

The taco guy was classically Hispanic and he played it all up wore the sombrero and everything. His accent was decidedly Queens though, probably grew up here and never stepped foot the other side of the border. Probably had family recipes though, traditions and all that. 

The taco’s were wrapped in tin foil and hot, not spicy hot – I wasn’t that brave. I didn’t really understand my food likes or dislikes all yet, and I didn’t want to run the risk of upchucking again. I’d already embarrassed myself enough around these supernatural people.

I found the address easily. It felt like I’d been here before – not in the past eleven weeks, but it felt comfortably safe. I don’t know why.

I knocked on the front door.

I heard movement on the other side and a woman soon answered. She was wearing a black leather dominatrix outfit with zippers in places that couldn’t be comfortable. She smiled brightly at me, “Are you here for the party?”

“Party? Uh, no.” I held up the card Alex had given me, “I wanted to talk to Mr. Sheridan about Abby and Will.”

Her eyes went wide and then she smiled, “You must be Nox.”

“You know of me?” I asked.

“Abby can’t shut up about you.” She grinned, “If she wasn’t in love with Will I’d think she had fallen for you.”

“She’s just a friend.” I clarified.

“I know. You like boys.”

I laughed. “Something like that.”

“Come in.”

“Uh…” I said.

She waved her hand, “It’s alright I’ll take you down to Adrian’s Office no one here will bother you.”

It wasn’t that I was worried about being bothered. This was clearly a sex party from her attire, but walking into the place made me think it was so much more than that. I took a deep breathe and felt calmer. I shouldn’t have. But with each step it felt like I knew where I was going, like each step made me safe, even though everything around me told me the opposite. 

Snapping of whips and rattling of chains were sounds I didn’t want to associate with safe. There were men and woman naked except for collars. There were others wearing leather like the woman in front of me. You could hear the sounds of pleasures and near orgasms as I descended into the darkness of the basement. 

She was chuckling as we landed on the carpeted floor of a very quiet room, “Adrian will be with you soon. You did well for what you just saw.”

“Would it surprise you to know that I’ve seen worse?”

“You mean you’ve seen an orgy before, one like that?”

I shrugged, “Not in the past three months, but in the past yes. I think I enjoyed being part of it.”

She patted my shoulder, “Doesn’t surprise me, you reacted to the smells as any good submissive would.”

“What smell is that?” I asked.

“Everyone has their own triggers. Today’s remedy is cedarwood, lime and eucalyptus. We use the combination when we have highly volatile subs who need to completely relax their minds but we don’t want them to fatigue.”

I laughed, “Are you saying I’m highly volatile?”

She grinned and offered her hand, “I’m Leah. Adrian’s wife. I’m not saying anything Nox, you know the truth.”

I sighed. Thing was I did know the truth. I didn’t remember being at a place like this, but the smell reminded me of safety. Leah left me alone in the office, and I just stood there taking in the lingering smell. I had noticed certain things triggered certain behaviors and this could explain it all. Somewhere in some life I’d enjoyed parties like this. But it didn’t interest me now. But the smell made me feel safe. And right now that’s what I needed – wanted more than life itself. Just to be safe and loved.

I walked angrily for a long while before I stopped just outside Heckscher Playground. It was a good place to get the kids to make the parents stop for art time. It was a central location to all the fun kid attractions, the zoo being number one on most lists. I’d never been personally – at least not in my memory but that was short lived not even three months gone since I woke up.

And here I was again – with no job.

I set up my supplies and started sketching on the easle. It was visible to everyone and it really wasn’t all that spectacular, just the tree line, and the buildings behind it. A few of the people lounging about made it into the sketch as time went on.

It could have been twenty minutes or 3 hours before the first set of people came up to me. I didn’t really pay much attention to the time while I did this. I wasn’t here to make a ton of money. If I wanted to do that I’d have to hit the tourist attractions harder.

The family that came up was a dark-haired woman with three kids and from the look of her, two more on the way. I don’t know how I knew it was two, or even that she was pregnant but I knew. Just like I knew the two who had stopped in front of me were twins. 

I looked up from my sketching with a bright smile. The eldest girl had a swath of pink in her hair. She was looking at me with a strange question on the tip of her tongue. “You want to say something?”

She shook her head. “No.But you aren’t like everyone else.”

The small dark-haired girl turned and looked at the other. “You can’t read him?”

“Read me?”

The little boy was pushing between my drawing supplies and the easle and peering up at my work. He smelled slightly of toasted marshmallows and a campfire and his fingers were long and thin. He reached up and pointed at a space, “You should put a dog here.”

I looked up and there was a spotted Dalmatians trotting by. “He walks here everyday. His name is Brutus. He doesn’t like Cass.”

“Your sister?” I asked as I started sketching the dog he’d indicated. He pushed between my legs and my free hand instinctively closed around him pulling him closer to me. He felt right – perfect. But he wasn’t my family, I didn’t have one. No one missed me. But that didn’t stop him from putting his head on my arm as he watched me sketch the pooch.

The two girls were talking in hushed whispers – arguing was more like it while their mom, babysitter, whoever she was watched me carefully. Her eyes never straying from the boy who was cuddling up to me. The dark skinned boy with hair of spun gold came up to me and he put his chin on my leg and watched too. “You smell like a campfire.”

The other boy giggled, “Like toasting marshmallows on an open bonfire.”

Both boys laughed, the one in my arms spoke softly, “Da won’t like this.”

Their guardian growled, “Why Hunter?”

The boy in my arms shrugged. “He just won’t.” He pulled out of my arms and ran towards the woman, “Please don’t tell him.”

She frowned, “Let’s go Drake, leave this man alone. He’s busy.”

“I’m looking for work, I can draw whatever they want for a fee.”

That pulled the attention of the girls, well the little one at least, “Oh, Izzy can he draw me… Please!” she begged. “I have money.”

“Money your Da gave you to spend on ice-cream.”

“This is better. It won’t be gone in an instant. Please.” She begged.

Izzy frowned. “Fine. We don’t have all day.”

Cass, Hunter’s twin sister, brought me a $20, “What will this buy?”

“A sketch of whatever you want.” I said. “But you hold on to it, let me do the work then you can pay me, okay?”

She nodded and I moved the drawing supplies from the chair and nodded towards it, “You sit there, and sit still but not too still, and I’ll get started.”

She giggled and she sat down and posed. Her hair was tossed back behind her shoulder, the purple streak of hair was hung over the front with care. She’d done this plenty of times. Her smile was bright, her eyes big and brown and something about her said she was a feisty little thing. Full of energy and mischief. A girl I could fall in love with – had fallen in love with just by seeing her.

I flipped the page to the next empty one. Which wasn’t the next one, I’d started sketching my tree in the middle of the notebook it seemed. Hunter was back in my lap his fingers reached out to the tree and his fingers hovered over the sketch marks so as not to ruin their lines, “It looks so sad.”

“It’s alone.”

Hunter nodded, “I’m sorry.”

I grinned, “You did nothing wrong.”

He looked up those same big brown eyes that were the same as his sisters. “I’m sorry you are alone. But it has to be this way. But it won’t be that way forever.”

Cass’s smile faded, “Hunts did you dream about him?”

Izzy and the other girl were paying attention to the three of us now. Well, Hunter anyway. He looked up at me, then back at them. I could see the thoughts rolling through his head, he had dreamt about me, but the words that came out of his mouth were the exact opposite, “No.” He said, “Not about him.”

Izzy was pulling Hunter away from me, “About who?”

Hunter frowned, “You are hurting me.” 

Izzy let him go and Hunter flung himself back in my arms. I held him close and looked up at the woman scowling at me with a shrug. I didn’t want to get in the middle of this. “Why don’t you take them out for ice-cream, on me, and you can come back tomorrow for that picture?” I looked at Cass. I pulled out a twenty and handed it her.

She took it up cautiously but it was Hunter she was watching. She knelt down so he could see her and they spoke in quiet tones I could barely make out. But I didn’t listen. Hunter squeezed me tight and looked up at me with tears in his eyes, “It won’t be like this forever.”

I grinned at him, “That’s good to know. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He smiled and let Cass drag him away. The other kids followed but the woman glared at me, “We won’t be back tomorrow,” she said.

I nodded, “I know.”

I stood on the landing while I waited for Abby to close in on me. “You quit your job?”

She pushed me backwards until I was all the way up the stairs and she pushed past me to the coffee pot.

“Yes. I can’t see Alex.”

“Alex? What did he do?”

“Nothing.” I said though she knew I was lying. She sniffed at the air. “Nothing more than what you and Will have been doing since I arrived – lying to me.”

Abby turned around in a quick movement sloshing her coffee all over the floor. She looked guilty for a split second before she started to weep. “I’m so sorry Nox. I didn’t want to lie to you.”

“So you just kept quiet that I’ve been sharing a bed with a werewolf and her boyfriends a vampire, and your families are at war with one another and I’m caught in the crossfire because I care about you both.”

“Nox, I’m so sorry.” But all that fear and remorse faded as she knelt to clean up the mess. Her voice changed back to her normal one, “But, we were only trying to protect you. It’s dangerous.”

“I can take care of myself.”

Abby stood up with the dirty rag in her hand and shook her head, “Nox, Liam almost killed you, if I hadn’t been there to stop him he would have.”

“Who’s Liam?”

“He’s Dom’s left hand. He’s the guy who he sends to do all the dirty work.”

“Like killing a vampire while he sleeps?” I asked.

“You sure did figure a lot.”

“I’m not daft, Abby.” I growled.

“I know you aren’t. I told them you’d figure it out. No one believed me.”

“Why did you think I’d figure it out?”

She smiled, “Because you are bright. You have this ability to just fix things. Whether it’s saying the right thing, or just giving up a hug, you know what to do. And I’ve seen you adapt to everything that’s thrown at you. You were broken for so long, everyone just sees that. But I got to see you everyday and everyday I saw you put it back together, like a puzzle. And Nox, there was never any missing pieces. You just haven’t got them in the right order yet.”

“I’m still angry with you.”

“I know. I wouldn’t expect anything less of you. But Alex is complicated.”

“Alex is in love with his dead lover. I’m nothing more than a mild fancy.” I said as I sank down in the chair. I was a broken mess. “I can’t look at him again. I can’t see him, hear him. And I don’t want to be near him. He doesn’t want me.”

“So what are you going to do?”

I shrugged, “I can draw on the street for a while, that makes money in the tourist areas.”

She smiled, “It won’t make much.”

I shrugged again. “I don’t need much. I’ll do some things around here for Armande to keep my rent down. I’ll talk to him tonight. He’s a vampire too isn’t he?”

Abby nodded, “He is the leader of the Harlem Vampires.”

“So why is he not my contact for Will’s family?” I asked.

“Armande is neutral party. He runs Safe Harbor, everyone here is on safe ground. No Vampire, Werewolf, Dragon or other supernatural can harm another here. Ant is the Prince of the City. I always feel so strange calling him by his shortened name, but I know him now. He’s a nice guy. He’s hot too.”

“I’ve met him.” I said.

“Did you swoon too?” she asked giddily.

“No, I threw up all over his shoes.”

Abby burst out in laughter. “He shadow walked you? That is so cool.”

“Right before Alex and I had the last big blow up fight.”

Abby’s mirth sank as I did. “I’m sorry Nox. Alex and Ant are bound together for life. Ryan and Alex are Ant’s Chevalier – his personal human servants.” She giggled, “But it’s not like it sounds. They are family.”

“And how does Rider fit into that family structure.”

“Rider and Laker are Alex’s …”

“You don’t have to say it, his brother in laws.”

Abby nodded, “They are wolves. Rider is his own Alpha. He’s technically my Alpha, but I fall under Adrian, and Dom and Adrian are having issues, and that includes Rider and it’s all a big mess.”

“Who was Alex’s…”

“We don’t talk about him anymore, I don’t know really, it’s all kinda a blur about what happened. It was bad, like so bad Alex made us all forget the details. To ease our pain. We all loved him so much, and he’s this big hole in our hearts, but we all have to move on. He was this big point and now he’s gone. And everything back the way it should be, like the rest of the world. The supernatural fighting for territory. Except those of us who have some sort of idea of what existed before.”

“You mean those of you who still have ties across the races?”

Abby nodded, “Yeah. I love Will. I don’t care he’s a vampire.”

I sighed, “So I didn’t even have a chance.”

“You know Alex would hate that you are talking down about yourself.”

“I noticed that.” I frowned. “I don’t know why it matters to him, I’m never going to measure up to that guy.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Abby, the guy in my dreams is Alex. The guy I fell in love with is in love with his dead husband.” I stood up and I grabbed my old drawing kit with easle and sign and I went out the door. “I can’t be here. I can’t be with any of you right now.”

I cried myself to sleep on the couch, and when I dreamed I woke to the strange landscape. My eyes felt like I’d been crying for hours, I probably looked a fright. Even in my dream I seemed to echo how I really felt.

There was a voice behind me, “I hoped I’d find you here.”

“I don’t want you to come here anymore.” I said turning around. From the look on his face I knew I looked dreadful. “You want to read my mind and hold my thoughts against me fine. Read them. I’m quitting my job. I don’t want to see you again.”

I forced myself awake.

I cried, but there were no tears left to fall. 

I was done. I wouldn’t go back to Brew. I wouldn’t worry about him, or his. I had my own problems to deal with. I hadn’t slept but an hour, and I was out in the middle of the night running. A ran until my legs could no longer carry me. I don’t even know where I ended up except that the bus stop was empty and dark and I was alone in the dark of the City. 

There were people walking by, cars rushing past even at this hour. But I was utterly alone. No family, no loved ones, a bare handful of friends. I had no money, no job. 

I pulled out my phone and looked at the last message from Rider. I pushed the new message button and started typing.

I regret to inform you that I will no longer be able to work for you. I’m sorry there is no two week notice, but I just can’t be there tomorrow or for the next two weeks.

I leaned my head against the back of the bus stop shell and closed my eyes. I felt a presence again next to me, and when I opened my eyes there was a man sitting next to me. He work a black leather coat, and ruffles sticking out of his collar, his eyeliner was thick, “A nice bright night out?” his French accent was thick.

“At least the moon thinks it’s a good night.” I said.

“The bus isn’t running this late.”

I nodded, “I know. I’m just resting.”

I looked over at him and he smiled, his fangs bright in the glimmer of the moon light. I expected him to bite me but he held my gaze, “Everything from tonight you will forget. You didn’t just quite your job. You and Alex never had your little talk. Everything from today you will forget.”

I gave a slight nod, but how was I supposed to do all of that. I couldn’t just forget. 

The man stood up with a smile, “I’ll call you a taxi.”

I stayed put and he took my phone from me, and then he was handing it back after doing as he said. And then he was gone in the night. I was alone. 

The taxi arrived and I got in, still a little dazed. I went to sleep but I didn’t go to my little dream world. I stayed in the darkness. It was as much of a physical exercise to keep from dreaming as a mental one, I woke covered in sweat.

My phone was blinking at me with a waiting message.

Can you come in early? We need to talk.

The message I’d sent last night to Rider was gone, and he was asking me to come in. I sighed and sent him a reply before crawling out of bed.

No. I quit last night.

I expected a reply but I didn’t get one. Maybe it was too early.

I crawled out of bed and did the morning thing. I’d have to look for another job so I could make ends meet, but I’d need a paper to do that, or to walk the city to find a for hire sign. But I also had a few house calls to make. Though just walking in to some vampire or werewolf haunt probably wasn’t the best bet. 

I hunted for the cards Alex had given me and found them tucked into the book I’d been reading. My night before flashed through my mind and I remembered the man from the bus stop. A friend of Alex’s? He tried to make me forget. He was manipulating me still. He rejected me and wanted me to forget. Fat chance. He really was a con man but much more truth was he was the asshole he claimed.

I was done with him. Whatever feelings I might have had were crushed by the realization he wanted nothing more from than sex. He didn’t even value that I was my own person capable of forgiveness or understanding.

There was a knock at my door, and by the time I made it down stairs Abby was walking in. There was rage in her eyes.

I ate slowly. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t want to talk or because I didn’t want to listen to what Alex had to say.

Either way Alex finished before I did and he watched me lift my fork to my mouth repeatedly. His eyes never leaving the fork. 

“Do you enjoy that?” I asked.

His eyes flicked up to mine as if he’d just been chastised for doing something wrong. “What? I… Sorry. You have a sexy mouth.”

“Thanks.” I smiled but my eyes fell to my plate as I cleaned the last of the balsamic sauce up with the last piece of fresh mozzarella. I’d saved it for that purpose. Alex watched me but I didn’t try to put on a show – as much as I wanted to.

I set my fork down and grabbed his plate to clean up. He objected, “No, I got this.”

I shook my head, “You cooked, I clean. Wasn’t that the rule?”

“Ryan’s an idiot.” Alex said and grabbed the plates from me. “I invaded your house, so let me do the clean up.”

I held up my hands and let him have at it. I wanted to go to bed, curl up and die as I always did on stressful occasions, but I ended up on the couch pulling my book off the coffee table and sat in the corner where I always did reading and waiting for Alex to finish.

I was in the middle of one of my favorite parts of my favorite books. I’d read the series several times in the past 2 months. And my favorite character was being sassy and giving the three reasons why he didn’t make pie when Alex can in and sat down on the other end of the couch. I wanted to finish my chapter but I stuck my book mark back in the pages and closed the book. “So what is so wrong with your life?”

Alex sighed. “I’d hoped you’d forget that question.”

“Not a chance.”

“There are wars brewing. Kids being taken advantage of. Everyone looking towards you to solve a problem for reasons you don’t understand.”

“Reason I don’t understand. Like how you manipulate me, or how you come into my home without asking. Something gives you some right to just do these things?”

Alex shook his head, “Well no.”

“And like wars and kids being taken advantage are something that is prone to special people with special abilities like yours and your vampire friend. He was a vampire wasn’t he?”

“Who? Ant?” Alex nodded, “Yes, he’s a vampire – a very old and very powerful vampire.”

“And the two of you think you what? own this city?”

Alex sighed, “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

“Because I’m hitting the nail on the head or because I’m so stupid that I just don’t understand.”

“You are a real ass you know that?” Alex growled at me.

I smirked at him, “Tell me the truth Alex.”

“I have a family. I’m hung up on the man I loved and he’s just gone.” There was sadness in his voice, but he continued on without hesitation. “I visit the dream of a Pretty Boy who I can never get close to because he doesn’t know he works for me. I’m an asshole, a con man, who treats people like shit because I don’t want to get to close.” I felt like he was leaving out some things but I didn’t want to push it too far.

My grin grew with each truth. “Was that so hard?”

Alex growled, “Yes. Yes it was.”

“I don’t care if you have a family. I like kids. I want a family.” I revealed my truth to him, “I’m hung up on a guy in my dreams who never tells me his name, who refuses to let me tell him mine, and whenever we get close to each other he backs away and tells me he can’t. I don’t have any friends except Abby and Will and I want to keep them alive and happy and together at all costs. I’m nothing. But I want to help.”

Alex shook his head, “You aren’t nothing.”

“Then what am I? I’m not a vampire, I’m not a werewolf. I’m not a telepath or know any sorts of magic or supernatural thing. I’m just me. Just a guy wanting to something to help my friends.”

I smiled at Alex and moved a little closer towards his end of the couch, “I like my bosses boss. And that scares me a lot.”

“I scare you?” Alex asked calmly but his hand reached across the distance to the lay across my fingers.

“You don’t. What people might think because I’m dating the big cheese. Or what happens if it ends badly and I’m still working for you. Just things, not you though. You’re blue eyes are haunting, your voice does things to me I’m willing to explore with you. Your touch is electric.”

Alex stood up, there was a hunger in his eyes. “I can’t say it’s more than sex, Nox.”

His hand reached out to me in invitation. The heat was real. It was something I’d wanted for months. Both in dream and out. I still couldn’t believe that Alex was the guy in my dream. I could have misinterpreted his words, but this felt right. But it was only sex for him. I was still nothing to him.

Alex growled, “If you keep thinking like that I’m leaving.”

“Thinking like what?”

“That you are nothing.” Alex sighed, “Maybe next time, Pretty Boy.” And Alex was moving towards the door.

“I’m sorry.” I said softly, my head falling to my chest and I felt the sting of rejection. I let it encompass me and take the whole of me with it. It was real. He was real. And he didn’t want me. 

When I looked up Alex was gone. I got the distinct feeling he didn’t want to deal with my problems. And I had many of them. Again realizing I was nothing to him.

My stomach growled at me as I walked away. The food inside of Fiore smelled good, I was starving. I debated with the idea of stopping for food, but every time I went to go I got derailed, my anger raging once again. I don’t know how far I walked in a huff before I stopped and leaned against a wall and took a deep breath.

My heart was pounding, my palms were sweaty and I felt like I was being followed. I looked around but I saw nothing really of important. Shadows always seemed to shift around me and things I saw. Nothing caught my eye as different. 

But I had been wrong. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes trying to let the anger wash away from me. There was this presence next to me. I opened my eyes and there was nothing, but I still felt like there was someone there, standing next to me.

I took a few more deep breathes and when I opened my eyes there was tall dark and handsome. Dark eyes, his complexion spoke Mediterranean. He smiled at me and I could have sworn I saw the sharp points of fangs in place of his canine teeth. He winked at me, “Alex wants me to take you home.” 

He didn’t give me an option as he took my elbow and dragged me down the alley way into deeper shadows. I struggled the whole way, twisting and turning and wrenching my arm this way and that but he never gave even an inch. I was about to yell when we stepped into a shadow and then the next I was vomiting in the shadows of my bathroom. The clean white tile was now covered in vomit. “What the fuck!” I managed to get out before the contents of the coffee and water I’d drank hurled all over my floor.

“Sorry about that.” He said. “I should have warned you first.”

“How the fuck did I get here?” I shouted the best I could while hunched over making sure I was done sicking up.

“He shadow walked you here.” The familiar voice made me stand up and glare at him. “Why don’t you brush your teeth, I took the liberty of moving your toothbrush down stairs with a bowl of water and a fresh cup of water so you didn’t have to stay in here. You can change if you want to. I know I can’t stand to be in the same clothes I lost my lunch over.”

He only said that last part so he didn’t sound like he was ordering me around. I stepped around the pile of puke and frowned looking back at it. “I’ll get this cleaned up and I’ll explain over dinner.”

I wanted to say I wasn’t hungry but he already knew better so I just went down stairs to brush my teeth and change clothes. It felt like something I’d done a lot. My brain was in a fog. It hurt more so than usual. Almost like I had fallen again and smacked my head, except it was worse this time.

I brushed my teeth and dumped the bowl of water and cup outside on the stoop. No point in risking the slosh as I carried it up stairs when the drain was right there to be used anyway.

I changed into a pair of cargo shorts and one of the t-shirts that Alex had given me. It said, “It’s all fun and games until someone loses a weiner.” It had stick men roasting hot dogs over an open fire and one of them lost theirs to the flames. It was childish and I that was how I felt. I grabbed a zip up hoodie and pulled it over my arms and headed upstairs.

The food smelled good as I took each step, despite losing what I had eaten I was still hungry. Alex was in my kitchen area dishing out styrofoam boxes to plates and pouring glasses of wine. I grabbed a beer out of my fridge and sat down at the table. I’d let him wait on me since he was rudely in my apartment without permission. “How did you get in?”

He laughed, “You have to ask after how you got in?”

“So those crates were delivered the same way?”

Alex nodded. I sipped at the bottle of beer and he frowned softly, “The wine will go better with the food.”

“I don’t want wine.” I said grumpily. 

Alex sighed with a slight nod and downed the already poured glass of wine before he carried two plates and his own glass to the table. Silverware had already been set.

The dishes were not identical as I expected them to be. Alex had a large plate of lasagna covered in more red sauce and cheese with a dainty side of spicy arugula and grape tomatoes probably drenched in a house Italian sauce that would make everything blend perfectly.

I had a deconstructed Caprese salad on top of a golden brown chicken breast sauted in lemon and garlic sauce and my mouth watered at just the thought of it. All of it talked with a balsamic reduction. “This isn’t even on the menu.” I said.

Alex smiled happily, “Do you like it?”

“It smells divine.”

“Chef Marco thought you would like it. He said, and I quote, ‘heja looksa likea heja likesa to eat smarta.’” He was pinching his fingers together in his most Italian way and I couldn’t help but smile at his humor.

“Does he know you mock him like that?”

“Probably. He’s a good friend of the family and he tolerates me most of the time.”

“I can’t imagine why anyone would need to tolerate you.” Though I was angry at him I said it with a smile.

Alex grinned thankfully, “I am an ass. I will admit it. Look, we are not telling you things to keep you safe. Abby, Will, me, it’s only so you don’t get dragged into the drama of our lives.”

“I don’t like liars.” I said.

“Abby said as much. Said that the more we got to know you the more you’d figure out, and the more it was going to hurt when you found out.”

“She wasn’t wrong.”

Alex nodded, “I know. But I still feel strongly about keeping you out of it. I’ve tried so fucking hard to make sure I didn’t bring you into this life.”

“And what’s so wrong with your life?”

Alex just stared at me. Until my stomach growled again. He frowned, “Eat, and then we’ll talk.”

I didn’t need to be told twice – I ate in silence.