"Then who was with her?"

Anna braced for his fury. "Kyle, sir."

He took a step toward her. "Kyle and who else? Or was Kyle with her every day?"

Anna simply nodded, her voice catching in her throat. "It was at her request, sir," she whispered.

"Oh?"

She decided to take the punishment and tell him everything. "The nightmares kept her up. She finally refused to sleep, and a few days ago, she stopped even eating. Any noise and she jumps. She turns pale if she catches sight of anyone other than me and Kyle. Emily said that Kyle kept the fear away. She trusted him to keep her safe while you were away, and we decided, together, to honor those wishes."

Anna was able to relax when Chevalier stood up out of the angry crouch. "Fix this room," he said, and in the blink of an eye, he was leaving the room with Emily cradled in his arms.

"Good morning," Chevalier whispered when Emily began to stir. He'd been watching her sleep for the past 14 hours, wondering how much sleeping medication the immortals had given her.

Her eyes flashed open, and she curled against his chest. "You're back!"

Chevalier held her tightly and then put his fingers under her chin, bringing her face up toward his. "How are you?"

He had the chance to study her face. She still had dark circles under her eyes, the pallor making them darker. Her eyes were sunken and tired.

"I'm fine." She smiled up at him.

"Gordon is bringing you some breakfast, dear."

"Just coffee please. I'm not hungry."

"Nevertheless, you will eat." He tried to sound commanding but had a hard time being stern while those flowing green eyes peered up at him.

Emily laid back on the bed and stretched a bit. This bed was harder than the one she was used to, and her back was aching. She looked around and frowned. "Where am I?"

"I moved you to my room. I'm having some work done on yours." He decided to keep his violent tendencies to himself.

She yawned into her hand and returned to studying his room. This gave him the chance to study her further. He was a little shocked to see the delicate fabric and low cut of the soft pink flowing nightgown that revealed a hint of her soft breasts. He would have to thank Margaret for that later. He gently ran his finger along the low neckline and cursed when he heard Gordon coming with her breakfast.

"Come in," he said, irritated.

Gordon entered with a large silver tray, and the smell of bacon and eggs filled the room. He placed it on the bedside table and lifted the cover, smiling. "Finally, the chance to make something other than coffee." His smile faded when he saw Chevalier's expression, and he hurried out of the room with a bow.

Emily sat up and turned to the tray to make up a cup of coffee. Chevalier noticed, appraisingly, the low cut back of her nightgown. It perfectly showed the smooth skin on her back, her pale complexion, and the perfect curve of her fragile spine. He gently ran his fingers up her spine and grinned as she shivered. She turned back to the bed and sat up. The steaming cup of coffee was cradled in her hands.

He reached out and took the cup away from her protesting fingers. "Food Emily, not coffee... food."

"Coffee first," she said, reaching out for it.

He moved it farther from her, out of her reach. "I think you've had enough caffeine. Eat please, for me."

Emily reached over and grabbed a piece of bacon, and then sat back against the headboard to eat.

"I'm so sorry. I honestly had planned on being gone only a few days, and then to hear that..." He paused to calm his voice, "That you were attacked in my absence."

She tensed. It was still fresh in her mind. She grabbed another piece of bacon, not wanting to talk about it.

"I lied to you again, and I suppose saying 'I'm sorry' isn't good enough. I promised you that my coven would keep you safe in my absence." His eyes dropped to the bed.

She gently touched his hand. "You can't protect me from everything, Chev. Kyle was there with me. Nothing happened."

He looked into her eyes. "That's not how I heard it."

She reached back and touched the back of her head. "That? That's nothing. Patra doesn't take nicely to heku apparently, though she is getting used to Kyle."

"Patra is here?" he asked, shocked.

Emily smiled brightly. Her face suddenly lit up. "Yes, Kyle brought her here for me."

Chevalier nodded. He had to give Kyle credit. He was taking care of her as he had ordered. "Eat more."

She glanced over at the plate and then back to Chevalier. "Where did you go?"

He sighed. She might as well know. "I went to court, with Ulrich."

She gasped, "Over me?!"

Chevalier nodded. "It's okay though. They have granted me more time with you."

Her eyes darted around the room. "But someday they may change their minds? Someday, I may be forced to live with him?"

He didn't answer.

"I won't do it... no one can make me." She set her jaw. He didn't want her to be upset, so he kept his thoughts to himself. He knew that if the time came, she wouldn't have a choice.

"Don't worry about it now, Em. If the time ever comes... If the time ever comes, we'll handle it then, okay?" He realized she was done eating and handed her coffee to her.

She sipped it, letting it burn her tongue.

"Ash anyone while I was away?" He grinned at her, trying to lighten the mood.

Emily couldn't help but laugh, "No."

"I had some clothes brought in for you. Get dressed. I have something I need to do, and I want you to come."

She looked at him expectantly. "We're leaving the island?"

"No, we aren't even leaving the castle."

She sighed, slightly disappointed, and got up to get dressed. She noticed, irritated, that Chevalier's bathroom had locking doors.

Emily looked around the large bathroom. It was empty except for a vanity mirror, a shower, and a pile of clothes folded neatly on the counter. To her horror, the walls were lined with mirrors. She slipped out of her nightgown and quickly into her clothes. Her eyes were fixed on the floor. She was glad they were jeans. She didn't like all of the dresses that Margaret kept bringing her.

When Emily turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the mirrors, and she sighed. She hadn't noticed that her jeans had diamond cut-outs down the length of the legs from her hips to her ankles. While not a t-shirt, at least the pale blue shirt wasn't revealing. She would have to throw the jeans away when she got a new pair. It took her only a few minutes to put her hair into a French braid and head back out to Chevalier.

He grinned at her, and his eyes fell almost immediately to the small glimpse of her smooth white thighs and toned calves that her jeans provided. She blushed and laid her nightgown down on the foot of the bed. Emily glanced around the room and saw that her breakfast tray was gone, and the bed was made.

"Are you ready to go?" Chevalier asked, laughing at her blush and taking her hand in his. He was pleased when she didn't pull away from his touch.

Emily nodded and let him lead her out of the room. Before she could see what was going on in her room, the door shut, as if by itself. She had the feeling they were hiding something.

"Where is Kyle?" she asked as they descended the stairs.

"He is back at his post." Chevalier knew that Kyle would be doing his best to stay off of his radar.

The rest of the walk was in silence. It seemed to Emily like they should have gotten to the ground floor already, and the narrow stone walkway kept spiraling downward. She hadn't seen windows for a while, and the way was no longer lit, so she couldn't see anything. Chevalier was guiding her. Her eyes didn't adjust either, and she was getting frustrated, not liking being without one of her key senses. Finally, a light shone in a rectangle ahead. They were nearing a door.

The door opened just before they got to it, and she saw that a brightly lit room was on the other side. The room was circular, with a platform at one end. Four chairs were high on the platform behind large oak desks. The rest of the room was full of rows and rows of chairs facing the other four. Emily recognized this as a type of court room, and she started to panic and hold tighter to Chevalier's arm.

There was only one other person in the room, the door guard who held an ominous looking sword in his hands. Emily found that odd. Why a sword instead of a gun? Chevalier led them up on the platform and sat in one of the center chairs. He then motioned for her to sit at his left. As soon as she sat down, Storm appeared and sat in the chair on Chevalier's right. Over the next few minutes, other heku streamed into the room and took the chairs on the lower level. They all seemed to be watching her closely. Emily started to panic.

Kyle walked in last, looking nervous, and sat in the chair beside Emily. She was comforted to see him.

"What is this?" she whispered to him.

It didn't escape Chevalier's notice that she asked Kyle the question instead of him, and his insides tightened.

Kyle knew his place and didn't answer, but instead stared straight ahead. Emily just sighed and returned her attention to the room.

When everyone was seated and quiet, Storm stood up.

"Bring him in," she demanded, and the guard by the door left quickly. He returned within only a few seconds, dragging a young heku into the room, the strange heku that had scared Patra and tried to attack Emily. Emily's entire body tensed. She was ready to run from the room, but when she started to stand, Chevalier's hand shot out and touched her leg.

"Don't do this, please," she whispered to Chevalier. He didn't respond. He was watching the young heku with loathing. Her breathing picked up. She couldn't imagine what was going to happen to him.

"Please." She tried again.

Chevalier silenced her with an icy glare.

Storm faced the young heku, who was sitting in an old chair on the bottom level. "Charges have been brought against you, charges of the gravest nature. Your age doesn't protect you from disobeying the direct orders of the Chief Enforcer. Do you understand these charges?"

"Yes," Ethan said softly, and his eyes were directed at Emily. She could feel the rumble from beside her, both Chevalier and Kyle were growling.

"How old are you, Ethan? For the record," Storm asked, holding a clipboard.

"213 years," he said, licking his lips.

"Mind yourself!" Storm barked at Ethan, and he recoiled under her words and looked back at her. "Did you, or did you not, receive the direct order that the mortal girl wasn't to be harmed and that she belongs directly to the Chief Enforcer?"

Emily frowned and grimaced at the word 'belongs'.

"Yessss," he hissed again. His eyes turned back to Emily. "But she is so sweet, so tender. I can't resist her." He leaned a little closer to the front of the room and inhaled.

"No!" Emily screamed, just as Chevalier appeared at Ethan's back. His hands wrapped tightly around the young heku's head. Before Emily could shut turn away, Ethan's head was off and sent flying into the wall of the court room.

Emily stood suddenly. All eyes were on Chevalier while he quickly dismembered Ethan. She was able to run from the room, unnoticed. She fought her way along the impossibly dark hallway, winding farther and farther up, feeling her way along the wall. There were no sounds behind her, yet she ran, tripping on loose stones and imperfections in the floor. As the hallway became lighter, she recognized her surroundings and ran out the back door in the kitchen, headed straight for the barn.

Patra was waiting just inside, saddled and ready for her daily ride. Emily deftly hoisted herself onto the mare and was in a full gallop before even clearing the barn doors. She headed the opposite way she normally did, going straight for the beach. Once the sound of the ocean was near and Patra's hooves hit sand, Emily slowed the horse and held tightly to the saddle's horn, trying to calm her breathing.

She slid off the horse and nuzzled her face into the horse's warm neck, and then broke down into heart-wrenching sobs. The sight of Ethan's head slamming into the stone wall was horrifying. She'd seen Chevalier mad but never that enraged. She kept reminding herself that it was her fault. Because of her presence on the island, that creature had died.

Emily sunk down onto the sand at the foot of her horse. She could hear the ocean clearly but couldn't see it because of the tall cement wall. She shut her eyes and focused on the rhythmic pounding of the waves against the rocks. The monotonous sound cleared her mind of the headless heku.

Patra nibbled at Emily's hair and brought her out of the trance. She stood up and noticed it was starting to get dark. The cold wind blowing off of the ocean sent a chill through her. She ran her fingers through the mare's mane while she contemplated where to go and what to do. This world of Chevalier's seemed too dangerous now. She didn't feel safe in it and didn't feel like she even remotely belonged. The sound of footsteps approaching made her body stiffen and her breath caught.

She peered around Patra's neck and saw a tall man approaching. His dark face was hidden in the dying light. The mare whinnied loudly and stomped her foot at him when he got closer. Emily stood, frozen to the horse's side, unable to move.

She could feel Patra's muscles tighten. The mare was about to run. Emily grabbed the bridle to steady the horse as the sound of the approaching steps stopped. There was no sound other than the waves against the beach.

Emily stood motionless against the horse for a few minutes. She wasn't sure if the stranger had left, or if he was standing just on the other side of Patra. Her heart beat violently in her chest when he spoke, even though his voice was soft.

"Emily?" he asked her.

She didn't move, didn't breathe.

"I won't hurt you, child," he reassured her. "I came to show you the way back to the castle."

She swallowed hard because her mouth was dry with fear. "I know the way back."

Emily screamed briefly when something sounded from the saddle behind her, and she ducked down away from it.

"Calm, child. It's just a coat." The stranger's voice was farther away now.

Emily turned slightly and saw the coat lying across the saddle. She peeked around Patra and noticed the stranger standing about 20 feet away, watching her. Her skin broke out into goose bumps as the wind picked up. She looked up and saw dark clouds covering the rising moon.

"You must be cold," the stranger said from where he stood, not moving closer.

"I'm fine," she finally managed to say, and she slipped back around behind the mare. "You can have the coat if you're cold."

His soft laughter filled the wind, and she fought against feeling comforted by its warmth and sincerity.

"If you won't wear the coat, at least go back to the castle. They are very worried about you."

Emily leaned her head against Patra. She wasn't sure what to do.

Finally, the heku spoke again, "Do you wish for me to leave?"

She nodded, knowing that he couldn't see her, but she wasn't able to speak.

"Very well," he said sadly, then suddenly, he was gone.