I rise up, a smile on my face, and then I kiss his neck. I tilt my head to the side when I see a faint scar - his lone imperfection. It's something I've never noticed before.

"Where'd you get this?" I ask while running my finger over it.

He tenses, and I feel like an ass for asking now. Apparently it's not something he likes to talk about.

"It happened a long time ago. It's not something I like to talk about though."

"Sorry," I murmur regretfully, and then he kisses my head, warming me through my hair.

"It's fine. We're still learning about each other. Right now, I want to learn what you look like in the shower."

I laugh a little, but I willingly cede to his request as he pulls me from the bed and leads me into the bathroom.

The bed is empty, and I start looking around the dark room for the warmth I'm missing.

"Kane?"

I'm met with silence, so I get up to start my search through the large home. Each turn is another empty room, no sign of the man who has seemed to abandon me in the middle of the night.

Then my eyes fall on a note, and my heart drops as I read it.

Alyssa, I'm sorry. I had to head back home to take care of some business. I'll be back tomorrow, I swear. Please don't be mad.

Kane I huff, and then I walk over to pick up my phone to call him. It rings for a while before going to voicemail, so I hang up.

Who leaves in the middle of the night without saying anything? Someone with secrets.

I can't be mad at him for having secrets though. It's not like I can ever tell him who or what I really am. This can just be fun while it lasts... as long as I don't fall in love.

A chill spreads through the air, and I move over to the window to see a shadow flashing from place to place.

I get sick when I see several pairs of glowing blue eyes in the distance, their bodies swiftly moving across the sands as they head toward me.

"Shit!"

I grab my phone and dial Thad as quickly as I can, praying he's still close by.

"Mmm, I love a late night call."

"Good, because I'd love a late night hero."

"What's going on?" he asks more seriously, slightly panicked.

"Night stalkers - at least twenty. Please tell me you're close by."

"I'll be there as fast as I can. There's a weapons room in the master. Press the lever above the fireplace disguised as the head of a sparrow. Shoot anything that gets too close with the silver gun. The bullets have been blessed by your kind."

Thank fuck.

The phone goes dead, and I rush over to the mantle to press the button, praying it will hurry up and open. My phone starts ringing just as it does, and I look down to see Kane's name.

Too late to talk now.

I'm actually glad he took off in the middle of the night now. The last thing I need to do is drag him into a centuries-old war. I rip two guns from the secret compartment, and then I start firing through the window while using my magic and scattering the shards of glass away from the frame for me to leap through it without getting ripped to shreds.

Hollow, shrill squeals erupt from the death-seeking, bloodthirsty bastards, and I force the power from my body to blow them back, praying Thad hurries the hell up.

"What the hell do you want from me?" I scream while spinning a circle of power around my body, a force strong enough to keep them away from me... for now.

"Just you," one hisses, fangs out, bloodlust in his eyes as he lunges at me, but the protective circle I've spun deflects his attacks, throwing him back.

"It's going to hurt worse next time," I bluff, knowing I'm not strong enough to keep this shit up against so many.

"Stupid witch." He snarls while climbing to his feet, and the headlights in the distance make my stomach tense up.

Please don't be Kane.

The lights disappear, but my distracted mindset has left me vulnerable. The eager bloodsuckers quickly take advantage. The stinging pain in my side knocks the wind out of me as I go sailing backwards.

I fall to my face, splitting my lip and making blood taint my taste. I cringe, feeling the grit sliding down my throat as I cough up the remnants of the intrusive earth.

"Bastard," I growl, barely defending myself from the next attack in time.

Then I grunt and wheeze when I feel a hand around my throat from behind, lifting me high into the air and turning me to face the glowing blues on the pretty face. As long as he's touching me, I can't use my fucking power.

"Now, where the hell is it?" he demands, his tone dark, ominous, and scary as hell.

"I... don't... know... what-"

A shrill screech rings out as a hawk zooms down from the sky, growing in size as it nears us. I scream as the talons grip my arms and rip me away from the monster who can't hold back my powers anymore.

I sling my arms out as the hawk carries me off, and I deliver one last blow to the vicious bastards below. I struggle against the piercing, sharp claws, and I look up at the hawk intent on getting us out of here.

"Too tight!" I squeal just as slithers of blood drip free from my arms. "They'll find me if I'm bleeding every-damn-where."

He can't answer in changed form, but he swoops low, almost slapping the ground before releasing me. My feet run to fight the built up momentum, and the hawk changes into the white wolf, his head motioning for me to hurry up.

I run and leap into the air, and he grows under me after I land on top. I hang on for dear life as he charges ahead, deep into the desert. The wind slaps me in the face, along with desert bugs, and the chill of the night creeps down to my bones, fighting against the heat of my adrenaline.

Everything around me turns into a blur, and I push my face into his back to warm me with his fur and keep the flying insects away from my gaping mouth.

Within minutes, we've lost them, and a car pulls around just as we come to an abrupt halt. I fall forward, but foreign hands grab me when one of the "friendly" night stalkers catches me, leaving me with an eerie feeling.

"Thanks," I murmur halfheartedly.

"Go! We have to go!" Thad urges as he leaps into the car, human and... naked.

Ah crap. Why does he have to look like that naked?

I climb in, my face glowing red, and keep my eyes focused anywhere but the naked man as another changer gasses the vehicle, surging away from the craziness behind.

"They'll track me down if I'm in my changed form for too long," Thad sighs while relaxing in his seat.

"You should... um... put something on. It's cold," I stammer, still refusing to look at him.

"Is that a dig at my manhood?" he chuckles out. "For the record, I'm not turned on by near death encounters."

My glowing red burns brighter as I bury my face in my hands.

"I didn't look at your manhood," I lie, and he is turned on.

He laughs lightly, and then I hear the rustle of his clothes being pulled on beside me. Turning to face him, I feel my face slowly fading back to its normal color.

"Where'd loverboy go this time?" he asks.

"He had some work to do back home. Speaking of which, can I borrow your phone? Mine was sort of left back at the house."

"Yeah." He relinquishes his phone.

I quickly dial Kane's number and start biting my nails as I anxiously await his answer, the tears trying to fall as I mull over what I need to say.

"Hello?" he asks curiously, not recognizing the number.

"Hey," I murmur in relief just to hear his voice.

"Alyssa? Whose phone are you using?" he worries. "Are you okay?"

I'm not even close to being okay.

"Yeah, I'm fine. There was a small problem back at the house, and I had to leave rather quickly. Thad came and got me. I was just worried about you."

"Shit. What happened?"

It'd be easier to tell him monsters are hunting me, because then he'd definitely stay away.

"Nothing you need to worry about. Look, Kane, this has gotten worse than I realized it would, and I don't think-"

"I know - it's a lot worse. I went by your house tonight to grab you some more clothes, and your place was trashed. Alyssa, I don't think your mom is with friends. I called a detective I know, and he's looking into the case for me. I'm on my way back right now. Where are you going?"

My breath shakily slides out, and everyone in the car tries to pretend they're not listening in.

"That's just it. Kane, I think it would be best if you stayed away from me until we find out what's going on."

"Hell no," he scoffs. "Tell me where you're going. I'll be there as soon as I can get a flight."

Tears start to drip, and Thad pats my leg as I try to gather some composure.

"Kane, I can't. I care about you too much. I don't know what's going on, but I won't let you be in the middle of it. I'm sorry, I really am."

"Alyssa, tell me where the hell you're going!" he demands, fear lying in the undertones of his voice.

"I'm sorry," I repeat in a whispered whimper while hanging up.

The phone starts ringing immediately, but I just stare blankly at the number I can't answer. I have to know what he's going to do though. Using my magic, I wave my hand over the phone to listen to the man who doesn't know I can hear him as the phone starts ringing again.

"Damn it. She won't fucking answer!" he blares to someone.

"Who do you think is after her?" Deke asks.

I'm sure they're all telling him to stay the hell away from me. As much as it kills me to think of, I hope he listens to them.

"I don't know, but she needs to be protected. She thinks I could get hurt."

Deke laughs, and I hear Kane cursing again as the phone lights up and rings once more.

"That's a rather nifty trick," Thad says, now realizing what I've done.

"It'll only work until he calls someone else," I murmur softly.

"What are you going to do?" Deke asks.

"I'm going to find her, and then I'm going to beat the fuck out of whoever is messing with her. I'm not going to leave her side again, and so help me, if you call for my help one more time with that fucking bitch, I'll never talk to you again."

Amy? His business was Amy?

My anger takes the place of my tears as fury runs through me.

"I'm sorry," Deke exasperates. "You're the only one who has any influence over her when she loses it. It's just... you and this Alyssa girl spending so much time together is making Amy crazy. Maybe it's good if she goes off on her own. Amy needs all of us, and it appears you're the one she needs the most."

It's nice to know this now. At least it makes this easier.

"Amy can go to hell for all I care. Sierra wanted a pet, she can train her. I'm not her fucking leash-handler anymore. In case you haven't noticed, I happen to give a damn about someone else who needs me a hell of a lot more than Amy. She's her own worst enemy, and Alyssa is just a fragile girl."

Fragile girl? Really?

I'll show him fragile the next time I see him... if I can even stand to be around him.

"Call the detective and find out what he knows," Kane urges.

"I can, but-"

"Fuck it. I'll call him myself."

Just like that, the conversation is lost when he apparently does call someone else, ending the bit of magical influence I had.

I hand the phone back to Thad, and he sighs as he puts it back in his pocket.

"I'm sorry you had to do that, but it's for the best," Thad murmurs sympathetically.