His voice is so soothing, so relaxing, and so amazing. Instead of hanging up like I know I should, I just climb into the tub that has filled with warm water and lie back.

"Okay. Talk to me... but not about coming here."

He pauses for a minute, more than likely a little stunned that I'm not fighting him about talking.

"I can do that. How about a date... soon? We never did get to go out."

I smile as I think back to that night, and then I frown.

"I knew you were getting tired of being pulled around that day. You stayed gone for so long, and then you took off. I'm sorry I tried to keep you out with me."

"Alyssa," he exasperates. "I told you I'd give anything to have that day back. I had stuff to take care of."

"Tell me about Amy," I blurt out after hearing about the stuff he had to take care of. "Why does she think the two of you belong together, and why do all of your roommates seem to want the union to happen?"

"How do you-"

"I'm smart. I figure things out. You wanted to talk, and this is me talking."

He sighs louder, but his desperation shines when he finally answers.

"It's a long story. Amy was a loner with a lot of severe issues when Sierra found her. She has a problem Sierra understands. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she was in a place where she would fall for anyone who was nice to her.

"After a long, stressful week, I came home, and she was here... with Sierra. All I fucking did was tell her she had a place with us if she needed somewhere to stay. She took a kind gesture and turned it into something more. Since then, I've had to deal with being the object of her obsession. Now your turn. Are you and Thad doing anything?"

His jealous turn of conversation catches me off guard.

"If I said yes, would you move on?" I ask, though it still aches to think of.

"No. I'd just rip his head off his shoulders before using it for a soccer ball."

I laugh a little. It's cute to hear him so jealous.

"No, we're not doing anything." Though Thad doesn't give up easily. "He's just helping me search for Mom. Your turn. Why aren't you into Amy? She's cute enough."

"Cute enough?" he chuckles out.

Well, I'm not going to say she's hot because he'd probably start paying her the attention I really don't want him to.

"Yeah, cute enough."

"Alyssa, she's not my type."

"You like blonds, eh?" I tease.

"I like you. Other than that, I've never been into blonds. Amy just isn't... she's annoying as hell. You're the first girl I've ever felt like I was going crazy over."

A goofy, pathetic grins spreads across my face as I close my eyes and relax in the tub.

"You're good at this," I tease.

He lets a light, somewhat sad laugh free.

"Apparently I'm not too good or you'd let me be with you right now."

Frowning, I start to counter, but a breeze in the air pops my eyes open, and I squeal as I see the dark user staring down at my naked body, his brow arched and a faint smile playing on his lips.

"What's wrong?" Kane worries.

I narrow my eyes while sinking lower in the bubbles as I stare into the eyes of the guy from the other day.

"Just more pests. Can I call you later?" I ask, forcing the dark user to smirk more.

"Will you call me?" he sighs.

"I will, I promise. Just get some rest. You sound tired."

I hang up before he can say anything else, and then I stare expectantly at the unannounced visitor in my bathroom.

"How did you get in here?"

He takes a seat on the sink, and keeping his voice low, he says, "You should put a protection spell around the house if you don't want me popping in."

"I can't. We've got dark ones here... well, blood drinkers. My magic is light, meaning they'd be locked out."

"You mean killers?" he leads.

"You're one to talk," I scoff. "The last I checked, dark users are just as vicious as night stalkers."

"We're not all vicious, just as you're not all angels. Don't get it twisted. Now, dry off and come with me," he says while handing me the towel I had hanging up.

My eyebrow arches, and then I mutter, "Why?"

"Because I'm going to prove to you our dark users do not have your mother, and then we'll help each other find the monsters after both of us."

He looks harmless, but so does a squirrel right before it tries to rip your fingers off once you get too close.

"Why should I trust you?" I murmur softly.

He leans over, his eyes shifting to be darker, and then he lets a deviously sexy grin free.

"Because I could have killed you more times than you know by now."

The knot that instantly forms in my throat is too large to swallow, and my voice becomes rasp, harsh, and strained when I counter, "That's not exactly making me want to trust you."

"No, but the fact you're still breathing should make you want to trust me. Now come before the others realize I'm here."

I'm so fucking stupid.

"Fine, turn around."

He grins a little more, and then he stands to turn his back to me as I quickly climb out of the tub, sloshing water everywhere before I wrap up in my towel .

"You'll need these," he says, and suddenly a pair of pants and a red shirt appear in the room.

"Thanks," I murmur, but before I can reach for them, they're on my body.

Great. He's a pervert in reverse - dressing me against my will.

"Sorry, but there's not really a lot of time. Your changer friend will be coming in any minute."

"How do you know that?" I muse while stepping over to him.

"Because I heard him talking to one of the others. He told him he was going to see if you needed anything from town. Just go to the door, tell him to get you something random, and then say you're tired."

Instantly, there's a knock at my door. Heading away from someone I fear almost as much as night stalkers, I make my way to the door, unsure of whether or not it's smart to send away a strong ally so I can sneak out with a known enemy.

"Hey," I murmur as Thad pops into my room.

"Wow, you look good. Did you finally manage to get some new clothes?" he asks, his curiosity now a little piqued.

"Um," I mumble, looking down and then up, "I just forgot I had this. What's up?"

"I have to go into town. You need anything, or would you like to come with me?" he says almost suggestively. "I know you've been wanting to do some shopping."

Crap. I finally get the chance to refurnish my wardrobe, and Mr. Dangerous shows up, wanting to prove his peoples' innocence.

"I would, but I'm actually exhausted right now. I didn't sleep too good last night. Could you get me some chocolate while you're out?"

"Yeah, no problem. You feeling okay? You look a little flushed."

His hand cups my chin to tilt my head up, and I nod against his touch.

"I'm fine. I just talked to Kane a little while ago. I guess it sort of... well..."

"You miss the human?"

"Yeah."

At least it's the truth.

He looks a little disappointed, possibly wounded, but he nods in acceptance.

"I'll get you some chocolate, and I'll grab you some socks, too. Frankie said you need some."

My face heats up instantly, and he tilts his head curiously as I squirm.

"Something wrong?" he asks, seeming amused.

"Nothing. Tell Frankie I'm going to kick his ass."

He smiles, seeming confused and intrigued, but he doesn't say much else before disappearing out the door. I turn around, and in a blink, Mr. Dangerous is staring into my eyes, taking my breath with his startling closeness.

"Stop doing that," I whisper breathlessly.

He smirks, and then his arms wrap around my waist, making me feel the edge of regret before we're suddenly blurring out of the room, everything passing me too quickly. I feel dizzy, sick, and oh... damn... I'm...

Chapter Twelve.

My eyes are too heavy to open at first, but a distant dripping sound leaves me with the taste of dread, forcing me to summon the strength to wake.

I gasp for air as I surge forth, and I look around, surprised by my surroundings. I expected a dank, dark dungeon, but this is a beautiful room with one flaw - a leaky faucet in the gloriously gold bathroom adjacent to me.

The sleek, white walls are lined with gold satin fabric along the edges. The sheer gold curtains flow in the wind from the balcony doors that have been left open, offering an airy, sensual feel.

Where the hell am I?

"Hey," a soft voice from behind prompts, and I whip my head around to meet his eyes.

It's him. The dark user I so foolishly trusted.

"Where-"

"You're in the council's ward. It's a castle veiled from the mortal world. You okay?"

I grip my head that seems to still want to spin, but other than that, I feel fine.

"Yeah. Why did I-"

"I was worried your conscious state couldn't handle the vaporized pace for the distance I had to carry you, so I rendered you unconscious instead. Sorry, but it was the best way to keep you from dying during the intense travel. This is one of our healing rooms. The council wants to speak to you now."

I swallow hard, suddenly feeling like a lamb spread across a sacrificial altar.

"The Dark Council?" I barely break out in a whisper.

"Yes," he chuckles out. "The Dark Council," he continues, a melodramatic tone carrying out a mock eerie delivery.

"This isn't funny. I'm light. This is suicide."

"Chill out. I wouldn't have brought you if I felt you were in any danger. As I told you before, this is simply a declaration of innocence."

"Fine. Where do I need to go?"