~Daphne’s Point of View~ I don’t remember how we ended up naked but one minute we’re rushing into the room and the next Liam’s got me up against the shower wall. My legs are wrapped around his waist, our hands are frantically all over each other. There’s no air to breathe and it doesn’t matter. There’s no stopping. The water is hot but it feels incredible. He finally pulled back as we both panted with the need for oxygen but the desire for each other more. Without turning to look he grabbed the body wash and dumped it all over both of us. I immediately begin washing him and he does the same as our hands continue their adventures. He didn’t need to say it but I knew from the look on his face: I smelled like that man. I smelled like another. In the shifter world, that’s not acceptable. It was something Darrow had mentioned. Any female who is claimed, well usually marked, cannot be touched by another male or risk death. It's one of their most upheld rules but no one is ever dumb enough

~Daphne’s Point of View~ I woke up feeling cold and reached for my heater. Nothing. I flopped myself over and reached out, nothing there either. I made a face and glared at the clock: four a.m. Ick! My stomach grumbled as I sat up, disoriented. “Liam? Where are you,” I called out, wondering if he was in the bathroom. “I’m out here,” I heard, though not very loud. I threw my feet over the side of the bed then found my nightgown from last night and threw it over my head. I rubbed my eyes and yawned. My entire body ached, I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. But the ache between my legs, that was actually nice. Padding to the living room area, I took him in, sitting on the floor … naked of course in front of one of the floor to ceiling windows. I fell on the floor behind him and wrapped my arms around him. He leaned into me and I rested my head on his shoulder. Even in the darkness of the room, just illuminated with the lights of the city the birth mark on his back shimmered. I

~Daphne’s Point of View~ My curiosity absolutely wanted free reign of the place and even though I knew I’d leave my scent behind I wasn’t sure I cared. I made my way to what I believed was Liam’s room and pushed the door open. Smokey. Ohhhh yeah. It didn’t freak me out now and oddly it was relaxing, familiar. Though I don’t know why I shut the door behind me, false sense of security perhaps. I sat my bag down on his desk and thumbed through the stack until I found all the comic books having to do with Batman. I don’t know if I could fit Liam in my high school fantasy. He doesn’t give me the jock vibe or the book nerd. He’s just a superhero, my super hero as corny as it is. He’s the guy that helps fix your flat tire, the guy that picks you up when you fall. But he also could disappear in the shadows easily. Total Batman for me. I could totally see him roaming the streets at night, saving the day for unsuspecting people trying to go about their lives. He doesn’t want any recognition,

~Liam’s Point of View~ It kills me to see the look on my mate’s face as she goes through every possible range of emotion. Terror, desperation, bargaining. She tries to be tough but I know it’s a front. Even though I haven’t yet marked her flesh it's truly as if I can already feel her emotions. I tell myself to stick to the plan, this is what we knew would happen. It’ll play better if she doesn’t know, if my mother doesn’t know. We need it all to look real, and keep Apollo in the driver’s seat. He needs to believe he’s calling the shots. Thankfully, Gregor played right into our hands. Even still, I can only beg the Goddess to help us as well. To especially smooth things over later with Daphne. She’ll be furious but she’ll have to get over it. My brothers and I crack our knuckles, roll our heads and do different things to loosen up for the fight. Tanwen is psyching himself up, chatting with Rowe and Scout. I know for a fact that if I shift it won’t be pretty and having my beast take

~Daphne’s Point of View~ Hours pass and I give up begging to be taken to Liam. I’m so insanely exhausted that when Vance finally appears, I let him wrap me in his arms. Since the twins wouldn’t let me go find my dragon I made them take me to his bedroom. Though I knew Apollo’s room wasn’t far and that pissed me off … I had to be with his scent. The comic books were splayed over his bed when I went in, bringing me some comfort. One of the books was open to a page where Batman looks like he’s on fire, emerging from the flames. Liam is the human behind the dragon’s flames and I have to believe he’s strong enough to make it through anything. “Please tell me…” I trail off, as Vance’s crisp earthy aroma fills my lungs. “He’s alive and Apollo is dead,” he whispers, as he rubs my back. I pull away and gape at him. He has to know I have a million questions, and while I want them all answered there’s only one thing I can say. “Take me … to him,” I say slowly, leaving no room for him t