RHETT We had gone back to Oliver and Petra’s little underground hideout, after looking at what we were up against getting to the tree. Any shifters would be useless, including Finn and Mason as the pheromones from the demon dogs would eventually cloud their minds, making them easy prey when they became delirious. Which is why I would be enlisting the changelings. Apparently, they too were not affected by the monsters. I had already witnessed their thirst for killing and they were skilled fighters. If I was going to reach the tree, we would need them. As Oliver said, the only way they reached it last time was because of them and their help. It was decided we would wait until dusk. The reason being, that the changelings saw much better when it when it wasn’t a bright outside. I had already known that a bright light could change their appearance. Turning their grey skin to a warm, almost glowing pink and their eyes from the mustard yellow to a transparent blue. I hadn’t realized sun

RHETT Hesitantly, I cut Leneve’s palm, the sight of her blood running from the open wound and spilling over her hand makes me sick. My gut twists and my heart pounds. I didn’t like seeing her hurt. She peers up at me, unwavering by the cut I just made. Her eyes hold mine and I drop her hand feeling the warmth of her leave me instantly. Watching her watch me I dig the blade into my palm making a vertical cut. Warm blood seeps from the wound and without words we both lift our hands and place them on the wide girth of the tree below the writing. It seemed like such a simple act, yet I felt the connection between us as the cold dark bark met our bloodied palms. It was a strange sensation. First came warmth, a creeping, satisfying, gradual heat that tickled my palm. Then came the gentle burn which traveled up my arm and to my chest. My heart began to beat wildly with the prickle of arousal as mine and Leneve’s blood smeared on the black trunk. The sensation, though primitive, held a dee

RHETT Down one tunnel that leads to another, opening up into a cavern of stalagmites. It was a maze down here, but I kept chasing the light, just when I thought I had caught up to Leneve, the light would disappear down another dark turn. “Hunter!” Oliver yelled as I ran towards the soft glow once again. “Hunter!” He called louder, finally making me stop and turn to him. “What?” I asked abruptly, angered that he was holding me up from finding her. I couldn’t describe what I was feeling but it was like an urgency to find Leneve. I didn’t know if she was okay or not. I knew she could take care of herself, but I needed eyes on her. If not for myself then for her friends… her family. How would her father react if I had gotten her killed? My hands begin to shake. My mind was frantic, not understanding why she couldn’t hear me, why she didn’t stop. My fists clenched and unclenched as I tried to determine which way to turn when the light disappeared. My insides twisted and when the light

LENEVE Once the bright brilliant light had died down, we found ourselves standing in the darkness of the tree’s cavity once more. My hand was still in Rhett’s, and he held it tightly. I didn’t want him to ever let go. Unfortunately, he did. I felt the loss of contact, like icy wind the coldness of his absence swept up my arm sending a shiver down my spine. “The dagger?” I question wanting to make sure our efforts were not for nothing. Rhett shifts Oliver's body and feels for the dagger that he stuffed in his belt, which amazingly was the only thing holding the shreds of his pants together. Appreciatively my eyes wander over his semi-naked form, and I recall how he felt against me and inside me. Was it wrong that I wanted him to take me again if even he was for his own personal use? He produces the mythical weapon and holds it up, the light provided from outside the tree faintly showed us the object, “Got it.” He says with resolve. “Rhett!” Finn's yelling could be heard outside of

LENEVE For a human, time moves quickly. This realm moves quickly. For Lycans, time is slow. Forever changing. When we connect with our beast, we become one. We do not share a mind like the other shifters. We have no spirit animal. We are the animal. The animal is us. We imprint like the bears. We mark like the wolf. And we fuck like cats. And a Lycan mates for life. I was angry and hurt. Jealous when I found the changeling naked in his room. He knew I was his mate and yet he was still going to take another to his bed. Did the kiss mean nothing? Did saying ‘mine,’ verbally claiming me, mean nothing to him? Or that it was because of me his beast finally emerged? I had tried. I truly did. I exposed my vulnerability to him and still, he coldly pushed me away like I was nothing. Like I meant nothing to him. He had even been aroused by the young female. The anger of the situation and his easy dismal of me spread throughout. It climbed up and over me until I felt my beast and magic twin