Emerging from the woods with Coal walking beside her. She stepped into the brightness of the open space, hoping the sun would warm her, removing the coldness that had settled within, when she had opened her eyes to find him gone.

The sun had escaped the blanket of clouds, but she didn't feel its warmth. Bringing her hand to her brow, she shielded from its brightness. In the distance, she saw Christian and Sebastian approaching fast. She wasn't even sure if they had seen Azrael, but mentally prepared herself for a lecture.

As they approached Christian shifted into his human form as a howl tore through him. Eva closed her eyes. "Holy Angels. Christian! You can't keep exposing yourself!" She felt his breath on her face and the memory of him kissing her brought some much-needed warmth to her body.

"Princess, there's nothing you haven't seen before." He smirked.

Eyes tightly shut, she huffed as the memory flashed in all its glory behind her closed eyes. "Well, that doesn't mean I want to see you naked... all the time."

He stood close enough to smell her scent and the scent of someone else. A masculine smell flooded his nose as he let his eyes swipe over her body. His jaw clenched at the thought of another man touching her. "You okay?"

Eva opened her eyes and looked up to narrow inquisitive eyes. "Is there no way you could keep some sort of backpack with you, so you can at least cover your..." she let her hand point down.

Don't look Eva, eyes up!

Christian ignored her question; he was more concerned with the person and creature she had encountered. "Who was that...? The man who was here just a few moments ago."

"Wow, your eye sight must be freakin' spectacular. You could see him from that distance?" Eva peered around his broad shoulders to where she had first spotted him and Sebastian. She looked back to see a dark sense wash over his features, then disappear just as quick.

"Err yeah, I've got great eyesight." he replied, distracted.

Eva wasn't too sure what to tell him. Instead she turned to look for Sebastian. She could see him in the woods, sniffing around where she had been standing with Azrael.

Turning back to Christian. "He's our new neighbour... apparently. Guess he just wanted to say hello." I want to have sex with you Angel. She pushed that thought out of her head. Ignoring the part of her brain the thought had excited.

She's lying. "That's all, he didn't do or say anything else?" he asked.

Eva shook her head trying to look anywhere but down. "Nope. Just saying hello. And if you don't need to quiz me any further then, I'm gonna head back to the stables. You can meet me there If you like... clothed." She smiled looking up at him, but again his face was trying to tell her something, he seemed distracted.

"Sure, yeah.. see you there, I won't be long."

Eva waited for a moment, then turned to take Coal by the reigns. "Okay, catch you later."

"And Eva.."

She turned to look at him "hmm...?"

"Make sure you do... go back to the stables, no distractions... yeah?"

Eva rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no distractions..." She mocked him and saluted, puckering her lips.

He chuckled, shaking his head before heading towards Sebastian.

Eva couldn't help but glance over her shoulder to admire his fine-looking naked ass. She sighed inwardly. But then Coal nudged her... hard in the back. "Okay, okay, let's head home, I know you're getting hungry." She put her foot in the stirrup and mounted him.

>>>>

Christian walked towards Sebastian. "Find anything?"

Sebastian shifted. "Yeah, I picked up the scent of the creature Coal showed me."

Christian stood rubbing his hand across his mouth and chin. "What info did he give you on the man?"

"Demon, said his name was Azrael."

"Fucking hell! Azrael? The Azrael?" asked Christian, eyes as wide as saucers. "What the fuck is he doing here in Maine... of all places?"

Sebastian shook his head, "Coal said he clearly had an interest in Eva and I ain't referring to the neighbourly nice to meet you kinda way... yeah?"

"Fuck," replied Christian biting down on his lip.

"We have to report this back to Daevan," said Sebastian.

"Did Coal tell you, or show you anything else?"

"Yeah, said the creature was a Lupine – real nasty, by the sounds of it. Never heard of one of them here... in our realm. Said the demon was paired with it." Sebastian sent Christian a mental picture that Coal had sent to him of the Lupine.

Christian crouched down to his knees, picking up a twig to sniff. "Fuck me, that's what he was facing? That could have turned nasty, real quick!"

"Yeah and that's not the worst part. He said Eva was ready to jump in on the attack."

Christian stood upright. "Shit, that girls gonna be the death of me." He shook his head. "We gotta make sure she doesn't go anywhere on her own from now on. Not with a Demon like him sniffing about and his fucking crazy lapdog."

Sebastian nodded. "Yeah, on it."

"Right. Starting now, we need to run shifts on patrols and keepin' an eye on princess. I'll take the first shift with Eva, and head over to the stables. You update Daevan."

"Yeah, but don't go gettin' yourself into any trouble and please, for Christs sake, put some jeans on, or at the very least some boxers... yeah?"

Christian smirked. "Whatever," he replied before shifting back into his wolf form and heading for the stables.

>>>>

Kara found Daevan in his study, his head stuck in a book, one of his ancient books.

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He looked up when he heard Kara enter his office.

She could see the stress on his face. The lines on his young vessel looked deeper than when she had last seen him. "You're gonna age that vessel if you keep stressin' it. Need a fresh one at this rate."

He lifted an eyebrow "Think that's the least of my worries. Sit." He pointed to the seat opposite his desk.

She sat, sitting up straight. "Find anything?"

Daevan shook his head "I've read this volume at least a hundred times. Honestly don't know why I bother, just some pathetic part of me keeps thinking I might have missed something... anything." A sad smile crossed his face.

Kara hated the hopelessness in his voice. "So, I was talking to Eva last night."

Daevan closed the book "And..."

"She mentioned the Conclave?"

He ran his hand along his brow before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, I had to deal with a situation on my last 'business trip.' The situation got nasty, and I killed a Succubus, one with connections." He paused looking towards the window. "I have no choice; she has to go."

"Shit, was he somebody... somebody important?"

"Important enough to be related to someone on the council, so yeah."

"Well," she sighed. "We always knew this day would come. So what's our game play here... what's our plan? Because you know if she goes there, they won't see a mark – any mark. But they will know she's your daughter and should be marked."

Daevan stood from his chair to put the book back on the shelf. "I know, that's why I need you there, with me."

Kara placed her hand on her chest "Me...?" She paused. "Of course, I'll go. If that's what you want – but what can I do? How can I help?"

"You will need to ensure they see the mark of Erubus. Get inside their heads and make them see the mark."

Kara stood from her chair and walked to stand right in front of him. "Shit Daevan. Yeah, I have that ability – but I can only get into one head... maybe two at a push... how many are on the council?"

"Four."

She threw her hands up in the air. "Shit, there is no way. No way I can do four... all at once? You can't be serious. This can't be our only plan?" Her stomach rolled as she lifted a finger to her mouth and bit down on her nail.

The thought of being the only one to keep Eva safe, was crushing. Her chest tightened, heavy under the burden that she was the only thing between Eva and others finding out what she was.

Daevan walked back to his chair sitting, he rested his head on the back of the chair, tilting it towards the ceiling. He didn't want to see the look of fear on Kara's face.

"We have no choice Kara. If they don't see that mark – when she is placed in the circle. Then it's game over. Her true mark will appear and then we are fucked. They will take her away... kill her... or worse." He stopped. "Some of them are 'loyalists.' They will do anything to make sure they fulfil the prophecy. It will rise, and then there's no stopping it."

Shallow audible breaths came faster. "Shit..." said Kara as she held onto the edge of the bookcase to stop her legs from buckling. "You know I will do anything for Eva, but Daevan, I'm not strong enough to do what you ask. Not unless you can get them to look one at a time. And what are the chances of that happening?" The heaviness of his request was suffocating her. She continued. "And sitting on the council are some of the oldest and strongest of beings, their heads won't be easy to crack."

Lowering his head, he shifted forward. "I know, that's why there's another part to this plan."

A trickle of relief rumbled in her tummy, making her feel a little lightheaded. "And, what is it?

"Matha will help."

Kara squished her eyebrows together. "What? How?"

"Magic. She will make our friends on the council more susceptible to your influence. To give you time to get into their heads."

She broke eye contact, looking at the floor whilst she digested his plan. "What? And are you sure this will work?"

"It has to. I know Martha, she might be a little strange, but she is the oldest and by far the strongest witch I know. If anybody can pull this off, she can. She can help."

She glanced up to catch his intense stare. looking down again, her gaze fixed on a stain on the carpet floor. Her mind flooded with questions and different scenarios "Won't they find it a little strange that I will be with you?"

Daevan's breath caught - a fleeting moment of doubt. "No, no. They don't have a clue who you are and your gifts."

Kara waited for him to continue "... and Martha being there... with us. Won't that raise eyebrows?"

"No, Martha won't raise any suspicions. "It's normal for any of our kind to attend the Conclave."

Kara's heart slowly turned to stone, but nodded. "Okay."

Both sat in the thick silence of his office.

Another worry was swirling around Kara's thoughts. But she wasn't so sure if it was the right time to discuss Eva's purity. It would lead to other questions; questions she wasn't entirely sure she wanted the answers too. She opened her mouth to speak but the word died on her lips.

A knock on the door made her jump.

"Come," said Daevan.

Sebastian entered the study. He saw Kara stood next to the bookcase and Daevan sat in his chair. His eyes stared into hers as his stomach dropped to the floor.

Kara shook her head, furrowing her brows.

Sebastian sensed that Kara hadn't told him. For one, Daevan didn't look ready to kill someone.

Inhaling a relieved breath. "We might have a problem." He closed the study door behind him.

>>>>

Eva patted Coal as she watched him eat. "Good boy." She smiled as he let out a huff.

Grabbing the rake propped up by the door, she started the daily chore of cleaning out stables. Hearing a noise behind her, she turned to see Christian pulling a t-shirt over his head. She watched as his abs flexed as he pulled it down, covering his swirling tattoos.

Take a picture Eva, its last longer...Stop Staring!

She returned to her to task to distract herself. "So, you know what clothing is then?" She tilted her head up to see him smile.

"Let's not pretend you don't enjoy seeing me naked princess?" A cocky smirk lifted his top lip.

Eva's brows lifted. "So sure of yourself... aren't you?" She watched a strange look pass over his face.

"Not with you Eva, never with you."

She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, when he interrupted her thoughts.

"Need any help?" he asked.

"No, it's fine. I like doing this, it's normal and boring and makes me feel normal... and boring." And she enjoyed looking after her horses.

Christian stood watching her. "Eva you're anything but boring." The thought of their kiss came to mind along with Kara's warning. Fuck it! He took a step closer. "I'm not sorry."

Eva stopped raking, turning to face him. "Sorry for what?"

"Kissing you," he replied with no hesitation.

Her heartbeat kicked into gear as she returned to raking the hay. "I'm not sorry either," she answered quietly.

He took another step towards her and placed his hand over hers to stop her raking. "Look at me."

She could hear the seriousness in his tone. Inhaling a deep breath, she looked up into his warm amber eyes.

"Listen, I know Kara, Seb and I have no doubts what your father's feelings on this would be. But I don't care. When I told you last night that I liked you. I meant it. I like you Eva."

He observed her face, her cheeks flushing a rosy pink. Gently, he brushed his knuckle down her cheek, and his eyes dipped to her lips. "And I think you like me?"

Eva could feel heat burning through her, and his touch felt even hotter. Instinctively her tongue poked out, licking her lips. As she waited, unable to speak.

His hand glided around the back of her neck, under her hair, pulling her closer. He had taken it slow last night, but not this time. He wanted to taste her again. Her eyes wide, he bent down and their lips touched. He didn't hesitate as his mouth teased hers and Eva's opened willingly. He pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, loving it. She melted into him, softening as a small moan vibrated along his tongue. He pulled her closer, as her small hands gripped his arms, drifting upwards. Tasting every inch of her mouth, he shivered as her smell flooded his nose seducing his senses.

Their kiss became deeper, demanding almost fiery as he felt her tongue entwine with his replicating his movements, kissing, sucking, tasting.

Eva couldn't breathe, all the air from her lungs evaporated as this kiss was different and the world and all the warnings about her purity fell away. She matched his movements, tasting his mouth, his tongue. Small moans escaped her mouth.

As he clasped her neck from behind his other hand trailed down and settled on her hip. She could feel his heat burning through his t-shirt, burning her hands, heat spreading through her chest.

Christian's breathing quickened as their lips parted and he pulled back, still breathing heavier, he looked at her through half-lidded eyes. Looking, waiting.

Neither said a word as she watched his eyes open fully. But now there was something else... His eyes seemed unsure for a brief moment and as she moved one hand from his arm, she splayed it across his firm chest. She smiled to reassure him.

"It's better when you're not interrupted... yeah?" He smiled.

Still unable to form words she nodded and returned his smile.

"And I'm still not sorry," he said

He released the hold on her neck and brought his hand around to her face, tracing his thumb across her bottom lip. "We can't tell anybody about this, okay?"

Eva, though unable to talk, nodded her reply.