Shadows of the Night

well, we're back once again. i hope you're all ready for the next trip into the recesses of my brain. it promises to be a scary ride. bring your favorite security blanket or animal with, just to be safe. i own everything. this is mine! mine, do you hear? mine! my world, my characters..... mine. my own, my precioussssss. that means please respect my frightening brilliance and leave them here where they belong.

um... nothing too violent in this chapter. nor any smut. but its still not all sunshine and roses. you have been warned.

if you decide, upon reading this, that you like what you see, please feel free to leave me a review and let me know what you think. reviews are always appreciated, but not necessary.

Chapter Twelve: Who's Afraid Of The Big, Bad Wolf?
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Katya,

I regret that I must inform you the plans we have made for this evening shall have to be placed on hold. Shortly before I retired for my rest, I was summoned to Templer's side. There is to be a meeting as soon as the sun sets on the world tonight that will undoubtably detain me for quite some time. Drum will be there to watch over you, so there is no need to worry. However, I would ask that you continue to remain cautious and aware. Know that I wish to be by your side instead of with Templer.

My thoughts will be with you and I will be open to you, should you need me. I will wish with fervency that this meeting will not last deep into the night, but Templer is long winded. As his second, I will have to remain until he dismisses me. Perhaps, if it is still early enough, we can attempt to do something together before the sun rises. If this is not to be, tomorrow night will see us doing what we had planned for this evening.

Stay well and safe, little one, and know that you are in my thoughts tonight as I am forced to attend Templer's meeting.

M.

Kat had woken this morning to find the letter laying on the pillow near her head. Mac's writing was what she'd call 'Olde Worlde', with flowing lines and curling letters that seemed a work of art unto themselves. Written on thick, heavy vellum, the ink was as black as she'd ever seen it. She was almost certain that it had been done with a quill, the ink dipped from its own little pot. Touching the note had filled her with the same warmth that Mac had brought to life within her for a short time last night. And it had also brought back to her the horror she'd experienced when she'd seemingly found her way into someone else's mind in the past.

It had taken the rest of the evening for Mac to help calm Kat down. They had, at length and once she'd once again been rational, discussed what she'd seen and what it could possibly have meant. She'd been clueless as to why it had happened, as to what it could have possibly signified. Mac had been silent through most of it, a look on his face that had suggested he'd had a clue but wasn't about to share it with her. There'd been a moment when she'd thought she would get upset about it, but had then decided that she was more than willing to let it go. She hadn't been sure she could handle another shock.

Though they'd never gone back to the activity they'd been about to engage in when the vision had hit, they had turned conversation back to Kat's insistence that she was willing to be Mac's blood mate. There'd been a small amount of talking, mostly done on his part to prove for a certainty that it was what Kat truly wanted. When she'd convinced him completely, he'd gone on to explain the small ritual that would mark her to all the vampires she met as his blood mate. She hadn't known that such a thing was possible, but he'd assured her it was and that it was relatively easy and painless to accomplish.

They'd settled onto the bed and, after a tenative look, Mac had leaned forward to give Kat a slight peck on the lips. That gentle pressure had done what he'd needed it to. She'd relaxed and allowed him to draw her into his arms. Their lips had met in a slow dance of desire. He'd been in control, his mouth claiming hers completely while they'd feasted upon the taste of one another. Kat had been able to taste a hint of blood on his tongue, despite the mint that had clung to that same pink muscle. She had known that it was because of him that she could taste the unmistakable metallic flavor that seeped into her pores and coated her own tongue. She'd found herself both repulsed and thrilled by it.

Time had slipped away from her as she'd reveled in the feel of his lips against her own, as she'd allowed him to feed at her mouth with relentless, demanding kisses. Gradually, his mouth had moved away from her own, traveling over to leave a series of slow, pleasing kisses on her cheek. The occasional grate of his fangs against her skin startled her, the slight pain sending jolts of thick need through her body to pool heavily low in her belly. His hands had stroked over her back gently, his fingers tracing patterns. When his lips had finally made it to her neck, Kat had been on the very edge. She'd been quivering, ready to demand that he finish what they'd started earlier. But she'd demanded that he make her his blood mate and she knew he'd been intent on doing that.

Even though she'd been ready for the feel of his fangs piercing her skin, she'd still jumped when he'd broken the skin. The pain had been fleeting, as if it had been little more than a memory. Then pleasure had flooded her and she'd melted into his embrace. She'd been barely conscious of the way her body had reacted, the tension that had suddenly hit her muscles and the slight shudder that had followed that spoke of an orgasm. She'd been caught up in the feel of his mouth against her throat, of the way he'd seemed to become a part of her. She'd barely been able to feel his fangs. The way her blood had coursed into his mouth far more intriguing to her.

And then, just as he'd told her it would happen, she'd felt a warmth spill into her where they were joined. Mac had told her that, in order to make her his, he'd have to give her some of his energy. Their energies would then combine and the result would be like a permanent mark or scent that would tell over vampires, no matter who they were and where she met them, that she belonged to him and only him. That she was blood mate to Mac. And she'd felt it all, from the moment his energy had washed over her to the exact second that hers had blended with his to become one, to the moment that he'd stopped taking her blood and pulled back. A lick of his tongue had stopped the bleeding and had sent another thrill through her.

When Mac had pulled back, he'd given her a soft smile and laid her back on the bed. "We are now blood mates, Katya," he'd whispered, then had leaned down to press his lips to hers once more. It was the last thing she'd done before drifting off into a deep, dreamless slumber. She'd woken with the memory of his lips, pressed against her own, filling her with warmth. There'd been a smile upon her face. And then she'd climbed from bed to face the monotony of the day. Which was what had brought her to the window seat, lost in its comfort and privacy while she allowed herself to pine for something she knew she shouldn't want.

She sighed and glanced away from the window. The backyard, though lovely as always, hadn't changed much in the past three hours. The gazebo still towered over the rows of hedges and beds of flowers, the gabled peak sitting in sharp relief against the sky. Tall trees dressed in emerald green swayed lazily in the background, their limbs stretched in silent supplication toward a sky that was now a deep, dark gray with clouds. She could scent rain on the wind and wondered for a moment if they would be gifted with a gentle patter of rain to wash things clean or if they'd be given a fierce storm that shook the house and trees with its threatening thunder.

She was tired of staring at the same scenery day in and day out. While she understood the need to lay low, part of Kat wondered just how much danger she was really in. She hadn't seen Niki since their meeting at the Lair. The only shapeling she'd seen had been the one that had started this whole mess. She'd alienated her friends because of her inability to deal with her pain. Both mental and physical. She still blamed herself for Jeremy's death, now more so than ever. If it hadn't have been for her unusual talent, the shapeling would never have come looking for her. Would never have attacked Jeremy to get to her. She was convinced of the fact that the creature had killed Jeremy because it knew that he'd posed a threat to whatever plans that thing had made for itself.

Katya sighed. She'd pushed away what little family she had left. Tami probably hadn't understood why Kat had done it and she knew she'd hurt the younger girl. She'd let fear and pain dictate her actions. She knew that she owed Tami a sincere apology. That meant there was only one thing for her to do. A smile spread across her face as she moved toward her bag. Her cell phone was inside, charged and waiting to do her bidding. Flipping the sleek, gleaming black phone open, she pushed a button or two and soon the mechanical notes chimed to let her know the number was dialing.

"Layout, Tami Dubrinsky," the warm, bubbly voice flowed over the connection and sent a throb of emotion staight to Kat's heart. She'd missed that voice and hadn't known it until just now.

"Hey," Kat said into the phone. There was a gasp, then a dull thud and the sound of cursing. She could hear some muffled noises that made her think she'd surprised her friend so much that Tami had dropped the receiver.

"Ohmygod!Katwherethehellareyou?I'vebeensoworriedaboutyouandyouhaven'tcalledoranything..." Tami shot at her in one single, rushed breath before breaking off to pause. Kat knew she was dragging air into her lungs and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"I'm sorry, Tami. I know I've been flaky and there's nothing in the world I can say that will justify that. I.... I never meant to shut you out. I just... My head is all messed up."

"No, honey. Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter," Tami hastened to assure her. There was a hitch in her voice and Kat knew that her friend was about to start crying.

"It does matter, Tami. I shut you out and I shouldn't have. You're my family. And if I ever needed family, its now. I'm sorry. Can you forgive my stupidity?" she asked softly. There was a sniffle from the other end of the line, then a shuddering breath. She could tell Tami was trying hard not to give in to a round of tears.

"There's nothing to forgive, honey. So stop that," Tami replied firmly. There was a moment of silence in which Kat let Tami collect herself. There were a couple more sniffles, then a watery chuckle. "I'm so glad you called. I've been worried. Mac tried to comfort me about somethings, but Terry said..."

"Mac tried to comfort you? When?" Kat interrupted.

"Oh, a while ago. Shortly after you packed up your things and left the apartment," Tami replied in a voice that indicated to her friend that the blonde was waving the entire thing off with an actual hand motion as she spoke. She almost opened her mouth to ask more, but Tami cut her off, finishing the story in the same non-chalant voice. "He was really nice about it. He told me you weren't going crazy or anything, even though Terry said he was full of it. I didn't think he was full of it when he was there. Neither did that nice police officer and he said..."

"Wait a minute, Tami! Police officer? What police office?" Kat cut her off again. This was getting too strange. People were dying around her and she'd been questioned by the cops. Now Tami had had a visit from a cop? Did they think she was doing something? Kat worried at her lower lip with her teeth, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

"The nice detective that visited the apartment. It was right after that jogged died in the park. You know, the one who they think was torn apart by wild animals? Anyway, a detective showed up to talk to you and he didn't think that you were crazy either after I told him what Mac had said to me. In fact, he seemed really interested in the whole mystical creature deal that...."

"Tami, honey," Kat sighed, shaking her head at the whole thing. "Of course he was interested. He's a cop. Its his job to be interested in information that might pertain to his case."

Tami was silent on the other end for a moment or two and Kat swore she could hear the girl's brain kick into gear as she gave consideration to what she'd just been told. Much as Kat loved Tami, there were times when she wondered if the other girl's brain worked beyond a few superfluous thoughts. After a minute or two, Tami spoke again. Her voice was soft and lost. "You mean I shouldn't have told him what Mac told me? About there being things that we don't know about living out there."

"I'm sorry, Tami. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Its just been a bad.... Hell, its all been bad," Kat laughed humorlessly. After a short pause, she sighed and shook her head. "It doesn't matter what you told the detective, Tami. I'm sure, no matter what you said, he'll come to his own conclusions about everything."

"Kat," Tami said gently. "You're.... alright, aren't you? These men you're with. They aren't trying to hurt you or brain wash you or anything, are they?"

Kat laughed. She couldn't help it. Her roommate sounded so earnest and sincere. It was exactly what she'd needed to break apart the cloud of darkness that had surrounded her. "No, they aren't hurting me. In fact, I don't think either of them could hurt me. Even if they wanted to. Mac and Drum have both been nothing but gentlemen where I'm concerned. I'm the one who's been making trouble."

"That sounds about right with you," Tami promptly responded, not taking one bit of offense at the other girl's laughter. Kat could hear the rustle of papers from the other end, telling her Tami was stacking her work up into a neat pile. She almost knew what was coming before the words left the blonde's mouth. "Let's get together today, Kat. I haven't seen you in so long and I miss you. I'll take the rest of the day off and we can meet somewhere for lunch. Or... Oh, I know!" Tami's voice took on a perky quality that was one of the things Kat had always liked about her. "We can go to a day spa. You know. Manicure, pedicure... The works. My treat."

"Tami, you shouldn't leave work and I don't want you to pay..." Kat began.

"Nonsense, woman. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't play hooky from work to take you out and spoil you rotten? No excuses. I'm going to go tell my boss I'm off for the day. Sick aunt in the hospital. Do I need to pick you up, or will you meet me?"

Kat bit her lip and thought about it. She was bored and she didn't want to sit in the house all day. Still, she wasn't supposed to go anywhere without Drum. Something told her that Drum, big guy that he was, wouldn't want to go out for a girl's day kind of thing. She certainly couldn't see him sitting in a chair beside her and Tami, getting his nails done. What would the other shapeshifters think of him if his claws were perfectly well manicured. She couldn't help but giggle at the mental image she was given with that.

It wouldn't hurt to go out with a friend for the day, would it? Surely she could meet with Tami and be safe? She didn't think that the shapelings would attempt to seek her out in a crowded spa. If the one that had been there the night before was any indication, they didn't seem the types of creatures to dare risk being seen by too many people. One or two was almost more than was allowed because she'd gotten the impression that not all of the shapelings were as eager to kill as the one who'd taken Jeremy's life. Last night's visitor had almost been.... tame in comparison.

"You know what, Tami? That sounds like a fabulous idea. How about we meet there?" Kat finally answered.

"Alright! Now that's my girl!" Tami said boisterously. "Let me give you directions. It'll take me about half an hour to get there. Wait for me out front. You can't go in without me. Promise me?"

"I promise," Kat laughed. "Give me the directions and I'll meet you there."

~*~*~*~*~

The Silver Siren Day Spa was located in the old business district of town, nestled between an electronics store and a clothing shop that, according to the sign in the window and the items on the mannequins, specialized in retro wear. Kat stared at the front of the spa and wondered where Tami'd managed to hear of it. The building was painted in a shade of pastel blue that was soft and relaxing to look upon, while the door that allowed entrance into the establishment was painted a light, sea foam green. Silver trim edged the windows and the door while a sign hung out over the side walk on a black, wrought iron arm. The name of the spa was painted onto the top left corner of the sign in more silver paint, while the image of a mermaid sitting upon a rock, staring out at a ship on open sea filled up the rest of the space.

Kat had arrived first, obviously, since she was still waiting outside the building. The taxi had dropped her off only a scant five minutes ago and Tami hadn't been standing by the door. She heard the tinkle of a bell on the door to the Retro Emporium and a young woman in a tie-dyed shirt and huge bell bottoms strode past her. Her eyes followed the woman, noting the huge round sunglasses and the striaght fall of her chestnut colored hair. When the girl disappeared around the corner, she turned back to find that Tami was striding up to her, a huge smile on the blonde's face.

"Kat!" Tami called as she pulled her roommate into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you called. I was afraid I'd never hear from you again. You look a little better, even though you are still a touch pale. Are those big men treating you well or do I have to come kick their asses?"

The image that her words brought to mind had Kat laughing again. Somehow, she thought that Tami might just be able to get away with kicking Mac and Drum's asses. Her laughter brought a wider smile to her friend's face. Tami grasped one of Kat's arms and drew her forward. The green door opened. Kat being ushed through first by her friend, then Tami was standing beside her again. The door swung shut, cutting off the light from outside. Kat looked around her with curious eyes.

The interior lobby was tastefully decorated, the walls papered in a kind of swirled, watery pattern of more green and blues. Accent ribbons of purple and silver twisted through the swirls lazily. The lighting was subtle, the bulbs hidden behind sea shells of varied styles. A chandelier of gold and cut crystal hung from the center of a ceiling painted with a soft blue. The subdued colors and lighting served to give the appearance that one was standing under the surface of the water.

The lobby was filled with tow matched living room suites. Done in a pale sea foam green, the furniture was set on either side of the v-shaped desk that occupied the middle of the room. A couch was the center piece, set low to the ground on a darkly stained wooden frame. The back was high enough to support a person's spine while the arms flared out in a kind of scrolling manner. Chairs done in the same style sat on either end of each couch, with a long, low table sat in the center of the three pieces. Smaller tables sat on the ends of the couches, each one holding lamp that had the body of a Grecian urn in a lovely dark blue and a pleated shade in a cream color. A spray of artificial flowers in shades of pale pink, purple and white were settled upon each coffee table to give a kind of homey feeling.

Tami pulled Kat with her to the desk and smiled at the woman behind the counter. The clerk was wearing a smock in pale blue, a silver nametag pinned to it proclaiming her name to be 'Rebecca' in black letters. Kat thought the woman to be in her late twenties or early thirties and the smile she shot their way was completely sincere. "Good day, ladies. Welcome to The Silver Siren Day Spa. How can I help you today?" she asked cheerfully.

"My friend and I would like to treat ourselves," Tami announced in the bubbly tone of voice that Kat knew meant she was happy.

"Of course, ma'am," Rebecca nodded, then drew a binder toward them. She flipped it open to a certain page and pointed a finger at it. "This is a listing of the services we offer and their prices. Of course, we provide package deals to those who are interested, or you can create your own custom package."

"Tami..." Kat sighed, glancing at the price list. "I can't afford this and you shouldn't..."

"Don't even go there, sweetie. I won't take no for an answer," Tami replied without even glancing up from the list. Her finger tip tapped one line. "Oooo, we definitely have to do this. I've heard its great for your body."

"That's an excellent choice, ma'am," Rebecca agreed as she looked at the page. "What would you ladies like to do? One of our packages or one of your own creation?"

Tami turned to look at Kat, who shrugged helplessly. She knew she was in this for the long haul, no matter what she did or didn't want to do. Tami had that look in her eyes that said she wasn't about to let Kat out of this. Kat had seen it before. Sighing, she made a motion with one hand to let her friend know that she was in charge. Tami grinned and returned her attention to Rebecca. "We're going to create our own package. My friend Kat is positively plebeian and knows nothing about the delights of a spa."

"Well, then," Rebecca smiled, her gaze going to where Kat stood silently at Tami's side. "We'll have to introduce her properly. Might I suggest this, as well?" Rebecca's perfectly manicured fingernail tapped at the page before them in a conspiratorial manner. Kat sighed and shook her head. Something told her this was going to be a very long day.

~*~*~*~*~

"Oh my god, Tami! I can't believe you spent that much money on us. On me," Kat shook her head, reaching for the wine that sat next to her plate. Tami waved a hand and shoved a bite of bread into her mouth. They were settled into a corner booth at one of their favorite Italian restaurants. Both had heaping plates of pasta before them and had just finished their salads. A bottle of wine rested on the table, a sweet red that went well with their meal. It was actually their second of the evening.

They'd spent the better portion of six hours at the spa. Kat had had everything from a facial to a body wrap done to her. She'd been poked and prodded and plucked to within an inch of her life. Her nails had been buffed and shined, then polished and shined some more. No part of her body had been sacred to the staff that had seen to her pampering and primping. And, not that she planned on admitting it, she felt pretty damned good now. She'd been treated like she was special, like she was someone, and it had been really great. So now, after hours of facials and eye treatments and body wraps and massages and a few other things, she and her best friend sitting in their favorite, cozy little restaurant, enjoying each other's company and generally treating themselves just a little more.

"It was nothing, sweetie. I love you and you deserved to be pampered like that after what you've been through. I just don't understand why you can't stay at the apartment with me," Tami sighed. "I miss you. And its been weird having Terry there. He's so.... He's been acting strange."

Kat set her glass of wine down on the table carefully. "Terry's staying there with you?" she asked, not quite able to believe that. Tami nodded and tried to fork some noodles into her mouth. Said pasta slid off the tines and back onto her plate before it even touched her lips. "But... Why?" she shook her head.

"Because he doesn't think I need to be alone, " Tami shrugged, then started giggling. "Its weird having him there. He's sleeping in your bed. I wonder sometimes if he doesn't sleep in your underwear."

"Oh, that's an image I can do without," Kat shuddered and reached for a breadstick. She nibbled at it, wondering why Terry was suddenly living with Tami. It didn't make sense to her. She shook her head. "He isn't trying to.... sleep with you, is he?"

"No!" Tami shook her head. "Oh, no. He hasn't touched me. Not once. I wonder why that is?" she asked with a frown. "I mean, I'm pretty enough. Right? He should be attracted. But he acts like I don't exist that way. You don't..." she began to giggle. "You don't suppose he's gay, do you?"

Kat made a face at that, then promptly started giggling with her friend. "That's an awful thing to say," she tried to keep a straight face. It was useless, though, and she broke out into a fit of hysterical giggling. The mental image of Terry Pillings, Mr. Jock and all around man's man of the year, getting naked and getting it on with some effeminate looking guy wouldn't leave her head. "That's wrong!" she scolded, then giggled more.

"Well, it may be wrong. But still," Tami snorted and motioned to her perky, petite self. "How can he ignore all this unless he's as gay as they come?" She reached for her wine glass and drank the contents down before refilling it. "That's it. I'm going to have to do my best and work my magic now. I will sleep with Terry, if only to prove to the both of us that he isn't gay."

Kat realized that their conversation was little more than the wine talking. She didn't know about Tami, but she hadn't eaten yet and she'd had far more wine than necessary before her salad had arrived. She was slightly tipsy and only getting worse as the moments passed. Not that she cared. She was far more relaxed than she'd been in a while and she was spending time with her best friend. She'd worry about what Mac and Drum would say later. Not that Drum didn't know she'd gone out with Tami. He'd been in the shower and she'd left him a note before slipping out the door.

Part of her argued that she shouldn't have left as she had, that she should have waited for Drum so that he could play body guard and accompany her again. She hadn't wanted him to come along, though. Much as she liked Drum, and the thought that perhaps she liked him far too much for her own good, she needed time away from him. Just as, much as she liked Mac, she needed time away from him, too. She felt smothered by their good intentions. She knew that they were doing what they had to in order to keep her safe. Niki and the shapelings wanted her in what she had begun to suspect was the worst way imaginable.

That wasn't quite right. She knew without a doubt that Niki wanted her in the worst way imaginable. The shapelings were almost as bad, but not quite. Though, given the fact that they seemed to want her for sex, she wasn't sure that they weren't really as bad as Niki. If her one experience with a shapeling was anything to go by, she didn't think sex with their kind was a good idea at all. "Hey! None of that now!" Tami hissed, bringing Kat out of her thoughts.

"None of what?" Kat asked softly, confused by her friend's sudden fit of temper.

"No frowning. I just spent buttloads of money to get you the best facial in town. You will not ruin it by frowning and putting wrinkles into that freshly exfoliated skin."

"Oh," Kat said with comprehension, then shrugged and forced herself to relax her expression. "Sorry. I was thinking about something."

"Ah. And what's this something's name?" Tami waggled her delicately curved eyebrows knowingly. Kat shook her head.

"It isn't about a guy. Its about.... "Kat stopped and sighed, reaching once more for her wine glass. After taking a drink, she set it on the table top and frowned as Tami poured more of the red liquid into it.

"Ah, I think I understand," Tami replied softly. Kat shook her head. She'd just effectively killed the mood for the night. "Tell me about it, honey. It'll do you good to get everything off your chest."

Kat looked around. There were only a handful of people inside the restaurant. Both women knew from past visits that Bella Donna's didn't actually get busy until later. The closest patron to them was a good ten feet away. Kat debated it, her mind turning over what would happen if she simply let it all go. She didn't want to drag Tami into this mess any further than she had been. And she certainly didn't want to go into all the gory details while they were eating. That wasn't something Tami needed to hear while trying to eat fettucini in red sauce.

But she knew the look on her friend's face. It was the one that she wore when she planned on getting her way about something. Tami was determined that Kat would tell her what the hell was going on. Kat shook her head. "I can't, Tami. It wouldn't be fair. You don't know what..."

"I know its gruesome. And I know that you don't think I can handle it, that this isn't the place. But, honey," Tami reached across the table and laid her hand over Kat's. "If you can't use family to help cope with the tough stuff, who can you use? I know that this is stuff that I don't know anything about. But I want to understand. I want you to share this with me. I've been so afraid for you. I've been..."

"You thought I was off the deep end, didn't you?" Kat asked, a wry smile twisting her lips up. Tami nodded and Kat shook her head. "I'm sorry that you worried. I didn't mean to do that to you. I really shouldn't tell you this, because it'll give you nightmares. But I know you won't stop hounding me until I tell you. So I guess that means I have to tell you what's going on. The problem is, where to start?"

"The beginning is always a good place to start, Kat. I thought you were old enough to know that by now," Tami replied and forked up more noodles. Kat grinned at her before taking a fortifying drink from her wine.

"The beginning. Right," she shook her head and closed her eyes to sift through her thoughts. They were closed for a moment and, when she opened them up again, the woman across the table could see that she was already lost in memory. "Jeremy and I were leaving work when it happened. He was almost to his car when this.... thing went for his throat. I've never seen anything like it. I don't ever want to see it again."

Tami listened attentively to Kat as the dam broke and everything began to pour out in a rush. Neither woman realized just how badly the story had needed to be told. Swirling her wine in her glass, Tami remained silent and allowed the girl sitting across from her to spill every last detail about their friend's death and the events that followed after it.

~*~*~*~*~

"You want to do what with Katya?" Mac asked in a soft voice, his eyes pinned to Templer's in an ungiving stare. Silence filled the room, thick and threatening as anger followed after it. The members of the family that were present watched the subtle power play between the head of their family and his second in command. It was obvious to one and all that this announcement was nothing Mac had expected and that Templer knew that there was more going on between his second and the human than had previously been mentioned.

The corners of the man's mouth curled up in an evil, knowing smile. A nod of his head followed. "I want to make her a bonded vampire. It will keep her with us."

"There is no point. She is already my blood mate. She will go where ever I go. She is now a full member of the family. Why do something so cruel to her?" Mac asked, his tone even in the still room. "It would be pointless to visit more suffering upon her."

"It would keep her bound to me," Templer replied, a slight snarl curling around his words to let them all know that he didn't like his word being questioned as it was. "She is a valuable tool and I will not allow her to fade away and die. Not when I can do something to prevent that."

"She is not a tool, Templer. She is a human being and she has..." Mac pointed out politely.

"She is a mere sheep! Nothing more than food for our many appetites! You will not question me in this, MacKenzie!" Templer stood from his faded throne, his eyes flashing in challenge. It was obvious to one and all that their leader was in a full temper. Veins pulsed and bulged in his neck, while his muscular frame was tense and rigid. They all knew well just how much Templer liked having one of his children dispute his word. The fact that MacKenzie was the one doing so was all the more shocking.

In all their long memories, MacKenzie had never once dared go against a mandate from Templer. To see him do so now, for the sake of a mere mortal woman, was something of a shock for them. They sat in silence, waiting to hear what excuse the second could possibly give that would effectively put an end to Templer's desires. MacKenzie took a step closer to Templer, subtly invading the man's personal space. His voice, when it came, was low and steady. It carried to one and all. "She is not sheep. She is not food. She is my blood mate. We have completed the ritual. I have taken her blood and she has taken my energy. You cannot have her as a bonded vampire."

"You have no right to claim what I can and cannot have, MacKenzie. If I want the little bitch, I'll have her. You won't stop me. You aren't strong enough to," Templer replied, nearly spitting the words into Mac's face.

"I have no need to fight you, Templer. You are forgetting the law," Mac replied softly. Templer sneered at him, obviously of the opinion that there was no law that would work in this case. The assembled officers actually leaned forward. Mac smiled, a gesture that was almost nothing more than a show of fangs. "Elisabeta's Law. Katya is protected under it. You cannot make her a bonded vampire unless I renounce her as my blood mate. Do not look for that to happen any time soon."

Templer stared at Mac for a long, silent moment. Their eyes were locked in a battle to see who would back out first. With a snarl, Templer turned from Mac and threw himself into his chair. His scowl was black, something painful to look at. It was very clear that he didn't like being thwarted. It was also just as clear that Mac had just made himself a very powerful enemy. "You can't keep her from me forever. You'll slip up and, when that happens, I'll be there to take what's mine."

"Then I guess it is a good thing I have no intentions of slipping up," Mac told him smoothly. His comment finished, Mac stepped back and took his usual place off to the side of Templer's throne. The others stared at the two of them, silent and still and death. There was a moment or two more of the awkward, deafening silence, them Templer turned his attention back to the rest of the group and went on.

"My spies have sent me reports about Judas' activities and plans. He's gathering himself a small army and he plans on..."

Mac tuned out the drone of Templer's voice. The man was notorious for wanting to hear himself talk. Instead, he turned his mind to Katya. The last thing she needed was more danger surrounding her. Templer's desire to change her, to make her a bonded vampire, was the very last thing that he'd expected. But he should have seen it coming. After all, Templer was spoiled and used to getting his own way. Mac knew he and Drum were going to have to be that much more diligent in their protection of Katya. He almost wished that Drum had a pack. They could enlist their help.

Perhaps that wasn't such a bad idea. There were several packs in town and Drum knew each one of their alphas. Perhaps uniting against Templer would be enough to bring them all together. He would have to put forth the idea when he finally got home. His friend might be able to make it a reality. Anything was better than leaving Katya to try and fend for herself against so many foes.

Decision made, Mac allowed himself to rejoin the conversation that was taking place. "I don't see why you're letting that little weasel get away with such crimes, Templer," Ginger snarled violently, making Mac wonder what he'd missed the few moments he'd been in his thoughts.

"We have no proof that Orwen Rogers is the one who beheaded Skye. All we have are what people who were nearby saw and heard. I merely said that the method in which she was killed is reminscent of Orwen's usual tactics," Templer told his Assassin.

"Skye was a good student. If she fell to Orwen Rogers, then he is truly a worthy adversary," Feral said quietly.

"Skye was my lover, you cold-hearted bastard. How dare you speak of her murderer in such awed tones!" Ginger turned her burning gaze on the ancient warrior. Feral regarded Ginger without saying anything. He allowed the huge battle axe speak for itself. He went no where without it. Mac had found out that the axe had been named, its title come from the first kill Feral had ever made with it. Blood Drinker was the name that Feral had given his axe, centuries ago when it had first bit into the neck of his first victim. Blood had gushed and spilled freely. Upon pulling the deadly blade from the dead man's neck, there had been a thick coating of blood upon the metal, as if it had been drinking down the blood of its enemy.

"Any man or woman who could defeat Skye in battle is a true warrior. Your lover was my best student. She had a gift for bloodshed. I will miss her, " Feral shrugged, as if the reasons behind his words were supposed to be obvious.

"Then its war?" Kreegan asked bluntly.

"Not yet," Templer told them, his head shaking in the negative to emphasize his words. "We need proof and we don't want to start war. The loss of Skye is unexpected and a blow. But we will not act rashly."

On his last word, Templer leveled his gaze on Ginger. She stared at him for a few moments, then scowled and sighed. "Alright. I won't act unless I have your permission, Templer."

"Good. We can't afford to start the war. But, when the time comes, we'll finish it. And we'll have revenge for Skye. I promise you this, Ginger," Templer assured her. Ginger gave him a smile, cold and calculating, to let him know that she planned on holding him to his promise.

"Is there anything else?" Barden asked gruffly. "I have a previous engagement and I do not wish to keep my dinner guest waiting."

"There's nothing further. We'll keep our spies busy finding out all they can about Judas and his plans. When we meet to discuss things with his people, Mac will bring Katya. She's our ace in the hole. Go," Templer waved a hand at the door. "You're all dismissed."

Mac waited as everyone left the room. Kreegan and Feral were deep in discussion while Ginger appeared to be fighting tears. They exited quickly, leaving Mac and Templer behind. The two men stared at one another, each one's gaze blazing with promise. After several long moments of staring, Templer motioned for the door. "You can go, MacKenzie. Have a good night with your blood mate. Enjoy her while you can."

"I plan on it, Templer. Do not worry on that account," Mac replied, then turned and headed for the door. He missed the calculating look that followed him as he went.

~*~*~*~*~

They were out of their minds. That was all there was to it. It was full dark and the threat of rain hung in the air. It had been there all day, but now the sky was forked with wicked looking streaks of white hot lightning bolts. They served to light up the thick layer of clouds that hung heavy and low in the sky, boiling with the promise and threat of a coming storm. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, proving that the rain was moving ever closer. And they were standing in the middle of a cemetary. Kat frowned and decided that she wasn't sure which of them was crazier. Her or Tami?

They'd left the restaurant about half an hour ago, after finishing off their meal, Kat's story and their second and third bottles of wine. They were both staggering drunk. Tami had demanded the entire tale and Kat had, reluctantly, given it to her. From the moment that the shapeling had attacked Jeremy to becoming blood mate to Mac and everything in between, Kat had told it all. During the course of the narration, they'd finished off the open bottle of wine. Tami had ordered a third. Kat suspected that some of that was to do with the mental pictures the disturbing drama she was talking about had evoked in her friend's brain. Not that she blamed Tami. Those images were a solid presence in Kat's head and she always wanted to stay drunk.

After she'd told her tale, Tami had decided that they needed to come out and visit Jeremy's grave. She'd claimed that their last visit had been tainted by still fresh grief and that they should pay their respects when they weren't in the middle of a funeral service. It hadn't mattered that it was dark and soon to storm. Tami had wanted to go. So here they were, standing next to the grave. Tami was weaving slightly, while Kat had decided to avoid the problem altogether by merely dropping to her knees. Easier to keep from falling over that way.

There was soft, yellow light shining from a nearby, old-fashioned lamp post. It was only a plot down, so the light still managed to reach Jeremy's grave stone. A fresh bouquet of flowers lay over the slight mound of grass and dirt that marked his final resting place. The paleness of the lilies was obscene in the near darkness, while the red roses appeared as spilt blood between the stark white of the other flowers. The bouquet suggested that Mr. and Mrs. Pillings had likely been to visit earlier that day. Her heart twisted with the thought, her feelings of guilt over his death tripling at the sight of the glowing white lilies and bloody red roses. It was her fault that they had to come here at all. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"This isn't your fault, Kit Kat," Tami replied, settling her hand on the kneeling woman's shoulder. "It was an accident."

"If that thing hadn't been hunting me, Jeremy would never have been in the way," Kat shook her head.

"How do you know it was hunting you? Why couldn't it have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Why couldn't it have simply been nothing more than an accident?" Tami asked her. Kat shook her head, but still looked up at her friend. There was vague hope in her eyes, tempered with sorrow and guilt, with the idea that she hadn't been the cause of her friend's death was too much to hope for. Tami knelt and wrapped her arms around Kat's shoulders. "I know its hard to think that way. But its possible, sweetie. You can't blame yourself for Jeremy's death. He wouldn't want it."

"There's something wrong with me," Kat told her, turning her gaze back to the grave. "I don't know why I was born this way, but I was. There's something wrong with me and that's why those things want me and that's why they killed Jeremy and..." Kat broke off in sobs, curling in on herself.

Tami slid both of her arms around Kat, hugging her friend close. The blonde girl said nothing, merely held a woman she considered as sister close. Kat sobbed and shook, taking the moment to really grieve. It wasn't something she'd really done before. She'd cried, yes. But she hadn't truly grieved. Too much had happened to allow it. Now, sitting beside Jeremy's grave, she could finally let go of the pain. And Tami was there to hold her.

Kat turned her face into Tami's shoulder, muffling the sounds of her sobs. Her hands curled into the soft material of her friend's jacket. She felt Tami curl in on her. She rested a cheek against the top of Kat's head, her arms tightening their hold on her. The two of them sat together like that, holding one another while mourning the loss of a friend who never should have died.

Neither woman paid attention to the sounds of thunder as it moved closer, grew louder, until it rolled right over their heads.The clouds opened up and rain poured down on the two of them, soaking them in minutes. Lightning knifed across the sky, illuminating the dark clouds and the two women in heavenly brilliance. Not even the fury of the storm that raged around them could draw them apart. Clinging almost desperately to one another, they sobbed and cried and let go their sorrow. Their bodies shook as they let it all go, each for her own reasons. The cold and wet didn't matter. What mattered was that the pain both had been holding on to was finally being let go.

Lost in their grief, neither one knew that they were being watched. Deeply involved in the purge of pent up emotions, neither was aware that they were no longer the only ones in the cemetary. Glowing yellow eyes watched the two from the shadows for several long moments. Then a figure moved out of the darkness, through the shadows and into the light. Growling at the back of it's throat, the figure kept pacing slowly toward the two kneeling women.

The storm continued to ravage around them. Kat and Tami had finally stopped crying. They were now simply curled around one another. Both women were spent, drained both physically and emotinoally from their cry. They had no clue how much time had lapsed since arriving, only that they'd each been lost in their own thoughts for some time. Even with the light shining nearby, it was as if they were completely alone in the world. As if they were cut off from everyone and everything that existed. And then they heard it.

A soft, sibilant hiss sounded behind them. Both women turned. Coming at them from out of the darkness was the stuff of nightmares. It moved with slow, deadly intent. Hands topped with sharp looking razors hung at its sides. Little more than rags hung off its thin, sickly frame. And unholy eyes were trained intently upon them. Kat had never seen anything like it before. Tami wrapped her hands around Kat's arm. "Holy shit! What the fuck is that?"

Kat shook her head, the words frozen in her throat. Not that she felt she'd be able to accurately put into words what was coming at them. She knew she should grab Tami and run, but her legs seemed to be paralyzed. The thing was moving closer, its eyes fixated on the two of them. The thin, nearly lipless mouth opened to reveal fangs that were a rotted shade of yellowish-brown. Thick, viscous saliva dripped from them, reminding her of the alien creature in the movie by the same name. "I don't know. We need to run!"

The words were barely out of Kat's mouth when the thing launched itself at them. Letting go a loud scream, Kat grabbed Tami's arm and dragged her down to the ground. The creature flew over their heads, trailing behind it the smell of rotting corpses and old death. They stood to find the creature blocking their path to the exit. It snarled, fangs shining in the dim light. Hair the color and texture of straw hung limply about the thing's face, clumped together with dirt. Its eyes were huge, a sickly yellow that seemed to glow with some kind of inner, demonic light. Its skin looked like leather, a greenish-gray with mottled splotches that seemed to be a muddy brown in color. A black tongue lolled from the opened mouth, showing them gums that were a dark blue in color.

"Shit! Its blocking the exit. How do we get around it?" Kat spat, her eyes darting around frantically for some kind of escape.

"What the fuck is it?" Tami demanded, her voice high-pitched with fear. "And how the hell are we going to get past it?" It moves too damned fast!"

Almost as if Tami's words were the catalyst, the thing launched itself at them again. Tami let off a scream and turned to run. Kat found herself rooted to the spot. The thing was almost upon her when there was a streak of motion from her left. A blur drove the creature off its path and the two tumbled to the ground in a splash of dirty water. Almost before Kat could register the flailing arms and legs, Drum was standing before her. There was mud smeared on his clothes and his eyes were dark with concern. "Stay back, Kat. Its a welk. Its mindless, which makes it dangerous. I'll handle this."

Kat couldn't believe it. One moment, they'd been under threat of death. The next, Drum had literally appeared out of nowhere and launched himself into the battle. She watched as he stood before her, his eyes trained on the thing that had finally managed to climb up out of the mud. It stood not too far away, watching Drum with its large yellow eyes. Kat could see it lift its nose and scent the air. It hissed again and she could see tension building up in its limbs. "Its getting ready to attack. Don't worry, Kat. I'll protect you," Drum growled the words at her, his voice thickening with something deeper than anger or fear.

She blinked, realizing that he'd grown slightly larger. She could feel the ripples of power on the air, heavy and full of danger. It took a moment to figure out that the power was coming from Drum, rolling off him in waves as if he were steaming with heat. She stared at him, knowing what was happening without quite believing it. What little she knew about Drum had told her that he wasn't exactly open and honest about his other nature. She'd never thought to see his beast. And here he was, already in the midst of transformation. Time seemed to slow in that moment and she saw everything with a stunning clarity that she'd heard of but never quite believed in until now.

The welk was moving toward them, claws extended in their direction. Drum was between the two of them, his eyes never leaving the advance of his enemy. His garments burst into the air around him, tiny shreds of cloth flying out all over the place. With muscles rippling and growing in his arms, abdomen and thighs, Kat could literally see his body shifting. A golden, honey colored coat that matched his hair flowed out of his pores, covering him from head to toe in a tidal wave of advancing fur. Claws erupted from the ends of his fingers and toes while a muzzle grew out and away from his face. A tail swept the ground moments before Drum went down on all fours. A low, resonating growl rolled up his throat. Then he launched himself at the welk.

Kat blinked. Time seemed to return to normal and, with some shock, she realized that Drum's transformation from a large man to pony-sized wolf had taken less than the span of a heartbeat. It had been silent and graceful, as if he were merely dancing. She was so stunned that it took a while to actually process everything she'd just witnessed. By then, he was growling at the welk while the creature hissed in reply. The two were locked in combat, front legs wrapped around the creature's torso. Drum using his teeth and claws to tear at the flesh of his prey. The welk hissed and snarled, using hands and fangs in an attempt to injure the wolf. Kat could only stand and stare, unable to tear her gaze away from the fight taking place before her.

It was hard to keep track of who was doing what to whom. Both Drum and the welk moved so quickly that they were little more than a blur. There was also the rain, falling fast and steady to make the blur of motion even harder to decipher. Kat did the best she could, what was left of Mac's blood making it possible to actually some of the action from time to time. There was blood, dead skin and fur flying between the two of them. Long fangs snapped, one set of gleaming ivory while the other was decayed brown. Grunts and yips sounded occasionally to let her know when one of the combatants landed their strike. She held her breath, hoping beyond hope that Drum wasn't going to end up injured because of her.

Coming here had been such a bad idea. She didn't know what she'd been thinking when she'd left the house that morning. All she knew now was she'd made a grievous error and, were anything to happen to Drum, she'd never forgive herself for it. The way the two of them were thrashing and moving, she thought for sure that they were going to tear the grounds up. Clumps of sod and dirt flew up when they pushed forward or back. The rain had Drum's coat slicked to his heaving sides, while the straw hair of the welk clung to its narrow face and thin shoulders. The thing was screaming now, a high pitched sound that made Kat's ears hurt. And, above it all, she could hear Drum's answering snarls and growls.

Almost as soon as the fight had started, it was over. Drum the wolf stood over the prone figure of the welk, his back to her. He'd kept himself between them and the effort showed. His sides heaved as he gulped in air. It was obvious that the battle had taken alot out of him. The welk was only moving slightly, a hand or foot twitching as the creature tried in vain to battle on. A glance over his shoulder showed Kat that Drum's eyes had gone to a smokey amber from their normal green. The fur around his eyes and muzzle was darker, almost a golden brown color. There was a strip of similar fur that ran down the length of his back in into his tail. It tipped the ears on top of his head, too. He gave her a look, as if to say it was alright, then turned back to the welk laying beneath him.

"DRUM!" Kat yelled. It was too late. The welk moved in a flurry of motion and buried its talons in Drum's side. He growled loudly, then reached down and snapped his teeth around the neck of the creature. There was a crunching noise and the welk stopped moving. Its arm, talons covered in Drum's blood, flopped limply to the ground. Drum stepped away from the now dead creature and wobbled over to her side. He was whining, moving slowly. Kat rushed to him, dropping on her knees before him.

"Kat, get away from that thing, " Tami called from behind her.

"Don't worry. Its dead," she replied, her hands gently ghosting over Drum's sides. The right side was wet and sticky with blood. "Oh, god. I'm so sorry, Drum. I didn't mean... "

"Not that thing," she spat, her voice now closer. "That thing. Its wounded. It'll probably try to eat you."

Drum growled at Tami's assessment. Kat looked up at her. "He saved our lives, Tami. Show him some respect. He isn't a thing. He's Drum. And he's hurt."

"Call a vet, then," Tami said softly, her gaze darting from one creature to the other. Kat would have made a scathing retort, but Drum shuddered under her hand, then collapsed. His head landed in her lap, his breath coming in quick, moist puffs against her leg and abdomen. She stared down at him, at a loss as to what she should do. She could see the glistening mess that painted his side in the dim light, a ruby red that was quickly growing darker. Foul looking blackness stained his lips and muzzle, letting her know that he'd given as good as he'd gotten.

"Oh, god," she said again. She needed help. She knew she couldn't carry him. He was too big and too heavy. She wasn't about to leave him here to die, either. They couldn't stay out in the open. The smell of blood might draw the attention of some other beast. Sighing, she knew there was only one way to help him. She didn't want to ask Mac for help, because she knew he'd more than likely chew her ass but good for this. But he was the only one she knew of to call on for help. With a sigh, she opened her mind.

Mac? Even in her own mind, she thought she sounded hesitant. Mac, are you there? We need help.

Katya? What is it, little one? You sound frightened? Mac's voice was strong, a gentle presence in her mind that helped calm her racing heart. Her hands curled into the soft, silken fur on Drum's side.

Its Drum. He's.... He's been hurt. Something called a welk. It tried to... she began, only to have his voice cut her off mid-sentence.

You are at Jeremy's grave site? he asked her, his words short and biting. At her affirmative answer, she could hear the sigh. I am not far. I will be there momentarily. Do not move and do not leave Drum alone.

Before she could offer him her thanks, he closed their connection. She sighed, knowing she was going to be in trouble for this. Rightly so. Drum's injuries where from nothing less than her stupidity. She leaned down over him and ran her hands lightly over his quivering side. His coat was thick and sticky with blood. She pulled off her shirt and folded it up, pressing the make shift bandage to his side to help staunch the flow of blood. She felt a warm wetness against her arm and glanced down. Drum licked at her skin again, the touch soft. She smiled at him, the expression pained. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I won't blame you if you don't want to be my body guard anymore."

His answer was a cold nose against her elbow. His tongue came out and licked at her skin again before his head settled back into her lap. "What the hell are you doing? We need to get out of here? What if there's another one of those things? What are we supposed to do?"

"Mac said to wait for him here. He won't be long," Kat promised. Tami stared at her as if she'd lost her mind. Maybe she had.

"Mac? What the hell is going to do? Fly?"

"No. Vampires cannot, as a general rule, fly. But we are very fast," his voice slid out of the shadows only a moment before he did the same. Kat looked up at him, noting that his face was utterly devoid of emotion. He walked past a surprised Tami to kneel beside Drum. Gentle hands reached out to assess the damage. While he was doing so, his gaze moved to the dead body of the welk. Fathomless eyes turned to her, looking her over for a moment before shifting back to the prone wolf. "We must get him back to the house. I will be able to help him better there. I have some medicines that will counteract the poison."

"Poison?" Kat gasped, glancing from Mac to Drum to the welk and back.

"Yes. Poison. Did either one of you drive?" Mac looked at the two of them. Kat shook her head, her gaze seeking out Tami. The blonde was merely standing in the grass, watching the two of them as if they'd gone mad.

"Tami?" Kat prodded gently.

"You weren't kidding, were you?" she asked almost absently. "Your story. It was all real. I mean, I thought it might be. That stuff is so hard to just make up on the spot. But I didn't want to believe. Now... there's that thing," her hand indicated the dead welk. Then she turned to look at Drum's furry body. "And him. He just.... out of nowhere. He saved us and.... Its all real, isn't it?"

"Its all very real, Tami. Drum saved our lives tonight. You saw that thing. Something tells me what it had in mind wasn't pleasant. He may look like one of the monsters, but he has a heart of gold under all that fur."

"We are wasting time. We need to leave. There could be more welks in the area. And Drum cannot fight the poison on his own for very long," Mac reminded them. Kat nodded. "Which way did you come from?

"We walked here. Drum came out of nowhere," Kat replied slowly, her mind turning over those first few moments when Drum had come to their rescue. Her hand pointed back in the direction of the entrance. "He came from that way. His truck is probably in the lot."

Before Mac could say another word, Kat took off running. Blindly, she found her way back to the entrance into the cemetary. Sitting under one of the lights was Drum's battered old truck. She skidded to a stop beside it and pulled on the handle. The door creaked open and she was overjoyed to find the keys in the ignition. She got in and cranked the engine over, knowing Mac would hear it as it roared to life.

Several long moments later, Mac appeared in the open gates. He was carrying the Drum's limp form in his arms. Tami was at his elbow, her eyes darting to take in every single shadow. When they reached the truck, Tami climbed up into the cab with her, while Mac carefully hefted Drum up into the bed. "We will go to the house tonight. Tami can return to the apartment in the morning. And we will talk when I have cared for Drum, Katya."

She nodded, a flush staining her cheeks. Once everyone was settled, she put the truck into gear and pulled slowly from the parking space.

She was so not looking forward to that talk.

~*~*~*~*~

Templer watched as Niki stalked toward him. She'd always been a lovely woman, despite the fact that she was a mad as a March hare. Now was no exception. She was naked, her clothes having been shed at the door the moment she'd walked in, her breasts bouncing with each of her steps. Her long, blonde hair hung in loose waves around her head and shoulders, stopping mid-back. There was a look of deep anticipation in her blue eyes, which were riveted to the thick length of Templer's cock as it jutted from his crotch. "You sent for me, Templer?" she asked softly.

"Come here, Niki. I have need of you," he instructed, his voice thick with his desire. They were meeting secretly, in his private rooms. He didn't think the rest of the family knew about his secret relationship with her. Not that he cared, but there were certain appearances to be upheld. His known position was that Niki was far too dangerous to be let alone anywhere near him. Niki claimed to one and all that she hated Templer with a passion. It worked and the two of them fed a need that the other couldn't meet with anyone else.

Niki nodded and finished her trek across the floor. As she came, she ran her hands over her pale, perfect flesh. Her fingers teased her nipples while her tongue darted out to lick her lips suggestively. Templer groaned, a hand reaching down to give a squeeze to his cock. A few more steps saw her standing before him. One of his hands reached out to slip between her thighs, a pair of fingers sliding up into her. After wiggling them around briefly, he withdrew them and stuck them in his mouth to lick the taste of her off them. Niki shuddered violently, then gave him a wicked grin. He returned it with one of his own.

She was ready for him. He knew it, could see it and smell it. Without being told, she climbed up onto Templer's lap. Her hands curled around the base of his shaft and held it tightly while she positioned herself. Locking gazes with him, she slowly lowered herself down on to him. He was huge and she was wet, her body hungrily sucking his into it with a loud squelching sound. When she was fully seated on top of him, he reached up to grasp her breasts.

"You've always been my favorite fuck," he told her, his fingers pulling hard at her nipples. She smiled, a soft moan falling from her lips as he began to roughly shove himself into her.

"I know what you need, Templer. I know what makes you feel good," she purred at him, her hips moving in time with his so that he filled her completely with each and every stroke.

"You're a whore, Niki. That's all I need. The fact that you let me fuck you the way I want is a bonus," he told her, his hands leaving her breasts so that his mouth could go to work on one nipple. A fang pierced the tight nubbin of flesh, drawing an excited moan from Niki's throat.

"I can't argue with that logic," she smirked at him, her body taking up the rhythm. She shifted her hands up to his shoulders, settling them there so that she could use them for leverage. Then, hands planted, she lifted up so that she could slam herself down on top of him each time he shoved back into her. Their hips churned frantically against one another.

"Like now. I know you. You want to fuck me until it hurts, until you're bleeding and hungry for more. And then you want to fuck me again. Humans are so weak and so brittle. They break if you thrust too hard. If you squeeze too hard."

"But I don't break," she whispered, tightening her muscles down on top of him. The squeeze of her cunt around his cock was enough to draw a growl from his throat. He stood, his hands under Niki's ass so that she didn't slide off his shaft. Then he moved to the extra-large king sized bed and set her down upon it on her back. He fell on top of her, his hips pumping against hers furiously as he fucked deep and hard. She moaned at the shift and dug her nails into his shoulders. "And you always know just how I like to be fucked."

"We compliment one another, Niki," Templer whispered into her ear, his hips flashing faster and faster between her thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him closer to her. "So I want to give you a gift. That's why I called you here."

"A gift?" she questioned, her lips playing along his chest before she began nipping and biting at his flesh.

"Yes," he nodded. "A gift."

"What kind of gift?" she licked a path up his neck before her fangs began scraping along the flesh there.

Her fangs sunk deep and hot blood poured into her mouth. She felt his body twitch, then his tempo increased yet again. By now, it felt as if he were going to pound himself all the way through her body. She relished every single moment of it. She felt him shudder a moment, his tempo slackening a bit. She knew it was only a temporary thing, that in a few moments, he'd be fucking her just as hard as he had been. It was one of those things that she loved about him. The fact that he never seemed to lose his hard on was astounding. She made good use of it whenever he gave her the chance. She opened her eyes to see her nails buried deeply in his shoulder, blood slipping slowly down over his pale chest.

"The best kind of gift," he assured her, then shifted her legs so that his cock slid even deeper. She grunted and pistoned her hips against his own in a flurry of motion. "I'm going to give you a toy to play with, Niki. When I'm done with the human woman and I've gotten all I need from her, I'm going to give her to you. You can have her. To do whatever you want, whenever you want. However you want."

"What human woman?" she whispered near his ear, her hot breath teasing his hair.

"Mac's human woman. When I'm through with her, you may have her to play with."

"Mac's woman? The mind reader?" Niki asked, a thrill of hope chasing through her. It drove her to thrust her hips against his own even harder. "The one called Katya?"

"Yes, Niki," Templer nodded, then pinned her to the bed while he shoved deep and released himself into her body. "I'm going to give you the one called Katya."

end chapter twelve.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i want to give thanks to my regular crew. they all keep me going and they mean alot to me. also, extra special thanks to my kitty cat and to onyx. they're so much help, i can't even begin to explain. i lurvs you all berry berry much.

also, please excuse any mistakes you might find in here. this is entirely self-beta'ed and, as i'm still in line for my godhead, there are going to be mistakes. only human, you know. ~sighs~

again, if you like this or just have something to say, please feel free to let me know.

finally, some thanks.

to Jess(krillball6): i'm glad you liked the last chapter and i hope that the wait wasn't too long with this one. i'm just writing so much now that i'm constantly working on something. ugh.... i promise there will be action coming up. i'm not quite sure when, but its going to be soon. i can feel it. i don't think either Kat or Mac can take much more of this.

to Mallie3: glad you liked it. and the action is on the way. soon, dear. hang in there.

to Snow: i'm so glad you found Mac to be physically appealing. i know it took forever to get his looks in there and i hope you forgive me that oversight. and i'm so pleased that you enjoyed the manner in which i described certain things. its hard to write something that's as old as time and not have it be..... old as time. so i'm always looking for new ways to go into description. this story means so much to me because its entirely mine, from the very beginning to the very end. characters, plot.... everything is mine. not that i'm not proud of my fan fiction. but i think originals are so much harder to write and do well. just a few things. Niki will get hers. Drum won't die. Mac and Kat will get it on, so there will be full lemons coming up. i swear it. i hope that this chapter is as enjoyable as the others have been and that you contine to keep reading. Je t'aime, Snow. Je t'aime.

one last note. for those of you who are eager to learn about updates, i've made myself a livejournal page and will be posting updates there. they will be public, so you don't need an account. but if you have one and would like to friend me, please feel free to do so. the link is as follows.

http://ladydeathfaerie.livejournal.com/