"Thanks!" I whispered sarcastically making him laugh out louder this time. Of course this caused everyone to stop and look at us.

"So, what have I missed?" I asked, hoping for an insight into the evenings 'interesting night' as Draven put it on the balcony. Of course as soon as Hilary opened her mouth I found myself regretting it.

"Oh Draven's been learning all your dirty little secrets but don't worry, I saved the best ones till you were here." This time everyone laughed but me.

"I bet that made for a boring conversation as there's not much to tell in that department." I commented but from the looks of Hilary she didn't agree.

"Really? You don't think so? I guess I must have a better memory than you." She challenged and Draven felt me tense next to him.

"I'm not afraid of you," I snarled not caring for the serious turn this was taking. Everyone else looked like they were watching a game of tennis, back and to, trying to keep score. Well, I knew who Aurora was rooting for.

"Maybe that's your mistake, after all I have known you a long time cousin and know full well what you're capable of." She answered like I would have and it made me think she had heard these exact words from me once upon a time.

"Likewise!" I replied sealing the tension you could have sliced with a blade. I don't know why but being here, like this with Draven at my side and my enemy sat across, taunting me, a new me came out...the fighter in me.

She started laughing and waving her hand around like an embarra.s.sing memory had just hit her. It hadn't, it was just her next move in this chess game of real life.

"Well I had just finished telling them how you used to come home from school and wet yourself because you thought there were monsters in the toilet." She said like this was enough to knock a couple of p.a.w.ns off the board. I laughed myself showing her up.

"Yes, I was good at hiding the truth as a child. It was in fact because being bullied at the age of seven and avoiding a head dunking was something no parent wants to hear." At this I had turned her story back on herself making her the bad guy she was. I noted Draven growl under his breath, everyone but Hilary heard it and all flinched at the sound. I felt his hand on my leg rea.s.suringly. Of course this reason had been true but so had the other one.

For at that time, to me, monsters had existed as they do now. This was one story that would not give her the upper hand and make the others in alliance to her little charade. Amazingly even Aurora looked a bit dissatisfied at the turn the game took, but of course she wasn't finished with me yet...oh no, she wouldn't stop until she got to my King.

"Oh Keira that's awful, I wish Dom had been there at your school. I bet he would have frightened them off for you," Sophia said kindly and the image she planted made me grin. How much simpler my life would have been back then if Draven had been in it to protect me. Of course there is no way he would have been a boy but the thought of us being the same age and being childhood sweethearts was a nice dream to see. It made me look up at him and he gave me a bad boy grin before winking at me.

"I have a pretty good idea what I would have done." He said, making me shudder at the image he was now planting in my mind. I have seen scary Draven too many times to ever forget how powerful a sight it really is. I was so close to asking him to do a private showing for my cousin to see but I knew he wouldn't.

Pity, I thought as I reached for my bottle of Corona that had been waiting for me.

"Do you remember Simon, dear Kizzy Cat?" I nearly wore my drink than consuming it! She wouldn't....she couldn't really be ready to go that far. Draven noted my reaction with a worried frown. Of course, this would happen, any mention of another man's name was bound to kill my strongest p.a.w.n...ah to h.e.l.l with p.a.w.n's she had gone straight for my Queen and had her sights once again on my King!

"That is not a story Hilary, that is a private and personal matter I do NOT want to be discussed!" I said in a way that proved I was taking pages from Draven's book in ordering people. Of course I remained calm which added to its desired effect.

"Oh Kizzy, come on, it was what...seven maybe eight years ago. I remember my mum telling me about it, She didn't think your parents would ever forgive you!" She laughed again but now all questioning eyes were on me, including Draven's. I wanted to lunge over the table and claw at her face. I wanted to maim, I wanted to hurt and I wanted to destroy! This time she had really gone too far and I wanted her to pay! This now wasn't just the fighter coming out of me, this was the Demon.

"That's enough Hilary, you go too far." I said still remaining an eerie calm that was wearing thin. Icy thin that was soon to crack.

"Apparently it was you that went too far and with a married man I believe...what was he, twice your age at the time...what was that...about sixteen years older?"

"SHUT UP!" I screamed out at her as I stood in my rage burning her with my stare. My ice had broken and left me with deadly shards that my mind wanted to throw her way. I was shaking, I was that angry but in the middle of my own turmoil I hadn't seen I wasn't the only one having a meltdown. I didn't give it much thought as I was facing my cousin in a standoff that would surely this time end in broken bones.

"Right that's it b.i.t.c.h, I have had it with your s.h.i.t! Outside...NOW!" I was waiting for her to take me up on the offer but she just leaned back, crossed her legs and held her hands up like she was innocent.

"Kizzy, what did I do wrong, surely Dominic knows about your past... lovers?" She just kept digging my grave getting carried away with the way she was trying to bury me.

"Right, that's it!" I turned and was about to go round to her side when Draven reacted.

"Enough!" He shouted and a heated hand whipped out and shackled my wrist. I gasped at the sight of Draven towering above me, face frozen in pure rage. He clicked his fingers and I turned back to Hilary in time to see her eyes roll back and her head smack the table as she pa.s.sed out. At least I gather she had pa.s.sed out and Draven hadn't just killed her, either way I'm sure I would forgive him.

He still had hold of me like he was preventing me from running off and this is when realisation hit me. That was exactly what he was doing, he was undoubtedly angry and it wasn't just at my cousin. I gulped as I could feel his temper mounting up like Mount St Helens. I tried to pull away but he pulled me back and leaned down to whisper one word.

"Stay!" The way he said the word made little b.u.mps wriggle across my skin.

"Zagan, take the girl home!" He ordered with a tension in his voice that made me more than wary. Meanwhile Zagan had gone to Hilary's side in a second and scooped her leggy body up in one swift motion. I didn't want to look at Draven, but I found I couldn't look away also. His features were stone. His jaw set in a way that made me want to cringe back but his vice grip was going to make that impossible. Zagan was walking to the back staircase when Draven spoke again.

"Wait" He then nodded to his brother once, communicating without words. He then let go of my wrist and left my side to go over to Zagan and his burden. I was about to leave also, not wanting to wait around for Draven's wrath, but something caught me...It was Vincent. He wasn't as forceful as his brother and entwined his hand in mine and gently pulled me to sit back down next to him, which was in Draven's chair. I felt like I was breaking some unspoken rule by doing so but it was only my own reaction that confirmed this was not the case.

Vincent didn't let go of my hand and I noted that it was cooler than his brother's was and also a little smoother, as I would have imagined flexible marble to be. I watched Draven stand close to Hilary and that's when I noticed that it wasn't only the attention of his council that lay witness to this night's spectacle. Every eye was watching, flittering between their Master and his mate....me.

"Hilary, can you hear me!" It came out as another order not a question.

"Yes." She said as though talking in her sleep. It was a peaceful voice and one I remembered from before she had changed into the hateful being she was today. It took me back to when we were friends. When we used to laugh and play together and there was nothing but a strong family bond between us. Really, what went wrong?

"I want you to tell me a name." His voice was smooth and hypnotic, like all those times he used to make me sleep and control my mind into thinking he wasn't really there.

"Draven don't do this." I pleaded quietly but when he shot me a look I backed down, knowing it was fruitless.

"A name?" She repeated like a drugged hospital patient.

"Yes, the name of the man you spoke of, Keira past...lover." He said this like it caused him physical pain. The word 'lover' coming out in what can only be cla.s.sed as utter disgust. I wanted to crawl away from the rest of the night. To hide the shame that had too quickly replaced the anger I felt. And as if sensing this, Vincent let go of my hand and rested it on my shoulder , ready no doubt for me to try anything his brother would frown upon. It was silly feeling, like a prisoner amongst my own boyfriend's family, but given the type of family Draven had, I suppose it was as natural to them as breathing. I looked to my other side in hopes of finding Sophia on my side but from the harsh expression inflicting her eyes I found nothing but the shadow of Draven there.

"Simon...Simon Carter." Hilary said unconsciously acting out as Draven's puppet. I didn't like my cousin, that was no secret but it was not a nice thing to witness Draven's control over us mere humans, no matter who his victim was.

"Good girl, now sleep and forget this night." He patted her on the head like you would a sleeping child and she drooped more into Zagan's hold. My emotions were mixing into one and making it difficult to feel anything concrete. One minute I feared what Draven's reaction would be and then I would be too angry to feel that fear. Of course there were the others...shame, embarra.s.sment, guilt, hurt and cold. That last one was more down to Vincent's presence and the chill he sent down me with not only his touch but his stare into what seemed like empty s.p.a.ce. I know not what he saw there but it was like he was searching out for some hidden answers from a source I couldn't see.

Before I knew it my cousin was out of sight and Draven was coming back to my side. I guess it would be too much to hope this night would just carry on like this had never happened. I soon got my answer.

"Come with me Keira, now!" Draven's demand filled me with a dread so deep I was drowning in it. Vincent released me but the cold pit in my stomach didn't release me. Draven had re-taken possession of me and I found myself being more pulled than guided to the back doors leading into his home.

"Draven please, this is silly...I..." I stopped that sentence when I saw just how un-silly this was by his expression. That look would have stopped armies in their tracks and made them think twice about land ma.s.s and extended power. He looked back at the looming hallway and continued towards the end which felt more like my end. It seemed like an age of silent footsteps until we got to his door.

Before I could protest, the door opened and he zoomed round to the back of me, gripping my waist and controlling me onward. I had nothing to back up on but his indestructible body which was moving forward like a pressing wall behind me. I don't think I had ever felt so small and weak before.

Now anger was building up inside me like a firecracker ready to explode in the palm of my hand. It made me storm inside instead of backing away and only when I heard the door slam did I face him.

"This is ridiculous Draven, you can't behave this way when you hear something you don't like!" I shouted at him letting the firecracker go, so to this he let off a rocket. He drove his tensed arm and fist down into the black velvet couch, breaking it in two. It splintered up in every direction, making it look like an animal had just clawed its way through it.

Draven hadn't spoken a word, not even made a sound. I had screamed at the sight of his outburst and only then did this seem to calm him slightly. He straightened his body and closed his eyes as if trying very hard to control himself better. I smartly decided to stay silent.

"Did...did he...he force you?" He said each word slowly and from the looks of things, painfully.

"What? I..." I was trying to process his question when he spoke again in a more forceful tone.

"Did he RAPE you?" He shouted out making me want to cry.

"I...I..." Was all I seemed to manage but Draven was losing the battle within him to stay even this level of calm.

"Yes or No Keira!" He said between clenched teeth.

"N...No" I said spluttering out the word as now I was crying. The sight of tears flowing down my fl.u.s.tered cheeks made his hard exterior soften.

"You'd better not be lying to me Keira, I will find out and he will die for touching you." His threat was so real, a sob broke out from me, however he still didn't move.

"I...I'm not...not lying." I spoke in between trying to breath and cry at the same time. He could see my pain and there he also saw the truth. He let out a breath I don't know how long he had been holding, as it seemed he hadn't been breathing this whole time. I could see his figure start to move towards me through blurred eyes but I moved back a step.

"Don't!" I cried making him halt. I blinked making my flooded eyes overflow and clear my vision for a moment. Now I could see a different pain in his face, one I had put there. Instead of coming any closer, he folded him arms and waited.

"I need you to explain." His voice was now less strained but it was still guttural.

"Explain what?" I shouted, waving my arms at him. He didn't react in anger and I soon realised it was never me that he had been angry at. It had been this man Simon.

"Forget it! I'm so out of here Draven!" I stomped toward the other door but I heard it lock without him moving.

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know."

"The h.e.l.l I'm not! You can't do this Draven! You can't just act like this! I'm your girlfriend Draven not some b.l.o.o.d.y little girl you can control into doing what you order. You can't hold me captive with this bulls.h.i.t, macho, I'm the man King, so you will do what I say c.r.a.p!" I was panting like a wild animal and digging my nails into my fisted palms, just to stop from hitting out.

"Are you finished?" He asked calmly but this just made it worse and with a growl I turned to punch the door. I didn't make contact with wood or stone or anything but flesh. Draven had caught my fist in his hand and prevented a few broken knuckles, maybe even a wrist and some fingers.

"I'm really going to have to teach you how to punch without hurting yourself, that was all wrong." He said without humour. I yanked my hand out from his and he let me.

"Arrgg!" I made this noise as I walked back away from him towards the gla.s.s doors.

"You're not leaving Keira, so deal with it!" He was losing his patience but I no longer cared.

"I need air, Draven, or do you think me capable of jumping off, sprouting wings and escaping!" I snapped back. The doors opened letting in the cold night air that licked at the thin material of my shirt. I wished I still had my jacket on but my anger wouldn't let me say "Umm sc.r.a.p that, I think arguing inside is better."

I walked to the edge and took in deep breaths trying to calm myself down. I was so tired of coming back to this type of problem with Draven. It was like being on a constant rollercoaster of never-ending ups and downs. I didn't know from one day to the next what was going to happen to shift me and Draven back to this destructive path we were walking down.

I wanted to scream out...Why! What's wrong with me that I don't get to have happy ever after! Why don't I deserve good old fashioned normal for once. Just one evening when I don't almost die, get kidnapped or see monsters every corner I turn. Why don't I get to hold on to the Draven I love without seeing the Demon in him at any b.u.mp in the road. I answered my own question...

Because he was a Demon. Is a Demon.

I shook myself and added onto that distinction. He was also an Angel, a bright star in my life that I couldn't live without even if I tried. Like living without the only light in the darkness of my past. He was my reason for breathing and now I knew I had to take the good with the bad just like everyone else in the world did. Perfect didn't exist and if it did, without the bad you wouldn't recognise the good. It would make it irrelevant. It would be nothing but dust and sand mixed in a desert. Could you separate the two? Tell them apart...the answer was no, and you wouldn't even try.

I loved Draven and there was no force great enough to get me to change that, not even the G.o.ds themselves could get me to say otherwise. So this...this right now meant nothing but another glitch. A thorn in my side that Draven himself would no doubt remove. So I decided that I would tell him about how stupid this all was.

I would tell him about a man that I had some teenage infatuation with that ended in me shamefully kissing an older man at sixteen and near throwing myself at his mercy. How I had ended broken hearted as he stopped things before they became a crime and him declaring his love for his wife. How my teenage dream of me being his wife was crushed leaving me with only the memory of one stolen kiss. How I had run away from home believing I would never find another love like it and how I would remain alone until he was with me. I was sixteen and the next time I learnt about what love really was, is when I was twenty three. It was when I found my home, my heart's home...

When I met my Draven.

I jumped at the feel of something being put over me. It was a thick, lush and warm blanket that Draven had put around my shivering body. He wrapped it around me like I needed protecting against the elements. It was only then that I realised it had been snowing and I was wet along with cold. I wondered why he had waited this long, normally Draven would have...

"I had to wait...I had to let you...finish." He spoke in my ear causing a warm sensation on my neck. I shuddered when his fingers started to trace the skin there and his fingertips circled in my hair.

"I had to hear the rest of it, I needed to see for myself. To see if this...this man had hurt you in anyway. You understand how that I could never allow such a man to live if he had. I needed to know from your own thoughts that he hadn't touched you in that way...in my way. I would have killed him if that was the case and my reason would have been final and just." He spoke so softly, it was hard to think clearly, to really comprehend he was talking about murder.

"No!" I protested but he moved a hand to the back of my head and smoothed down my wet hair. He remained out of sight but his other arm wrapped across my front pulling me back to him tightly.

"Yes Keira!" I shuddered as his possessive voice that spoke of how I was his and never would belong to another.

"No one that has hurt you will live in the same world you do, I would never allow it. But seeing as there was very little harm done, only for a sensitive teenage mind to have suffered, then no harm will come to him. I can imagine turning you away...even at the tender age of sixteen was punishment enough. A strong character he must have been." I tried to turn around to look at him but he held me still so that I couldn't move from him. I knew now why he needed me upset. He wanted access to a fragile mind. He wanted to see the truth and only my thoughts would have portrayed such. But he had seen lots more, he had received a direct window into my soul, into my heart and every feeling it held there.

"Yes and I dare say it was very...enlightening!" His voice almost shook with barrelling over emotion. He kissed my head and then moved down to my neck. I could feel the drops of snow that had melted on his heated skin roll down onto my own. I closed my eyes and felt myself being turned round to face him.

"Keira, open your eyes." He whispered as a plea, no longer an order left in his body. I looked up slowly to find his face painted with so many emotions. Pain, focus, guilt, relief but most of all...love. He cupped my face in his hands and pulled our faces closer together.

"Can you ever forgive me?" He whispered above my lips.

"Ye..." I didn't get to finish the word above his lips but inside his kiss. He moulded our bodies together and kissed me with every pa.s.sion lit fibre in his body. I felt a whoosh of air as his other form burst from his outer self all the while never leaving my lips. He gripped onto me so tightly, like he would die if he ever let me go. Like both our lives hung in the balance and the only thing stopping the end was this kiss. This perfect act of love that stopped time...our time, no one else's, just ours.

His wings came out and rushed forward covering us in a dark feathery coc.o.o.n making the only light the warm purple glow that both our skins wore. Mine reflecting from the raw supernatural energy that pumped around him. I shuddered again making him hold me closer to him. His hands spread out on both the top and bottom of my spine. He needed me as I needed him and in both our minds we were one.

"Forever!" He breathed freeing me to take my own breath.

"Forever." I repeated not only his word but also the same feeling that was bursting out from me like his Demon side. And then it dawned on me, like a knife had sliced into my heart and started cutting me down like the wound I was left with in my dream. Is that what it all meant? The light at the end, my heart missing because Draven still had hold of it? Still had hold of what I was leaving behind. My end. My death.

Because of course, I didn't have forever...

But he did.

Chapter 49.

Fearing Forever.

"Kaz, come on, be reasonable, mum and dad will be crushed." My sister was stood cradling her growing b.u.mp in her hands and with the mothering glow lighting her features it was hard to tell her no... again.

"I can't Lib's, I'm sorry but it's only one Christmas." I repeated again feeling like a broken record.

"You're wrong, look Kaz, I don't want to upset you but think about it." She tilted her head like I was missing something major important. I rolled my eyes as a natural reaction to a conversation we had been having for days.

"I know you're pregnant but it's not like I'm missing the kid's first Christmas." When she started shaking her head I knew that wasn't what she meant.

"Keira, come on now, it's not like I'm expecting that to be the reason. This has to do with you." I had wondered how long it would take her to drop my nickname and go in for a more serious tone.

"I don't..."

"Keira, I really don't want to say it but I see I have no other choice. It will be our first Christmas when were altogether...you know, like really there..." She was finding it so hard not to push me but I finally got to the inner core of why this was so important for everyone. It was the first time in years my parents would see me...the old me, that they thought they had lost...well more like... taken from them. She was right, this was important. After all, I don't think I really remember the last Christmas where I wasn't faking smiles and making comments I didn't feel. Back then I had been numb, I had been a sh.e.l.l and a broken soul left bleeding.

"You mean not like the zombie Keira Christmas?" I said trying to lift her worried frown. Thankfully she laughed and I wasn't left feeling as guilty.

"Ok, I get it, but Lib's this is going to be really hard. I mean Dra, Dominic is very over protective." I winced as I said this. Like my mind was mocking me, saying "Yeah right and the rest!"