"I don't want you to go," Amaryllis whined, staring at Ulric as he got dressed.

"I know, but I need to."

She huffed and sunk back against the sheets. "Can you make sure he suffers for what he did to Simon?"

"Why do you care about Simon?" Ulric asked. She could feel his rising jealousy.

"Because he was kind to me. And he seemed like a nice person. He didn't deserve to be killed. You don't need to be jealous over a dead man Ulric," she chastised.

He glared at her. "I'm not jealous."

She rolled her eyes and giggled at him. Then she wrapped the throw blanket around her naked body and got out of the bed. "Please be safe," she said into his chest as she hugged him.

"Don't worry, sweet girl. Everything's under control. Marley and Thierry will be over in a few minutes, so go get dressed," he said. He kissed her on the forehead and finished buttoning the buttons on his shirt.

Amaryllis slid on a pair of jeans and one of Ulric's long-sleeved shirts. She tucked the shirt in and then threw on a pair of socks before heading to the bathroom. She brushed her hair and teeth, washed her face, and applied deodorant.

Then she walked passed the bed toward the door and saw the evidence her lost virginity as the red blood stained the sheets. She felt herself getting excited as she reminisced on what had occurred the night before and the residual soreness between her legs.

When she reached the kitchen, she saw Marley and Thierry walking up onto the front porch. Ulric opened the door for them and immediately a grin appeared on Thierry's face.

"So, ya finally did it, huh?" He asked, shooting Ulric a wink. Amaryllis stood in confusion as Thierry looked between the two of them. Ulric closed the door behind the couple, answering him with a roll of his eyes.

"What?" Amaryllis asked. Ulric simply shook his head and Thierry kept smiling like an idiot. "I'm so happy for you man. You deserve it."

"What are you talking about?" Amaryllis asked again. Marley gave her a sympathetic look but gave her a smile as well. But her cheeks were a little red too as she looked between Ulric and Amaryllis.

"You didn't tell her?" Thierry asked.

"When you complete the mate bond, others can tell. Our scents combine so everyone knows that you are mated and belong to someone else," Ulric said.

Amaryllis's mouth dropped open and her hands went to her cheeks. "You can tell that Ulric and I...." she couldn't even complete the sentence.

"Yup," Thierry said and Marley nodded beside him.

"Oh my god! That's so embarrassing, Ulric!" She all but screamed as her face reddened.

"It's a natural thing, Amaryllis. There's no need to be embarrassed or ashamed." Ulric said.

"I'm not ashamed. I just... you never told me that other people would know. I wanted it to be a private moment."

"I never told you because I was trying to avoid this reaction. Every couple goes through it. No one will judge you for it, or even mention it to you. This fucker just can't keep his mouth shut," Ulric said, nodding to Thierry.

"It truly is a magical thing, Amaryllis. It's a little embarrassing when people look at you and smile in that knowing way, but it's amazing being able to have that connection with your mate," Marley said.

"Okay. Thank you," Amaryllis said to Marley. At least Marley was nice about it, unlike Thierry who just kept teasing.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to make a big deal about it. I'm just happy for you two. You deserve each other," Thierry said.

"Well, thank you," Amaryllis giggled.

When Ulric had to leave, Amaryllis walked out on to the front porch with him. "Ulric, I'm not ashamed of you, or what we did," she clarified.

"I know you aren't," He said.

"Well, when I said that I was embarrassed, I felt that you got a little bit upset about it. I just want you to know that I'm not ashamed and I don't regret it. I just wasn't expecting someone to make a big deal out of it."

"I know, I didn't mean to get upset," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. "I just... fuck."

"What? You can tell me, Ulric. No more secrets," Amaryllis said as she cupped his face. She waited patiently for him to say what he felt, knowing how difficult it has been for him to identify, accept, and reveal his emotions.

"I thought you might've been embarrassed by me or our bond. I know it was a ridiculous thought and I know you aren't, but it's what crossed my mind for a brief second."

"No, baby," Amaryllis cooed as she pulled his head down to her shoulder. "That's not it at all. Please, I never want you to feel that way ever again, even for a brief second. I love you so much."

"I know, I know. It was a ridiculous thought. I know that you are shy and modest, and you were only embarrassed that someone else knew you had been fucked," he said.

"I'm not Clove. You aren't disposable to me," she whispered, blushing slightly at his language.

"I've never thought you were even similar to Clove. Even when I tried to convince myself you were."

Fuck Clove and what she did to him. He should never feel like he wasn't worthy of me. I hate what her betrayal has done to him, all of the consequences of it affected his behavior. Hopefully, I've been able to undo her influence.

"I have to leave now, Love. Thierry and Marley will stay with you until I return," Ulric said as he stood to his full height.

"Okay, I will see you tonight then. I love you."

"I love you too," he said. Amaryllis stepped back into the house, watching from the window as he turned from the door and disappeared from her view.

"Hi guys," Amaryllis greeted when she walked into the living room.

"Hi, Amaryllis. I'm glad we get to spend the day with you. I haven't been around people other than Thierry since I got out of the hospital. He gets annoying sometimes," she said.

Amaryllis laughed at her teasing of Thierry and took a seat in the recliner.

"You don't need to worry about him, Amaryllis," Thierry said when he noticed her anxious posture and movements.

"I know, but I'm worried about a rebellion or something. We don't know who all will be loyal to him or not. It worries me. I don't want there to be a war."

"We will keep it contained," Thierry assured her. She felt slightly better but was still worried about the possibility.

Back at the dungeons of the castle, Ulric had his hand shoved into Reynold's chest cavity, bumping his heart around. Reynold's screams satisfied his rage somewhat, but it still wasn't enough to make up for the torture he put his mate through.

"Tell me, Reynold," Ulric said calmly, giving his heart a slight squeeze with his palm, "Who else is involved?"

"I'll never tell you," he seethed.

Ulric released his hand from around Reynold's heart, wiping his bloodied hand on a towel. He grabbed three small pieces of wood, each with a pointed tip. He stood with his back to Reynold. "I suppose that is your choice, for now." Ulric threw the three pieces of wood so they sunk into his chest around his heart.

Reynold screamed and threw his head back against the table he was strapped to. "I wouldn't move too much if I were you, Reynold. The splinters might wedge themselves into your heart. It would be a true shame if you were to die."

"Fuck you!" Reynold yelled.

Walking back over to the table, Ulric wrapped his hand around Reynold's neck and picked his body up, slamming it harshly back down.

He screamed as the wooden splinters moved toward his heart. "I told you I wouldn't move too much," Ulric chastised.

One of the sharp splinter ends was pressed against his heart. A single movement would cause the end to break through and puncture it.

Ulric moved away again, picking up a handful more of the wooden splinters. He threw the first one, calculating the precise area it would land. The first landed in his ankle, the second in his knee, and just as he was about to throw the third, Reynold spoke up.

"Stop," he groaned. "Stop!"

"Why's that?"

"The splinter is moving into my heart. Stop!"

"Who are the names of those working with you?"

Reynold remained silent, a look of indignation on his face. Ulric threw the third piece of wood so it landed in his femoral artery in the thigh.

Reynold screamed once more. "I'll tell you!"

"Who?" Ulric demanded once more.

"There's eight of us. Myself, Owen, Levi, Charlie, Jasper, Silas, Julien, and Isaac," Reynold admitted, his head falling in pain.

"Does anyone else know about this that isn't involved?"

"No, it was a closed operation. Except, that human girl, Hailey or Hannah or something."

Ulric knew about Heather. Amaryllis told him about her in a panic the night before. She was very worried about her wellbeing. Ulric had stationed a guard to follow the girl and ensure her safety until he had disposed of this group of deflectors.

"Why did you do it?"

"We were still pissed that you wouldn't let us hunt the human children. We thought that by capturing Amaryllis, more people would want to join our coalition when they saw how easy it would be to rebel against you."

"And how easy has it been for you?"

Reynold clenched his jaw but didn't answer.

Ulric threw one more splinter, this time into his chest a few inches away from the three others surrounding his heart.

"What was that for!"

"You're certain that you are the only people involved?"

"Yes!"

Ulric grabbed his neck and stared into his eyes. Ulric saw nothing but fear and honesty in Reynold's eyes. Ulric picked the wooden splinters out of his body, starting with the ones he threw into the traitor's legs. He watched Reynold squirm in pain on the table as the wood rubbed against his heart. Ulric enjoyed torturing his prey before killing them.

Once all of the splinters were out of Reynold's body, he grabbed the table Reynold was on and unlocked the wheels. Then he rolled the table into a holding cell and pushed Reynold in.

"What are you doing?" He exclaimed. "I told you everything."

"You are delusional to think I would free you just because you revealed the names of your partners. You've committed treason against me, you kidnapped my mate, you injured my mate, and you tried forcing her into wanting you. You will never be free Reynold. Ever," Ulric promised. "If you do want an escape from this existence, just wait until tomorrow."

A look of horror crossed Reynold's features as the consequences of his actions set in. He realized he was completely and utterly fucked.

"Wait I have more information!" Reynold screamed as the last resort to free himself from inevitable death.

"They're going to make a move against Marley. They're planning on this week sometime when Thierry goes on his rounds."

"You thought this would strike some type of sympathy in me and release you? No, you just bought yourselves a worse sentence," Ulric sneered.

He slammed the door shut, condemning the other man to complete darkness and isolation. He pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed Thierry's number. "The entire 30th platoon is involved in this rebellion," Ulric informed him.

"Why? They aren't of much importance other than helping guard certain rooms," Thierry said, not understanding their motives. Reynold was truly the only useful one, the rest of them were not.

"They thought if they took Amaryllis, it would inspire others to join them in toppling the power structure."

"Do they not realize that this power structure is the only reason they aren't hunting baby fucking deer in the middle of the night. We liberated their asses!" Thierry said.

"I know, but that isn't all. They were planning on taking Marley as well, this week sometime."

Thierry went dead silent on the other end of the line. Ulric imagined he was seething in silence.

"We will capture the platoon tonight," Ulric said.

"I'll be right fucking there. Give me a second to tell the girls," Thierry said. Ulric could hear the anger in his voice. It was understandable, Ulric was enraged as well that this band of traitors was going after their mates to weaken them. It was quite pathetic, attacking others to weaken them rather than going after their main target.

"I'll call Lawrence to come watch the house. We will get this done tonight. I plan to make a public punishment tomorrow. I would like you to join me."

"Obviously I will. I'd be offended if you hadn't asked. They don't get to betray us and not suffer the proper punishment," Thierry said.

"The 30th platoon is not on the rotation today. They have off," Ulric said as he looked through the schedule. "Where do you think they might be?" Ulric asked. Thierry knew more about his men's personal lives than Ulric did. Ulric really only cared about their work lives, whereas Thierry was more conversational.

"Perhaps the pub downtown. A lot of unmated males spend time there when they're off."

Ulric nodded. Thierry was most likely right. Ulric used to spend a lot of time at that Pub when he was younger and unmated, too.

"Let's go," Ulric said.

When the two men arrived at the Pub which had been standing since before either of them were born, they heard music and loud bantering coming from inside.

When the two walked in, no one paid attention to them at first. They were too focused on the alcoholic drinks in their hands and the half-naked female vampires on their laps.

They found the 30th platoon sitting together at a table in the center of the room. "Excuse me," Ulric said, drawing all of the attention from the room to him and Thierry.

"All of you, except the men belonging to the 30th platoon, make yourselves scarce," he said. Immediately the people stood up and left the building, all the while shooting confused glances at each other.

"How are you gentlemen doing?" Thierry greeted with a hard slap of the shoulder to both Isaac and Owen. They responded with mere looks of horror.