Kayden

I stare at Ellies sleeping form. She's all wrapped in the blankets, I don't know how the woman does that, but leave it to her. Knowing I must wake her up in a matter of minutes has an awful feeling in my gut. I have been awake for hours. Watching her sleep and texting Martin. My phone is set to silent, so it won't wake her.

He keeps telling me that all the men are back at the estate awaiting our arrival. So, we can discuss what's about to happen. What we are about to walk into. All I can think about is her, how she will handle this, and how I'm going to keep her safe once we are in the Realm of the Dark Fae.

Hating to admit it but I will to myself at least I'm terrified of what's to come. What if we fail? More importantly what if I somehow fail her? She needs me to be strong, the fierce warrior I was always trained to be now more then ever. Which means I will have to become cold even around her.

She moves around beneath the blanket, and a second later her eyes pop open. She looks right at me and smiles. I give her the best smile I can, but I know it's not much. My heart is aching.

"How long have you been up?" She asks in her sleepy voice.

"A few hours." I answer her solemnly.

"Couldn't sleep?" She asks sitting up on the bed.

The covers have fallen giving me a beautiful view of her naked chest. How I would love to crawl in there right now and take her like I did last night. But we don't have time for that. It's time we get serious.

"Get in the shower and dressed in twenty minutes. We have to get you to eat something and out the door as soon as we can." I say as I walk to the bedroom door.

"Wait, what's going on? Why are you talking to me this way?"

When I turn around, she's off the bed, and has the blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon. Her hair is a mess, and her lips are still swollen from all the dirty things I did to her the night before.

"We are in the mist of a war Ellie. We have serious matters to discuss now, and if I'm going to do this right, where I can protect you." I open the door giving her my back.

"I have to get my game face on. Must get in the proper mindset. I am the leader, and I must keep everyone safe and alive." I take a step out the door and look to her.

"You are at the top of that list. The number one spot. Only you and if I'm going to be sure he fails at any attempt on your life again, I need to be this way for a little while." Pausing a moment, I let my words settle around her.

She gives me a nod with what looks to be tears forming in her eyes. She understands what I'm saying, but it doesn't mean it don't hurt. "Now do as I say please and meet me downstairs."

She walks to the bathroom, opening the door she pauses in the threshold. She looks back at me and gives me her best smile. "Fuck it," I practically shout the words as I storm her way.

I pick her body up and slam our lips together. She climbs me like a tree, her legs wrap around my waist and her hands are in my hair. Walking backwards I place her bare ass on the counter of the sink, maneuvering my body between her legs, I attack her like I've wanted to do all morning. And like the hot little minx she is she lets me.

Ellie is already naked, and I'm in a button-down shirt, with a pair of jeans on. Not for long if she has anything to say about it. She tears her lips away, and the next thing I know her hands are on my shirt. She rips the fabric, and buttons go flying.

Her hands make their way down to my jeans. She has me unbuttoned, and the zipper down in seconds. Pushing them down my legs, I step out of them, and tear away my socks. Once we are both naked, I pick her body up, and walk her to the shower.

Opening the shower door, I slam her back against the wall and turn the shower nob on. Cold water hits our bodies before it turns hot, but we pay it no mind. Our thoughts are on one another.

In one powerful thrust I'm inside her. I'm home yet again. Neither of us can help ourselves. We need this right now. Need to lose ourselves inside one another for a time, and to feel good in this moment.

An hour later we emerge from our shower, and quickly get dressed. When we make it down the stairs Martin, Tony and Joshua are standing by the front entrance waiting for us. Tony has a shit eating grin along his face, Joshua is shaking his head trying to hide his smile, and Martin being the oh so serious one is glaring in our direction. His arms are folded over his chest signifying one long lecture is upon us.

"You're late." Martin boasts.

"That we are. What can I say we needed a shower, and don't worry I made sure she's thoroughly cleaned." I shoot him a wink.

That makes Tony and Joshua laugh out right. I see Ellie on the corner of my eye turning beat red.

"We don't have time for this. I really want to tell you all the reasons why that was a bad idea, but we need to go. Everyone is waiting." Martin turns and opens the front door.

We all watch as he stomps down the stairs and makes his way to the passenger seat of the SUV awaiting us. Shaking my head, I count to ten in my head trying to calm down. I know he's right, but I hate when anyone talks to me in that way. He knows he can get away with it, he's one of the few that can.

The rest of us make our way outside the cabin and get into the SUV. Tony is on the driver's side in the back, I take the middle and Ellie fastens her seatbelt on the passenger side. Joshua gets into the driver's seat and starts the vehicle and pulls out of the driveway.

"Where are we going?" Ellie asks breaking the silence.

Then before I can tell her she dramatically shouts, "Stop the car!" Slamming on the breaks, everyone turns their stare her way.

"What about my brother Keith and Liz? Where are they? We can't just leave them." She sputters.

Joshua huffs and continues down the road. She goes to interrupt again, when I break into her thoughts by putting my hand on her knee. She looks up at me, "they are already at the estate Ellie, and don't worry they are safe."

"The estate but I thought it wasn't safe there right now?" She questions.

"It is now. The monsters are elsewhere. That's where we are going. Everyone is already there." I tell her as I place my hand on her shoulder and push her body back against the seat again.

Silence grows as we gradually make our way back to the estate. While Ellie places her head upon the window and watches the scenery, I take my cell out of my pants pocket. Texting Doc about her mother, I find out some good news.

She's awake and very much active. She's asking about her daughter. So, I tell him to bring her to the estate. Maybe seeing her biological mother again will help Ellie in a way with everything we are about to face.

I lay my head back and listen to the sound of the vehicle purring as it drives down the road. Martin is still stewing away in the front, and Tony is playing a game on his phone. I smile at the normalcy of it all. Just hoping that we will have this again after everything is finished.

Must have dozed off for a few minutes because before I know it the vehicle stops moving. When I lift my head, everyone is exiting the vehicle and we are indeed in front of my mansion. Stepping out, I can feel the power radiating from inside. Can tell all our followers and soldiers are in there.

"What is that?" Ellie asks eyes wide.

"That my dear Ellie is our army." Placing my hand on her back I lead her up the stairs and into our home.

There in front of us are over one hundred men and women. All vampire, werewolf, witches, warlocks and some fae. Ready to know where we will be going, and to fight this evil that has ruled our world long enough.