. Thanks for dedicating a chapter of your book to me.

The passageway led to an underground pool. It was made with black bricks and there was a small waterfall at its edge spewing water.

Sunlight streamed in through small holes on the ceiling and I wondered how this place would look like with moonlight illuminating it.

We sat in the cool water, he against the bricks and me against his warm chest. He was a complete stranger but I felt completely safe with him.

I thought of what had almost happened and a shudder tore through me. He pulled me even closer, putting his huge arms around my shoulder.

" Are you cold?" He asked in a whisper. A few minutes ago, he hadn't even been able to speak properly due to his rage but now he was calm.

I was cold but I shook my head, worried he would take me back to my room. I didn't want to leave just yet.

" What did you mean when you said you heard me scream in your mind." I asked

He shrugged against me.

" Exactly that. I just heard it ...and somehow, I knew it was you."

" That makes no sense."

" No it doesn't." He agreed.

For a few seconds, silence reigned and my thoughts wandered off to Brutus again.

" Is he dead?" I whispered, unable to keep the shakiness from my voice.

" No, not yet." He said, his voice hard.

I turned so I could look at his face. He had washed the blood off but his white shirt was stained red and there were tears on it from where Brutus had clawed at him. I could see his tattoo through the tears.

" Can I watch?" I asked and I meant it. Brutus had also been hurting Willow. I was sure of it and I wanted badly to see the life leave his eyes. " When you kill him, can I watch?"

He raised a dark eyebrow at me.

" It will not be a sight for a lady."

I scoffed at his words, relaxing against him again.

" I'm not a lady."

" You are now." He said. " You're also a moon witch."

I nodded against his chest suddenly feeling sleepy.

He continued.

" And your name's Deven."

He whispered my name like it was something sacred. I could feel his breath hot against my temple. The sleepiness left me and I suddenly became aware of how warm he felt. I could feel his heart beat resonate through me. Was it strange that despite how hard his chest was, I could easily melt into it?

He wasn't so uninformed anymore.

" Devenity to you." I said. " Deven is only for my friends."

I felt his smile grow against my cheek.

" I just saved you. One would think you would honor me with the title of being your friend."

Ignoring the fire in my joints, I turned again to look at him.

" Thank you." I whispered, genuinely thankful.

The smile left his face and his fingers moved to my bruised cheek. I could see the anger forming in them again.

" I'm going to kill him."

It was a promise. There was so much hate in his eyes. I wasn't sure why he felt so deeply about this but I knew Brutus would wish he'd just died earlier once this man was done with him. I realized I still didn't know his name

His fingers moved away from my cheek, down to my lips. His thumb moved back and forth against my lower lip and his eyes bore into mine, darkening. I found it hard to look away from his gaze despite how uneasy it made me feel.

I turned abruptly, settling against his chest and bringing my knees up.

" So," I began, " when are you going to tell me your name?" I asked.

" You'd love to know now, wouldn't you?" I could hear the smile in his voice. Was he being serious right now.

" Not really." I said, playing along. " But you know mine. It's only fair."

" You didn't tell me. I had to work hard to find out." I felt his pout against my face. " You have no idea how difficult it was. I had to go around the castle asking 'the beauty in the peach dress, who knows her name' "

I found myself laughing at that. Then I realized he had just called me beautiful. Only Cayden had ever said that to me. Hearing him say it, it made me feel incredibly happy ...and incredibly nervous.

" You think I'm beautiful?" I whispered, my voice echoing in the semi darkness.

He nodded.

" I know it." He whispered back.

I couldn't help the smile that was forming on my face. It was huge and it lingered as we sat in silence

What to say? What was one supposed to say when someone called you beautiful? Thank you? You're beautiful too? I could say that because he was beautiful. Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful.

He pulled some of my hair back and placed his chin on my neck.

" You should reward me you know." He whispered. " Trying to find out your name was really tiring."

" Yes, because that required so much work." I scoffed but my heart was thudding against my chest.

What would he want? Another kiss? I hoped so. Badly. It came as a shock just how much I wanted to feel his lips against mine again.

But he's a Werewolf. You hate what he is. A voice whispered in my head. I shushed that voice and turned to face him, kneeling.

His eyes had gotten darker again. I knew that look in his eyes. I'd seen it twice already. He wanted me.

And by the moon goddess I wanted him too.

" What would you like as a reward?" I whispered.

His eyes bored into mine and he said,

" You."

Those words echoed in my head repeatedly. He wanted me. Me!. Why? He knew I was a witch. He knew witches and Werewolves had bad blood between them, so why would he want me? Was it only just lust?

That thought brought me down greatly and I couldn't understand why. I wanted him to want me more than that ...why?

I shook my head lightly to clear my thoughts.

" You still haven't told me your name." I said pushing aside his comment.

His smile was back on his face and my heart thudded at the beauty of him. Despite all the angles of his face, there was a boyish quality to it. It came out only when he smiled or laughed.

" Rhydian." He said and looked at me expectantly.

Was I supposed to recognize it? I didn't know many people in the palace. I'd only been here for a day. Less than actually.

" Rhydian." I whispered and looked into his darkened eyes. Then I leaned down and pressed my lips against his. I was too nervous, too unsure to deepen the kiss and I moved back almost immediately.

" Again." He said and that authoritative quality was back in his voice. It was a command and I couldn't refuse. I didn't even want to.

I placed my hands around his neck, kneeling so my thighs crossed him and kissed him again. His mouth opened and the feel of it ...oh joy! It was exhilarating. I realized I'd been craving this since the garden.

Feeling suddenly bold, I pressed my chest into his chest. The way I was seated, I could feel his erection. It was directly against my vulva, straining against his trousers. I rocked against it and he gasped, pulling back to look at me.

" Fuck!" He growled. He obviously hadn't expected that and I smiled shyly at him, pleased. He tugged at me pulling me close and whispered, " if you don't want me to fuck you Devenity, you'd better not do that again."

I bit my lip and stared right into his eyes, determined not to be shy, inexperienced Deven.

" Who said I don't want you to fuck me?" I whispered.

Good goddess, what was happening to me? I barely used swear words. Outloud at least. Saying it to him, it made me feel so dirty! But ...I liked this dirty feeling.

He inhaled sharply at my words, his eyes almost black. He was grinning again. He leaned back and watched me.

Goodness, he was handsome! But right now, I didn't want him to look at me. I wanted him to well ...

" Take off your clothes. I want to watch you." He said ...and I froze.

Somehow, the thought of being naked infront of him seemed scary to me. I'd never been like that with anyone and after the struggle with Brutus, I was certain I was black and blue. I knew I looked horrible and I couldn't let him see me like this.

I scrambled up from my kneeling position not missing the surprise in his eyes.

" Um..." I mumbled, squeezing the hem of my dress to get rid of the water. " Maybe I should, um get going. I need to see a healer."

His narrowed eyes were trained on me and I squirmed under the intensity of his eyes. Suddenly feeling cold, I wrapped my hands around myself.

He got out of the pool. I could still see his erection straining against his soaked trousers.

" Come here." He commanded, his voice low making my heart race

I wanted to, so badly but I looked away instead and said.

" My back hurts. I need to see a healer." Tears were beginning to well in my eyes. I knew he was angry. I could ...feel it.

" You enjoy doing this don't you, Devenity." He said, his voice still low but his erection was long gone.

" What?" I looked at him and shrank back at the anger I saw in his eyes.

" Leading me on and then..." He struggled to find his words, running his hand through his hair. " Pulling away. You do that with all your lovers now, don't you?" All the niceness was gone from his face. He looked feral and I felt fear beginning to creep up.

" I don't know what you're talking about." I said quietly.

" Please!" He thundered and took a step towards me and I shrank back. " Last night at the ball, you left with no explanation. Right now, you're pulling away after leading me on, and with Brutus -"

" Brutus?" I asked, incredulous. Where was he going with that

" Yes Brutus. He's one of your lovers isn't he? You seem to have many of those. The lad with the blonde hair, Brutus -"

I stared, mouth open at him. I could feel the anger taking the place of fear of him.

" Brutus is not my lover." I said, through my teeth.

" Really? Then tell me Devenity, what the fuck were you doing in a secret passageway with him if not to get away from people."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this man who'd looked at me with so much affection just a while ago.

" You don't know what happened."

" It seems pretty obvious to me." Rhydian said moving closer. I stood my ground. " A lovers tryst gone wrong." His hair was a complete mess now.

" He was trying to force me." I screamed. " Or did you miss that?"

He shook his head at me.

" If you hadn't spread your legs for him in the first place, he -"

I cut him off with a slap.

I didn't even know when my hands moved but now, they hurt even more and ...he was looking at me, his eyes fierce and glowing green.

I realized I'd pushed him to morphing. He hadn't even been this angry when he'd been with Brutus. If he morphed into his wolf ...I might end up worse than Brutus.

Rhydian turned away from me, breathing hard, his back convulsing.

Good goddess, don't let him morph.

A few seconds later, he turned to face me, his face void of any expression, his eyes back to normal. He spoke, his voice incredibly calm.

" I think it's best I take you to your chambers."

I couldn't agree more.