Early morning came quickly and Ezra was quick to break me out of my trance. During my meditation, I tried a spell to locate Ryker but for some reason, there was a block. The cause could either be him shielding, or that he is dead. None of that information helped me get a lead. 

"I know where the path is, to the Land of Forbidden Spells, I mean. I'll pack a bag and we can set out. It's pretty far from here," Ezra told me over a cup of steaming hot coffee.

"You don't have to come with me. Just point me in the right direction and I'll be out of your hair."

He gave me a sharp look, "I said that I felt responsible for you. So I'm sticking with you until you find him."

I raised a hand in surrender. I guess it will be nice to have a partner with me instead of traveling alone, but I feel bad for dumping my problems on the poor guy. He just met me yesterday. We barely know each other and he's risking his life for me. Despite his gruff personality and rudeness, he was one of the kindest people I had ever met.

Unless he was just trying to sleep with me...

"Give me a minute and I'll pack a duffel. We can take it out to the car." I nodded finishing up my own cup of coffee. It was delicious, with organic beans, hand grinded, then French pressed.

Ezra was around the same size as me, maybe a bit taller, so his clothes fit fine. I borrowed a pair of dark jeans and a white deep-v t-shirt. Though he was my size, his shirts were a bit too tight for my liking. But I guess his clothes were provocative on purpose to lure people in. He has to feed somehow, not saying that his looks aren't enough. Ugh, why am I having this debate in my head; it's stupid. 

I waited for Ezra on his couch. He came back dressed in brown leather pants with high boots and a tight beige vest. His hair was braided in a fishtail fashion and adorned with vines and flowers. Slung over his shoulder was two black duffels that looked filled and they looked heavy. He tossed one over to me and I nearly died with the impact. That thing was heavier than it looked! And he was carrying two of them!

He shot me a funny look, probably wondering why I haven't gotten up, but then realized, I don't have his massive strength. I was simply a witch, not the freaking Hulk. With a chuckle, he grabbed the bag off of me and slung it over his shoulder again.

"Weakling," he snorted, heading in the elevator.

"I resent that," I grumbled, following him. The doors slid closed and instead of opening up to the lobby, we were led to an indoor parking lot. Ezra waltzed along like he wasn't carrying two boulders for bags, stopping just before a silver Corvette Stingray Concept. He popped the trunk and shoved the two bags inside before slamming it shut. Meanwhile, I stood there gaping like an idiot. "How the hell do you have so much money?"

"I'm a nymph who's good in bed. People would pay millions to have sex with me," he smirked opening his door and sliding in. Prostitute, much? I was still staring at the car when the passenger's door popped open and Ezra stuck his head out, amber eyes twinkling. "You going to stand there, or come on?" 

I gulped before sliding in the car. The black leather interior was to die for. Oh, I would make love to this car so many times!

With perfect ease, the car purred to life and slipped out of the parking spot. Like a child, I had my nose pressed up against the glass, admiring the speed at which we were flying down the roads.

"So what's he like?" Ezra asked me suddenly, breaking the silence that had settled between us without my realizing.

"Ryker?"

Ezra nodded, not taking his eyes off the road. 

I sat back and let my mind travel. "Well he's a hothead, that's for sure. Very impulsive and likes to bulldoze through every problem. Sometimes he forgets how strong he is. Unlike other witches, he has Shapeshifter blood. Not enough that he can morph, but just enough to give him strength. He's very protective of me, it can get really annoying sometimes. I'm far from some damsel in distress. He's sweet though, like a teddy bear. "

"He sounds like...an idiot."

I glared at him. 

"What made him set out for the Land of Forbidden Spells?" 

I felt my face drop. "A friend of ours died and it really struck something in him. The Land of Forbidden Spells has dark magic. There is a spell that can resurrect a being, only for a price."

"What is the price?" 

"I don't know, but messing with black magic can only lead to trouble."

"So why are you so convinced that he's dead?"

"Any witch that travels in the Land of Forbidden Spells is killed on the spot. Ryker is convinced that he can mask himself as a Shapeshifter because of his blood. I tried to tell him that it was too risky seeing as he can't shift or anything, but like I said, he doesn't listen."

Silence fell over us again, leaving me to my thoughts of Ryker. I really just want to know what was going through his head when made the decision to leave. To lie to me and leave. Did he think I wouldn't know? I've known him all my life, I could predict almost all of his movements. I knew he was going to do it, so I guess its my fault since I didn't stop him. It's my fault he's probably dead. I'll have to deal with the consequences...the sadness.

"Don't blame yourself," Ezra said suddenly. 

"H-how did y-"

"Your emotions are written all over your face, it's pathetic."

I narrowed my eyes at him. Does he have to be an asshole ninety percent of the time? I mean, I appreciate all he has done and what he will do for me, but I don't think I can stand it the entire time. If it were up to me and I wasn't so desperate, I'd have ditched him a very long time ago. Why put up with constant insults? 

But I needed him. It was practically a whole new world for me out here. Most witches don't leave their Clan's territories since our numbers are rapidly dwindling. I'd bet that eighty percent have never seen outside their Clan's borders. We were afraid and cannot afford to risk any more witches with extinction just a breath away. Sure, I've been outside the Clan borders before but never so far, which is probably why I've never even heard of this city. Collis.

How far was Collis from the path to the Land of Forbidden Spells? And how long was the path? I hope not too long because there is a slim chance that Ryker may still be alive and I want to try my hardest to save him in case that is true. I hope it's true, Gods know I do.

"Are we far from the path and how long exactly is the path?" I asked Ezra, who by the looks of it, was as deep in his thoughts as I was. He flashed me a glance before retuning his gaze back to the road we were speeding along. 

"We're not far, but we're not really close either, to the path. I think we should get there by noon tomorrow, but I have no idea how long the essential path is. No one is dumb enough to actually follow, with exception being your lover of course."

 "It's one thing to insult me, but to insult Ryker is just asking for a fight. Leave his name out of your mouth if you're just going to associate it with slander. He doesn't deserve it," I snapped at him. He was such a prick, I in fact saw the corner of his mouth lift into a smirk. 

Gods save me now, I was going to kill him! 

"What is your problem?" 

"What ever do you mean?" he feigned innocence. I glared with the deepest hatred I could muster. To be completely honest, it wasn't a lot. Hate really wasn't my thing, you know? I was a peace and love type of guy, I leave all the violence to Ryker, that's what he was better at. But don't get me wrong, I know how to stand my ground and protect what I think is right. I wasn't some pushover that could get smashed in a heartbeat. It took a lot to knock me down and not much to get me back up.

"Don't play dumb. We already established that you hate me and why you do, but since we have, you think you could tone it down with all the insults? Especially when it comes to Ryker, because you don't know him, therefore, you have to right to talk about him."

"I'm sorry, did my words offend you? They tend to do that to people, but others don't usually care once I take them to my bed."

He winked at me.

"Well seeing as you won't be taking me or Ryker to your bed, I care. I care very much so."

"Ew, necrophilia does not turn me on. I like my prey alive, thank you very much," he shivered in disgust.

"You are unbelievable!" I threw my hands up in exasperation and leaned on the door to peer out the window in anger. Stupid man. 

"We'll be staying at a friend of mine's house. After that will be a straight shot to the path, but I think you might want to meet with another friend of mine first," Ezra said after a long period of silence. Maybe a few hours, at the least.

"A friend of yours?"

"Yeah, the first one, so I can sleep with him. I need my sustenance, and the second because she may be able to make our search a bit easier. Who knows, she might have even saw your dead lover."

"Really?"

"Maybe."

And that just made me feel a whole lot better.