"Stop staring off in space, lover boy. We have places to be and people to see," Ezra snapped in my face angrily. He's been all pissy ever since this morning when I snuck up on him again. Although, it wasn't really my fault, he just wasn't aware of his surroundings. It wasn't as if I were quiet either, one would think someone of my size would make a decent amount of noise when entering a room. Plus, I lacked the grace of other creatures because of my stronger connection to humans. Witches were the least supernatural when it came to physicality. 

But I must admit, even Wes seemed a little annoyed after our brief encounter with the hypnotic man that called himself Griffin Blackwell. He was completely irresistible with those silky white locks and crimson red eyes. 

But what was he?

I couldn't match him with any species and my psyche was confused. My psyche never gets confused, I was a witch after all. And being in his presence made the mana stir inside me. 

"You're thinking about him," Wes murmured softly. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that warned me his beast was lurking around the surface. I had to be careful of what I said to make sure I didn't trigger it. 

My eyes met his gently, offering him a smile. "You don't find him peculiar? I've been trying to figure out what he is this entire time. "

This caught Ezra's attention. He glanced over at me with a dark expression, almost bitter if I wasn't mistaken. I didn't like it, there was something very...alarming about it. 

"He's a vampire for one thing. Only they use the title of Lord and Lady. Something about their House of Royals. He must be high up there too if he has that title at all. I bet you're just the happiest guy in the world aren't you? Think you're better than everyone because you have a royal groupie, huh Noah?"

I frowned at him. 

The childish behavior was uncalled for. What had him in such a bad mood? I mean, yeah, I'm use to him giving me crap, but this was different. 

"Stop being an ass, Ez. What's your problem, anyway?" Wes bit, glaring at his old friend. 

Ezra didn't say anything, just looked away angrily. 

"I know you don't like me very much, but you seem to really hate my guts more than usual. Have I done something wrong, something to upset you?" I asked him, thinking back on our day. 

He didn't start acting like this until we met Griffin.

"Your entire existence upsets me," Ezra snarled. His amber eyes flashed with malice as he whipped his head around to glare at me. 

"Ezra!" Wes exclaimed, but I didn't pay him any attention. I, myself, was starting to get angry.

"If you hate me so much, then why are you helping me?" I snapped.

"Because you begged me."

"Bullshit! I asked you to point me in the right direction, not take me there. That was your decision. You are the one that said you couldn't leave until you helped me find Ryker. I didn't ask you to go out of your way, so don't blame it on me!" 

"Noah," Wes said softly. 

I hadn't realized I stopped walking. I was breathing hard, practically brimming with the excitement of the short argument. Taking a deep calming breath, I slowed my breathing and settled my anger. 

"Just forget it then," I whispered. "I'll go on my own."

"You're not going alone Noah. I already said I'm coming with you to protect you, Ezra can do what he wants," Wes told me. 

Ezra looked at Wes incredulously. 

"You'll side with him instead of me? I've been friends with you for over a century and this is how you repay me?" 

"You've been acting like an ass all day, Ez. What do you expect? And I'm not leaving Noah alone, my tiger would never allow it."

I saw the truth in Wesley's eyes as they flashed with his inner beast. It was letting me know that it was right there, watching me. Anyone else would be creeped out by it, but to me, it was oddly comforting. Well...slightly. I was still cautious. 

Ezra looked at me and sighed. 

"I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten in to me," Ezra apologized softly to me. But I could tell he was lying, something was bugging him. I didn't push it.

I simply nodded my head and continued walking. Wes took his place beside me but Ezra trailed slightly behind. I glanced back at him but he was too far gone in his thoughts to notice. 

If Griffin was a vampire, then why did he sing to me? I could still hear the inhumanly beautiful melody ringing in my ears. The sound wrenched so many different emotions from me. Why did that man have such an affect on me?

My gut clenched at the thought of him, giving me the feeling that Griffin wasn't too far away. It was weird, how I could sense him. I just met him, but he left a mark on me. 

"I don't like that look on your face. You're thinking about him again."

"I was just–"

"Lusting after him," Wes replied sharply. His nostrils were flaring with the statement. I gaped at him in shock. 

Lust?

Was that what I was feeling?

I mean...he was very beautiful. Incredibly so, but...

"Just my luck, another man I have to compete with for your affection," he growled bitterly. 

"Wes," I said softly, brushing his arm. 

I felt awful. It was his tiger that made him feel so deeply for me. The soul that he and his beast shared had somehow attached itself to mine and I felt guilty for stressing his emotions. It was cruel, yet, I couldn't help what I felt for Griffin. 

Why was I feeling this way for so many men in such little time? Was it a spell of some sort? Why couldn't I just love one man?

"I'm sorry for that other night...where I took advantage. It was unfair of me to force you like that and I am ashamed of my behavior," Wes murmured. Warmth flooded my cheeks as I remembered being pressed up against the door of the refrigerator experiencing immeasurable pleasure. The feel of his hips rocking against mine and the delicious friction of his thick, long shaft...it was engraved into my mind. 

"It's okay. I...enjoyed it," I admitted quietly.

"Mm," Wes hummed, brushing up against my side. 

"Hey! None of that! He's my sex slave!" Ezra protested, pushing us apart and walking in between us. 

"Oh so now you want to join us?" Wes chuckled and just like that, all the previous tension was gone. Well, it appeared to be, but I could still sense that shift in the air around Ezra. What ever was bothering him before, still was. 

If he wanted to talk about it, he would. Until then, it was best to just leave him be. I had learned over the days that I spent with him, that he is a very private person. Despite always having a partner in bed, he was use to being alone. Some people were just like that. 

"What's with the dopey face?" Ezra inquired, peering at me with accusation in his eyes. I rolled mine and shook my head with a small smile. 

Well, he certainly is acting normal again. 

"Nothing you need to worry about. So how much farther is your friend's shop? We've been walking for quite awhile now, and I don't have the stamina like you two do. I can't walk for hours without any rest."

Ezra snorted in disgust, "That's right. You're the most human of us all. It's just around this corner."

"I don't understand why we didn't just take the car," Wes muttered. 

"Because, my friend is very old fashioned. She doesn't like modern things like cars anywhere near her property."

"So why couldn't we just park down the block?" 

"As if I would leave my car anywhere near here. It'd be just my luck if some fiend came and ruined the paint. It was custom made you know," Ezra pouted defiantly. 

"It's black," Wes pointed out.

"It's a custom black!"

"Is this it?" I asked interrupting their little bickering contest. 

Just ahead was a large Gothic looking mansion. It towered high above the trees that surrounded the estate. Masses of towers branched from the top of the building, sprouting sharp points guarded by fearsome looking Gargoyles. There were nothing but high archways and tall windows. The bricks were a dark gray with many vines snaking up the sides, cupping the building like a lover. I was surprised to say the least. It almost resembled a small castle. 

"This is where she lives?" I asked in amazement. 

"This is where she works," Ezra corrected. "The Beltomhyde Estate. One of many, owned by the Master of Vampires, Marius Baine."

"She's a vampire?" I asked.

Ezra nodded. 

"Well this should be interesting," Wes noted. 

We made our way down the very long path to the door. As we grew closer, I noticed a black carriage parked by a gated area. 

Wow, she really was old fashioned. 

When we reached the door, Wes alerted those inside with the intricate knocker. It was shaped like a dragon but had this almost humanoid face that was slightly horrifying. 

We didn't have to wait long, someone was quick to answer the door. It was small woman with short black hair, very green eyes, and as thin as they come. She glanced at Ezra and smiled brightly. 

"Ez! I did not know you were coming to visit! Entrez! Entrez!" She said with a thick French accent. Slowly, we entered the estate and it was as beautiful inside as it was outside. The ceilings were high and every surface was gorgeous gray stone. A grand staircase that branched off into two wings greeted us, but the small woman led us to downstairs into what looked like a sitting room. The walls were covered in authentic looking art pieces. In the center was an intimate seating area with a pretty wooden coffee table in the center. It seemed the entire place was lit by candles so a soft glow settled in the place. 

"Sit, sit!" She ordered. I followed Ezra and Wes, finding myself sitting right between them as the woman sat across from us. "Now, what brings you here? Who are your friends?" 

"This is Noah Kismet. I wouldn't call him a friend though," I glared at him. "And this is Wesley Mills."

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Adelaide Devereux. But you may call me Adel."

"Nice to meet you," Wes and I said in unison. 

"Noah is looking for his lover. A witch by the name of Ryker Wells. Have you heard of him?"

Adel pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes as if in deep thought. "That sounds slightly familiar..."

My excitement grew. Did she know something? Did she see him? Does she know if he's still alive? 

I willed her to remember and when she opened my mouth, I was already leaning forward with anticipation. Wesley placed his hand on my thigh as a reminder not to get too excited, and also as comfort in case she had nothing useful to say. 

"I recall a client of mine saying something about a witch going to the Land of Forbidden Spells. Something about him looking for the Reanimation spell. That is dark magic. He is foolish for going to the Forbidden Land. He should know witches get killed on sight. He won't last a minute there."

My chest felt heavy as disappointment and sadness overcame me. I was hearing the same things. No one knew any useful information. Whether or not my lover was still alive remained unknown to me. 

"Oh dear! Ne pleure pas!" Adel exclaimed, reaching out to me. I hadn't even realized that I was crying. The hand on my thigh squeezed tightly for a moment. 

"When did you hear this?" Ezra asked, ignoring my anguish. He could be so cold at times.

"It's been the talk of the town all week. All my clients come in talking about it. They say he visited all the Witch shops asking about the spell before he set out there. But that spell had been locked away for quite a while in the Tower of Fells along with the other Forbidden ones. It happened right after the Third Great War when the witches first started to lose numbers."

"So he should already be there?"

"Perhaps. Or maybe he's still asking around for information." 

I lifted my head in hope. Is she saying there was a possibility that he was still alive? That all we had to do was cut him off on the way to the Forbidden Path? An elation filled my being. 

May there be hope yet.