"I may be able to charm a map so you can track him, but I'll require an item that belonged to him," Adel announced proudly.

All eyes fell on me. 

I brushed the ring that hung along my neck tightly. It was warm from having spent all this time pressed against my chest beneath my shirt. Did I really want to give it up? I mean, what if the charm didn't work? This is all I have of his to keep me going for the rest of the journey. 

"Noah?" It was Wes who called me, bringing me back to reality where they were patiently waiting to give something up. 

"What will happen to it?" I asked softly. 

"Nothing, I will just extract a little of his essence from it and then I will give it back to you. It won't be destroyed, I promise."

I remember when he gave it to me, how angry I had been because I knew what he was going to do, even after he promised me he'd come back...

It'd been a while since Ry left for the store. As soon as he got inside, he went straight for the Spell Room, barely sending a greeting my way. When I asked him what he was doing, he just smiled softly and told me not to worry. That he was going to fix everything, but what had been broken in the first place?

I glanced over at the clock, he'd been in there for hours now. 

With a sigh, I placed my book that I had been reading down on the table and headed off to the kitchen to make two sandwiches.

I went up in to the Spell Room, watching my lover hunch over the table with several books sprawled around him. He was reading furiously, flicking from one passage to the other. 

His behavior was starting to worry me. Ever since the...incident, Ryker hasn't been himself. He was quieter and less...happy. But what worried me the most, was the guilt I saw flashing in his eyes every once in a while. 

"Ry?"

He didn't look up, he was too engrossed in his work to notice I had even entered the room. 

I walked over to him, placing the plate beside him on the table, and wrapping my arms around his strong waist, planting my cheek on to his muscular back. I sighed into the heat he radiated through the thin t-shirt he wore. 

Always so warm. 

Because of the Shifter blood that ran through his veins. 

"Ry, you have to eat something," I told him.

"I'll eat it later."

"No, Ryker. Now."

Ryker's fist slammed on the table, clenched in frustration. I was already use to his aggressive behavior which prevented me from being scared. Though, the aggression being directed towards me was a bit alarming seeing as it never happened before. And I wasn't the only one who noticed. The other witches were worried too. I think they know something. 

"Noah-" he started. 

"You're scaring me, Ry. You've been like this for weeks now. I want to know what's going on. Why won't you let me in?"

"Because you'll disagree," he said softly. 

"What are you talking about?"

Ryker's knuckles cracked, and I glanced over at the ring that glinted in the light. It hugged his finger perfectly. It was pure gold with intricate designs framing one huge ruby gem. His mother had given it to him to protect him from the violent urges Shifters tended to have. Though, it was only suppose to be worn for five years, because then the charm sank into the person's being leaving the ring an empty shell, but Ryker wore his all the time because it was the last thing she gave him before she died. 

It meant a lot to him. I knew that much.

"I'm researching the Reanimation Spell."

I gasped, pulling away from him. 

"You can't be serious, Ryker. For goodness sakes, it's forbidden!" 

"I know, but-"

"Ryker, that's dark magic you're messing with!" 

"I know but-"

"That spell has been locked away for years! How do you expect to get it? Huh? Did you even think of the consequences? With every dark spell comes a price-"

"I know, Noah! I know!" Ryker screamed, spinning around to yell at me. His eyes were blazing green, and breathing was heavy. 

He ran a hand over his handsome features, before looking up. 

"It's in the Land of Forbidden Spells."

"I know," I whispered, studying the expression on my lover's face. He was scaring me. Where was he going with this?

"I have to go-"

"No!" I cut him off. 

"Noah-"

"Look at me Ry! You're not doing this. Do you know how stupid this is? You can't do anything to save the-"

"Yes I can, Noah! And I will. "

"You'll be killed! They kill witches on the spot!" 

He twisted the ring on his finger. That beautiful ring that helped him so many times during his childhood. That meant so much to him. 

"I'm a Shifter too, remember? My blood will mask my scent and I'll-"

"No. No, no, no, no," I recited to myself softly, turning away from him and pacing with my fingers in my hair. Tears blurred my eyes. "No, you can't do this to me." 

"Noah-"

"You can't." The panic of the situation was starting to kick in and the tears were coming faster. "You can't leave me."

"Noah, listen to me-"

"You'll die. You'll die and I'll be alone." 

As I said the words aloud, I started to realize the reality of the situation which sent me into hyperventilation. My breathing came out in pants and hysteria was starting to fester. 

"Noah." Ryker grabbed my face between his two big hands, forcing me to look up at him through my tears. "I'll be fine, I promise." His thumbs wiped my tears away. "Have I ever let you down before?" 

I gripped his hands, holding them closer to me as he leaned down to kiss me. First on the lips, then on the eyes, and the nose, then my cheeks, and back to my mouth.

"If you die, I'll kill myself," I told him. 

Ryker froze, his face in utter shock.

"You can't be serious," he gasped. 

I looked at him levelly. He knew when I was serious and when I wasn't. He could see it in my eyes that I was not joking. 

"Noah, that's insane!"

"I will do it. So don't go."

Ryker sighed angrily. "Fine! Okay? Fine."

I sighed in relief, not realizing that he gave in way too easily. 

Ryker kissed me again, more fiercely then before. "I won't got there, but I do need to hit some places."

I narrowed my eyes at him. 

"Let me come with you." 

"No, Noah. I don't want a babysitter. Just trust me alright? "

I gritted my teeth because I knew he was right. 

He kissed my cheek before leaving the room. After a moment of thought, I followed him outside and through the forest .

"Noah, I said-"

"I'm just seeing you off," I told him sharply. 

The sun was still high in the sky. I glanced at it from below the trees' canopy. It was such a beautiful sight, but it made me feel uneasy.

"I'm not leaving you okay?" Ryker reassured, pulling by the waist until I was pressed up against him firmly. 

"You better be back before the moon rises in the sky. I'll be waiting for you, right here. I won't move from this spot," I told him. 

Ryker kissed me again, the most passionate one yet. 

He pulled back and yanked the ring from his finger. I looked at him curiously, wondering what he was doing. 

"Ry-"

Ryker silenced me with a bright smile. It was one of his goofy ones, that I fell in love with. 

He took my hand then glanced at the ring. 

"I forgot you have such tiny fingers," he chuckled before dropping my hand and digging into his pocket, producing a thin brown leather rope. He slid the rope through the hole of the ring, then stepped behind me to tie it around my neck. 

"Take this, I want you to have it." 

"But-"

"You know I never go far without my ring. Keep it safe for me and use it as reassurance that I'm coming back, okay? I won't go."

I nodded my head and he ran off into the trees. 

The ring felt heavy around my neck, almost like a warning that something really bad was going to happen.

My hand clenched into a tight fist around the ring before I let it go and slid it from around my neck, handing it to her. She smiled reassuringly. 

"It's probably going to take all day and night so you're free to stay the night. Ezra knows the way around here, he can show you to the guest rooms. But I warn you, the young Master and Lord are in the vicinity. It would be best not to anger them. Other than that, you can roam where you want. It's a big house." 

"The young Master and Lord?" I questioned.

She nodded but didn't say anything further. 

Ezra stood stretching his limbs with a fluidity in his movements that reminded me of the water I saw him swimming in when I first met him. Wes followed but made sure to help me up as well, like the big protector he is. 

Adel nodded at us before disappearing, and Ezra took us back to the main lobby with the beautiful gray stone. I glanced over at the West Wing but Ezra led us up East Wing.

I frowned.

There was something up there that just called to me. My stomach flipped whenever my eyes set on the staircase. 

"Noah, come on." 

"Oh, sorry." 

I hurried after the two. Ezra was walking at a fast pace that was pretty difficult to keep up with. Wes had no problem, but that's because his body was programmed to be fast. I think they forget my human traits. 

We ended up in a hall with lots of doors lining up both sides. They were all the same, big brown wooden doors with black metal designs. I studied each of them with wonder. So beautiful.

"This one will be yours, Noah. Wes will be the next door, and I'm the last," Ezra said once we reached the end of the hall. Without another word to us, he slipped inside the room he claimed and shut the door loudly. 

Wes rolled his eyes before turning his attention to me. 

"You look uneasy. Would you like to room with me?" he asked. 

I smiled at him, "I'm fine, but thank you."

Wes nodded. 

"Let me know if you need anything, okay?" 

I nodded this time, watching him as he slipped through his door and shut it quietly. 

With a sigh, I went into my own room. It was slightly dark, due to the candles being the only source of light, but very spacious. 

There was a huge round Sultan bed, with a large black canopy and blood red silk bed set. A wooden desk was on the opposite side and a chaise was on the far side of the room. There were tall bookshelves filled with books and a bathroom a little further in. Strange art filled the wall, showing seductive creatures posing provocatively. 

Vampires were incredibly sexual beings after all. 

Glancing around, I realized, I didn't want to spend too much time in here. There were too many opportunities to think and I knew I'd only be filled with worry for Ryker. So I decided to go explore the estate. 

Slipping from my room, I glanced down at Wes and Ezra's doors. Faintly, I could hear the sound of deep moaning coming from Ezra's room. I walked closer and noticed that the door was partially cracked open. There I could see Wes hovering over Ezra, their bodies tangled in a sexual embrace. 

Anger flared my nostrils and I turned away sharply, hurrying down the opposite end of the hall. 

I had no right to be upset. Wes didn't belong to me. I just met him for goodness sakes. It wasn't fair of me to claim him. Plus, he was probably just feeding Ezra. I keep forgetting he's a Nymph.

I kept walking, not realizing that I had no idea where I was going, or where I was. I stopped, and looked around. Pure silver doors were lined on each side of me. It was a hallway that resembled the one where our rooms were at, except, the door were completely different. Even the floor was different. Instead of gray stone, I was walking on black marble. 

Where am I?

My gut clenched tightly. So tight I almost doubled over. 

"Well this is just fate, isn't it?" a deep sultry voice said from behind. I turned around and was face to face with Griffin. 

He was smiling in that sexy way of his, wearing a silk black top and tight black leather pants, tucked into high black riding boots. His hair, white as snow, was pushed over one shoulder, cascading down his chest in a waterfall of waves. Those bright red eyes were gleaming with suggestion. 

I shivered, feeling my lower regions tighten with appreciation. 

"What brings you here?" he asked, sashaying over to me. The way he moved just called to me. I wanted to grab him and take him right there on the door. I've never had such a strong reaction before, not even to Wes or Ryker.

"Visiting someone for information," I replied. 

"Information? On what?" he breathed his questions on my lips, which parted as soon as the air hit them. 

"My lover, Ryker Wells. A witch who set off to the Land of Forbidden Spells."

"Lover?" Griffin frowned. 

I nodded. 

"How long have you been in this relationship?" 

"Six years. We dated in our early teens and haven't been able to let each other go. Well...until now," I sighed. 

"He must mean a lot to you," Griffin commented. 

I nodded. 

"Then why can I smell your arousal for me?" Those red eyes flickered down to my mouth, the up to my eyes, peering under long white lashes. 

I blushed heavily, trying to gather my thoughts which were completely scattered at the moment. 

"Griffin!" A deep voice barked angrily. I peeked over Griffin's shoulder to see a young man with long blood red locks that looked silky to the touch. He was wearing a black long sleeved tunic with a dark red leather vest and matching pants, tucked into high black riding boots. 

His eyes were a dark red, practically glowing with anger, but other than that, his beautiful face was stoic. His jaw was strong, lips were full, cheeks were high, nose was straight. So many perfect things, but so cold. 

"Prince Sylus! Why don't you come meet a new friend of mine?" Griffin chirped. Those dark red eyes slid over to me. I saw something flicker, but it was too quick to decipher. 

"This is Noah Kismet. Noah, this is Prince Sylus Baine."

Prince Sylus stepped closer to me, eyes boring into my body. I shifted under the intensity of his gaze. "Don't call me Prince, just Sylus," he said to me in a monotone. 

I blinked in surprise and nodded. 

Griffin seemed surprised as well, his lips were parted in shock. 

Was it not normal for him to tell people to drop his title? I looked back and forth between the two vampires. 

"I knew you would like him!" Griffin clapped cheerfully. 

Sylus didn't say anything, just stared at me. 

"So, Noah, as I was saying bef-"

"You're a witch," Sylus interrupted, eyes narrowing at me. It wasn't menacing, just a small action. Almost calculative.

I nodded. 

"You're a witch? How rare!" Griffin exclaimed, then turned to Sylus. "How did you know?"

Sylus didn't say anything. Just turned around and walked away. I stared at his back as he left. Just as he reached his door, he turned to me and mouthed something, before slipping inside. 

I blushed and glanced away. 

Griffin looked confused, but he didn't question it. He hadn't seen Sylus's lips move, and thank goodness for that.

I don't think I want anyone to know what he said.