"And how long exactly are we going to keep bouncing around from place to place? Some of us actually have lives to get back to!"

There it was again. The endless whining of Ezra Hollowell that had graced the ears of all passengers for two days now. I could see it in Wes's eyes, he was very close to smacking the nymph, but refrained because they were old friends. The only one that didn't seem so irritated was the young Vampire prince. He was steadily ignoring the existence of everyone and anyone that wasn't Griffin. I was beginning to see the small obsession he had with the Vampire Lord, but what amazed me is that Griffin himself was completely oblivious.

No, Griffin knew but he chose to ignore it. How awful for the prince, to be in love with someone who did not love him back.

But, that was none of my business and while in the past I would make it my duty to get them together or at least confess what they feel for each other—platonic or otherwise—I had more important matters. Matters such as my missing lover and untamed sexual desire for every man I seem to meet. 

Why was this happening? I've never had interest in any other men before. Ryker was all I needed; all I ever wanted. So what changed? Why is it that every interesting man that seems to cross my path wrenches this unbearable lust and attraction from me? Was I fated to meet them as the forest said or was it just the first men I met? That thought alone made me feel like even more terrible. What will Ryker say when he finds out?

A sob choked its way up and out of my throat like an unwilling child being dragged into a dental office. It hurt coming out, but not in my throat, in my chest; because I knew how disgusting a lover I was and it weighed heavier and heavier with each breath I took.

"Noah, what's wrong?" Wes brushed my shoulder and while I didn't mean to react that way, I couldn't help but flinch away from the contact. Immediately the hurt from the rejection flashed across his features. Ezra glared at me from the seat across from me in the vehicle. 

"Sorry, it's nothing," I sniffed, wiping my tears away quickly with the sleeve of my tunic. I looked away and out the window as if the flashing of trees was the most interesting sight I've ever seen. I could feel the burning of Wes's eyes on me, but not only that, the eyes of another. Curiosity got the better of me and I peeked over to the second pair of eyes. 

Sylus.

He wore no expression, as per usual, but his gaze was unwavering. They held so much life in them, yet no emotion at all, if that made any sense. It made me want to know what happened to him even more. I don't think I can imagine him being a carefree mischief maker as Griffin described him before the disappearance. 

His disappearance...

My eyes wandered over to the servant of Griffin who was watching the Vampire Lord with absolute adoration. Not that I had any true basis for my suspicions aside from a menacing glare, I couldn't help but wonder if Eron had in fact been involved in the young prince's absence. 

There had to be some way to trick the truth out of him. Ryker had always praised me for my intuition, as it had never failed in the past, so I've learned to always trust it. And when looking at the shifter, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my gut. He was bad news. 

"It's moving!" Adele shouted staring furiously at the map. The yellow dot was indeed moving and at a ridiculously fast pace. It didn't seem possible to travel at that speed which immediately told me that Ryker was definitely not moving on his own.

"Where is he heading?" Wes demanded, looking anxiously down at the map. Adele's eyes followed the zigzagging yellow dot furiously.

"I can't tell, the route is being manipulated too rapidly."

I watched the yellow dot spur all over the map until it finally disappeared completely. Adele let out a small gasp of shock.

"What happened?" Ezra hissed.

"Someone disabled the tracking spell...but how? It's impossible to even detect!"

My heart wrenched.

"Stop the car!" I shouted. When it screeched to a halt, I threw open the door and vomited. 

"Noah!" Griffin called in concern. I felt a hand on my back rubbing soothing circles but there was nothing that could calm me right now. 

Gods I needed Ryker, I need him so bad. 

"You need to calm down, Noah. We're going to find him, okay?" Griffin tried to calm me but I couldn't bear it. I could not act like the facts weren't slapping me right in the face.

The likeliness of my finding Ryker was incredibly slim. 

"If you lose hope, then what point is there for us to continue? I didn't come all of this way for you to just give up. You need to get your act together and fast or so help me, I will kill you myself," Ezra snarled. Wes elbowed him harshly, which resulted in a deep suck of the teeth from the nymph. 

He was right though. I put so many people in danger. I didn't want to waste their time or give up on finding my lover. Ryker deserved better than me, but he also deserved to live. If I could save him before he damns himself then I will or die trying. 

"I'm sorry. You're right Ezra."

"Of course I'm right. Now get your pathetic ass in this car so we can drive to a store and you can wash out your mouth. I'll just kill you for the hell of it if I have to smell your rank breath this entire ride."

I gave a small laugh. 

Trust Ezra's bitchiness to make me smile again.

Griffin was way ahead of us, producing a water bottle, a travel toothbrush, and a small tube of toothpaste. I accepted to items gratefully, freshening up before getting back into the car. Adel gave me an encouraging smile. I returned it with a newfound hope that was instilled by a man who probably wished he never met me. Yet even though Ezra seemed annoyed by my very presence, I could tell that I was starting to grow on him.

I was never the strong one. I left that strength to Ryker. He was the one who held me together while I fretted over the smallest of trials. He was my rock. He was whole reason for trying to succeed as a witch. He was my motivation, the source of my power. He was everything and without him, I was starting to realize just how pathetic I really am.

I couldn't let that get me down though. Without him, I'd be stronger. I'd learn how to hold myself together, how to become a better witch—a better man—by myself so I could show Ryker just the man he fell in love with.

Maybe then he'd forgive me for the horrible crimes I've committed as a lover.

"Your thoughts. Tell me."

I jumped at the sound of his voice. I didn't know when the prince decided to sit next to me in the car, but suddenly he was there. An arm draped behind my seat, blood red locks spilling over his shoulder, and a delicious proximity that stole my breath from my lips. 

"I don't owe you anything, Sylus."

He didn't say anything, but then he did the unexpected. 

He smiled. 

It was brief and very slight, but it was a smile and it was for me.

The Vampire prince leaned in close to my neck. I wasn't sure why I had such a strong reaction, but my body froze so suddenly, I'm sure my heart stopped beating. His perfect nose brushed just along my collar bone. It was natural for my head to tilt back, for me to offer up the essence that gave me life.