I've never felt so dirty in my entire life. This was probably the lowest I've ever sank. I didn't know what this was doing to my sanity but I knew that I'd barely be able keep it together after this. 

The fae stared up at me with his strange yet enticing tricolored eyes. I hovered over him, unsure of what I should do next. 

He reached up to wipe my eye. When he pulled back I realized it was a single tear on his finger. I hadn't noticed I was crying. 

"I'm sorry to force you into something you don't feel comfortable with. If there were another way then I'd..." he trailed off looking miserable. 

"Explain to me why this is so important. Why is Cosmo so adamant about getting you pregnant and king of the Fae? What does he want?" I asked, trying to steer my mind away from the fact that I was buried deep inside someone that was not Ryker. 

"He wants something that was stolen from his clan a very long time ago. And he wants revenge. Two things that he most certainly should not have."

"Then why are you helping him?" 

"Because-" he gasped as I gave one good thrust inside him, "just as you have your lover, I have someone that I am in love with. Cosmo is threatening him and I wouldn't test him, he holds true to his threats."

Suddenly I felt sick. 

We were the same. Neither one of us wanted to do this but we had to. I did, to save a friend and he did to save his species and his lover. 

So I helped him...and he helped me. 

*

"Well that was fast. You pregnant yet?" Cosmo asked as soon as we emerged from the hall. Griffin was looking pissed, which is understandable after being in Cosmo's presence for so long. 

"I wouldn't know that soon," Gentry, the fae, snapped. 

"Better find out quick, or I'll be forced to visit that Warrior of yours. Think he knows?" Cosmo threatened, losing all of his playful attitude despite the words he uttered. Gentry stiffened, fear clear in his eyes. 

"You can't possibly expect him to know so soon. Threatening him when he has no control over the situation is cowardly and will get you nowhere!" I seethed, stepping toward the towering Mer. He looked me up and down with a smile. 

"Are you challenging me, little witch?"

I stepped even closer until I was in his face. Well...as close to his face as I could get. Let's not forget he's nearly seven feet tall. 

"And what if I am?" I countered, staring straight up into those teal eyes. 

"You've gotten quite bold. Don't you know that Mers are very dangerous creatures?" He widened those powerful jaws to showcase his numerous rows of jagged teeth as emphasis.

"You won't hurt me."

He glared down at me for a moment, searching my eyes furiously before hissing in anger and stepping back. 

"I'll be back. Don't leave this cave!" He barked before jumping through the opening of the cave that led to the bottom of the lake. I could see the transformation happening as he sacrificed his legs for a sleek blue and silver tail. Once he was gone Gentry moved quickly.

"We need to go...now!" He urged, throwing me Cosmo's discarded pants. I caught them with ease, slipping them on. 

"Won't you be in danger? Or your lover?" Griffin cautioned, speaking for the first time since we got back. When we entered the cave after...er...mating, he was sitting quietly on the ground, not really looking at me or anyone else. I suppose the situation had put him in a rather awkward position. 

Gentry was hesitant in his answer. 

"Han will be fine. I know he will," he replied softly, the much louder, "We need to get a move on quickly, before he comes back!" 

"But Noah can't survive this water pressure. There is no way he'll be able to swim from so far down. It will kill him."

Gentry bit his lip. 

"I can transport him with me, but I won't be able to do both of you."

Griffin shook his head, "I don't need help escaping, I'm half Siren; I can swim."

Gentry looked shocked for a moment before nodding his head and grabbing my hand. He looked up at me seriously.

"When I say 'go' hold your breath for as long as you can and whatever you do, don't let go of my hand." 

I nodded at the small Fae, dwarfing his soft, small hand in my own. He gazed at the intertwined appendages for a moment before pulling me to approach the edge of the cave where the bottom of the lake waited. I glanced at Griffin who came to my other side. He nodded before jumping through the barrier and swimming toward the surface. I looked back to Gentry who nodded at me before shouting a sharp "go" and causing me to hold my breath.

The experience was short, but strange. I suddenly felt like my body was floating, but at the same time, my skin burned with intensity. I wanted to say the feeling lasted a minute, but I'm sure it was more than that. I couldn't see anything when I was holding my breath, but as soon as I released it, we were out of the water and at the edge of the lake. Griffin was beside me standing tall, soaking wet. The pure white locks of his hair clung to his well-defined body. 

There was no doubt that Griffin was gorgeous. I thought so from the moment I laid eyes on him, but something really had me thinking. Was I truly destined for all of these men that that Riddle Forest decreed for me? Were they truly to become my lovers? What would become of my relationship with Ryker?

"We need to go now, I smell blood. Fresh blood," Griffin warned, nostrils flaring. He sniffed the air once more before his eyes widened. "No," he whispered in horror before taking off through the trees. 

"Let's go!" I told Gentry, dragging him along with me as I took after the frantic hybrid Lord. He was moving much faster than I was capable of, so when we reached the destination, it was much too late to be of any help. Not that Griffin's arrival made much of a difference. 

It was a scene straight out of a horror movie. 

Blood was everywhere. Bodies littered the ground. Some were familiar faces. 

Varik.

Sloan.

Adel.

Sylus.

"Sylus?" I didn't even notice the crack in my voice nor did I care. The Vampire Prince was lying in a pool of blood blending in completely with his disheveled locks. His throat was slit open and deep gashes littered his exposed torso. 

Griffin dropped to his knees beside the prince, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. 

"Sylus?" Griffin sobbed, holding the prince's head to his chest.

No.

It couldn't be.

Sylus couldn't be...dead.