Author's note: Heya I've tried my hardest to keep this as accurate to the books as possible. Hopefully this should follow straight on from Entice, but with my own twist of course. Hope you like :)

The Chapter is called 'Alegen' which is Old English for 'Confined'- I am not an Old English Expert, merely using an online dictionary and trying to get my head around singular, plural and accusative adjectives. The translator I am using is: .uk pretty self explanatory. It's for any of you who want to follow along with this story- but please don't start messaging me saying my translations are wrong because it's my story and I can do whatever I bloody well like. Reviews appreciated. Thanks. x x x loves

The fire's embers had burned really low, I was on the point of getting up and fetching more firewood- then I remembered I wasn't to be let out of anyone's sight. Bummer. So I snuggled closer to Issie and closed my eyes as I sighed 'So what's the plan then?'

Nick was back, but he was still out of it. Whatever the gods had done to him to make him forget his time up there in heaven or wherever, was really taking its time. I just wanted to see him open his eyes and... on second thoughts no I didn't. He had no idea that I was a pixie. All the explaining I had done in the halls of Vallaha had been forgotten by him. Not by me, not ever. I will always remember that look in his eyes- that look of hatred as he stared at my pixified form. It didn't matter to him that I looked the same, like it did for Issie. He could smell the pixie on me. He knew. Just how I knew that when he got one good sniff at me once he woke up it wouldn't matter that I was Zara. Now I was human enemy number one- a pixie.

I didn't think I would be able to stand that look again so for the time being I was avoiding going in the spare room- where he was sleeping. I didn't want my smell to be the first thing he sensed when he woke up.

'Well...' said three voices at once. Gram, Mum and Devyn had all started at the same time. They looked confusedly at one another. I sat up and pointed at Gram. 'You first' I said

'Well..'she continued 'We need to wait for Nick to wake up' Mum and Devyn nodded at this. So far so good. 'Then we need to get a battle plan together to get rid of this evil pixie king' more nods 'then we need to find a way to get you depixified' Mum nodded, Devyn looked awkward but obviously agreed.

'What?' I exploded

'Dear, it's just no good you being pixie' said my Mum 'you need to go back to being a normal girl. You don't want to be a..a..' I knew she was trying hard not to say the word "monster".

'Pixie, for the rest of your life' she completed

'You can't agree with them?' I appealed to both Cassidy and Issie but to my horror they both looked sheepish and guilty at the same time

'Zara, we..we...It's not that we hate you or not like you being pixie, but this is forever' said Issie

'And who knows how long pixies live for' added Cassidy.

Well if it was anything to go by, Astley's charming mother was way over a hundred I thought, but didn't say.

'Just think' said Devyn 'All your problems would be solved if you weren't pixie. You wouldn't have to hide who you are. You could get rid of that bothersome king...'

'If you mean Astley...' I interrupted

'And you could be with Nick' he finished.

There it was. The big, horrible, ugly, obvious point. I could be with Nick. Nick. Nick my boyfriend. Nick who I went to a whole other world to save, at the cost of my own father and dear, sweet Mrs Nix. Yeah, that Nick. The one who was currently snoring in the spare room.

Don't get me wrong. I love him. I didn't go through all of that for nothing. I love him. I do. Only, there's that whole thing with Astley. I mean he's good looking, he cares about me, he's done so much for me and oh, yeah, I kissed him. Oh shit. I. Kissed. Astley.

Well, to be fair he kissed me back. But still, I cheated on Nick! But maybe it doesn't count if your boyfriend is in another world. Maybe. I dunno.

That is a whole pile of mess which I'd rather not think about now. Ditto with the depixifying.

'Zare?' asked Issie sounding concerned.

'I don't want to talk about this right now' I replied

'But' started Devyn

'NO!' I said, perhaps a bit more forcefully than I'd anticipated. Everyone's reaction was one of shock. Ooops. 'I'm going for some fresh air' I said moving towards the door. I'd just seen a familiar silhouette framed against the window.

'Wait!' said a chorus of voices but I didn't turn around to look. I opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. Astley was waiting for me. He held his arms out for a hug. I went to him gratefully, allowing myself to be enfolded in his strong arms. Nick or no Nick, I felt safe with my pixie counterpart.

'How are you?' he asked

'Fed up' I replied 'Did you know that they want to turn me back into a human?'

'What?' he exclaimed

'Is that even possible?'

'No' he sighed, then paused before 'Do you want to be human again? Do you regret becoming my queen?'

'No' I answered truthfully. 'I feel stronger than I did when I was human. I am able to protect my friends and the people I love. I...I... can cope better than when I was human. There seems more space in my brain to deal with all this...stuff' I finished lamely.

Astley squeezed me in reply. It was comforting; he was the closest person to understanding what I was going through. But even he didn't know everything; he was not a female pixie, formerly a human and now a queen. But he was close enough. I doubted Nick would understand, he wouldn't give me a chance, he would react instantly then his pride would prevent him from changing his mind and attitude.

Just then there was a commotion inside the house. Astley and I turned around quickly. I threw the door open and strode back inside. Astley waited on the threshold looking in - Gram still hadn't given him permission to enter.

The scene before me was confusing.

Cassidy was scrunched up with her hands out in front of her. She was standing beside the fireplace and the flames which before were on the point of dying were now flaring high up the chimney. The heat they were giving off was scorching.

Issie was curled up on the couch, her eyes were wide with terror staring at Cassidy.

Gram was poised to attack, but you could tell she was as confused as I, not knowing what was going on.

Mum was like Issie, shocked at what was going on.

Devyn was the only one making any noise. 'We're under attack!' he yelled 'They're using magic; Cassidy stop them!'

'They're too strong' Cassidy said out from gritted teeth. She looked like she was in pain, her hands were shaped like they were trying to push something back. She was muttering half formed spells, but had to keep breaking off because whoever was trying to penetrate the house was countering. If the flames roaring in the grate were anything to go by then the enemy was much more powerful.

'Who is it?' I shouted

'It's. Not. Pixie' managed Cassidy, before she gave a great heaving effort and collapsed to the floor. The flames immediately died and a cold draft blew into the room.

We could only stand in shock.