"So Sook, how've you been?" Amelia asked while hugging a steaming mug of black herbal tea and sitting at my kitchen table.

I flipped the sausage in Gran's old skillet, listening to the familiar sizzle. "Great. What about you? How's New Orleans?" I asked. Amelia had moved back to her condo in New Orleans after the damage from Katrina had been fixed, but made weekend-long visits every couple of weeks. Sure, I missed her cheerful self running around my house, but it's nice to not have to shield like crazy in my own home anymore. She's quite the mental broadcaster. "Have you heard from Octavia?"

"Nope." I turned after a long few moments to see if she would expound (a word of the day) on the comment, only to see her nervously toying with her sweater. I don't have to be a telepath to know she's trying to hide something from me.

"Spill it." I said, perching my hands on my hips.

"You're going to burn the sausage" Don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it…

"Think about what?" I asked.

Dammit. You're just going to pick it from my brain anyway. Quinn called me. He wants you back BIG TIME. Asked me to put in a good word. She thought, defeated. If people could sigh mentally, she would have.

My heart jumped. "WHAT?!?!" Livid was tame as kittens compared to what I feeling.

She threw up her hands defensively. "Hey, don't kill the messenger…" I couldn't believe that Quinn would plunge to such a new low. After all, he hadn't tried to contact me in months; not since he came to my home uninvited and against Eric's edict to tell me that no one would ever love me. You want me to go home early?

"No, no. It's not your fault." I took a deep breath to collect myself, but I still had a bad taste in my mouth. Usually, when a supe, let alone a supe I dumped on less than friendly terms, emerges from the woodwork, I get pulled into something I don't want to be in. After the last incident with the Fae War, I was less than enthusiastic to get involved. "Did he mention anything else he wanted?" I asked after I pulled breakfast off the burner and served up two plates.

"No. Just 'tell her I said hi and I'm not such a bad guy.'"

Hmm. Amelia looked just as puzzled as I imagine I did. I sat, contemplating my options. One: I could call Quinn. But what would I say? I wasn't ready to forgive him for his betrayal, and I couldn't take another no-one-will-ever-love-you-like-I-love-you lecture. Two: I could ignore it. That seemed more and more inviting. Three: was there a three?

GAH! You're killing me! What are you going to do? Amelia hurled at me mentally as she slammed her mug back on the table. I was wonderful to have the best of both worlds; a best friend that was both human and accepting of my little quirk. But that fact didn't help me figure it out. I shot her an apologetic look and shrugged. Who knows?

Somewhere in my subconscious, I heard a car approach on my gravel driveway, but my mind wouldn't break out of its tiger-induced fog to do anything about it.

Babe?

My head snapped up and my mouth gaped open. Amelia's hand shot toward mine, her eyes quizzical. Speak of the devil. "Quinn…" I whispered. Now it was Amelia's turn to gape.

Babe? If you want, come out back. I have something I need to tell you. I promise I won't yell this time. He added the last bit with a sheepish mental smile.

I hesitated. I definitely didn't want to talk to him, but Gran would be rolling over in her grave if she knew I was purposely shunning someone instead of inviting them in for tea. I rose from the table and peeked my head out the back door. He was leaning against his truck, dressed in a deep blue button down shirt and light grey slacks. He was staring right at me. "I'll be right back" I mumbled over my shoulder at Amelia.

"Hey babe, I missed you." He said, taking a step towards me. Once off the back porch, I stopped in my tracks.

I crossed my arms under my chest, bracing for the twinge of pain that always accompanied betrayal. "What do you want, Quinn."

His face fell and his shoulders slumped. "I owe you. Big. I have a warning for you and Northman. I think de Castro is moving to kidnap you and keep you for his own purposes. He wants to use you for your ability and your…" Rage bubbled behind his eyes. He clenched his fists.

My head spun. I clutched the porch's hand rail to steady myself as a knee buckled. "Body" I finished. I picked the images straight from Quinn's usually dense mind. Not to mention, de Castro had never hidden the fact he wanted every inch of me. "How…"

"I don't know the exact plan. I overheard him talking to Sandy and Victor about preparations to 'transport and forcibly entertain' someone." He made air quotes with his fingers. I was beginning to hyperventilate, images from past kidnapping attempts flashed through my mind. "That, and Victor has been asking questions about you and Northman, along with others who live in Northman's territory." Quinn moved toward me and threw and arm around me. He was trembling. Or was I? I was still clutching the hand rail. I couldn't breathe. Before I could turn to look at Quinn, everything went black.