It was night when I regained consciousness. Groaning, I sat up, cradling my head in my hands. I had a migraine from hell splitting my skull in two. My wrist throbbed, and I realized it was bandaged. Grimacing, I tried to think back. What the hell had I done? I remember going into the hotel with Sebastian. There had been a sickening aura. He had started checking rooms, and I found the room where the ritual happened. Then, there was the guy outside the window. That guy…no, it couldn't be. After that, everything was a blur. I crawled out of bed to find my bottle of Naproxen. Oh, god. Every muscle in my body screamed in pain. I think getting hit by a truck would be less painful. Whimpering, I returned to the bed. My phone laid on the night stand next to me. Pain pulsed behind my eyes as I squinted at the bright screen. Finding his name, I covered my eyes with a pillow and put the phone to my ear. It was Damion who answered.

"Hm?"

"Where's Sebastian?" I asked hoarsely.

"He's meeting with some of my agents. Give me a second."

I listened to Damion whispering to someone. A moment passed, then a rich voice spoke.

"Yes?"

"I hurt," I moaned pitifully. "I need help."

Each word sent spikes of pain through my head.

"I'll send Lacey up."

"I want you."

He was silent.

"Please? I'm really messed up right now."

"What do you remember?"

There was a sharp edge in his voice. Shit. What did I do?

"Um. The hotel. I know I was there. I found that room. There was someone outside the window. That's about it."

He sounded relieved.

"Give me five minutes, okay?"

"Lacey?"

"She's on her way now. Rest, my love."

The call ended, and I buried myself under my blankets. It hurt too much to think right now. A few minutes passed and my door opened softly. I heard Lacey carefully walking towards me, the rattle of bottles made me cringe. Peeking my head over the blanket, I saw the Witch pulling vials of liquid from a small case. She glanced over her shoulder with a strange look before pointing to each bottle.

"Headache, wrist, everything else."

"You're a lifesaver," I croaked.

She uncorked each bottle, her head bobbing.

"More than you know, dear. Come now, you need to sit up to drink."

I took each vial from her and downed it, grimacing at the taste. My pain ebbed away after a few minutes, and I let out a relived sigh.

"Oh, thank god for your potions. I thought I was going to die."

Lacey began packing up her trunk.

"What do you remember?" she inquired.

"Not much, to be honest. I remember finding that room with the runes and seeing the guy outside the window."

Her hand hovered over an empty bottle.

"What guy?"

I thought about it, shaking my head.

"Honestly, I think I might have been seeing things.

"What things?"

I launched myself at Sebastian.

"You're here!" I squealed, burying my face in his chest.

He seemed shocked, but swiftly pulled me into bed with him. I curled up in his arms, taking in his scent. God, he was so amazing. A kiss to my forehead flooded me with a warm, cozy feeling, and I grinned against him. Being with him helped to erase my nightmares, but the image of the guy outside the window still played in my head over and over.

"Taylor, who was the guy outside the window?"

I peered at Lacey from my spot in Sebastian's arms.

"I really think I was seeing things."

Fingers ran through my hair as Sebastian whispered in my ear.

"Would you tell her if I asked sweetly?"

His breath sent a shiver down my spine.

"Sure," I breathed.

Sitting up, I glanced at Sebastian before sighing.

"Look, I know this sounds crazy, but I swear to god I saw him."

"Who?"

My jaw clenched.

"Shay."

That's right. I chased Shay to the entrance of the Viridi Silvia. But…he wasn't himself. He was angry and bitter. I touched my scalp where he had pulled me by my hair. My Shay would never lay a hand on me. That didn't hurt nearly as much as him accusing me of replacing him, though. My heart ached as I remembered his final word to me while Sebastian carried me off after a fit of madness. He called me a traitor.

Lacey and Sebastian had fallen into stunned silence.

"I'm not crazy! I swear!"

The Witch leaned back against my table as if that was all that was holding her up.

"Are you sure it was him?"

I nodded, lowering my gaze.

"I-I need to speak with Alex."

With that she bounded out of the room, bottles clacking against each other loudly. I returned to my spot in Sebastian's arms, feeling conflicted. Was it wrong for me to be laying with him while my other fiancée was doing god knows what in the forest? Should I have waited longer to move on? I studied my ring. Whose ring should I be wearing, Shay's or Sebastian's?

"Sebastian?"

"Hm?"

"Was it really him?"

He stroked my hair.

"I don't know."

"Did I betray him?"

Sebastian squeezed me.

"No, my love. He was dead for over a year when we met."

Then why did I feel so guilty? Something about how he looked at me after seeing my ring left a dull ache in my heart. He was my first love. The one I planned on marrying, even though he was half-Demon. I had envisioned a grand wedding with him at the altar with his sweet smile and brightly shining emerald eyes as I walked down the aisle on the arm of his father. We would start a family and grow old together. Now? Now, the snowy-haired Demon at the altar was replaced with the sultry raven-haired man beside me. Our future was uncertain, and a family may never be possible. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My love with Shay had been pure and happy. What I shared with Sebastian was bittersweet, tainted by the loss of our first child and the looming threat of a beast in human form. I should be jumping at the chance to return to my perfect love with Shay. My life would easy and free of pain. Yet…it was the Demon beside me I wanted to be with. There was no question of his devotion, and even with the pain and fear of our life, I couldn't imagine waking up next to anyone else. The ache turned to a sharp pain. I really had replaced Shay, in both my heart and life.

"Taylor?"

"I'm gonna take a shower real quick. I feel disgusting." I hesitated for half a second. "Company would be nice, though."

While Sebastian stripped outside the glass walls of the shower, I messed with the temperature until it was to my liking. I needed it hot right now. It tinted my skin red, but I savored how it purified me. It burned away the images of a man I no longer recognized, though it did nothing for my heart. I wondered if there was a potion that healed heartbreak. I pressed my palm against my chest, trying to ease the ache. Why did I think I was going to feel like this for a while? A hand with a glowing symbol reached around me to lower the temperature. It was still warm, but felt icy against my flushed skin.

"You're going to burn yourself," my fiancée scolded.

His hands were already entwined in my thick mane of chocolate strands, massaging shampoo into my scalp.

"I like my water just a few degrees below hellfire."

Rich laughter bounced off the walls, and I smirked. Skillful fingers rinsed soap from my hair, the man they belonged to nipping at my ear. A moan escaped my lips, and I sank gratefully into his arms. It was like this last time we showered together, though instead of carrying me to his room, it would be to ours. He wasn't as impatient this time, choosing to wash up with me with a wicked glint in his eyes. It sent shivers of excitement through my body, the anticipation killing me. My breath caught in my throat when he finally swept me out of bathroom to our bedroom. It had been too long.

I eagerly opened myself to him, my hands in his soft hair. He lips left a trail of fire in its wake, leaving me shuddering beneath him. His dark chuckle was accompanied by a hand drifting downwards, and I gasped as his touch sent electricity through my body. My entangled fingers pulled his lips to mine, greedily claiming him. A throaty growl vibrated through him, his hands using my weak spots to turn me to jelly. I begged pitifully for him to take me, whimpering as he brought me to the edge of release only to stop.

"Please, I need you."

His breath in my ear made me shudder.

"I want to hear you beg for it."

"Goddamnit! I can't take much more!"

He sat back, watching me flush with embarrassment.

"Please, take me," I moaned, "I'll do anything!"

He shook his head with a grin.

"You're hopeless, my love."

I bit back a gasp as he entered me, losing myself in the waves of pleasure he sent through me with every thrust. His fingers pinched and twisted, the pain turning my moans into pants. Smirking, his increased the tempo. My eyes rolled back into my head, and I arched my back to meet his every movement. My pleasure soon turned to ecstasy and I shrieked into his shoulder as he let out a low snarl. Chest heaving, I rested my head against him. God, how did this man make me melt in his hands?

Cold air against my back made me shiver, and I scanned the room with a frown. Was there an open window? Seeing a curtain fluttering, I detached myself from my fiancée to investigate. Wrapped in a sheet, I padded softly across the lush carpet, my stomach in knots. Pulling aside the heavy blue curtain, I came face-to-face with a familiar figure. I jumped back, falling on my butt with a strangled cry. Hate burned in his beautiful eyes as he stepped through the window, something clenched in his fist. A flash of black crossed my vision as a fully-clothed Sebastian stepped between us, slipping a glove over the hand with the contract mark. With a barely a glance at him, Shay grabbed the front of his jacket and flung him out of his way. The crash that followed brought my maids running. Nali smashed through the door as Shay knelt down before me. He held his hand out, palm up. I took the small white envelope, my fingers brushing against his skin. Snatching his hand back, he stood and gave the new arrivals a brief look before spinning on his heel. Sebastian appeared at the window, his lips drawn in a silent snarl. He towered over Shay, but the snowy-haired Demon paid him little attention, choosing to look over his shoulder at me.

"How foolish I was to love someone like you," he stated coldly, "A creature that willingly spreads her legs for any Demon. Do you even know his name?"

I recoiled at his words, feeling sick. Nali placed herself in front of me protectively wielding her massive greatsword. Lacey and Alex stood at my side with ebony wand raised and delicate hands clasped together. Another figure took his place before me, fury distorting his face. Shay inclined his head towards him.

"Brother."

Damion's hands curled around the hilt of an obsidian sword with veins of glowing red stone pulsing with dark energy. Emerald eyes glanced at it, but Shay's expression remained unreadable.

"So, I am the enemy. I expected so much more of you, Damion."

The Prince's hands trembled.

"Why are you here?"

He motioned to the letter crumpled in my hands.

"Delivering a message. Though, I suppose I saw the true nature of that woman, as well."

I shrank back, tears welling in my eyes.

"You've been dead for years, Shay," his brother snapped, "Did you expect your widow to grieve forever?"

"I expected her to be loyal," Shay retorted, "Without a Demon between her legs."

As if finally noticing Sebastian, he turned to address him.

"I can't blame you, I suppose. She is quite lovely, and I'm sure she fulfils your carnal needs well enough."

Roaring, Sebastian lunged at him. Shay easily side-stepped him, climbing gracefully out the window while my fiancée recovered. He gave a final sneer, his words dripping with venom before he disappeared.

"We will meet again, dear, don't you worry. I look forward to the day you die screaming."

Dropping the sword, Damion ran to the window and stuck his head out. Shay was gone. My maids joined him, Alex and Lacey searching for magic runes or portals. The Amazon was trying to calm my enraged fiancée, a firm hand on his shoulder.

"He's bitter," she said softly, "A poltergeist in solid form."

"I don't care," he spat, "No one speaks to my mate that way."

I looked down at the letter in my trembling hands. My name was written in neat handwriting, twisting my stomach into knots. Removing the letter from the envelope, I read it while dread flooded over me.

"Dearest Taylor," it read, "I'm sure you've met my new messenger. Do you find him appealing? I picked him just for you."

Somehow I knew it would be him who brought Shay back to life.

"My preparations are nearly complete and soon I will have need of your presence. I will be sending someone to retrieve you on the 15th on next month. I advise that you not refuse them. You wouldn't want my precious messenger to suffer, would you? Kane."

Still clad in only a sheet, I rose from my spot and disappeared into the manor. Everyone was far too engrossed in Shay's escape to notice my absence, but I did run into Ciel on my way to the library. He looked me up and down with a strange expression. I imagine I must have looked strange with tousled hair and tears streaking down my cheeks. To my surprise, my tone was steady when I spoke.

"Damion is in my room,"

I started to glide past him, trembling. This was all too much right now.

"What happened?"

Ciel had started to follow me, his single eye narrowed with concern. I only shook my head, unwilling to answer.

"Ask your boyfriend."

I increased my pace, wanting nothing more than the leave him in the dust. To my relief, the young Demon did not follow me, but I felt his gaze on the back of my neck long after I turned the corner. The staff took notice on my strange attire as I glided through the halls, but I hardly noticed the stares. My mind was a whirlwind of fragmented thoughts and fears that turned the dancing shadows on the wall into foreboding silhouettes with burning eyes. It was a waking nightmare. The man I believed to be dead no longer was and now plagued my life like a vengeful spirit. What purpose did Kane have for using Shay? The answer was so glaringly obvious that I had to pause before the doors of the library to shake my head. To control me, what else? It was clear the madman knew of my bodyguards. My capture would not be so easy now with the three maids at my side. So, instead of wasting his time with a fight he couldn't win, he would force my compliance with a shard of my past. Cruel, but effective.

The library was empty upon my arrival, lit only by the moonlight that peaked through the curtains. I paused for a moment in the ethereal room, debating briefly what my purpose was here. Surely my feet brought me here to be lost in my favorite book. It would be a relief to escape this world, if only momentarily, but I could not allow that. Shay was a very real problem and running away into the pages of a book was not going to solve anything. No, my efforts were best used to learn more about the wayward Prince's condition.

Gliding like a ghost among the bookshelves, I began to search for books on Void Magic and the creature Kane coveted so dearly. Though hidden, I did find a small stack of books on Void Magic and Necromancy. While the majority were in a language I couldn't understand, I did find a few translated roughly into English. Unsurprisingly, I found nothing on the power Kane wanted. The closest thing I found were tomes detailing ancient Supernaturals that were believed to be the first of their race. As intriguing as it would be to learn more of the world I had been dragged into, learning the ins and outs of Void magic was far more important.

Curling up in my favorite window seat, I began flipping through ancient tomes. A clocked ticked away the minutes as I dove into each one, my brow furrowing the more I learned. There were several theories on how Void Magic functioned. One stated that it burned the soul of the caster. Another claimed that it used the Void itself. There were hundreds of spells listed, but no instructions on how to cast them. I was grateful of that. They were all awful, starting with hexes to make someone die slowly of illness or poison to massive spells that would swallow whole armies and send them to the Void. Similar to the spells in the Necromancy book, there were ways to bring the dead to life. However, it was clear that this method was much darker and twisted than raising zombies as shocking as that sounded. While the souls of the deceased were used, there was no guarantee it would be in one piece. However, this issue seemed to be the norm with Demons, as their soul were returned to the Void after death. In order to raise someone from the dead, a Void user had to spend years gathering enough shards of the soul to reform it. There was no guarantee the person that came back would be the same, but there was always a spike in power. In blood red ink at the bottom of the page was a list of "side effects" for the returned, listing things such as aggression, loss of memory, and even degradation of the physical form. There were no theories on why this was in any of the books.

Setting down the last tome, I checked the clock. It was early in the morning, but I wasn't concerned. I didn't have class until late that afternoon. My fingers brushed against a familiar leather-bound book on the floor next to me. I let my fingers trail across the elegant gold lettering printed into the cover, musing over my discovery. It was as Nali said; Shay was a poltergeist in solid form. The process of bringing him back had turned him into someone he was not. Sighing, I leaned back against the padded window frame. I needed a break.

The leather cover was butter-soft beneath my fingertips as I retrieved my book from beneath the pile of tomes. My bookmark stuck a little less than halfway through the book, and I let the pages fall open to where I left off. Immersing myself in the world of the warrior princess, I failed to hear the library door open. Footsteps echoed through the room as I bent over my book, heavy and weary. A figure stood across the room, waiting for me to notice him. Slightly tousled, Sebastian slumped against one of the bookshelves. His hands were shoved in his pockets, his vibrant crimson eyes closed. Gone was his perfect demeanor, and for a moment I questioned if this was the same man. Defeat was etched into his marble face. It was heartbreaking.

Lifting a hand, I crooked a finger for him come. He shuffled over to me, his typical poise and grace gone. I pointed at the empty space beside me and he dropped lightly. Retrieving the crumpled letter from the folds of my sheet, I held it out to him. I let him read over it, watching his face over the top of my book. Gloved hand in his hair, his ruby eyes moved across the page. The corners of his mouth tightened and he tossed it to the side.

"He doesn't plan on killing me," I said, flipping to the next page in my book.

"No, what he is doing is worse." He sounded so tired. "He's torturing you."

I bobbed my head.

"I'm starting to think he can't kill me himself," I mused. "If he could, he would have done so the first time we met. Instead, he's trying to break me. Killing my child. Threatening you. Constant reminders that me that he knows where I live. Shay."

"How can you be so calm about this?" he asked, his voice cracking.

Oh, my stunning fiancée, it broke my heart to see you this way. Hopelessness has seized him, stripping away his protective sultry demeanor. I had seen him like this only a few times before, but never this bad. Shay had been a sharp reminder that he was not as all-powerful as he liked to believe, and I could see in his eyes how much that hurt him. The snowy-haired Demon had tossed him around like a rag doll, treating him like one would a fly. The opposite would have been true had they met before Shay's death, with a half-Demon being no match for a full-blooded one, but the power bestowed on him from the Void Magic had made him a terrifying opponent.

I snapped my book close and set it aside.

"I'm not going to let him win."

Sebastian looked up at me as if really seeing me for the first time. I could see the gears turning in his muddled brain. How could I be so strong, he was asking himself, when I was clearly at the mercy of another? Was I not only human? Perhaps, my dear, but I have something I cannot bear to lose. A spark of life reappeared in my fiancée's eyes and he learned over me, brushing his lips against mine. With a small smile, I entwined my fingers with his. For once, he needed me to comfort him. A sigh escaped him, his shoulders slumping as I guided his head to my chest. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear, the tips of my fingers tracing the outline of the cartilage as he knelt beside me. His hands clutched at my makeshift dress, trembling as I rubbed his back soothingly.

"How am I supposed to protect you?"

His voice was unsteady.

"You're not."

He lifted his head, anger flashing across his face.

"I am a Duke of the Demonic Royal Court, Taylor. That makes me one of the most powerful Demons to have ever existed."

Shifting slightly, I picked up a tome and opened it to a dog-eared page.

"Demon souls are the hardest to salvage," I read, "With the belief that they will return to the Void, it is imprudent to believe that one will recover every aspect. The reanimated creature will function as they did when they were living, albeit with personality changes brought on by an incomplete soul. There is also a noticeable spike in strength and magical ability among those risen with incomplete souls. There are no current theories as to why this is, and is advised to use caution when reanimating."

"You've been researching Void Magic?"

I put the book back on the top of the stack with a shrug, grateful for the change in subject.

"I was hoping to learn something useful. There aren't any suggestions on how to defeat someone like Shay, but I'm hoping it will be similar to killing zombies." I motioned to the green book. "Zombies will only die if they are beheaded. Tearing off their limbs does incapacitate them, but they can still bite. You can't be turned into a zombie if you're bitten, but most victims die from infection. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'll have to cut Shay's head off."

The Demon gave me an incredulous look.

"You?"

I patted Sebastian's back,

"I owe him that much, don't I?"

"He would kill you." Fire returned to his voice.

I pensively twisted a lock of raven hair around a finger.

"He would try, but Kane wouldn't allow it."

Before he could he retort, the heavy double doors slammed open.

"My lady!"

Nali's voice boomed through the library, making me jump. Jesus, she was loud! The giant Amazon stood with hands on her hips, searching wildly for me. Sebastian and I stared at her in stunned silence. Huh, I suppose I was gone for a while. When the giant woman's eyes landed on us, a smile broke across her face and she called over her shoulder.

"I found her!"

A trail of people followed her across the library. Lacey was carrying a teetering stack of books in her arms with the Mage guiding her steps. A few times it seemed that the tower of books would collapse on the pair, but somehow Lacey always regained her footing. Ciel was struggling to support Damion, the Prince clearly inebriated and reeking like a brewery. Grimacing, I watched him topple over the small boy and stumble into a table. Out of all of us, Shay's return had hit his younger brother the hardest. Scrambling to his feet, Ciel struggled to pull Damion back to his feet, his small face strained as he spoke softly to the snowy Demon. Damion only shook his head, refusing to budge. An exasperated sigh followed as a sandy-haired Immortal replaced the small Demon and dragged the drunken Prince to where I and my fiancée sat. Two reapers followed at his heels, one a familiar red-headed bastard that made the Demon tense in my lap. The other had short black hair and was similar in feature to Sebastian. I recognized him as the Reaper who refused to eat the day Derrick stormed out of the manor. It was him who glared coldly at my partner while Derrick forced the Prince to sit on the floor.

My ragtag group sat in a semi-circle around me, the stack of books sitting neatly in the middle. The two Reaper remained standing, watching Derrick as he downed his fourth can of Monster. Damion had rested his head in Ciel's lap, breathing heavily. Flushed from drink, he was whispering into Ciel's ear with a goofy grin. The small boy's face turned the color of strawberries, and he tried his damnedest to avoid looking at his partner. Seeing his discomfort, Nali leaned over to show him her greatsword and spoke cheerfully about the craftsmanship of Amazonia weapons and armor. On the other side, scooted as far from Damion as she could manage, the Witch had her wand tucked into her cloth belt as she searched through her books. I could only assume she was searching for something more than what I had found. Alex danced about the room, chanting softly as she conjured small spheres of light to illuminate the room. It would have been significantly easier to just flip the light switch, but the Mage had a flair for the dramatic. Standing behind the inebriated Prince with arms over his chest, Derrick stared down at my unorthodox choice of clothing, grimacing. After a moment, he grumbled his displeasure.

"Could you please put some clothes on?"

I motioned down the length of my body.

"I'm covered."

With her lights summoned, Alex appeared next to the Immortal barely containing her excitement.

"Ooh! I just learned a new spell I want to try! Come, come!"

Derrick rolled his eyes, but somehow I knew he was secretly pleased as Alex pulled on my arm. Sebastian begrudgingly let the Mage drag me away, muttering as he claimed my window seat. Stepping carefully around the clingy Prince and his embarrassed lover, I was led out of the library. Alex's hands ran thoughtfully over the dark blue fabric of the sheet as we stood in the hallway. A pair of maids rounded the corner, freezing at the sight of the Mage's delicate fingers running down my side. Before I tell them it wasn't what they thought, the maids fled, red-faced and giggling. Completely oblivious to the scene she had made, Alex straightened with a smile.

"This will be such a beautiful color on you," she said, raising a hand. "Stay still now."

She took a step back, her arms in front of her with palms out. Chanting, she slowly moved her hands. The sheet began to shift, pulling itself apart into a sphere of spider-web fine threads around me. I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to cover myself before another staff member found us. Eyes gleaming, Alex's voice grew louder, commanding the threads in an ancient tongue. Obeying, the thread began to form into cloth, building a dress tailored to me. Short sleeves formed, then the fitted bodice. Fabric poured down my legs to form a floor length skirt, small roses appearing around my waist. Lowering her hands, Alex beamed at me. The sheet had become a gorgeous ballgown with a belt of midnight flowers. Some had found their place among my hair that Alex skillfully braided with strands of hair framing my face. Gleefully, the Mage took me by the hand and dragged me back into the library.

Derrick and Lacey were bent over an open book when Alex flounced in. The two briefly glanced up before doing a double-take. Sebastian was lying on his back in the window seat with an arm over his eyes. Hearing Lacey's gasp, he lifted his arm to look at me. He sat up suddenly, causing Nali and Ciel to look back. Even the Reapers looked impressed.

"All rise for her Majesty, Queen Taylor!" Alex called out playfully.

Sebastian stood with a sweeping bow, smirking.

"My lady."

The others rose, trying to recover from shock. Did I really look so strange to them? A stab of pain blinded me for a moment as the stone at my throat burned, and I blinked away the stars. My little group stood among books, looking haggard. Lacey had a book clutched to her chest, her black dress gray with dust. With Reapers at his back, Derrick stood with legs apart, crossing his arms over his chest. Nali was helping Ciel keep Damion on his feet, the Prince swaying back and forth. My right eye twitched, and suddenly I was seeing double. I still saw the others in the library, but from my right eye, I saw them in suits and ballgowns. They had gathered at the foot of the steps leading to where I stood, looking up at me. The empty hall behind them was supported with massive pillars made of pale tan stone. It was so familiar, this room, this scene. It was as if my past and present had started to merge. My inner circle was waiting for me to speak, their faces grim. My enigma of a fiancée spoke in both images, his infamous smirk plastered across his face.

"What are your orders?"

I clasped my hands before me, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. The image in my right eye faded as I spoke, leaving me to see the room as it was.

"We are going to find Kane," I declared, pushing aside my growing dread, "And I am going to make him pay."