A dogs barking caught everyone's attention. It shook the foundation of silence left in the wake of the siblings. Ash reacted as instinctively, but still kept his eyes on Mary-Lynnette's. He absentmindedly pet the large animal. Mary-Lynnette couldn't keep eye contact. She looked away her eyes meeting the accusatory silver-gray ones of James Rasmussen.

"Well, it seems your Poppy knows my Phillip." Sara said with a smile, "This is my second in command, Mary Redfern."

Mary-Lynnette couldn't believe Sara would do such a thing. She knew about Ash. Why would she not tell her that he'd be here?

"We know who she is." Ash grounded out not succeeding in the slightest to keep the distaste from his voice.

Petroculus looked up at Mary-Lynnette and grabbed her hand. Ash had caught the hurt flash in her eyes then double as she caught his eye again, but he didn't allow himself to care. Mary-Lynnette smiled down at the little boy before smiling up at the group.

"Hello, James, Poppy. Iliana, Galen, Keller. Ash. It's great to see you again." She managed though her voice shook.

James couldn't keep the disapproving gaze off his face as he took in his cousin by marriage. Poppy on the other hand gazed at her in understanding. Phil gave her a small smile of encouragement. Mary-Lynnette nodded toward him and then felt her smile widen. Ash wasn't the only one good at hiding his emotions.

Keller was the only one who noticed that the Dragonites around them were tensing up. They could feel Mary-Lynnette's discomfort and didn't like it at all. Mary-Lynnette smiled up at them brightly and turned to gaze at those around her. There was a warning in her eyes. She didn't want them to worrying. Mary-Lynnette was sending a message that she could handle herself.

A tall man with yellow eyes came to stand beside her. They all recognized the shape shifter who had the most unoriginal name 'Hawk'.

"Hawk," Mary-Lynnette said looking down at the short man, "Are the rooms ready?"

"Aye, mum. We've cleared the west wing out for'em just like ya said." He said nodding.

"Good," Mary-Lynnette looked up at the group again looking like a hostess, "Come on. I'll show you to the castle and your rooms. I bet you're tired."

"And, Welcome to the Isle of Dragons." Phil chimed in with a grin.

Mary-Lynnette wasn't happy, but she kept up the banter with Poppy as they walked. Poppy was just trying to lighten the mood. Galen and Keller weren't angry with her, but there was a coldness between them. Iliana didn't seem too worried about her. The obvious hatred from James and Ash was what got to her.

"So, Mary-Lynnette, how long have you been here?" Poppy asked cheerfully.

"Um, I've been here for three months." Mary-Lynnette explained.

"She basically runs the place." Phil teased.

"No I don't." she cried back as though offended, even though she laughed.

"Oh, come on, Mary! Be honest. You write down schedules, you set up places that need to be set up, you help Sara make decisions, you help out with the people, you over see the most important parts of life here. You run this place."

"Phil, you do a lot of the same things I do."

"Yeah, but it's pretty clear who's in charge when Sara's not around."

They finally got to Keller and Galen's room.

"Galen, Keller, this is your room. You also have access to anything on this floor and that includes the meeting room that's down the hall. The rec hall is in the South Tower on the top two floors. The dining hall is in the main hall of the castle straight ahead. The kitchen is behind that. And you have a full bathroom in there so don't worry."

Galen and Keller nodded.

"Thanks, Mary-Lynnette," Galen said giving her a small sweet smile.

Keller smiled apologetically as though she just realized how rude she'd been acting, "See you at dinner."

"Goodbye."

Mary-Lynnette motioned the group forward leaving Iliana in her room, which was right next door, and hurried to the end of the hall, "Poppy, James, you're in Phil's wing."

"I thought we had the West Wing?" James asked coolly.

"The West Wing is for guests, but right now most rooms are permanent residences. Phil has an entire apartment suite to himself with two bedrooms, a kitchenette, bathroom, and living room. So, you two will have the extra bedroom in Phil's place."

"What about Ash?" James asked.

Mary-Lynnette ignored the question by pointing to the oak double doors that led into Phil's rooms. Phil opened the door and Poppy and James entered before them.

"See you at dinner." Phil said shooting her a sympathetic smile.

She had to shake the urge to roll her eyes and turned back. Her gaze went to Ash, whose eyes were hazel. She turned away just as quickly and moved toward the stairs of the North Tower. There was only one apartment at the top. It held two floors and belonged to her. And she'd be sharing it with…Ash.

"So, this is where you've been." Ash said lightly as though he wasn't tense.

"Yes," she said keeping her voice light like he was.

"So, you've been lying to your brother." His voice was casual, but Mary-Lynnette could feel the anger through their soulmate bond.

"I had to." She replied resolutely.

"Where's my room?" he asked.

"In my apartment suite." She replied.

"What?" he'd lost his cool.

She turned on the stairs and looked at him coolly, "Oh, come on, Ash. What? Afraid to share a place with me because you're angry? Just because we aren't together and I hurt your pride and ego doesn't mean Sara has to accommodate it. There's limited space and I have an extra room. End of story."

He looked coolly back at her. She turned back around and hurried up the stairs as though that could keep him away. She opened the double cherry wood doors to her room and let Ash walk in. He looked around surprised.

The apartment was decorated exactly like their apartment in Brighton. The living room had cobalt blue walls, light blue carpet, with black furniture and dark wood floors. The kitchen was teal and gold patterned with black and teal tile floors and granite counters. Beside the kitchen was a small half bath that was mint green and black and a laundry room. There was an obvious pattern to the color scheme of the apartment. He looked around the living room skimming the fireplace, flat screen TV, and comfortable furniture. There was a set of steel stairs with a black door beside them on the wall facing inside the castle.

"What's that door to?" he asked.

"That door leads to my office which leads into the main part of the castle's library." She answered.

Ash raised an eyebrow at her look at her now with amber eyes, "Something's never changed."

She glared at his tone, "No, they don't. Come on. I'll show you your bedroom."

Ash knew she wasn't just talking about his snide remark to her love of knowledge. She was also talking about him.

She walked up the stairs assuming he'd follow and hurried to a hall with three doors in it. There was one on the left, one on the right, and one directly at the end of the hall. She ignored the room on the right and went to the one on the left opening the door.

"This is your room." The room was decorated in dark blue and black with a plush black carpet and gold canopy. It was an exact replica of their bedroom. Black to represent Ash's favorite color and dark-blue and gold for Mary-Lynnette's love of Astronomy.

"It was originally my room." She whispered, "But, I moved to the other room."

Ash turned and looked at her, but didn't say anything. Why would she switch rooms? She ignored his look and pointed to the door exactly where the middle room was out in the hall.

"That's the bathroom. We're sharing it. If you're in there please lock my door so I don't accidently walk in. And I'll do the same. Your closet is over there." She said pointing to the opposite side of the room.

He could see how uncomfortable she was since she was twirling a piece of her hair around her finger.

"I'll meet you in the living room at six-thirty," She whispered before turning away.

Ash watched her go feeling confused.

Mary-Lynnette walked slowly to her room before entering it. She had to force herself not to run across the hall, slam the door, and scream her lungs out. She closed her door and leaned against it trying to calm her beating heart.

She felt tears pooling in her eyes as she kept thinking about the fact that he was right across the hall. The fact that he was so near yet so unattainable. Mary-Lynnette hadn't felt this upset since she'd called Ash three days ago. She looked down at her hand and twisted the rings that mocked her. He hadn't even noticed.

Mary-Lynnette crossed her room and fell onto the bed. She bit down on her pillow and began to cry silently. She could see Vega in the sky and her mind went back to when she met Ash. She'd hated him then. He'd been a self-centered misogynist (not really, but he did think women were beneath him). He'd been able to see all the parts of Vega with his naked eye. She'd accidentally blinded him by pointing her flashlight in his face to see his dialated pupils.

She snorted, trying to laugh, but having too much snot in her nose. A nap sounded like a great idea. She let herself slip into the blissful nothingness of sleep while she stared up at the star.

Ash walked down the stairs and noticed Mary-Lynnette's office door stood open. It was identical to her library/office back home. She looked beautiful even as she worked. He could see the glasses she had on as she worked. Her hair was clipped back spilling over her shoulder. She had on a cobalt blue spring dress that ended right below her knee and silver heels. The puffy sleeves went to a plunging neckline where something gleamed, he looked closer.

She had on his necklace? It was the silver necklace with turquoise charm that was charged with a protection spell. Why did she have it on? For protection? Or because…NO! He couldn't start thinking like that. She left him. And he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing he still loved her more than life itself.

She looked up then as though she'd felt him there. She took off her glasses and stared at him. Her eyes flashed with an emotion before it disappeared. They could both sense the other's soul, but neither would let the pulling souls merge. They fought them back staying as far away from the silver cord connecting them.

"You're ready. Good let's go." She said all business.

She walked passed him and locked the door to the office. When they reached the door she turned back to him and handed him a key that sat in the bowl on a small table beside the door.

"This is to the room." She said before he could ask.

He noticed that she kept her fingers barely on the key as though she were afraid to touch him. He mirrored her movements and took the key. Man, this was going to be weird.

Mary-Lynnette tried to keep her cool. Goddess, he looked good. Why did he have to be her soulmate? Amunet stuck to Ash's side and even at the table. She shot daggers at her dog.

Traitor, she mouthed. Amunet just continued to wag her tail.

Sara smiled at her and Mary-Lynnette glared back. Yes, Sara was her elder. Yes, Sara was her superior. Yes, Sara was family. But, right now, Sara was the reason she was so upset and stuck with her surly vampire husband. Sara looked back in amusement and motioned her over with her finger. Mary-Lynnette rose from her seat, in a very unladylike manner, and stalked over to where Sara sat. She crouched beside her.

"What?" she growled not even trying to sound polite.

"It'll be okay, Little Lynn." She said with a smile, "You need this. He is still your soulmate."

"But, you told me I had to…" Mary-Lynnette was confused. Sara had told her that it was necessary that she leave Ash. There was no way around it. She'd been adamant and Mary-Lynnette had done exactly what she'd been told to do. Now she was saying that he needed to be around her?

"I know what I said. Don't worry, sweetheart. Everything will reveal itself to you soon."

Mary-Lynnette looked at Sara and nodded.

"Okay, I'll trust you."

Sara kissed her cheek and motioned her back. Mary-Lynnette took her seat again, but wouldn't look at him. She could feel his eyes on her, but she wouldn't look at him. No matter how much she watned to. Sara introduced the group to the other Dragonites who filled the dining hall before sitting down and allowing everyone to eat their dinner.

"Now," she started after a few minutes of silent eating, "Keller and Galen, last time we talked I learned that Keller, you are extremely good at fighting with a group. I would greatly appreciate it if you would give some pointers to my own flock how to work together."

Keller beamed, but then looked uncomfortable, "That'd be great, but what about Galen and Iliana?"

"Iliana is the Witch Child." She said beaming at Iliana who smiled back, "So, naturally, she must continue with her magical training. Sabina, the oldest witch on the island, will take her under her wing. Sabina is an incredible witch. She'll teach you what you need to do. And when I'm available I'll be attending those sessions. Galen has the choice of either joining the rest of your friends tomorrow or he can spend the day with you and Drakon. Though I have a feeling I know which he'll choose."

Galen smiled at Sara, "Am I that predictable?"

"Not at all," she smiled back, "The rest of you will be joining Mary-Lynnette in the library to work on the prophecy."

That got Ash and Mary-Lynnette's attention quick.

"What are you talking about?" Ash demanded more than asked.

"Sara, I have other things to do. I can't possibly waste my day in the library." She cried. Even though spending the day in the library sounded like a great idea, a luxury she wished she could indulge in more often. But, she couldn't possibly spend the day in there with Ash and not cause some damage to the antique place.

Sara laughed teasing, "Oh, come on now, Mary-Lynnette, the place won't crumble to the ground without you."

"Are you completely sure about that?" Phil put in only half-teasing.

Sara rolled her eyes, "Phil, Nialu, and Amber can take over for the day. Don't worry so much. What you will be doing is more important."

"Sara, what do you mean?" Mary-Lynnette asked.

"Mary-Lynnette, you're clever. If anyone can push Circle Daybreak in the right direction to figure out where or who the final Wild Power is it is you."

Mary-Lynnette felt her eyes grow large as her fear spiked.

"Sara, I don't know. I can't do that." She cried.

"Mary-Lynnette, I have total faith in you." Sara replied serenely.

Mary-Lynnette stared down her plate. Now, she had to deal with the prophecy and her crappy relationship with her husband? Talk about stress. She practically jumped out of her seat when Ash's hand wrapped around hers and squeezed. She looked up at him, he didn't look at her and his face was grim, but his hand was gentle.

Mary-Lynnette looked around in shock, but the only people who noticed were Poppy and Sara. Poppy winked at her and Sara just gave her a knowing smile. Mary-Lynnette's gaze went back to Ash's hand. He still wore his wedding ring.

"Oh, and Mary," Drakon sighed with a crafty note to his voice.

Mary-Lynnette's head came up to look at Drakon, "What?"

"You have the right to use the old books."

Mary-Lynnette's grin reminded Poppy of Ash's cat-like easy-going grin. She almost laughed at how absurd that was, but it was true.