Yphera stood in front of the mirror, her fingers still tracing the scar that Aeznys had given her. It was after she had recovered that Veldruk explained his demon's actions. That he used to have relations with the demon back when he first enslaved her. A twinge of jealousy sprung up in Yphera, but her lover quickly dismissed it, explaining that it hadn't happened in a long while, especially while he held his feelings for the huntress.

The scar was deep and sometimes she'd feel some pain from it, but ultimately she understood why Aeznys had done it. So she didn't hold anger; she knew she'd do the same thing. She would do everything in her power to fight for Veldruk and keep him hers.

Having that thought pass just made her situation all the more painful. Her current strength just wasn't enough to bring Veldruk back now. He was in a place she could not follow and every day that passed with her feeling so powerless was slowly killing her.

The magic from Veldruk that had infused with her from that day still coiled through her, keeping her strong and alive. As her own magic recovered, it had melded with Veldruk's fel magic and because of it; she could still feel its source. That's how she knew her lover was still very much alive… the magic still coursed through her blood and powerfully so. That thought comforted her, but not enough for her to stop worrying and wish he'd return.

"Yphera?"

She jumped at the calling, quickly covering herself with a robe and stepping out to the source of the voice. A large bird sat on the railing on the balcony from their room, one that she was very happy to see.

"Hasham!" She tied the robe and came up before him as he reformed, his large bovine body now taking up a large portion of the balcony. He grinned at her as she stopped before him.

"Well, well, I see you're still here keeping that damned warlock's bed warm. He was curious if you were still here." The druid stated.

"You've spoken to Veldruk? Is he alright, is he-"

"Silence, little one, your warlock is fine… well as fine as can be expected."

Yphera glared at the Tauren. "What's that supposed to mean? Where is he? Is he still in Tempest Keep?"

"He is. He sent me here to give you this, assuming you were still here." Hasham reached into one of his bags and pulled out a brightly glowing red crystal. When he handed it over to her, the crystal warmed her hands immediately and as she stared at the crystal, she could see flames leaping in the center of the stone.

"What is it?" She asked quietly, almost entranced by the glowing stone. The energy was warm and welcoming and… very familiar. She realized then that the energy was Veldruk's, and as it reconnected to her, she felt energized.

"A phoenix soul stone. Veldruk created it for you. It will always glow so long as Veldruk is alive. He wanted to me to give you that and a message."

"Message?" Yphera glanced up, looking hopeful but at the same time, feeling a sliver of dread. She hoped that the message was good news, that he was well and would come home soon. But she couldn't deny the feeling that maybe the message was he wasn't returning home. Or worse yet, that he couldn't continue their relationship. Her thoughts were interrupted when Hasham spoke.

"He asks that you continue to wait for him. He has not forgotten you and ah… well, I can't really say the rest." The rest of the message echoed in Hash's mind from when Veldruk had told him. He had told the warlock that he wasn't going to say that to any female, more or less the one his friend had claim on, but Veldruk insisted on giving the full message, with every bit of intimate detail.

The huntress' eyes widened with slight anger, wanting to know the rest of the message but then noticed the druid's face had grown darker. "Hash… are you blushing?"

The Tauren coughed suddenly, shaking his head. "He'll… ah, show you the rest when he returns. But I better be on my way." He reformed into a bird and just as he was about to take off, Yphera placed a hand on his folded wing.

"Tell him I'm still waiting. And I miss him…"

The bird nodded and flew off, Yphera watching him glide away. She stared back down at the crystal glowing in her palm then held it close, feeling Veldruk's energy from the item. She suddenly dropped to her knees, tears that she didn't know she was hiding now falling freely from her eyes. Her shoulders quivered as she cradled the crystal in her hands, eyes squeezing tight as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Veldruk, come back…"

The warlock fell to his knees, the newly absorbed magic pulsing through his body. His mouth was slightly open, panting quietly as he glanced about the dark room, his eyes glowing brightly from the new magic. But it wasn't enough… it was never enough for him anymore. His soul stones hadn't been able to support his need wholly for the last few weeks now and the hunger was grating at him. It had gotten so bad one night when he was sleeping that he woke up feeling starved and weak. So much so that he had to push himself away, leave the room entirely before he succumbed to his craving and satiated himself with the nearest magical source at the time, sleeping soundly beside him; Yphera.

There was no way in Azeroth or Outland that he was going to harm her, the one person that kept him sane.

So he left her, told her he was going to Tempest Keep to see Kael'thas. He didn't lie to her; he just didn't tell her he was going to temporarily join with the Prince so as to take advantage of his supposed new sources of magic. Little did he know it was the Legion's magic. It was powerful… very much so, and first time he tapped it, he thought his hunger would end. But like every other magic he had tapped before, the Legion's power was no different. His hunger grew and soon multiple Legion would fall to his hunger, as it did in this room.

Today, there were four of the foul demons surrounding him, all of them lying on the floor, unmoving. Veldruk had drained all four of the creatures at once, greedily sucking in their power, using it to sustain himself. They had all been so completely drained that their life-forces could no longer support their bodies without the magic that Veldruk had just stolen from them, so they merely died. It had been that way with all the Legion Kael'thas had provided Veldruk, but he happily sacrificed the demons to him, the warlock's powerful magic aiding the Prince greatly.

Veldruk straightened himself, the new fel megic energizing him as he replaced his gloves and made his way out of the room. When the door shut behind him, he came face to face with his Prince.

"Did they satisfy you?" Kael'thas asked, a smirk on his face.

Veldruk stared at him for a moment. "For now." He replied evenly, straightening his gloves. "It's taking more of them though. Your new magic fails me, Kael."

"I know."

The warlock arched a slender eyebrow. "You know? You know that the Legion's magic cannot sustain us?"

"At this time, indeed." Kael's expression was positively jovial and that only served to irritate Veldruk more.

"Then why continue with this useless folly!?" Veldruk hissed out, starting his way down the hallway through The Eye of Tempest Keep. His frustration was echoed in the way he walked through the halls, all anger and power, akin to a raging storm that people ran from to keep from being killed in its wake. Kael'thas mirrored him regardless of his apparent fury, taking a spot at Veldruk's right.

The warlock awaited his answer, but Kael remained silent as the moved through the halls, his Blood Elf servants moving quickly out of their way. Veldruk had only been under the Prince's servitude for a few weeks, but Kael and Veldruk had a past, which is why the Blood Elf leader so easily allowed him to enter under his wing. But that in no way meant Veldruk hadn't earned his place. From the moment he arrived, he proved his prowess to any who might have doubted it and his power made it so that no one stood in his way as he rose through the ranks.

When still no answer arrived after arriving at the entrance of The Eye, the cool air of the Netherstorm surrounding them both, Veldruk stopped and turned to him. "Ah… so you have another plan." He noted and Kael's smile confirmed his theory.

"The Legion's power is the answer, my friend. But Illidan has his own agenda and we have to step away from him and whatever plot he has. Illidan has given us a taste of the true power of the Legion, but not enough to satiate us."

"You suggest going against Illidan?" Veldruk asked, and deep down, he was beginning to question Kael'thas' sanity, especially after that last statement.

The Prince shook his head. "No, but his folly is not ours. I suggest separating ways."

"Well that is your path, but it is not mine. The separating ways seems to be a good idea though; I think it's time I leave."

Kael'thas sighed. "You know I didn't mean for you to leave. You are a powerful ally, one that would be greatly needed in the upcoming struggles."

"They're your struggles, but as I said before, it is something I do not wish to participate in. This break from Illidan does not sound reasonable, but it is your decision alone if you feel Illidan is no longer the answer."

"You're right; I don't think Illidan is the answer anymore. But in your case…"

Veldruk stared at him. "My case?"

Kael chuckled. "Illidan may be your next stop. You haven't changed since our younger years, still obsessed with demons, with the darker side of magic. Maybe your lock with those demons of yours is the reason your hunger is never satiated. My suggestion is to see him if my access to the Legion hasn't helped you. However, new powers will rise with us, the Sin'dorei, and with it, we will prosper again."

"Without the Sunwell, we are nothing." Veldruk muttered as he turned away.

Kael'thas grinned, his plan echoing in his mind. He could only think of how ironic it was that Veldruk would mention the Sunwell now. "Indeed. By the way, Veldruk… did you kill one of my phoenixes?"

The warlock paused and looked back. "So what if I did." His statement echoed no remorse whatsoever and his tone made it clear he was not going to apologize.

Kael shook his head. "Ever rebellious. You know I consider those birds precious, the least you could do is tell me why."

"I needed its soul stone."

"What for?"

Veldruk shrugged and turned away, whistling for his drake. "I'll be taking my leave."

"You know I can track that phoenix's soul. And I know it's not on you right now." Kael'thas approached him as Veldruk climbed up on Firnes' back.

"Kael… if you know what's good for you, you'll cut ties with that phoenix's soul now. You track it down and I will hunt down every person you send out for it and personally kill them. Even if it's you."

"Such passion, Veldruk…"

The warlock glared at him. "You know I'm not kidding."

Kael let loose another sigh and backed away from the drake. Indeed, Veldruk was a powerful and dangerous ally. He would make for an even more dangerous enemy. Though the Prince had to wonder where he had sent the phoenix soul stone and why he was so determined to keep it hidden from him.

Kael'thas shook his head. "As you wish, I've cut ties with the soul. I won't be able to reconnect with it unless I come in contact with the stone. Though it does strike me as curious… what could possibly strike such fervor from you, of all people?"

The Prince laughed as all he received from that question was a deep glare as Veldruk kicked his mount into the air, flying fast and far from Tempest Keep.

Soaring high above Outland, Veldruk couldn't help but reflect on Kael's words. Illidan… that demon lord that resided in the Black Temple of Shadowmoon Valley… perhaps he would know a way to cease Veldruk's ever-growing hunger before in consumed him beyond his power. He would indeed make his way to Illidan, to get more answers, but for now, there was no way he could go to the Black Temple without first making things right for Yphera.

It was now Veldruk that had been gone far too long and because of it, he had a different hunger he had to tend to, one that only Yphera could satisfy.